Southern Cross Reptiles comp. updates

[Slateman]

Question 12

Which female snake lay more eggs in general: King Brown or Eastern Brown? and explain why.
More eggs?-eastern Brown
Why?-King Brown have large eggs

Answers question12:
Stafsrule
The Eastern Brown Snake (or common brown) lays more eggs than the King Brown Snake (or Mulga ).
The Eastern Brown laying clutches of 10 - 35 eggs and the King Brown laying clutches of 7 - 20 eggs.
The reason for this is that the King Brown snake is not a brown snake at all but in fact it is a black snake.
Black snakes having smaller clutches in general than Brown snakes.

Southy
eastern brown snakes lay more than the king brown or mulga snake due to the egg size the king brown lays. hatchling easterns avg snout-vent length of 19cm, kings avg snout-vent length of 25cm.


Junglemad
Eastern Browns lay more eggs than King Browns. The Eastern Brown average clutch is around 16 eggs and the King Brown usually lays around 9.
The reason for this are the different reproductive strategies used by both species.Eastern Brown evolution has resulted in a strategy of producing more eggs than King Browns but King Brown hatchlings are twice the size of an Eastern Brown hatchling. The breeding energy of each species has been used either on producing more individuals or on producing fewer larger individuals.

Jand C_Reptiles

The Eastern brown snake averages larger clutches than the King brown snake.
The Eastern brown lays between 10 - 35 eggs while the King brown only lays between 9 - 16 eggs

This is because of the size differences between the eggs.
The king brown lays larger diameter eggs than the Eastern brown.

Of course hatchlings are also larger at birth.
King browns average 25cm in length at hatching while Eastern browns average only 19cm in length at hatching.


Points for this question;
Staffsrule 2.5
Southy 3
JandC_reptiles 3
Junglemad 3


score after 11th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 26 and half
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 26
junglemad 23 and half
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 11 and half
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. JandC_Reptiles 26 and half
2. junglemad 26 and half
3. southy 26
4. staffsrule 20 and half
5. soulweaver 13


Guestion 13

name australian snake with recorded largest difference between male and female able to mate sexesfully
Please answer by Wednesday evening 8.02.06 to email [email protected]

 

[Slateman]

Question 13
name australian snake with recorded largest difference between male and female able to mate sexesfully

Only two answers this time.

The most extreme size difference that I could find was in a mating pair of filesnakes. The female was ten times larger thatn the female. The male weighed 400 grams and the female was 4 kilograms!
junglemad


I recently submitted my answer being:
The file snake - Arochordus arafurae - has been recorded with the largest size/weight difference between sexes that has successfully mated. The male weighed 400g while the female weighed 4000g.
JandC_Reptiles

score;
Junglemad 3 points
JandC_Reptiles 3 points

score after 13th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 29 and half
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 26
junglemad 29 and half
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 11 and half
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 29 and half
2. JandC_Reptiles 29 and half
3. southy 26
4. staffsrule 20 and half
5. soulweaver 13

Guestion 14

Is there known reason for colour variation in australian snakes?
Please answer by Wednesday evening 15.02.06 to email [email protected]

 

[africancichlidau]

yes.

 

[Slateman]

Our question was:
Is there known reason for colour variation in australian snakes?

This question was bit tricky. Our authorities agree that our Australian snakes do have great variety of colour, but the significance of this variation is unnown.
Example is Brown tree snake. range from being brown with blackbands to whitewith red bands.
Sometimes considerable variation is seen even with in a single population.

So there is no definate answer to this question. Yes or No would be same.
Some reason for colours of our snakes are known and many reasons are mystery.

Answers from contestants:

By JandC_Reptiles

I would say yes for several reasons.
.
In captive bred animals it is possible for breeders to mutilate genes to get different variation.
Many specialised morphs are produced this way as has been seen over the years.

In wild populations colour variation may occur for the following circumstances.
CAMOUFLAGE: (for either predation or safety)
Death adders for eg: Have different banding/markings and colour which is determined by thier locality.
Evolution has helped them blend in to thier enviornment. This helps with predation as the death adder is an ambush predator. Other snakes may camoflauge for safety reasons. Some hatchlings for eg: start of rather drab in colour in their early years and do not colour up untill they are alot older & larger.
HEATING: Diamonds for eg: In colder enviornments these snakes exhibit more black than animals from warmer climates which may display more yellow or white etc. This is to help attract warmth from the sun & retain this heat for longer (much like a radiator of an automobile)

Southy
yes there is a reason, these colours camoflage (spelling) well in their environment

Junglemad
Is there any known reason for colour variation in Australian Snakes?

One reason for colour variation has to do with habitat.The greens of tree snakes and the earthy tones of ground dwelling snakes help to camouflage the animal from predation.

Richard Shine noticed in Bandy Bandys that the bright colours act as an optical illusion in the near darkness to confuse a predator. He calls this illusion 'flicker fusion' and explains it as being similar to the way in old movies the spokes of wagon wheels appear to be travelling backwards instead of forwards.He released a Bandy Bandy in his room and treid to catch it without turning on the lights The jerky motions of the snake made it difficult to tell whether the brightly moving bands were travelling forwards or backwards.

Stripes on fast moving snakes can be confusing too for if you focus on the stripe instead of the animal it can seem like the snake is still even though it may be moving along quickly.

Brown Snakes, Taipans and Woma tend to be darker in the winter months than they are in the summer to assist in heating quicker while basking in colder weather.

The Oenpelli python changes from a brown colour in the daytime to a silver grey at dusk to assist with hunting in the moonlight.

The only variation in colour due to sexuality occurs in some seasnakes. The Female Shark Bay seasnake is a dark purplish brown whereas the male is brown without the purple.

Dark colours absorb radiant heat better than lighter colours. The further south you go the blacker diamond pythons become compared to the high yellow of the northern boundary of their range.Tiger snakes found in the southern regions of australia are often black for the same reason.


Points for this answer:
Junglemad 2
JandC_Reptiles 2
Southy 1


score after 14th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 31 and half
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 27
junglemad 31 and half
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 11 and half
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 31and half
2. JandC_Reptiles 31 and half
3. southy 27
4. staffsrule 20 and half
5. soulweaver 13

Guestion 15

Please name the bone to which the fangs are attached
Please answer by Wednesday evening 22.02.06 to email [email protected]

 

[Slateman]

Answers for question 15:



By JandC_Reptiles
A snakes fangs are attached to a bone called the Maxilla (maxillary bone)

Some also call this the dentary bone but this would be politically in-correct.

Robbo
my answer to questio 15 is
the name of the bone to which the fangs are attached is the maxilla , which also support oter small teeth in most elapids

Junglemad
The bone that the fangs are connected to is called the Maxillary Bone.


Points for this answer:
Junglemad 3
JandC_Reptiles 3
Robbo 3


score after 14th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 34 and half
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 27
junglemad 34 and half
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 14 and half
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 34and half
2. JandC_Reptiles 34and half
3. southy 27
4. staffsrule 20 and half
5. Robbo 14 and half

Guestion 16

Why is snake windpipe able to supply air during feeding of large pray. One should think that windpipe will be squeezed during feeding? Why is always maintaining its shape?
Please answer by Wednesday evening 01.03.06 to email [email protected]

 

[JandC_Reptiles]

Just wondering when the answers are being posted and the next question submitted?

 

[Slateman]

Usual dedline is wednesday and new question is launched latest by Sunday.

 

[Slateman]

Guestion 16
Why is snake windpipe able to supply air during feeding of large pray. One should think that windpipe will be squeezed during feeding? Why is always maintaining its shape?

Right answer:
A snake can still breath while feeding on a large prey item because the windpipe is strengthened by cartilaginous rings to keep shape and the glottis which can extend from the end of the windpipe out under the food item to keep suppling air to breath

People posted answers with lot of right informations, but I was looking for answer why windpipe don't get squeezed. and cartilaginous rings are the reason.

Answers received.

Junglemad
Snakes are able to breath when eating large prey items because their windpipes are fitted with a snorkel named the glottis or epiglottis which is a muscular extension that extends forward under the prey item. The windpipe doesn't collapse because it is reinforced with cartilage.

Southy
cartilidge around the trachea (breathing tube) of the snake mouth protect it and keep its shape and the tube can move to either side of the mouth or underneath the food to breathe while feeding.The trachea can be pushed forward over the tongue and out the mouth so that the snake can breathe while swallowing.

By JandC_Reptiles
Snakes have a movable windpipe which aids in breathing while eating by moving the glottis/windpipe past the food source so it may still inhale/exhale air. This is also why it holds its shape & is never squeezed or squashed while feeding.
When a snake opens its mouth wide and pulls its tongue back, you
can see a hole down at the bottom of the mouth. This hole is called the
glottis, which is the opening and valve to the trachea, or windpipe. When a
snake breathes, it pulls air into the trachea lung by expanding its rib
cage, and pushes air back out of the lung by contracting its rib cage,
because snakes have no diaphragm (the diaphragm is the large muscle below
our lungs that help us breathe). When a
snake eats large prey its mouth is totally filled and its airway can be
blocked. In order to still breathe, snakes can extend their glottis outward
to the edge of the mouth beneath the prey. This means the snake basically has a
snorkel that it can stick out below its meal so it can still breathe while
eating large food.

Robbo
hi slateman my answer to question 16 is
a snake can still breath while feeding on a large prey item because the windpipe is strengthened by cartilaginous rings to keep shape and the glottis which can extend from the end of the windpipe out under the food item to keep suppling air to breath

Points for this answer:
Junglemad 2.5
JandC_Reptiles 1.5
Robbo 3
Southy 2.5

score after 16th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 36
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 29 and half
junglemad 37
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 17 and half
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 37
2. JandC_Reptiles 36
3. southy 29 and half
4. staffsrule 20 and half
5. Robbo 17 and half

 

[Slateman]

Question 17

name australian snake which changes colour from brown by day to silver gray by night.
Please answer by Wednesday evening08.03.06 to email [email protected]

Don't post answer here please

 

[Slateman]

Don't forget question 17 today.

 

[Craig2]

who won the snakie

 

[Slateman]

Comp is only on question 17 magic. we have long time to go.

 

[Slateman]

Question 17

name australian snake which changes colour from brown by day to silver gray by night.

We have 3 right answers from:

Junglemad
the snake that changes colour is the Oenpelli Python Morelia Oenpelliensis of the Kakadu escarpment.
It is a drab brown in the day but it fades to a silver-grey colour at dusk

Southy
oenpelli python

robbo
hi slateman
my answer to question 17 is
the oenpelli python / morelia oenpelliensis changes from brown by day to silver grey by night

Points for this answer:
Junglemad 3
Robbo 3
Southy 3

score after 17th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 36
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 32 and half
junglemad 40
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 20 and half
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 40
2. JandC_Reptiles 36
3. southy 32 and half
4. staffsrule 20 and half
5. Robbo 20 and half


New question 18.
Name living family of Australian lizards which are closest relatives of snakes. And name most obvious anatomic feature they have which resemble snakes.


Please answer by Wednesday evening15.03.06 to email [email protected][/size]

Don't post answer here please

 

[Slateman]

New question 18.
Name living family of Australian lizards which are closest relatives of snakes. And name most obvious anatomic feature they have which resemble snakes.

I have this 4 answers to judge. I Just wanted the family which is closest and that should be goannas and the one obvious feature, fork tongue. The answers are more complicated and its starting to become very controversial now. I had to ask for help to judge this 4 answers.

Docrok help was needed this time. This is his answer:
The origin of snakes is very poorly understood and a topic of hot debate by scientists today. There are two general theories; that snakes evolved from terrestrial burrowing lizards; that snakes evolved in the marine environment and migrated back onto land. The first theory is probably the most popular and basically says that snakes evolved from marine reptiles like the mososaurs which are related to the varanids and hence snakes and goannas are closely related. A forked tongue would be the obvious likeness between the two.
It is a generally held view that the pygopods are most closely related to the geckos and I am unaware of a significant body of research that would put them as a close relative of the snakes.


Junglemad
The family of lizards that are the closest relatives of snakesis PYGOPODIDAE.
The obvious anatomic feature is the slender elongated body shape and the absence of forelimbs. The back legs are mere vestiges or flaps.
AS a result of more research later in the week I found that this is perhaps not the totally correct answer. A team from Melbourne led by Bryan Fry (2005)suggests that venomous snakes and lizards share the same ancestor based on DNA analysis. The family outlined in this study as the closest relatives of snakes are the Iguanians. The classic rattlesnake venom toxins are found in the Bearded Dragon!
So i am hedging my bets...if the question is strictly about outward anatomical appearance then my answer is Pygopodidae and the obvious features they share are leglessness and body elongation. If we are talking about molecular phylogeny such as venom and egg teeth then my answer is Agamidae.
Junglemad

Robbo
hi slate man my answer to question 18 is
the closest living family of lizards to snakes in australia is the Varanidae ( goannas ) family
the most obious way they resembale snakes is that they have a deeply forked tounge
robbo


APS comp #18 by JandC_Reptiles
The living family of Australian lizards that is closest related to snakes are Monitors.
The most anatomic feature they have that resembles snakes is their forked tongues.


Southy
family Varanidae. forked tongues resemble snakes the most

--


Points for this answer:
Junglemad 0.5
Robbo 2.5
Southy 2.5
JandC_Reptiles 2.5

score after 18th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 38.5
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 20 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 35
junglemad 40
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 23
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 40.5
2. JandC_Reptiles 38.5
3. southy 35
5. Robbo 23
4. staffsrule 20.5



New question 19.
Tell me aproximately age of snakes when they stop Growing.

Please answer by Wednesday evening22.03.06 to email [email protected][/size]

Don't post answer here please

 

[Slateman]

New question 19.
Tell me aproximately age of snakes when they stop Growing.

Please answer by Wednesday evening22.03.06 to email [email protected][/size]

Don't post answer here please


just reminder.

 

[MrBredli]

Is that a trick question?

 

[Slateman]

Mr Bredli question is a question. I can't tell you till Wednesday. 8) :lol: :wink:

 

[Slateman]

New question 19.
Tell me aproximately age of snakes when they stop Growing.

This are the correct answers

Junglemad
Snakes never stop growing, they grow fastest when they are young. This growth rate slows down as the snake gets older but it doesn't stop.


Robbo
hi slateman my answer for question 19 is
snakes stop growing when they die as they usually keep growing throughout there lives just slowing down as they get older


JandC_Reptiles
It is my understanding that snakes never cease growing.
Their growth may slow but they will never completely stop growing.

Staffsrule
I dont think there is an approx age. I have been led to beleive that they (well pythons at least) never stop growing. Their growth rate does slow down as they get older though.

Southy
newer cease growing.


Points for this answer:
Junglemad 3
Robbo 3
staffsrule 3
JandC_Reptiles 3
Southy 3

score after 19th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 41.5
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 23 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 38.5
junglemad 43.5
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 26
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 43.5
2. JandC_Reptiles 41.5
3. southy 38.5
5. Robbo 26
4. staffsrule 23.5



New question 20.
Which Australian snake is the most cold-adopted

Please answer by Wednesday evening29.03.06 to email [email protected][/size]

Don't post answer here please

 

[Slateman]

Please make sure when using email to use option return receipt to see if your e-mail arrived safely to my inbox.
It is no good to complain that e-mail was sent and did not arived. I can understand if that happen once and adjust score, but not second time.

 

[Slateman]

Question 20 answer
White-lipped snake is the most cold-adopted of all our snakes and occurs above the winter snowline at Mount Kosciuszko.


Junglemad
The snake most adapted to the cold is the Black Tiger Snake, also known as the Island Tiger Snake latin name Notechis ater niger of Reevesby and Roxby Islands south of South Australia.


robbo
my answer for question 20 which australian snake is the most cold-adopted is
white - lipped snake ( drysdalia coronoides )


southy
tasmanain tiger snake


JandC_Reptiles

My answer is the Broad headed snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides).


Points for this answer:

Robbo 3




score after 20th round.
steve6610 1
JandC_Reptiles 41.5
craig.a.c 1
OuZo 3
soulweaver 13
staffsrule 23 and half
Dicco 9 and half
danep 5
munkee 1
newtosnakes 2
jonno 1
southy 38.5
junglemad 43.5
westaussie 1
olivehydra 10
BUCK 1
Memphis_Tank 1
robbo 29
Kahn_10 3
This people are leading Southern Cross Reptile Competition on APS

Leaders of comp so far:

1. junglemad 43.5
2. JandC_Reptiles 41.5
3. southy 38.5
5. Robbo 29
4. staffsrule 23.5



New question 21.
What snake is named after defensive posture it adopts when alarmed?

Please answer by Wednesday evening05.04.06 to email [email protected][/size]

Don't post answer here please