Slydog
has rocks in the head
Member since February 2006
Posts: 555
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Post by Slydog on Feb 1, 2009 20:50:47 GMT -5
Again, thanks for the photos Mel. I didn't know about the furry legs on those guys. But the tiny head has me worried. Like, how big can the brain be inside there? That's a pretty big body for a tiny brain to operate. Plus someone said they don't see well. So what's their area of expertise? Hearing, smelling, etc? Sounds like they are peaceful if you leave them be. Nona
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 1, 2009 20:55:37 GMT -5
Llana: Boy the swarm of snakes in that Oklahoma story sure sounds more like the habit of the non poisonous watersnakes than moccasins. Moccasin /cottenmouth swarms are supposedly an unproven old wives tale but then, I've never been anywhere where they were really abundant and I've looked for them . Watersnakes are famous for bearing huge numbers of live young and when I was hunting snakes in Oklahoma, that habit of forming big swarms, balls and clusters on branches was definitely a watersnake characteristic. I've seen that several times myself. Moccasins are often very heavy bodied and not so prone to climbing, though they do climb and sun on snags around the water. Also, often more solitary unless around dens and not real common in ponds and stock tanks unless heavily vegetated while watersnakes are. It's very hard to tell cottonmouths from big watersnakes. All are big dark aquatic snakes and aside from the facial banding and the pits ( cottenmouths being pit vipers) they look almost identical in many instances. The white mouth is not a definitive characteristic. Of course, if they bite you and they have poison fangs, that's an indication * whoops*! Actually, a big watersnake will flat bite you bloody so it's best to leave them all alone. Been there and done that *L*....Mel
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 1, 2009 21:05:30 GMT -5
Nona: Yep, not a lot of brain there I think *L*. Habits are just like a mole except more above ground. You usually see them just rooting along and digging like a warrior when they find some good bugs, worms etc. They rarely hold still. Their vision totally sucks as, if you hold still, they'll come over and dig right at your feet. Hearing is pretty good as is sensitivity to vibrations. Funniest thing is, when you startle one he lopes off a few feet, then promptly forgets why he ran and returns to his grubbing unless he really feels he's being chased. Toughest photographic challenge is catching one with his whole body out of the ground as usually the fore section is buried while rooting for prey....Mel
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Feb 2, 2009 11:50:22 GMT -5
kind of a cross betwixt a mole and a rock Great comparison Mel!
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