Hi

I am researching suicide mechanisms amongst reptiles.

Unfortunately, my only pre-existing research knowledge of this topic comes from a dim memory of newsgroup postings from around five years ago.

I recently got my girlfriend's cousin hooked on herps, starting him off with a young Corn snake. The youngster looked healthy but despite "perfect" environmental conditions she refused all meals whether live or pre-killed (newborn mice, lizards, frogs and everything else I could think to try).

She used to lie in the open a lot and eventually died.

This prompted memories of the "suicide mechanism" thread I saw and I wondered if anyone here has carried out research in this field?

The hypothesis of the mechanism was that snakes born with genetic faults, or with some underlying pathological disorder, would starve themselves and take uncharacteristic risks (such as lying in the open awaiting a predator) to remove themselves from the gene pool, and thus preventing such a fault replicating itself in the species.

Far fetched and without substantiation? Perhaps. But an interesting hypothesis which I believe has been studied under laboratory conditions.

Any help, information or references gladly received.
Many thanks in advance,

Lee P. Yates,
Kiros Reptiles / Edge Hill University, England

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