anyone ever noticed that almost every pic of a hog on here the end of its tail is curled up? I notice mine do it all the time and at one point worried something was wrong and it was paralyzed but she can move and straighten it fine when she needs to. anyone got any ideas why they do this? I've never noticed any other snakes I've worked with (mostly constrictors) do this.
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Sue Barnett
1.0 Florida King (Vega)
0.1 Western hognose (Sola)
0.1 Egyptian spiny mouse (Mia)
4.2 mini rex rabbits (Basil, Pippin, Reggie, Hayden, Jackie and Peek-a-boo)
0.1 Plott hound (Molly)
1.0 half Arab (Zarr)
1.0 Betta (Flash)
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what's with the tail curls?
polosue25
Apr 26, 2004 01:21 PM
Replies (1)
Colchicine
Apr 26, 2004 06:08 PM
Hognoses are designed for defense, and it seems like almost everything about them gives them some advantage for defending themselves (except of course, the feature they are named for). Consult Dwight Platt's 1969 Natural History of the Hognose, the curled tail draws attention away from the vital organs of the head, and attracts them to a part they can live without. Other colubrids don't do this, nor do any of them have such an elaborate defense mechanism (that baffles me, does not involve biting!).
Good question, I don't think it has EVER been asked on this forum!
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