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I know that the 2 North American Agkistrodons have caudal lures or yellow tipped tails as juveniles. Is this the case with all of the Agkistrodon snakes or just the copperhead and cottonmouth?

That phenomenon is not restricted to the North American Agkistrodon. In fact, I don't think it's restricted to that genus.

~~Greg~~

I've only seen c.l. in 3 specimens: pictigaster, contortrix and taylori. However, I have documentation that it occurs within the genera: Sisitrurus, Bothrops, Cerastes, Chondropython, Boa, Vipera, Acanthophis and even a frog, Ceratophrys calcarata that uses a toe to lure prey. There is also tail movement associated with Trimerserus, but is purportedly a defensive tactic; a sort of distraction, kind of like the color within the thighs of certain treefrogs such as Hyla and Osteopolis.
With alot of species o snake that lure, it is in responce to lizard prey being in the vicinity. I was able to induce this with an anole and a green treefrog being offered to a yearling pictigaster. He is 2 1/2 now, his tail is fading and has long sinse grown out of luring.
creep

Which species of Cerastes? I've seen some tail wiggling but wasn't sure exactly what it was for. As far as I can tell, only one gender has a black tail tip as adults, in both cerastes and vipera.

Cerastes vipera and Vipera russelli. Bulletin Maryland Herp. Soc.
16(1)19-22

Most of the genus Atheris are also known for lureing, as are all the Agkistrodons, Gloydius, Hypnale, posibly Deniagkistrodon and Calloselasma(MB or Nightflight???), some of the smaller Bitis( B.perinhueyi which may be in its own genus now. Im not sure)and of cource most notably, Acanthophis. As a matter of fact, the genus Acanthophis will use this technique all of their lives! As will Agkistrodon taylori and the A.billenatus sub species though I dont belive it to be as common as in Acanthophis. Perinhueyi's adder is also a likely canidate for they keep a blakish tail tip all of their lives but I have never heard anything concreate to that regard.

Interesting stuff!!

Jeremy

P.S I think its safe to say that any Crotalid or Viper with a oddly colored tail tip uses this method which would proabbly include most of the genus. I even think some Crotalus employ this method (C.tigris perhaps?) but again, I have no concrete evidence on thsi claim.

Hey Jeremy,

Yes, I saw some caudal luring in the baby Calloselasma I had last year

Gotta run,

Michael

PS- you going to Columbia this year?