Posted by:
MikeinOKC
at Wed Mar 10 07:34:30 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by MikeinOKC ]
It was my post comment that prompted this thread, so allow me to wade in briefly. Any behavior that is widespread in any species is there for an evolutionary reason: it confers some level of survivability, and is thus replicated in future generations. Trats tend to inhabit (very successfully) a wider range of habitats than many other snakes, both in wide geographical range and in a variety of habitats (urban, rural, etc.) within those ranges. Hence one would expect them to encounter more threats from predators (including ignorant people with shovels) thanm say, a secretive Dekays snake or a semi-squatic species that has an easy place to flee and hide. Hence, a low-threshhold defense response conveys an evolutionary advantage for a Trat somewhat out of proportion to that same response in a less wide ranging species that may spend most of its time in a less predator-intensive environment. It seems apparant to me that these guys are simply bred to be tougher and survive better by virtue of those genes that make them belligerent in the face of a perceived threat.
[ Hide Replies ]
- Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - Ameron, Fri Mar 5 23:16:27 2010
- RE: Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - monklet, Sat Mar 6 10:38:32 2010
- RE: Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - tspuckler, Sat Mar 6 13:12:17 2010
- RE: Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - vegasbilly, Sat Mar 6 18:37:32 2010
- RE: Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - tokaysrnice, Sun Mar 7 21:41:03 2010
- RE: Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - byron.d, Mon Mar 8 14:04:00 2010
 RE: Texas Rat Behavior, My Experiences - MikeinOKC, Wed Mar 10 07:34:30 2010
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