Reptile & Amphibian Forums

...some do & some dont...but the good Professor has earlier explained that much like the rear fangs...constriction has come & gone through the ages...so i wondered...would the opisthos w/ the most virulent venom...be less likely constrictors??? Regalis definitely falls there...Clelia appears to have a much less virulent venom & is a strong constrictor...How about Conophis...a fast slim & purportedly hot rear fang???
I offer a live mouse to find out...@ first the mouse scares the guarder..then it flees ...bad idea.. a streak balls it up & I have my answer...& the ? remains...

perhaps the cold blooded prey succomb faster and dont require contstriction whilst Mssr. Mus gets both barrels and the hoops cause he's meaner and more of a contender? Gotta smack him around alittle bit soften him up.

-----
Cheers
Lateralis
"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

Actually, the homeotherms w/ higher O-2 requirements succumb faster but have the potential to do damage, thus vipers release & constrictors ball em up...so the alt idea is are the constricting opisthos ones that normally feed on rodents???
Hypsiglena constricts....???
Hopefully some others will contribute a few nuggets...

In your experiment with the mouse, is it actually constricting or just restraining it? I guess that's how constricting evolved - restraint behavior that eventually kills faster and with less risk than venom.

Billy

-
Phillyherping

RR,

Your constant child-like need to find the answers to questions is gonna keep you young forever.

What is the critter enjoying the meal in the picture?

Doug T

Doug Taylor Reptiles

...yo mr t...for the record....i am a studly youngster (ha..in my own mind anyway...what little is left of it!)& yes thinking & racquetball are wonderful tonics for the brain....
I think topic this would make a dandy project for a herp student
a table developed from published phylogenetic assns along with primary diet would complete it.

btw if you read my freekn post you'da seen I am dealing w/ Conophis...locally known as the Guarda del camino or roadguarder as they are reportedly common along the road edges waiting to assist any little critters passing by!

alohas /rxr