Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is anyone familiar with the mechanism and function that some snakes have to smell like cucumbers or licorice?
Is this a type of warning or an attraction for prey?
Mary Ann

What sort of snakes are they? I would probably buy a snake on the sole basis that it smelled like a cucumber. Cucumbers are my favorite vegetable.

She was refering to Copperheads and Flying snakes, both of which put out a musk that smells of cucumber. The licorice scent is an odor found on Thrasops jacksoni when newly shed.
Frank

think about it..a Coral Snake that smells like cinnamon? A Cape Cobra that smells like bananas? Too cool...

Find one that smells like lettuce, we already have cucumber, one that smells like tomatoes, one like radishes...snake salad!

Now for dessert....

.

The lady asked a serious question. Spawls book: Field Guide to Reptiles of east Africa documents the "Licorice scent" of Thrasops as well as the specimen she has at home. Copperheads & flying snakes are, I guess a matter of opinion. Anyhow, anyone out there with any serious ideas on the qustion?? Frank

Nothing that is posted here hinders the posting of more serious answers. I'd say people are pretty much free to post what they want within reason. Nobody said anything to belittle the person that asked the question or her question. Nobody was making fun of her...just making little jokes about the subject. No harm done. We have moderators to remove anything that's offensive if necessary, we don't need self-appointed "Forum Police" deciding what's appropriate and what's not and especially issuing insults for no apparent reason ("not enough brains". If you don't like a particular post you are free not to read it, or to simply ignore it and post your own "brainy" ideas.

If you don't like the "comedians", I would suggest that you petition the moderators and have them introduce a "No Humor Allowed" rule.

Signed,
Brainless in Atlanta

I like commedians...(Note your comment on the Gila attack thread). But the question merrited respect along with the humor. Sorry you don't like Brainy types, that was who I hoped would respond to my wife's question...Perhaps it's my fault for telling her to post it. She is a beginner (though a Biology major)and she hoped someone would take her question seriously enough to try to answer. I have answered what seemed to be some pretty dumb questions on this forum and others...But that is how people learn. The problem is...you turned her question into a joke and that makes getting a real answer difficult.
Frank

There was no intent to turn the question into a joke...just a little side thread with some homor. I was, by the way, researching some of my books and articles to see if I could find serious reference to this subject for her in the meantime. It seems like I have seen something on this in the past...maybe in one of my very old issues of Herp Journal? I haven't been able to find it so far, but I'll continue looking when I get home from work this evening.

We appreciate that....By the way, was that a garden salad or a Chef's???...Frank

Hmmm...it would have to be a Garden Salad..(or Garter Salad)...Chef's are known to be deathly afraid of snakes.

Gee....Then we could mix in some Garden Tree Boas and Tomato frogs?...Frank (blindfold the Chef)

Hi I think its good to have humous. And jokes are fine.

I work allot with Thrasops as they are some of my favourite non venomous snakes that I export.

I have noticed that the females do smell stronger then the males seem to. Anyhow, I doubt it attracts any prey as the Thrasops jacksonii mainly feed on nestling weaver birds.

I think it is most likely more as identification between the snakes or for males to be able to find the females easier.

Unfortunately they only smell like liquorice but seem to taste like it.. otherwise I would be strolling the streets with one in my mouth..

By the way I have added allot of new pictures on my website of some very nice and a few rare african snakes if anyone is into pictures.
Price Reptiles International

Thanks It makes sense. I'll pass it on. I wonder if that is true (stronger scent female)with the other snakes mentioned Flying snakes copperheads, etc...)
But of course your comment poses another question; Is that a snake in your mouth or were you at the candy store having a good time?
Frank

OK...now I'm frustrated. I've searched every document and journal and book I can get my hands on and I can't find that paper. I have some stuff still in boxes in storage. I'll try to go through those, too. I know I've seen something on this before, but I can't remember where or when.

.

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>>Is anyone familiar with the mechanism and function that some snakes have to smell like cucumbers or licorice?
>>Is this a type of warning or an attraction for prey?
>>Mary Ann

I noticed that my boomslangs (Dispholidus typus) put off a very strong celery-like smell when they first arrived. Some comments have been made on the licorice smell produced by T. jacksoni, which is interesting because they are such similar species both in appearance and general area and habitat (though not in venom, thank goodness!). Anyway, I noticed that the smell really seemed to peak back in January when they began the courtship and breeding process, but here lately I don't ever smell it unless I practically stick my head in the tank or smell a shed skin. When I first got them last Sept up until Jan, they made my entire snake room smell like "boomslang," especially (but not only) when they shed. Very neat stuff. I imagine that because of the correlation between smell and breeding cycles that it has something to do with that and is probably functioning as a chemo-signal rather than anything to attract prey. Like T. jacksoni, boomslangs feed mostly on birds and chameleons on the wild, neither of which I would imagine would be particularly attracted to a snake that smells like celery. Anyway, neat stuff. I'm glad you asked because I too have been wondering about that for quite a while.

The only time I have heard of this was in a news letter from our herp society, prior to me joining. It was talking about how cobra skins, someone had brought in sheds for children to look at, smelled like maple syrup. I have never heard anyone else talk about it though.
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Thank you
Darin Gray
Stone Cold Reptiles