Social behaviour in snakes

[Garter_Gertie]

Nah. I don't buy it. Don't know why; can't say why. But I don't buy the "since most hibernating species mate immediately after hibernation and usually in close proximity to it, using the same den as your close relatives increases the possibility of inbreeding, which over time reduces the genetic diversity and increases the risk of the whole population being knocked out."

There's got to be some other factor. Else you can toss out the entire survivial of the fittest theory.

[Stefan-A]

And how do you figure that?

[KITKAT]

Originally Posted by Garter_Gertie

Nah. I don't buy it. Don't know why; can't say why. But I don't buy the "since most hibernating species mate immediately after hibernation and usually in close proximity to it, using the same den as your close relatives increases the possibility of inbreeding, which over time reduces the genetic diversity and increases the risk of the whole population being knocked out."

There's got to be some other factor. Else you can toss out the entire survivial of the fittest theory.

How do we know snakes hibernate with their relatives? Haven't you guys ever heard the story about the snake baby that went to his mother in concern because another snake came along and wanted to "hiss in his pit"?

[larean]

I think I agree with James, snakes hibernating together isn't necessarily social behavior, you might as well call a group of people sheltering from the rain social just because they are sheltering together (of course, humans are social, but you get the point).
Back to the adders, wouldn't 'hanging out' together give more security against predators? Although that still wouldn't explain why they only come together in summer; maybe because there is too little food to share in winter.

Just a thought, correct me if I'm talking gibberish

[larean]

Another thing: I have experienced 'meetings' between my 6 year old female parietalis and my baby parietalis (6 months), also female, and while the old female didn't pay any attention, the small one first seemed amazed at the other ones body and then started climbing on top of the older female and kept trying to ride along.

This could be social behavior, but I think it is also, at least for a good part, just curiosity. Every snake I own will come looking at the sight of a finger moving, and as long as it doesn't look like a threat, will keep looking at it and try to find out what it is/does.

Might this be an explanation?

[drache]

two things:
- there is also the fact that snakes brumating in large dens in great quantities, rather than in little holes by themselves, has a lot to do with the fact that large body masses can thermoregulate a bit better
and I believe I read in some smart book that they change location in the den, just like the penguin males (walk of the penguins)
- James - there is very little "proof" either way, so assuming there are no social relations is just as erroneous as assuming there is - we simply don't know
also - social behavior in humans is just a survival mechanism as well
your cell phones and clothes are just part of your mating accessories
the size of your house and your car designed to attract mates
the people at the bus stop may not be related, but to the astute anthropologist, all sorts of social behavior will be observable, some of it between relatives traveling together, some of it even mating behavior

[dekaybrown]

Now there is some thought.

Concerning the Adders, and identifying snakes visually, in time it just happens. staring at the same snakes observing them constantly will "etch" the "fingerprint" into your memory. Every little mark, anomaly and detail that will identify the subject will stand right out.

each and every animal has color markings as unique as a human fingerprint, so proving that these sisters are in fact the same snakes is easy to do.

However primitive the mechanisms are, there is sound proof that at least basic communications take place, the use of smells (pheromones) is well documented and territorial marking (each animals scent is as unique as it's colors, scent can be used to ID each other) is starting to gain merit.

Excellent study...

Regards,
Wayne

[Snake lover 3-25]

i left meadow in with sooty last night and they were still together... riding on top of each other but i had to take meadow out and put her back in her own cage and just as the last of her tail was coming up sooty began to chase after her and i put meadow back in her cage, she stuck her head where baby was hiding as if to check on him then began to try and get out, which she never does and she was def. searching for sooty. meanwhile sooty was searching the cage for meadow, realizing she was gone she started to try and get out as well!!!!!

I have experienced 'meetings' between my 6 year old female parietalis and my baby parietalis (6 months), also female, and while the old female didn't pay any attention, the small one first seemed amazed at the other ones body and then started climbing on top of the older female and kept trying to ride along.

[Stefan-A]

How do you know what they were doing?

[Snake lover 3-25]

because they were and still are acting strange they have never acted this way b4... and sooty has been placed with a second snake that she paid no interest in whatsoever and meadow has been with many dif. snakes and has had no reaction even close to this one....