456
edits
Patchnose snake: Difference between revisions
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Jump to navigationJump to search
no edit summary
Grantimoto (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Grantimoto (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
''' | '''The Patchnosed snakes are a member of Kingdom Animalia and are part of the order Squamata, or snakes for short. The Patchnosed snake's name comes from the distinct patch apparent on the front of the snake's nose which can be used for digging to catch prey and multiple other things. Besides the patch, the Patchnosed snakes aren't unique or special in anyway from other snakes besides the fact that they are diurnal animals and operate during the day instead of during the night like most other snakes in its order.''' | ||
<ref>Author-last, First. [http://www.example.com Page-Title]. ''Name-of-site''. Web. date-of-publication (or access).</ref> | <ref>Author-last, First. [http://www.example.com Page-Title]. ''Name-of-site''. Web. date-of-publication (or access).</ref> | ||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
== Life Cycle == | == Life Cycle == | ||
Patchnosed snakes are brought into the world through sexual reproduction which involves a male and female Patchnosed snake breeding together. During the male snake's brumation period in the cold winter it will produce sperm so that it is able to breed successfully when spring comes around and he can find a mate. When spring arrives, the male Patchnose will find a female Patchnose snake and mix his sperm with her eggs. About a month after this, the female will lay about a half-dozen eggs together where they will stay until the time comes for them to hatch. After a couple weeks the eggs will hatch and the new hatchlings will emerge. The baby Patchnosed snakes resemble their parents except are smaller variations of them. The distinct markings of a baby Patchnosed snake are also the same as those of its parents which it will retain until the day it dies. The initial birth size of a baby Patchnosed snake is about seven to ten inches in overall length. This will obviously change as time passes and the snake will eventually grow to four or six times its original size.<ref name=Price/> | Patchnosed snakes are brought into the world through sexual reproduction which involves a male and female Patchnosed snake breeding together. During the male snake's brumation period in the cold winter it will produce sperm so that it is able to breed successfully when spring comes around and he can find a mate. When spring arrives, the male Patchnose will find a female Patchnose snake and mix his sperm with her eggs. About a month after this, the female will lay about a half-dozen eggs together where they will stay until the time comes for them to hatch. After a couple weeks the eggs will hatch and the new hatchlings will emerge. The baby Patchnosed snakes resemble their parents except are smaller variations of them. The distinct markings of a baby Patchnosed snake are also the same as those of its parents which it will retain until the day it dies. The initial birth size of a baby Patchnosed snake is about seven to ten inches in overall length. This will obviously change as time passes and the snake will eventually grow to four or six times its original size.<ref name=Price/> | ||
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
== Ecology == | == Ecology == | ||
[[File:Patchnose snake pic 7.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] Patchnosed snakes are diurnal animals that are active during the day unlike other nocturnal animals which are active during the night and dormant during the daytime. In the winter when the weather is colder than the other seasons, the Patchnosed snakes will hibernate like most other animals that are ectothermic and can't provide their bodies with heat. As the weather cools in the winter, the snakes must hibernate since its reactions will slow down as the cold seeps its way into the snake's blood. During the hibernation phase, the snake's body will produce eggs or sperm so it can breed in the spring when the weather conditions are more favorable. When a Patchnosed snake is trapped or being threatened it will exhibit mimicry by coiling its body and rattling its tail in order to make predators believe that they are rattlesnakes or another venemous animal. Although this aggressive position is assumed, Patchnosed snakes are harmless to humans. Animals that are consumed for energy by the Patchnosed snakes include: Rodents, lizards, eggs, and smaller snakes on occasion.<ref name=Price | [[File:Patchnose snake pic 7.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] Patchnosed snakes are diurnal animals that are active during the day unlike other nocturnal animals which are active during the night and dormant during the daytime. In the winter when the weather is colder than the other seasons, the Patchnosed snakes will hibernate like most other animals that are ectothermic and can't provide their bodies with heat. As the weather cools in the winter, the snakes must hibernate since its reactions will slow down as the cold seeps its way into the snake's blood. During the hibernation phase, the snake's body will produce eggs or sperm so it can breed in the spring when the weather conditions are more favorable. When a Patchnosed snake is trapped or being threatened it will exhibit mimicry by coiling its body and rattling its tail in order to make predators believe that they are rattlesnakes or another venemous animal. Although this aggressive position is assumed, Patchnosed snakes are harmless to humans. Animals that are consumed for energy by the Patchnosed snakes include: Rodents, lizards, eggs, and smaller snakes on occasion.<ref name=Price/> As far as habitat goes, the Patchnosed snakes live in woodland areas that are above flatlands and in mountain areas at an altitude of about 4,500 to 6,500 feet above sea level. A common destination where Patchnosed snakes live is in Arizona where it is warm, dry and above sea level as well.<ref name=Brennan>Brennan, Thomas. [http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Snakes-Subpages/h-s-grahamiae.html] ''reptilesofaz''. Web. Accessed 1/29/2012.</ref> Since the Patchnosed snake lives in desert areas, it can also be found in the southwest states in North America, the northwestern areas of Mexico, California, and multiple other regions as well. Because of the desert regions it inhabits, the Patchnosed snake actually uses its nose to dig for its food on occasion. The fast movement in Patchnosed snakes may also be used to help capture small animals and prey as well.<ref name=Arizona/> | ||
| Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
== | == Unique qualities of a Patchnosed snake == While the Patchnosed snakes may seem like just more snakes that more people are afraid of, but in reality are completely harmless to humans. Another unique thing about Patchnosed snakes is their movement speed across a landscape.<ref name=pecos>Trans, Pecos. [http://www.trans-pecos.us/snakes/salvador.html] ''Trans-pecos.us''. Web. Accessed 1/30/12..</ref> Although long and narrow, these snakes have the ability to move as fast as some humans can on foot. A video shown below gives an example of the Patchnosed snake's speed in sand. The last astonishing quality about these animals is the patch on the front of their nose as previously stated above. This patch allows the snake to dig into the ground to catch prey(Also showed below).<ref name=Price/> | ||
