What is the theory on the red tail?

In College in animal behavior we learned about selection pressure and traits like the red tail of a Boa. What is the thought on why the tail is red? What selection pressure did this snake have to generate this in the wild. Is it a defence mechanism, maiting cue, etc... Just curious. Something must have caused selection pressure for this trait to propagate.

Jeff

This is a very interesting topic, and it will be interesting what people have to say.

I've wondered this myself and there was only one theory I could think of. Hundreds of animal species have more specific markings at their tails to ward predators to that area instead of their head. I think it's more of a defense mechanism similar to fish having spots on their tails to look like eyes.
If a predator goes for the tail, the snake can get away and live.

Just my thoughts.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

This is a very interesting topic, and it will be interesting what people have to say.

I've wondered this myself and there was only one theory I could think of. Hundreds of animal species have more specific markings at their tails to ward predators to that area instead of their head. I think it's more of a defense mechanism similar to fish having spots on their tails to look like eyes.
If a predator goes for the tail, the snake can get away and live.

Just my thoughts.

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Sounds like a great answer to me! :gj:

There was a thread on this sometime ago.....

see http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=30880

The defense mechanism wasn't brought up before, as a false head, the tail was only speculated to be bait for the snake's prey. I think the defense mechanism is a good point. It doesn't really make sense though, I haven't seen my snake shake it's tail or anything.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

This is a very interesting topic, and it will be interesting what people have to say.

I've wondered this myself and there was only one theory I could think of. Hundreds of animal species have more specific markings at their tails to ward predators to that area instead of their head. I think it's more of a defense mechanism similar to fish having spots on their tails to look like eyes.
If a predator goes for the tail, the snake can get away and live.

Just my thoughts.

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

Sounds like a great answer to me! :gj:

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me too. ^^

i never thought of that before. it does make perfect sense though.

I will read that other thread but I am sure someone has studied it. I will try to do some research and see what is in the scientific lititure. With out observing some behavioral use of this tail in the wild, sexual selection pressure in the wild or predation survival it may be very hard to identify the reason. One thing for sure, the snakes with the red tails reproduced and the ones that did not did not reproduce. It must have given them some type of advantage for reproduction to pass it on. Survival, maiting, eating etc... I don't notice mine displaying its tail in any obvious way. Any of you breeders notice anything when putting the snakes together? I know this is probably not that important in the hobby as "WE" exert the selection pressure now to produce even brighter tails but just wondering how it got started int he wild...

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Originally Posted by gasser

In College in animal behavior we learned about selection pressure and traits like the red tail of a Boa. What is the thought on why the tail is red? What selection pressure did this snake have to generate this in the wild. Is it a defence mechanism, maiting cue, etc... Just curious. Something must have caused selection pressure for this trait to propagate.

Jeff

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to be honest i dont knwo but if i hjad to say maybe to distract attention from the head? so pray animals dont see it coming and so predators dont damge the snakes head? i dunno that would be my theory!

I think it's purely camouflage and to break up the outline of the snake.

mimic injury