The authors report rapid movements of the tail in four wild captured colubrid snakes of the genus Elaphe (E. longissima and E. situla). This behaviour may be explained as "tail display”, a defensive behaviour that is well known in many species of the same genus it seems it has never been reported for Elapfie longissima. The importance of the tail movements for aggressive and defensive behaviour in snakes is discussed.
Tail display in two European snakes of the genus Elaphe fitzinger,1833 (Reptilia, Colubridae)
Augusto Gentilli;Edoardo Razzetti;
1999-01-01
Abstract
The authors report rapid movements of the tail in four wild captured colubrid snakes of the genus Elaphe (E. longissima and E. situla). This behaviour may be explained as "tail display”, a defensive behaviour that is well known in many species of the same genus it seems it has never been reported for Elapfie longissima. The importance of the tail movements for aggressive and defensive behaviour in snakes is discussed.File in questo prodotto:
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