by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
Organ Pipe CactusSnakes |
Brochure about Snakes at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (NM) in Arizona. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Organ Pipe Cactus
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Snakes
Life as a Snake
As the hot desert sun fades over the horizon, the snake slowly slithers onto a rock
and greedily soaks up its warmth. With warmth comes alertness and hunger. A
long forked tongue flickers in the air, tasting the breeze; food is nearby. Coiling
its body, the snake waits in anticipation. Suddenly, the cry of a hawk splits the
stillness - danger is approaching. The snake slides off the rock into a crevice for
safety. For today, the hunter lives to hunt another day. Ever present in the lives of
all creatures is the circle of life.
The Hunter and
the Hunted
Patient predators of stealth and silence, snakes lie
motionless for hours waiting for dinner to walk
past. With intricately patterned skin, snakes are
well camouflaged to blend in with the surrounding
rock and vegetation, the perfect disguise to fool
unsuspecting prey.
Small creatures like mice, rats, birds and lizards
are on a snake’s menu. Most snakes wait for prey
to wander within reach and launch themselves
out of hiding. Then they either swallow their prey
alive or constrict it to death before eating.
Senses
Snake senses are specialized to detect prey. When
snakes slither out to find a hunting spot, you might
see their tongue flickering in and out. Snakes use
their tongue to smell. When they lick the air, tiny
microscopic particles stick to their tongue and
are transferred to a sensitive spot in their mouth
called the Jacobson’s organ. This organ sends
information to the brain to identify scents as
enemy, mate, or food.
In addition to smell, snakes use eyesight to spot
prey. While their distance vision is not very good
beyond 40 feet, closer objects are in sharp focus
so a snake can easily spot potential food. If you
have a chance to see a snake closeup, you may
notice snakes have pupils of different shapes.
Snakes with round pupils are active during the day
and snakes with elliptical pupils, which capture a
How does Venom Work? Snakes kill their prey using a variety of techniques,
but some snakes use venom. Venom is a poison
which is stored inside hollow fangs. When a
snake sinks its fangs into prey, venom is released
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Some species, such as the Sidewinder, take a more
aggressive approach to hunting. They will flush
prey out of the bushes and actively pursue their
meal, until it is within striking distance.
Snakes are hunters, but they are also the hunted.
Here at Organ Pipe Cactus eagles, hawks and
roadrunners rely on snakes as their primary food
source. Being cold-blooded a snake must sun
itself every day to raise its body temperature high
enough to function properly. During these times
snakes are the most vulnerable to predators, for
they are slow, sluggish and exposed in open areas.
.
lot of light, are active mostly at night.
Some snakes have special adaptations to help
them hunt in the dark. Pit vipers (including
rattlesnakes) have little pits below their nostrils
that can sense infrared thermal radiation and help
the snake detect warm-blooded prey. These heatsensing pits are so sensitive a pit viper can hunt in
total darkness, effectively “seeing” its prey in the
infrared.
Can snakes hear? If you look at a snake carefully,
you will not be able to find ears. That’s because
snakes do not have outer ears. Instead they
“listen” to vibrations in the ground, which are
sent by bone to the inner ear. This helps a snake
detect small prey items walking in the area.
into the victim’s wound. Most small animals are
immediately stunned, allowing time for the snake
to swallow the victim whole. Venom also aids in
digestion, quickly breaking down the tissues of
the prey.
What Snake Will I See?
Western Patch-Nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis
Docile and slender, this snake reaches lengths
of 1-3 feet. A wide yellow stripe with a dark
border runs down the center of its back.
This snake uses its unique patch-like nose to
burrow into the soil.
Sonoran Whipsnake
Masticophis bilineatus
Slender in shape, this snake reaches lengths
of 2-5 feet. Olive green to bluish-gray in color;
this snake has 2-3 stripes running along either
side of the body. This is a fast moving snake,
primarily active in the early morning.
Long-Nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
This slender snake reaches lengths of up to
3 feet. There is a bit of variation in pattern and
color, most are banded or blotched with black,
white and usually red. This is a snake easily
confused with the venomous coral snake. It is
differentiated by its long nose and body bands
which do not completely encircle the body like
those of a coral snake.
Bull Snake (Gopher Snake)
Pitouphis melanoleucus
This is a large, heavy bodied snake. It can grow
up to 9 feet long, but usually only reaches
lengths of 4 feet. The skin is a pale yellow or
cream shade with brown or reddish blotches.
A dark stripe runs from in front of the eye
to the angle of the jaw. It is one of the most
widespread snakes in North America and
mimics a rattlesnake for protection.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Exceeding lengths of 7.5 feet, this snake is the king
of our southwestern desert rattlers. Its color ranges
from brown to gray to pinkish, with diamond shaped
blotches outlined by lighter color. Its tail is circled by
several alternating black and white bands. Its head is
spade shaped and it has rattles at the end of its tail.
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
Medium in size, this snake is a member of the
rattlesnake family. It has an upturned horn-like
scale above each eye. It will only reach to up to
2 ½ feet in length. It may be cream, yellowish
brown, pink, or gray in color, overlaid with dorsal
blotches. Getting its name from its form of
motion, Sidewinders move in a s-shaped curve.
Staying Safe
If you hear a rattle before you see a snake, STOP.
That noise is the snake’s “no trespassing” sign.
Use your eyes to find the snake, then slowly back
away.
and speed the flow of toxins through the body.
Give the snake an opportunity to escape. A snake
that is teased, cornered, or feels threatened by
your presence will defend itself by striking toward
you.
• Keep the bitten part as still as possible and
below the heart. A splint or sling may keep
the injured part from moving and feel more
comfortable.
Do not stick your hands and feet in places that
you cannot see. That is where snakes like to hide.
• Do not take aspirin, alcohol, or any other drug.
Do not use incision, suction, ice, cold pack, or
tourniquet as these will do more harm than good.
Wait for a trained medical professional.
IF YOU ARE BITTEN:
•Remain calm. Although the bite may be painful,
less than one percent of all snake bites are fatal.
•Do not run. Running will increase your heart rate
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• Notify Monument staff and seek medical
attention immediately.
• Remember time of day the bite was inflicted,
under what circumstances, and a description of
the snake.