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MeganCoffey β Ball Python
Published: 2011-12-30 19:18:56 +0000 UTC; Views: 3745; Favourites: 82; Downloads: 393
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Description
Shot with Mike Schalk with my animals
Here is Jody, my nearly 4 foot ball python
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Comments: 36
Some people say that snakes are deaf to high-frequency airborn sounds. Twice in my life I have observed snake phenomena that make me doubt that. Β If snakes were deaf, what I saw would be inexplicable.Β
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The first time was many years ago in Massachusetts in what is now the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge near Ayer. It was autumn. A friend and I were walking when we heard what sounded like a rattlesnake. Β We approached cautiously to get a better look. Β It was not a rattlesnake. Β What we saw amazed us. Β It was some other kind of rattleless snake. It had wrapped the end of its tail around a small sapling, and was from time to time shaking this little tree with its tail. The tree had dead, dry leaves that had not yet fallen off, and as the tree was shaken by the snake, the rustling of these leaves made a sound that could easily be mistaken for a rattlesnake. Β This seems to me to be an example of mimicry. I don't see how the snake could pull it off though without keen hearing. Β Otherwise, how would the snake know it had not grabbed ahold of a leafless tree, or one with wet leaves?Β
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The second time was at a wildlife trail in wooded East Texas. There was an observation platform about three feet above the ground on which one could take in the scenery. Β Again, it was autumn, and the ground was covered in dry leaves. My companion and I noticed close by us a mouse foraging in the leaves. Β The mouse would work a certain spot on the ground, and as it bustled with digging or whatever, it disturbed the leaves nearby, and the fluttering of the leaves was fairly audible. Β Then there would be a pause in the noise the mouse was making, either because it found something, or because as it changed position to work a new spot, its activity disturbed the dry leaves less.
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We also noticed a snake about ten feet away slowly approaching the mouse. Β But the snake did not slither towards the mouse in a continuous fashion. Β It moved in fits and starts, and its movements though the leaves made sounds that perfectly mimicked those of the mouse. Β If the mouse had noticed the sounds that the snake was making, the mouse would have thought that another mouse was making that noise, doing the same activities that it was doing.Β
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The snake did indeed get the mouse.Β
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Looks just like my ball python but mine is only 8 months old.
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I am getting a ball pyhton around thanksgiving or christmas and I will name him/her frosty because of the season
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I can't wait to get it!!
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is it weird i see this and think "my god they are so strong!"
animals are so stealthy
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lol! not at all
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You're really pretty (if that is chu) And so is Jody
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Thats me! Thank you
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Not a problem
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Beautiful shot, woman, and snake!
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Awh! Cool, I love them!
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they're great aren't they? ^^
mine's an adult called Isis, egyptian god seemed kind of fitting for a python
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so natural ^_^ and the way the colors work is so great. you really did good with this.
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You're both so pretty ! ^^ Love the pose, it's a good shot and still looks so natural :3 Nice you two! I love ball pythons : >
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Thank you!
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Eek and yummy! I'll let you figure out which word goes with what
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