Tuesday, November 6, 2012

[Herpetology • 2011] Death Feigning behavior in two species of the genus Lycodon of Asia (Squamata: Colubridae); Lycodon cf. aulicus and Lycodon capucinus



Thanatosis meaning ‘putting to death’ in Greek is commonly referred to as Death feigning. Death feigning is a form of defensive behavior, in which an animal becomes immobile as if dead (McFarland, 1981) which has been reported from various group of animals including mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods (Vogel & Han-Yuen, 2010). This behavior has long been known from some snake species but no extensive work has been done to formally report  this behavior in Asian snakes. Among Indian snakes, death feigning has been known from the following two species: Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799) and (Coelognathus radiatus Fitzinger, 1843) (Vogel & HanYuen, 2010)


2011. Death feigning behavior in two species of the genus Lycodon of Asia (Squamata: Colubridae)
Death feigning behavior in Lycodon cf. aulicus and Lycodon capucinus