Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wonder if someone here can tell me, how does a snake respond to the flute? I need the info in detail about how the snake exactly moves: is it just or mostly like letter V, that is left and right, or does the snake swirl? And what about letter I? Can the snake resemble letter I naturally, or just when a man stretches it with hands?

I red somewhere that that snakes dance because of the matting season. Is this true? Does this mean that a snake charmer cannot charm the snake if it is not matting season? Here is the mentioned text:

There are two occasions when a snake will dance - both connected with the mating season. In the first case the dancing partners are both male and their performance appears to be a from of aggression designed to impress the female. The second occasion is a nuptial dance between male and female. First the snakes pursue each other and coil together. Then the couple raise their necks and heads as if forming the shape of the letter U. During the dance, which may last an hour, the male rubs its chin against the female's neck.

I wonder if someone can shed light on this by confirming it, and whether the couple indeed raises their necks and heads as if forming the shape of the letter U? Does it really resemble the letter U as stated above? I am a bit septic because I hear this for the first time.

Don't ask me why I need this info as it might be considered a spoiler from certain perspective, but I do, so if someone knows enough about this, which is pretty much about letter V but also about letter U regarding shapes snakes make, I'd appreciate it.

If you watch carefully, you will find the snake is moving in synch with the movement of the charmer’s flute, as such is interpreted as a threat and the snake, generally a cobra, will maintain a defensive stance and follow the offending object closely. Such movements can be manipulated using a flute, stick, snake hook or bare hand. The movement of the snake will depend upon the movement of the charmer, as the snake will move left to right, up and down or circular fashion, following the “threat” of the charmer closely.
The “dancing” you have described is ritualistic courtship between male and female or ritualistic male combatting, between two males. The most spectacular “dances” often originate from male ritualistic combat, as two males compete for mating rights with a female. Such displays are not limited to Naja. spp. alone, as members of the genus Crotalus and many colubrids, especially Drymarchon spp., are renowned for their ritualistic mating and combat “dances”. However, I have found the appearance of male ritualistic combat to be more akin to arm wrestling, with the exception of a few displays I have witnessed…

Hope this helps,

Jeff

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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947