Rattlers generally dont go after lizards. That would be something a gopher or king snake would be doing...
Also, you have to remember that birds are also a predator of lizards and that maybe the reason is that that particular lizard was just lucky. _________________ - Kevin aka What
Oderint dum metuant My photos
Vipers have poor sight dont they ...thought they relied on heat and movement for striking prey. If so...lizards probably scoot right past em. ?? _________________
jet trail in the sunset
a long way away
cutting 'cross the horizon
at the edge of the day
and it calls Jimmy
come fly away
but I've been
too long in the wasteland
too long in the wasteland
I believe I'll have to stay
yeah, I've been
too long in the wasteland
too long in the wasteland
I believe I'll have to stay
--James McMurtry
Rattlers generally dont go after lizards. That would be something a gopher or king snake would be doing...
This is incorrect... Most Crotalids feed primarily on lizards as juveniles & sub adults, then progress onto rodents as adulthood sets in. Some are almost exclusively lizard feeders, such as C. cerastes... _________________ Reptile Rescue Orange County
(949) 394-5759
http://www.reptilerescueoc.webs.com ocreptilerescue@gmail.com
actually i have seen two more since the one... more than any other year, full stop (they were never super common out there, from my perspective. whether that is the case or not, i don't know... my perspective is quite limited). i think in all the years out there i have seen... seven total. and three were in the last couple months!
i freaking KICKED another southern pacific. that is the only time i just plain left cuz i *knew* i had just used up all my luck for the day! and i had a dog friend with me... and i swear it wanted to eat the rattler! it was a bit hectic for about 10-15 seconds, hehe
and my brother came within three feet of what i think is a different species. the two southern pacifics i saw either had no diamond pattern in an opposite color on a dark brown body or a like, single scale wide light yellow diamond pattern on a very dark brown body. the last rattler we saw had at least a two scale wide light diamond pattern on a dark body... and was more fat/wide than the other two i saw. my rattler observation skills are pretty much nothing, though... and i do tend to get a bit excited when i see them which probably makes me an even worse witness =P
i am more cautious when bushwacking out there, that is for dang sure! _________________
Quote:
There may be people who like centipedes. I have seen people handling tarantulas and scorpions, but never a centipede handler. I would regard such a person with deep suspicion...Now what sort of man or woman or monster would stroke a centipede on its underbelly "And here is my big good centipede." If such a man exists, I say kill him without more ado. He is a traitor to the human race.
Yeah -- I've come within about 18" of rattlers that were coiled under brush before seeing them. It wasn't even *rattling*! I froze *REAL QUICK* and backed off *REAL SLOW*! (I know that's not grammatically correct -- it just sounds good). _________________ "Tarantulas are friends, not food" (but I bet they taste pretty good with butter and lemon!)
Rattlers generally dont go after lizards. That would be something a gopher or king snake would be doing...
This is incorrect... Most Crotalids feed primarily on lizards as juveniles & sub adults, then progress onto rodents as adulthood sets in. Some are almost exclusively lizard feeders, such as C. cerastes...
I was mostly referring to adult/subadult snakes, but you are indeed correct that juvies will feed on lizards.
Any idea if they will also feed on frogs? I know gophers/kings will feed on those readily when young, but no idea about rattlesnakes... _________________ - Kevin aka What
Oderint dum metuant My photos
Never heard of Crot's eating amphibians. However the massasauga are a group I have never owned, or worked with. The Easterns have a range that extends up into Canada, lots of amphibians share their habitat. This is a species you may want to look into for that info.. _________________ Reptile Rescue Orange County
(949) 394-5759
http://www.reptilerescueoc.webs.com ocreptilerescue@gmail.com
I think this thread has diverged from Gonzo's original question: why would lizards drop their tails?
Usually, it's to escape from or distract predators such as birds or coyotes. If the predator grabs the tail, it breaks off and that's all they get. Or, if the tail breaks off in the fray, it thrashes around thereby distracting the predator while the animal escapes.
_________________ "Tarantulas are friends, not food" (but I bet they taste pretty good with butter and lemon!)
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