Abstract
Two rattlesnakes were photographed in various behavioral states from two perspectives (from above and from the side) simultaneously, and 26 measures of posture were taken from each pair of pictures. A total of 48 pairs of pictures were digitized in this manner. These measures were then subjected to a correlational analysis. Various measures taken from the side view were significantly correlated with each other and with measures taken from the top view. For example, the degree to which the head and neck were elevated above the floor (as seen from side view) was correlated with the number of S-shaped loops in the body (as seen from top view). Both sets of measures were, in turn, associated with the snakes’ momentary state of defensiveness. Hence, a bird viewing the snake from above could diagnose the snake’s behavioral state by cues which are quite different from those which could be used for the same purpose by rodents or canids that would view the snake from a horizontal perspective. Although we have not established that these cues are in fact being utilized by birds, rodents, or canids (or any other animal), the fact remains that covarying postural elements are associated with particular behavioral states and that they may be useful cues for prey or predators.
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References
Klauber, L. M. Rattlesnakes, their habits, life histories and influence on mankind (2 Vols). Berkeley: University of California Press, 1972.
Tryon, R. C., & Bailey, D. E. Cluster analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.
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We thank the Baltimore City Zoo and Dr. Frank Groves for making facilities available to us. We also thank the M. M. Schmidt Foundation for fmancial contributions to this work.
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Iglehart, F., Chiszar, D. Covariation among elements of rattlesnake posture: Potential interspecific signals. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 9, 294–296 (1977). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03337003