« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Anaconda myth?  (Read 244 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Geegmasta

  • Master Gator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 503
  • Reputation: +5/-0
    • My-"space" yao
Anaconda myth?
« on: March 25, 2009, 06:10:52 PM »
Yaaao!

So a good friend of mine is a breeder of colubrids (cal kings + morphs, western hoggies, manderan rats etc) is a very knowledgeable dude for snakes.

He said that he knew a guy that worked with Condas.

Anyway, this dude said that a conda, when getting ready to strike flicks it's tongue only up instead of up and down. (and by up I mean the bulk of the tongue goes up towards the snout, like a rattlesnake...)

But right after it goes up, then down...when the tongue is put back the snake strikes.

I know it sounds ridiculous but it may possibly have scientific backing surrounding it? 
Anyone else hear of this?
Logged
Coming soon...

Offline Donnie_K

  • Retic []D.[].[]v[].[]D
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5,014
  • Reputation: +38/-3
    • Donnie_K's Reptile Geeks Page
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2009, 07:44:42 PM »
that is curious, any anaconda keepers here wanna shed some light on this?
Logged
Welcome... To the Dark Side

"Did you hear the word about me playing the game?
 Selling my soul and changing my name.
 Did you hear the word about me being a prick?
 Did you know I don't care? You can suck my...
 Did you hear the word about me trying to die?
 Fist in the air and a finger to the sky.
 Do I care if you hate me? Do you wanna know the truth?
 C'est la vie....adiós....good riddance....fuck you!"

Offline Niccolo

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 191
  • Reputation: +2/-1
  • 10-4 rubber ducky
    • Xtreme Reptiles
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2009, 09:18:05 PM »
I'm not to sure about that. I think the head movement and overall body behavior lets you know when a strike may be coming. They crane their necks at an odd curved angle to deliver that sideways slash instead of a regular foward strike. Who knows. I may just keep a closer eye on my conda's tongue next feeding day.
Logged

Offline Geegmasta

  • Master Gator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 503
  • Reputation: +5/-0
    • My-"space" yao
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2009, 09:37:08 PM »
Quote from: Niccolo on March 25, 2009, 09:18:05 PM
I'm not to sure about that. I think the head movement and overall body behavior lets you know when a strike may be coming. They crane their necks at an odd curved angle to deliver that sideways slash instead of a regular foward strike. Who knows. I may just keep a closer eye on my conda's tongue next feeding day.

Yeah that's what I'm saying.  That's why I posted it...who knows.  Just wondering if anyone else has heard of this.
Logged
Coming soon...

Offline Niccolo

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 191
  • Reputation: +2/-1
  • 10-4 rubber ducky
    • Xtreme Reptiles
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2009, 09:41:13 PM »
I personally have never heard of this and I've been dealing with condas for over 10 years.
Logged

Offline lazyguy

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 61
  • Reputation: +0/-0
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2009, 07:41:28 AM »
I can't say I have heard it either. I've been lucky here lately because I haven't had to pay attention for my girls haven't struck other then my yellow male just the other day. With all the condas in the past that I have taken bites from have just been WAM!!! No real sign of it coming. That is one thing about condas, they can get you so quick and show not sign. My yellow did it to me just the other day in a school show. Right in the stomach! Was as cool as could be and just WAM! Scared the little ones a little. The funny thing was I was right in the middle of my speach " anything with a mouth has the ability to bite. This doesn't always mean it will, but it could." Figures.
Logged
My Snake Can Eat Your Honor Student!!

http://www.myspace.com/lazyguy789

Offline eunectes904

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 495
  • Reputation: +8/-0
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2009, 04:38:56 PM »
I have never heard of that, and i've been studying anacondas for over 10 years.  The tongue flicker you might see could be the snake pulling in smells from what's above it "us" therefore the tongue faces upward. If the smell is foreign and the snake stresses, it might cause a defensive strike.  Anacondas are ambush predators, so there's a good chance you will not see a strike coming.  They go from 0 to chainsaw in 1/100th of a second (documented).  The myths about tongue flickering in relation to preparation for a strike have never proved any relevance.
Logged

Offline Geegmasta

  • Master Gator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 503
  • Reputation: +5/-0
    • My-"space" yao
Re: Anaconda myth?
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2009, 04:51:22 PM »
Good deal guys, like I said...It's just what I heard and I was skeptical when I was told this...soooo yeah.  I think the myth was busted. Haha
Logged
Coming soon...
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »