The Combat Ritual of the Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)
Carpenter CC, Gillingham JG, Murphy JB. 1976. The Combat Ritual of the Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus). Copeia. 1976(4):764-780
The combat ritual of two male Croatalus lepidus klauberi was recorded on motion picture film and videotape, and the former was analyzed on a Vanguard Motion Analyzer. The typical actions, postures and features of the sequence of events, many occurring simultaneously, involve investigation, ascent and descent of the anterior trunk columns, vertical display with swaying of the anterior trunk column (solicitation display), bending over backwards and head flexion sharply on the neck. One male primarily orients on the other which is displaying (orientor and displayer). Topping occurs as one male brings a lateral flexure of his trunk over that of the other male and pushes causing the two snakes to tumble down, which is usually followed by quick recovery and return to displaying. Analysis of these actions indicates that the displayer exhibits higher and more vertical posturing and more exaggerated neck flexures while his posterior trunk region usually laid over that of the orientor. Topping appears to be stimulated by the orientor assuming the exaggerated postures of the displayer. The sequence of these actions and postures appear to be a ritualistic form of aggression for social communication.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Carpenter, Charles; Gillingham, James; Murphy, James
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Animal Behavior, Animal Studies, banded rock rattlesnake (Crotalis lepidus klauber) - Crotalidae - Serpentes - Squamata