>>>>It is true that much of L. zonata's range is inaccessible, but where it is accessible, human collectors can be an important factor in shaping L. zonata behavior, and L. zonata is not the only species that has altered its behavior because of humans.

Totally agree.

>>>>Therefore the habit of the older, more "wily" snakes to retreat into the deepest, most inaccessible crevices can only be the result of natural selection brought on by human collectors, but not the result of predation.

ONLY?? That is pretty absolute for a hypothesis you just thought up in your head. Does not fit though with observations that large adults and especially the females are "wily" even in remote locations with no evidence of collection pressure. On the other hand, I have seen a lot of zonata with injuries and scarring no doubt from attacks they escaped.


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Rick Staub

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