Interbreeding between animals of different lineages is widespread in nature—and may reveal some of the mysteries of evolution.
Biting is not the first resort for rattlesnakes. Their defense actually starts with rattling. Rattling is a loud warning that the serpent is unhappy with your presence in its vicinity. Rattling is the snake’s way of tacitly telling the intruder to retreat from its territory. The snake ha...
Rattlesnake PreventionWhat should I do if I encounter a rattlesnake?Leave it alone. Most bites occur when individuals or dogs provoke the rattlesnake or if you try to capture or kill it. Rattlesnakes only bite or attack in self-defense, so the best way to avoid being bitten is to leave ...
A drastic change in your pet's skin tone is often cause for alarm, but not in the case of the leopard gecko. When he turns gray, he's not getting sick; the change is perfectly normal. As your gecko grows, he sheds. Once you know that your pet isn't in any danger, the process...
Generally, rattlesnakes will do their best not to engage with you. But if one is moving toward you, don’t assume it’s to attack you. “If a rattlesnake is coming in your direction, it might be a little bit more bold, and you’re just in the direction that it wants to go ...
(Pituophis catenifer), sometimes called the gopher snake, is one of these. It's about the same size as a rattlesnake (Crotalus spp.) and has similar markings. When cornered it can do a convincing rattlesnake impression, but its bite, while painful, is harmless. Rattlesnakes and bullsnakes ...
Tragedy and grieve are sometimes catalysts for noble plans of action. Ab Taylor, who participated in Jimmy’s search, was determined to do something to prevent similar tragedies. Working with a team, he created theHug-a-Tree and Surviveprogram targeted at very basic survival skills. In 2005 ...
HOW THE RATTLESNAKES CAME TO BE WHAT THEY AREZuñi
How to survive an alligator attack -- or better yet, avoid one entirely Andrews said rattlesnakes are most active in spring and fall, but vigilance is important all year. They might venture out in winter on a warm day. What do you do if you hear that bone-chilling rattle?
To do so, they examined the genetic code of rattlesnake family members and reconstructed their evolutionary history. They found that neurotoxin genes evolved about 22 million years ago, before the first rattlesnakes appeared, beginning 12 to 14 million years ago. "Snakes presented this really intere...