Tail vibration is a common behavior in some snakes where the tail is vibrated rapidly as a defensive response to a potential predator. Tail vibration is distinct from caudal luring , where the tail is twitched in order to attract prey. While rattlesnakes are perhaps the most famous group of snakes to exhibit tail vibration behavior, many other snake groups—particularly those in the Colubridae and Viperidae families—are known to vibrate their tails.
23-550: Bushmasters may refer to: Lachesis (genus) , a genus of venomous pit vipers found in forested areas of Central and South America 158th Infantry Regiment (United States) , of the Arizona Army National Guard, nicknamed the "Bushmasters" See also [ edit ] Bushmaster (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
46-461: A wolf or the sound associated with African whistling thorn acacia ( Acacia drepanolobium ). Others have suggested it could serve as a distraction—particularly for nonvenomous species— meant to draw attention away from a snake’s head and towards its less vulnerable tail. It has also been suggested that tail-vibrating nonvenomous snakes sympatric with rattlesnakes may be Batesian mimics of rattlesnakes that gain protection from predators by mimicking
69-640: A New World taxa, though there are also Old World venomous snakes that tail-vibrate. Tail vibration is widespread among Vipers and Colubrids , and the behavior may be deeply ancestral in both groups. Tail vibration behavior in rattlesnakes may have evolved from tail vibration in rattle-less ancestors. In support of this hypothesis are studies that show the similarity in specialized tail morphology and rate and duration of tail vibration between rattlesnakes are their closest relatives. The evolution of rattlesnake rattling from simple tail vibration behavior may, in fact, be an example of behavioral plasticity leading to
92-522: A bushmaster in the film Romancing the Stone from 1984 when seeking shelter in a crashed plane. A bushmaster snake bit a character in the film Primal in 2019. The Marvel Comics supervillain Bushmaster is named after the genus. The following weapons and military vehicles are named after this viper: Tail vibration Tail vibration involves the rapid shaking of the tail in response to
115-608: A fourth species, L. acrochorda ( García , 1896), referring to it as the Chochoan bushmaster. Its evolutionary relationships are not certain, but Lachesis acrochorda is thought to be closer to L. muta than to the two Central American species L. stenophrys and L. melanocephala . * Not including the nominate subspecies. Type species . Adults of the genus Lachesis typically range in total length (including tail) from 2 to 3 m (6.6 to 9.8 ft), although some may grow to as much as 4 m (13 ft), making Lachesis
138-520: A predatory threat. The behavior is particularly widespread among New World species of Viperidae and Colubridae . However, some Typhlopidae and Boidae species may also tail vibrate. At least one species of lizard— Takydromus tachydromoides —has been shown to tail vibrate in response to a potential predator. Tail vibration behavior in rattlesnakes is somewhat different from tail vibration in other snakes because rattlesnakes hold their tails vertically when tail vibrating, whereas other snakes hold
161-416: A proto-rattle may have enhanced caudal luring , a behavior common to rattlesnakes and their closest relatives, because such a structure might have looked similar to an arthropod head. Those in support of this hypothesis also point out that specialized keratinized structures have evolved in caudal luring species before, such as in the spider-tailed horned viper, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides . Opponents of
184-715: A rattlesnake, the faster it vibrates its tail. Rattlesnakes tail-vibrate faster than other snakes, with some individuals nearing or exceeding 90 rattles per second. This makes rattlesnake tail vibration one of the fastest sustained vertebrate movements—faster than the wingbeat of a hummingbird . The movement is possible thanks to specialized “shaker” muscles in the rattlesnake tail. Snakes more closely related to rattlesnakes vibrate more quickly than do more distant rattlesnake relatives. In one study that measured tail vibration in 155 snakes representing 56 species, vibratory speed ranged from 9 vibrations per second ( Bothriopsis taeniata ) to 91 rattles per second ( Crotalus polystictus ). In
207-474: Is capable of inducing irreversible blockage of neuromuscular transmission in vitro at concentrations as low as 1 mg/ml. A bushmaster snake is the antagonist in the tenth episode of the radio show Escape . The episode's title was "A Shipment of Mute Fate", and starred Jack Webb and Raymond Lawrence. It was broadcast on 15 October 1947. The story was also adapted for Suspense starring Jack Kelly , broadcast on January 6, 1957. Jack T. Colton killed
230-557: Is caused by metalloproteases , which damage capillary walls. Both coagulant and hemorrhagic activities act in combination, triggering local and systemic hemorrhagic disorders. Proteolytic activity is due to direct action of proteases (thrombin for example), metalloproteases, and important myotoxic and cytolytic factors. Myotoxic action occurs due to phospholipase generating an inflammatory infiltrate composed of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages around necrotic cells. Phospholipases can induce necrosis of skeletal muscle fibers. While
253-625: The bushmasters ) is a genus of pit vipers in the family Viperidae . Member species are found in forested areas of the Neotropics . The generic name refers to one of the Three Fates , Lachesis (in Greek mythology ), who determined the length of the thread of life. Four species are currently recognized as being valid. The genus Lachesis was traditionally composed of only three species, but Campbell and Lamar (2004) recognized
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#1732783122355276-454: The "caudal luring hypothesis" point out the lack of parsimony in such a process, since it would require the behavior to evolve from an offensive to a defensive context ( extant rattlesnakes only use the rattle in defensive contexts). If rattlesnake rattling behavior evolved from tail vibration, it would require no such change in behavioral context. Additionally, some have suggested that a proto-rattle could have increased sound production if
299-426: The defibrinating action results in anticoagulant blood, the venom also has a kininogen -like action; it causes the body to release substances such as bradykinin and kallikrein inducing hypotension. Bradykinin-enhancing peptides interfere with the bradykinin metabolism causing it to last longer in the blood, leading to lasting hypotension. The venom also has a neurotoxic action, isolated from basic phospholipase, that
322-520: The evolution of a novel phenotype. Other researchers have suggested that the rattle may have evolved originally to enhance caudal luring, and that caudal luring behavior therefore preceded defensive tail vibration in rattlesnakes. In support of this hypothesis, researchers suggest that a “proto-rattle” would not have increased sound production since rattles require a certain threshold of complexity (at least two overlapping rings of keratin) in order to produce sound. Proponents of this hypothesis suggest that
345-644: The heaviest vipers, since the Gaboon viper ( Bitis gabonica ) and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus ) are heavier, large adults can weigh 3 to 7 kg (6.6 to 15.4 lb). Bushmasters are sexually dimorphic in size, with males reaching larger sizes than females. The bushmasters' tail ends with a horny spine which sometimes vibrates when disturbed like rattlesnakes ; due to this, it has been called 'the mute rattlesnake'. Lachesis species are found in Central and South America, as well as
368-528: The island of Trinidad in the Caribbean . Bushmasters lay eggs , about a dozen in an average clutch. The female reportedly remains with her eggs during incubation and may aggressively defend the nest if approached. The hatchlings average 30 cm (12 in) in length and are more colorful than the adults. Lachesis is thought to be unique among New World pit vipers by laying eggs rather than giving birth to live young, although some evidence suggests that
391-505: The longest genus of venomous snake in the Western Hemisphere , and the longest genus of viper in the world. L. muta is possibly the largest of the four species currently recognized, although more scant information suggests that L. stenophrys broadly overlaps in size and may average at a similar size, while L. melanocephala and L. acrochorda are apparently slightly smaller than the prior two species. Although they are not
414-625: The rattling sound produced by rattlesnakes (all of which are venomous ). In support of this hypothesis, one study found that gophersnake ( Pituophis catenifer ) populations sympatric with rattlesnakes tail-vibrate for longer durations than island populations allopatric with rattlesnakes. The authors suggest this finding is consistent with the mimicry hypothesis because the behavior appears to be degrading in allopatry, where predators are not under selection to avoid rattlesnake-like behavior. The mimicry hypothesis does not explain why Old World nonvenomous snakes also tail-vibrate, since rattlesnakes are solely
437-773: The species Bothrocophias colombianus found in Colombia may do the same. Bushmasters are capable of multiple-bite strikes and the injection of large amounts of venom. Even the bite of a juvenile specimen can be fatal to a human. However, these snakes are rarely encountered; so snakebite incidents are not common. The venom of Lachesis has several activities, such as the activation of plasminogen , leading to increased permeability of blood vessels, causing edema and lowering of blood pressure. It also has coagulant activity in which thrombin -like enzymes act on fibrinogen , forming small clots that settle in organs such as lungs and kidneys, obstructing capillary blood flow. Hemorrhagic activity
460-478: The study, only two rattlesnakes (of 33 individuals filmed) had a maximum vibratory rate slower than the fastest non-rattlesnakes. The fastest non-rattlesnakes examined were species of Agkistrodon and New World Colubrids, both of which could sustain vibratory speeds up to about 50 rattles per second. It is unknown what benefit a snake derives from such fast speeds of tail vibration. One study did find that ground squirrels, Spermophilus beecheyi , are able to ascertain
483-413: The tail horizontally. Presumably, this is because the rattlesnake rattle produces its own noise, which would be diminished by the exterior of the rattle contacting the ground, and, conversely, snakes without rattles must vibrate the tail against the ground or some other object in order to make noise. The speed of tail vibration is directly correlated with temperature , at least for rattlesnakes. The warmer
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#1732783122355506-408: The threat level posed by a rattlesnake based on its rattling speed. Thus, it is possible that fast rattling speeds could be driven by predator-mediated selection, whereby snake predators avoid faster-vibrating individuals. It is also unknown what the specific function of tail vibration is. Many researchers have posited that it is primarily an auditory aposematic warning signal— like the growling of
529-495: The title Bushmasters . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bushmasters&oldid=920720652 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Lachesis (genus) Lachesis (also known commonly as
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