Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Why do Kings of the getula complex (sans nigrita to some extent) have the tooth looking patterns on their lip scales (labials)? Is it simply to be cryptic or is it a bluff type warning to predators that they have large dangerous teeth ? Any thoughts ?

Keith

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That is an interesting question - but I always think that the purpose of camo is to break up the outline of an animal or object.

When I think of camo for "scaring" or "bluffing" I think of red's and yellow's. However, I do remember from Biology class in college that black and yellow are nature's "warning colors"... and most Eastern's are... well they are black and yellow.

Maybe this is because a lot of organisms can not detect color so the contrast between the two is what is most important?

Dunno... either way - interesting topic and the labial coloration of the getula is an attractive trait.

Peter Jolles

I have watched the behaviors of my MD male and he seems to be an ambush type of predator. He will stay motionless in his hide
with just his head protruding from the opening. His hide is filled with damp moss and the white lines on his face really breakup the outline to the point where he seems to blend into the background. When I reach over the tank he retracts his head and disappears; when I place food in front of the tank (for him to see)he remains motionless until I drop it then he lunges from the hide. If this is typical behavior for the sub-species then it is no surprise that we find so few of these snakes in the wild. Think of how difficult it would be to see just the head of a snake sticking out of a tussock sedge mound in a shaded wetland.

Without any scientific data to back me up I'd say definitely criptic in nature.

This also leads to questions of the overall pattern on eastern kingsnakes:
Is a slightly broken pattern more criptic than a complete and symetrical pattern?
What are the environmental factors that determine the gradual change from thin bands on the east coast to wider banded individuals to the south and more inland (SOWEGA)?

Bob Bull

I agree its to break up pattern but a solid black head would blend nicely as well. Here is a example of what Im talking about in a Caterpillar.

The eye spots on its back are supposed to make it look like a larger more imposing animal. Also consider tail rattling in Kings and other colubrids to mimic a Rattlesnake maybe Getula takes it a step further to announce they also have long sharp "deadly Fangs" as well.

The thickness of crossbars is another interesting aspect as to why they are thinner in the more northerly locales. Easterns are mostly a Coastal Plains animal but I dont know the vegetation differences that go along with that as the C. Plains extend into the south. There are exceptions to this i.e. the Virginia Beach Easternsd have very thick crossbars also some of the locales in NC have thicker crossbars as well.

Keith
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