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Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred
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Mel
I've settled in...
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 20
Location: Rochdale - Manchester
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 Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:00 pm Post subject: Pueblan problem |
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| Hi i have an apricot pueblan milksnake called Yiba, she's about 17 months old. When i get her out she still does the musking thing, the other night i spotted what looks like a small drop of blood in it, like a drop of pink pee or summat, i had her out since and it hasn't happened again, but am still a little worried as to what this may be. I was sold her as a female by the pet shop, i haven't probed her or had her done to check though. |
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Drymarchon32
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Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:36 am Post subject: |
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It is called autohemorrhaging and is an anti-predator mechanism, this has been described in several species and I can personally attest to it, and have seen it on sevearl occasions in several species that use cloacal discharge as a defense.
If you want the blurb there are a few papers out there but this one caught my eye
| Quote: | | Autohemorraging could represent a stress response or a range of possible antipredator mechanisms, from startle effect to attracting a predator to what may be the less critical tail area. Our experience suggests that the discharge could readily be smeared about the face of certain predators. The possibility that the bright red cloaca and blood may be novel to a predator (similar to dropping your pants and displaying a bright red rear end when being chased by a bully) relative to most members of the prey community has not escaped our attention. Developing hypotheses on why more than 70% of the hemorrhagers were females requires a closer look at the internal structure of the cloaca and scent glands (at least a portion of the blood came from the scent glands) of males and females. |
Not sure about the "smear about the face" theory but the study was valid. the rest of it is here
http://creso.acs.ac/STUDENT%20PROJECTS/SNAKES/Kingsnakes.htm
It's particularly relevant as it is another lampropeltis species.
Hope this helps to alieviate your worries
Al
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Complacency killed the keeper |
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Mel
I've settled in...
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 20
Location: Rochdale - Manchester
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| Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:24 am Post subject: |
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That's great thank you! an she hasn't done it since  |
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