Do you actually read what you write? Your only making silly rationalizations. Try looking at the animals, then say something.
FR- I did, they didnt say anything back. What did they say to you??
Your so missing the point and its obvious why, you do not want to hear it.
FR-MY POINT was to "stop anthropomorphizing", thats all I have said. Why cant you see that?
In nature, snakes make millions of decisions, in fact, that is all they do. Pick this, avoid that. Follow this scent trail, make that scent trail. Etc.
FR-so you are saying they DONT do that in captivity??
They are constantly learning, First to find good shelter, a shelter that protects them from what is harmful, heat, cold, wet, dry, desease, predators, etc. Then they find many of those, that are more suited for different reasons. Like, this one is better in winter, this one better in summer, this one better when its wet and this one when its cold. Where prey is and when, and where to hunt when that runs out. etc etc.
FR-Are they constantly learning or do they know their home range like the back of their....tail? Do they travel throughout their lives or do they have a specific home range? If they are constantly learning do you think they know every rock and tunnel? If you think they are running their own mouse farm I want to assure you....they arent.
In captivity, they get to sit and wait until the lid opens and a mouse flys in, or they are grabbed and put into a feeding box. I know, anthropomorphic, but this by comparison is boring.
FR- you assume AND anthropomorphize here.....
So in simple terms, and I guess you need simple, They experience thousands of stimuli in nature compared to very few in captivity. So why not give them more and sit back and enjoy learning what they really are??? No one is saying ALL, just more or as much as we can??????
FR-well if you can prove it by all means go ahead and try. I am not doubting the stimuli, but if you claim they can LEARN then the stimuli they DO recieve should be more sensetive...correct?
Of course there are BETTER questions, such as, do they seek stimuli or do they avoid it. Hmmmmmmmmm The answer is yes, they seek some and avoid others. Hmmmmmmmmmm something to do and not be bored. hahahahahahahahahahaha
FR-I have never seen a snake DO "something" to keep from being bored. I suggest you havent either....they dont do well on stairmasters either.
As a field herper, I/we learn the different sets of stimuli they seek and try to figure out why they seek them. First we learn where these needs cross our path. That way, we can learn to repeatedly find the snakes. Then we try to learn what these mean and why they do them. Of course many are done for physical needs, but many are not. ITs here we have to question our understanding. At least YOU DO. hahahahahahahahaha
FR-I question EVERYTHING, as a good scientist does. I question YOU,lol, as you do have nuggets beneath tons of dirt. FINDING snakes takes no more than learning to interpret weather patterns,period. 1 1=2 every time. We DONT know everything though. Our problem mostly comes from thinking in 2 dimenisions instead of the 3 that snakes use...or the 4th reserved for snake whisperers,lmao.
One silly thought for you. We all know snakes practice "ritualized combat" we have known that for decades. Yet we do not ask what that means.
FR-I think "ritualized combat" is an over simplified term for sure. I think its a blanket statement that covers alot of different behavior that people "lightly" studying snakes came up with.
The first word, ritual, means its done over and over. Its done with many many species and done in different ways depending on the species. (ritual Formal, scripted, etc.)Then the word combat. Of course that is means to fight, indicating to kill. But when we put those two words together, it means to fight without killing. But then its not a fight is it?
FR-combat doesnt equal fight which doesnt equate to kill.
So I ask you, why would snakes practive this? why would they want to fight/dance with another of their own type and not kill? Why would they practice the same dance moves and do so with each individual?
FR-the first and most obvious would be because FEMALES prefer Rico Suave dancers. Killing their own species is not beneficial to the perpetuity of the species. Cannibalization is a major step in evolution, its something that should be studied ALOT more. Sandtiger sharks and other species practice this IN UTERO,fascinating!
Normally this practice is limited to highly social animals. Animals and humans that live in complex groups or tribes. In order to develop something so complex and so repeated, you know, from generation to generation, this Combat(dance) has to be repeated in each and every generation and individual.
FR-communities often require order, and these "rituals" establish dominance and roles. Their is undoubtably pheremones involved, and until we can detect and catagorize them their "behavior" will be misinterpreted.
I know common sense does not play a part on these forums, but its only common sense that an animal that practices ritualized movements, is not a simple behavioral animal. What say you sir?
FR-again I suggest that "ritualized" is the wrong word. Common sense says there is a simpler explanation (the interpretation of chemical signals through pheremones)than one hoping for "intelligent" life. And when I read about the paper-chasing boa I will expect to find a man-made pheremone trail as well.
