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Richard2
Senior Member Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 6:52pm |
A friend of mine says he once read about snakes deliberately coiling around saplings and shaking them to frighten off predators. Once, as a child, walking in the New Forest, he and a friend saw a small tree in front of them begin to quiver. They ran for their lives. I was inclined to dismiss this story, but he has a strong memory of reading about the phenomenon. Has anyone heard of anything like it?
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Interesting concept, I've seen both adders and grass snakes enter low bushes when foraging, and they certainly can make a small shrub sway about a bit. I have been drawn to observe snakes because of the movement/sound of dry leaves as they caused a low bush to sway. I would say the idea that it is to frighten predators may be far fetched, suggesting more awareness of the surroundings than I would credit a snake. Though I could easily see that a snake foraging in a bush could be perceived as purposely shaking it by an observer!
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Could it also be linked to tail shaking Richard? It is well developed in several species and particularly the evolution of 'rattles' in crotalinae and sistrurus. One could imagine an agitated snake could shake a nearby bush whilst displaying this behaviour?
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