Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy
Abstract For various reasons, reduction or cessation of feeding (anorexia) can occur in either sex during periods of reproduction among vertebrates, from cichlids to elephant seals. Anorexia is commonly associated with gestation in snakes. Using radiotelemetry, we investigated the feeding and spatia...
Published in: | Journal of Zoology |
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Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x |
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crwiley:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x 2024-06-02T08:06:03+00:00 Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy Schuett, G. W. Repp, R. A. Amarello, M. Smith, C. F. 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Zoology volume 289, issue 2, page 101-110 ISSN 0952-8369 1469-7998 journal-article 2012 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x 2024-05-06T07:03:04Z Abstract For various reasons, reduction or cessation of feeding (anorexia) can occur in either sex during periods of reproduction among vertebrates, from cichlids to elephant seals. Anorexia is commonly associated with gestation in snakes. Using radiotelemetry, we investigated the feeding and spatial ecology of a live‐bearing viperid snake, the western diamond‐backed rattlesnakes ( C rotalus atrox ). Specifically, from 2001 to 2010, we determined the feeding frequency and home range size of adult females ( n = 27) during the active season ( M arch– O ctober) in a population from the S onoran D esert of A rizona. We addressed a central hypothesis: Do hunting and feeding occur throughout pregnancy? Also, we tested a corollary hypothesis: Does pregnancy influence home range size? We documented hunting and feeding from M arch to O ctober and during pregnancy ( J une to mid‐ S eptember). Feeding frequency was significantly greater in late pregnancy, a result that is in sharp contrast to most other large‐bodied vipers. Furthermore, home range sizes in gestating subjects did not differ from those in nonreproductive years. Births occurred from mid‐ A ugust to mid‐ S eptember and mean litter size was 3.4. Frequent feeding in C . atrox during gestation unquestionably provides energy and nutrients to the mother, which is likely important for survival, but such food consumption does not imply that nutrients are used by the fetuses. There is, however, recent evidence in other snakes, including a pitviper, that amino acids are transferred to fetuses. Feeding during pregnancy in C . atrox may be important for both income and capital mode reproduction. Hunting and feeding throughout gestation might be accomplished by having relatively small litters not burdened by a body cavity filled with fetuses. Reduction in litter size may thus be a life‐history (fecundity) trade‐off that permits females to survive and maintain pregnancy in regions where drought and high temperatures are often extreme and chronic. Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seals Wiley Online Library Journal of Zoology 289 2 101 110 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract For various reasons, reduction or cessation of feeding (anorexia) can occur in either sex during periods of reproduction among vertebrates, from cichlids to elephant seals. Anorexia is commonly associated with gestation in snakes. Using radiotelemetry, we investigated the feeding and spatial ecology of a live‐bearing viperid snake, the western diamond‐backed rattlesnakes ( C rotalus atrox ). Specifically, from 2001 to 2010, we determined the feeding frequency and home range size of adult females ( n = 27) during the active season ( M arch– O ctober) in a population from the S onoran D esert of A rizona. We addressed a central hypothesis: Do hunting and feeding occur throughout pregnancy? Also, we tested a corollary hypothesis: Does pregnancy influence home range size? We documented hunting and feeding from M arch to O ctober and during pregnancy ( J une to mid‐ S eptember). Feeding frequency was significantly greater in late pregnancy, a result that is in sharp contrast to most other large‐bodied vipers. Furthermore, home range sizes in gestating subjects did not differ from those in nonreproductive years. Births occurred from mid‐ A ugust to mid‐ S eptember and mean litter size was 3.4. Frequent feeding in C . atrox during gestation unquestionably provides energy and nutrients to the mother, which is likely important for survival, but such food consumption does not imply that nutrients are used by the fetuses. There is, however, recent evidence in other snakes, including a pitviper, that amino acids are transferred to fetuses. Feeding during pregnancy in C . atrox may be important for both income and capital mode reproduction. Hunting and feeding throughout gestation might be accomplished by having relatively small litters not burdened by a body cavity filled with fetuses. Reduction in litter size may thus be a life‐history (fecundity) trade‐off that permits females to survive and maintain pregnancy in regions where drought and high temperatures are often extreme and chronic. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Schuett, G. W. Repp, R. A. Amarello, M. Smith, C. F. |
spellingShingle |
Schuett, G. W. Repp, R. A. Amarello, M. Smith, C. F. Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
author_facet |
Schuett, G. W. Repp, R. A. Amarello, M. Smith, C. F. |
author_sort |
Schuett, G. W. |
title |
Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
title_short |
Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
title_full |
Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
title_fullStr |
Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
title_sort |
unlike most vipers, female rattlesnakes (crotalus atrox) continue to hunt and feed throughout pregnancy |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x |
genre |
Elephant Seals |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seals |
op_source |
Journal of Zoology volume 289, issue 2, page 101-110 ISSN 0952-8369 1469-7998 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00969.x |
container_title |
Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
289 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
101 |
op_container_end_page |
110 |
_version_ |
1800750929607131136 |