Posted by:
Doug T
at Thu Oct 23 20:16:15 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Doug T ]
I have witnessed my Madagascar Ground Boa "Rattle". Sure we could call it caudal luring, but it wiggled it's tail when it was excited. I've often heard the thought that the rattle evolved to keep from being trampled by large hooved animals, but it just as easily could have been to scare away predators in rocky terrain.
As for mimicking of coral snakes....There are tricolored snakes even in WA state where I live. There aren't coral snakes within a 1000 miles or more from here. Tricolored snakes aren't mimicking coral snakes. They've evolved a color scheme that disappears when they move. When not in motion they have 3 colors. When they move, they are black. Try it yourself 
Doug T
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RE: rattler question - Doug T, Thu Oct 23 20:16:15 2008