Snakes

Question 1

Snake characteristics

Answer 1

• highest degree of cranial kinesis of any tetrapods
• transparent spectacle covering eye
• large right lung, reduced left
• jacobson/vomeronasal organ (for chemoreception)

Question 2

Pit organs in snakes

Answer 2

• sensitive infrared receptors
• pit vipers: b/t nostril and eye
• boas and pythons: paired structure along lips

Question 3

Reproduction with snakes

Answer 3

• paired copulatory organs - hemipenes

- genetic sex determination

Question 4

Feeding in snakes

Answer 4

• unilateral feeding (right and left bones of upper jaw move alternately)
• have a glottis to breathe while consuming prey

Question 5

How do snakes kill prey

Answer 5

• constriction

- immobilization with fangs (venom)

Question 6

Viperid venom

Answer 6

• generally hemolytic, attacks blood - internal bleeding

- also cytolytic, destructs cells

Question 7

Elapid venom

Answer 7

• generally neurotoxic

- immobilizes prey, permanent damage, suffocates first)

Question 8

Threats to snake populations

Answer 8

• indiscriminate killing and collecting
• habitat loss and fragmentation
• snake fungal disease

Question 9

Primitive snakes (order, characteristics)

Answer 9

Order: Scolecophidia

• solid skulls
• fossorial
• primitive eyes - retina only contains rods

Question 10

Pythons (family and characteristics)

Answer 10

• Family: Pythonidae
• nonvenomous constrictors
• habitat: desert to rain forest
• cloacal spurs
• pit organs
• includes longest extant snake

Question 11

Burmese python

Answer 11

• introduced into Everglades - invasive
• 30k-300k pythons could be in park
• implicated in severe declines of mammal species

Question 12

Boas (family and characteristics)

Answer 12

• Family: Boidae
• nonvenomous - vivparous
• vestigal pelvic girdle
• heaviest extant snake

Question 13

Vipers and pit vipers (family and characteristics)

Answer 13

• Family: Viperidae
• venomous
• viviparous or oviparous

Question 14

Copperhead (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 14

• Agkistrodon contortrix
• no rattle
• dark cross bands in hourglass pattern
• mostly nocturnal
• south NY

Question 15

Timber rattlesnake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 15

• Crotalus horridus
• largest venomous snake in NY
• has ratte
• yellow and dark morphs
• reproduce every 3-4 years
• S NY, along W+S border

Question 16

Massasauga (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 16

• Sistrurus catenatus
• venomous with rattle
• wetland-dependant
• viviparous
• two spots in NY, one is in Onondaga

Question 17

Cobras, kraits, sea snakes, death adders and allies (family and characteristics)

Answer 17

• Family: Elapidae
• worlds deadliest snakes
• neurotoxin to paralyze prey

Question 18

Common snakes (family and characteristics)

Answer 18

• Family: Colubridae

- largest snake family

Question 19

Northern water snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 19

• Nerodia sipedon
• most aquatic NY snake
• permanent freshwater habitats
• All around NY except ADK

Question 20

Queen snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 20

• Regina septemvittata
• moving water with shrubs
• specializes on molted crayfish
• dark tan-black with yellow stripe on lower sides
• 4 spots on W NY

Question 21

DeKays brown snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 21

• Storeria dekayi
• small with keeled scales
• terrestrial and marshy habitats
• scattered everywhere in NY

Question 22

Red-bellied snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 22

• Storeria occipitomaculata
• smallest snake in NY
• 2 color morphs: red/brown
• 3 light spots behind head
• moist forests
• common everywhere in NY

Question 23

Short-headed garter snake

Answer 23

• Thamnophis brachystoma
• meadows, forest edge
• brown with 3 light stripes
• SW border of NY

Question 24

Eastern ribbon snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 24

• Thamnophis sauritus
• small spot of yellow in front of eye
• long tail
• fairly aquatic but bask in grass
• Scattered through NY but not common

Question 25

Common garter snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 25

- Thamnophis sirtalis - most widespread snake in NY - Variable in color - true viviparity - everywhere in NY

Question 26

Smooth green snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 26

- Liochlorophis vernalis - bright green with white belly - wet grassy areas near forests, lakes, wetlands - scattered throughout NY

Question 27

Eastern worm snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 27

- Carphophis amoenus - brown with pink belly, blunt tail - moist forests with streams - mostly fossorial - only in S NY, long island

Question 28

Eastern racer (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 28

- Coluber constrictor - black with white chin and dark belly - does not constrict - S NY, some in central NY

Question 29

Ring-necked snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 29

- Diadophis punctatus - yellow/orange belly and neck ring - mostly nocturnal - common in central NY mostly, some in S and W NY, almost none north

Question 30

Eastern rat snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 30

- Elaphe alleghaniensis - longest snake in NY - black with white checkered belly - constricts - mostly S NY, some scattered throughout

Question 31

Eastern hognose snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 31

- Heterodon platirhinos - flattened, upturned snout - S NY, some Eastern

Question 32

Milk snake (name, range, characteristics)

Answer 32

- Lampropeltis triangulum - red or reddish-brown blotches with black outline - old fields, farmlands - everywhere in NY except ADK