When playing dead do hognose snakes commonly have a little blood in their mouth?
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Playing dead
buddygrout
Jan 18, 2006 10:39 AM
Replies (3)
Colchicine
Jan 18, 2006 03:05 PM
Yes, it is called autohemorraging. They can do it out of their mouth and cloaca. The exact mechanism is still debated. Under what circumstance did you observe this phenomenon?
Check out...
Smith, D.D., D.J. Pflanz and R. Powell. 1993. Observations of autohemorrhaging in Tropidophis haetianus, Rhinocheilus lecontei, Heterodon platyrhinos, and Nerodia erythrogaster. Herpetological Review. 24 (4):130-131.
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Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society
http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS
If there is a just God, how humanity would writhe in its attempt to justify its treatment of animals. - Isaac Asimov
buddygrout
Jan 19, 2006 10:03 AM
Actually I was forcefeeding a stuborn western a mouse leg and was concerned I had hurt him. Two days later he still seems ok. I'm hoping he will eat on his own the next time. The little female will eat mouse legs on her own,but he had went a long time without eating. Thanks for the information.
Colchicine
Jan 19, 2006 12:45 PM
Ah, in that case it would not be autohemorraging which is done intentionally. I do have a lot of experience FF hogs and their mouths bleed VERY easily for some reason. You also have to watch out for their fangs to make sure you don't get snagged on one!
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Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society
http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS
If there is a just God, how humanity would writhe in its attempt to justify its treatment of animals. - Isaac Asimov
