Maria Ny’s Ask Auntie Antelope Blog

No, contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. This myth may have resulted from the fact that when lying down and hiding from predators, these birds are known to lay their head and neck flat on the ground. They also do this when incubating eggs to remain as inconspicuous as possible so they don’t give away the location of their nest and eggs. But, because the head and neck are lightly colored and blend in with the soil, their bodies are all that is visible when viewed from a distance, so it looked like they were burying their heads in the sand.

The myth of an ostrich burying its head in the sand when danger approaches is so strongly embedded in people’s cultures that even the nickname “ostrich” is used for someone who is unwilling to face unpleasant facts. But, this is far from the truth where it relates to real ostriches because an ostrich can and will defend itself quite effectively with a 4-inch claw on each foot, and a kick powerful enough to kill a lion. But, typically they will outrun their predators because they are the fastest running birds in the world, reaching a speed of up to 43 mph (70 kph) and maintaining a speed of about 31 mph (50 kph) for several miles. Now, that’s a fast bird, isn’t it?

There are actually only four well-known living species of cat that can roar: the lion, tiger, jaguar and leopard. This comprises about half the Pantherinae subfamily–the big (roaring) cats.

Up to the present time, the accepted theory was that the ridgity or flexibility of the hyoid bone (a U-shaped bone in the throat suspended above the larynx) was the main determining factor on whether or not a cat could roar. This was because each of the four roaring cats have a flexible segment in their hyoid bone. And, non-roaring species (cheetahs, clouded leopards and all small cats) have inflexible, fully-ossified hyoid bones. However, this theory was subsequently shot down due to the fact that snow leopards have the same flexible hyoid bones as the roaring cats, but they can’t roar. So, more studies needed to be done.

After much research, scientists have recently determined that the reason lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards can roar and no other species can is actually due to other morphological features, especially of the larynx. To test this theory, they compared the larynx of each of the four roaring cats with those of several species of non-roaring cats (most notably the snow leopard, but also several species of small cats). They found that while a snow leopard has similar undivided thyroartenoid folds and that its larynx is similar in size to that of a small jaguar, they lack the pad of fibro-elastic tissue that increase the length and mass of its vocal fold which roaring cats have.

This pad of fibro-elastic tissue is what allows roaring cats the gradual transition of sound energy from a high to a low air resistence resulting in a better transfer of acoustical energy which efficiently radiates the sound. In short, the sound-producing mechanism of the snow leopard and all other non-roaring cats is less efficient due to shorter vocal folds, and poorer due to the lack of ability to radiate sound because they don’t have the pad of fibro-elastic tissue. This is why snow leopards, clouded leopards, cheetahs and small (purring) cats can’t roar.

Source: The larynx of roaring and non-roaring cats, M.H. Hast, J Anat. 1989 April; 163: 117–121.

Opossums are actually immune to the venom of many pit vipers including rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths. The reason for this immunity is due to the ntihemorrhagic and antineurotoxic antibodies in their blood.

Opossums are considered ophiophagous mammals, meaning that they are snake-eating mammals. There are other snake-eating mammals such as the skunk and mongoose, birds such as snake eagles, the Secretary Bird, and some hawks, lizards such as monitor lizards, and even other snakes, such as the Central and South American mussuranas and the North American common kingsnake. The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) has been found to have the most resistance towards snake venom. This immunity is not acquired and has probably evolved as an adaptation to predation by venomous snakes in their habitat.

An animal that is sometimes erroneously considered to be immune to snake venom is the pig. While pigs generally do not die from snake venom, they are not immune to snake venom. Instead the venom is typically absorbed by the pig’s subcutaneous fat layer. But, if the snake bite is not promptly treated, the pig can die or lose a limb due to infection. Snakes have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which inflict very dirty bites.

Rattlesnakes rattle to frighten away intruders. It also serves as a warning that the snake is about to strike. Typically, the snake will try avoid human encounters because it only hunts for prey which it can swallow whole like rabbits, squirrels and other small rodents.

Rattlesnakes generally will not strike at a large animal or human unless they feel threatened. If startled or provoked, rattlesnakes may bite without coiling up and rattling an advanced warning. A coiled snake can strike quickly and has a range of approximately 1/2 to 2/3 its total body length. But, it doesn’t have to be coiled to be able to strike.

There are nearly 50 different rattlesnake species and numerous subspecies recognized in the United States. They are sometimes identified by the jointed rattles at the ends of their tails. However, newborns don’t have rattles yet, and the rattles can be lost to predators or by other means. So, the presence or absense of rattles is not the most reliable way of identifying rattlesnakes.

The following are generally more reliable ways of identifying rattlesnakes: the shape of their heads, vertical pupils in their eyes, and the two facial pits between the eyes and nostrils.

The facial pits are why rattlesnakes are classified as part of the “pit viper” family. These highly-sensitive pits detect the body heat emanating from warm-blooded animals. They can determine how big the animal is, as well as being able to detect prey in complete darkness.

Most rattlesnakes live in the southwestern United States. But, there are numerous species and subspecies that extend north, east and south, so there is at least one variety in every contiguous state. The coloring and pattern of the snake’s skin, size of the snake and geographical location can help you identify the particular rattlesnake species or subspecies.

All rattlesnakes are venomous, but the venom is different among rattlesnakes species and subspecies. As a result, treatment for rattlesnake bites differs depending on what rattlesnake species or subspecies bit the victim. Proper identification of the sanke will help medical professionals and poison control centers know how to best treat a snake-bite victim.

The best way to avoid being bitten is to avoid an encounter altogether. Watch your step around fallen logs or boulders, and be cautious when near rocky outcroppings and ledges where rattlesnakes may be hiding or sunning themselves. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, be sure to give it plenty of room to retreat.

Coprophagia is defined as the consumption of poop. Little research has been done on this particular behavior, so veterinarians can only guess why dogs do this. However, dogs aren’t the only animals that eat poop. Many other animals eat poop on a regular basis including rodents, gorillas, many insects such as dung beetles and flies.

Herbivores such as rabbits and rodents eat their own poop because their diet of plants is hard to digest efficiently, and they have to make two passes at it to get everything out of the meal. This is equivalent to a cow chewing its cud. However, because a cow has four stomachs, they are able to re-eat their food without having to poop it out first. Deer, moose and other four-stomached herbivores also chew their cud.

Many animals, including dogs, eat poop because poop contains vitamins produced by the intestinal bacteria that the animal can’t absorb through the intestinal wall. So, they get these vitamins by eating poop. Another reason that some animals, including dogs, eat poop is because poop contains protein. Dogs are particularly fond of cat poop because cat poop is high in protein.

Sometimes dogs may eat poop out of boredom; others may observe other dogs eating it and imitate the behavior. It may be a way of getting attention because owner tends to reprimand them and, therefore, pay attention to the animal. A female dog will eat the poop of her pups as a way to keep the den clean and reventing the scent of the poop from attracting predators. Some particularly dominant dogs may eat other dogs’ poop order to remove it, and therefore remove other dogs’ presence. This is because poop is one way in which dogs mark territory.

Some scientists believe that eating poop is just a trait passed down to dogs from their ancestors. Coyotes and wolves have been known to eat their own poop during food shortages, and have also been known to eat the poop of herbivores which contain many of the B vitamins. Starving dogs will eat their own poop, as well.

It may even be possible that there is no theory or particular reason why dogs eat poop. They may do it simply because it tastes good to them. Whatever reason they do it, try to keep them from eating poop because many parasites, including giardia, coccidia, roundworms and whipworms, can be transmitted through dog and cat poop. Additionally, clumping litter can pose a health threat to dogs if they eat it. Think of what the litter does when a cat urinates in it. Similar things may happen in a dog’s stomach if it eats enough of the litter.

Snake venom is a highly-mofified saliva produced by specialized glands, called “venom glands.” Venom consists of complex mixtures of many toxins and enzymes which effectively immobilize prey and assist in digestion. All snake venoms have one or more of the following components: hemotoxins (including hemorrhagins and hemolysins), myotoxins, and neurotoxins. Enzymes in snake venom include Amino acide oxidases and proteases, Hyaluronidase, Phosphodiesterase and ATPases.

• Hemotoxins primarily attacks the blood by destroying red blood cells and preventing coagulation while at the same time aggressively destroying its victim’s blood vessels.
• Myotoxins lead to severe muscle necrosis (death of cells and living tissue in the muscles). Myotoxins act very quickly, causing instantenous paralysis, to prevent prey from escaping, and eventual death due to diaphragmactic paralysis (paralysis of the diaphragm)–the diaphragm is crucial for drawing air into the lungs.
• Neurotoxins attacks the nervous system, causing massive respiratory malfunctions, heart failure and even paralysis. These symptoms are also normally accompanied by blurred vision, dry mouth, a metal taste and dizziness.
• Phosphodiesterases are used to interfere with the prey’s cardiac system, mainly to lower the blood pressure.
• Hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability which increases the rate that venom is absorbed into the prey’s tissues.
• Amino acid oxidases and proteases help the snake digest its prey. It also causes the venom of some species to be yellow.
• ATPases are used for breaking down ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) to disrupt the prey’s energy fuel use.

The rattle is made up of nested, hollow beads of dry, hard pieces of modified scales from the tail tip. A new rattle segment is added each time the snake sheds. The vibration of these shell-like rings on the end of its tail is what makes the rattling sound.

Some people think that you can tell the age of a rattlesnake by how many beads there are on its rattle–they think that snakes only shed once a year. But, this isn’t true. Rattlesnakes shed as they grow, and even as adults shed more than once a year. Plus, rattlesnakes sometimes lose their rattles to predators or by other means. So, the rattle is not an accurate way to determine a rattlesnake’s age. However, the number of rings can sometimes determine how big the snake is. Baby rattlesnakes are born without rattles. They don’t form the first segment of their rattle until one to two weeks of age when they shed their skin for the first time. As the snake grows, the number of segments increases. So the louder the rattle, the bigger the snake unless the snake has lost segments of its rattle or lost the rattle altogether.

“Firefly” is the common name for the nocturnal luminous insects belonging to the beetle family Lampyridae (order Coleoptera). They are also known as lightning bugs. These names come from the fact that some species as adults emit flashes of light to attract mates in order to reproduce, using special light-emitting, photic organs in the abdomen.

The photic organs produce light by means of a chemical reaction consisting of Luciferin (a substrate) combined with Luciferase (an enzyme), ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and oxygen, producing a “cold light” because there is almost no heat in the glow. When these components are added, light is produced. All known firefly larvae (also known as glowworms) produce light, but many species of fireflies do not glow as adults.

At night, the last abdominal segment of the firefly glows a bright yellow-green color. The firefly can control this glowing effect. The brightness of a single firefly is 1/40 of a candle, which is why the ancient Chinese sometimes captured fireflies in transparent or semi-transparent containers and used them as (short-term) lanterns. Fireflies use their glow to attract other fireflies. Males flash about every five seconds; females flash about every two seconds.

The gila monster is one of two poisonous lizards in the world. The other is the Mexican beaded lizard. The gila monster, like the Mexican beaded lizard, inject venom into its prey by biting down and squirting the venom down through gooves in its teeth.

There are over 500 species of venomous snakes, distributed worldwide grouped into two main categories: rear-fanged and front-fanged.

Both types have hollow fangs with a cavity running down most of its length. These fangs work like hypodermic needles. Venom from the venom gland enters the snake’s fangs through the venom duct and travels down the hollow canal in the snake’s fangs when the snake opens its mouth. The venom is then injected into the victim through its incredibly sharp, pointed fang tip orifices (openings) when the snake bites down. When biting, a front-fanged snake merely strikes, ejecting the veonom the moment the fangs penetrate the skin, then immediately letting go. While the rear-fanged species actually close their jaws like a dog and hold the prey firmly for a considerable amount of time.

Some species of cobra, commonly called “spitting cobras”, can actually shoot venom from their mouths accurately at a distance of about 4 to 8 feet. Another species of snake, the Rinkhals Cobra, can also spit venom. It is not actually a cobra, but is closely related to them.

Spitting snakes have modified fangs. Inside the fangs are channels which make a 90-degree bend in the lower front of each fang. When these snakes are threatened, the muscles of the venom gland squeeze the venom sack, projecting the venom forward while air expelled from the snake’s lung blows or sprays the venom at its intended victim with the velocity equivalent to that of a water pistol.

Spitting snakes can spit 30 to 40 times in succession and still deliver a lethal bite. Spitting is only used for self-defense against larger animals and humans, not for killing its prey. The snake aims for the eyes of a perceived threat where a direct hit can cause temporary shock and blindness by severely inflaming the cornea and conjunctiva. If left untreated, the blindness could become permanent. To treat, flush the eyes out with plenty of milk. If milk is not available, water will work. In an emergency, urine is an acceptable treatment. Venom on the skin isn’t dangerous, but open wounds could possibly become envenomated.

The size of the snake’s venom gland, venom toxicity, size of the fangs and the size of the fang openings determine how toxic the venom is. Most rear-fanged snakes deliver small amounts of venom slowly and therefore are not a major health threat to humans because their fangs and fang openings are small, and they generally have small venom glands. However, there are notable exceptions, such as the African boomslang which has been responsible for human fatalities. Front-fanged snakes are the most common and recognizable venomous snakes. These snakes are responsible for human fatalities world-wide because their fangs and fang openings are larger and their venom glands are generally larger, as well.