what is the purpose of going into a ball
they hide their head and ball up if a predator comes? how does that help them in the wild ? wouldnt a predator such as a hawk just start eating the python and ripping it up while its in a ball?
The whole putting itself in a ball method just sounds like its serving itself as dinner to whoever wants to eat it
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Good Question. I believe it is to hide the head, and perhaps to make itself look like to big a bite. You know all one big blob.
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Quote:
Originally Posted by
exotica0095
they hide their head and ball up if a predator comes? how does that help them in the wild ? wouldnt a predator such as a hawk just start eating the python and ripping it up while its in a ball?
The whole putting itself in a ball method just sounds like its serving itself as dinner to whoever wants to eat it
It's just their defensive reaction. In their natural habitat, balling up may also help camoflage them into looking like a rock on the ground to blend in with the surrounding terrain.
While they don't have to worry about a hawk ripping them up in captivity, they do have to worry about unattended live mice and rats ripping them up...
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
My understanding is that one of their biggest predators in their native range are cobras or other snake eating snakes. When they tuck up into a ball, they also usually tuck their head and tail into the center of the ball. Snakes won't be able to start swallowing them if they can't get to either the head or the tail
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
mark but the venom of those snakes would still kill it
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Quote:
Originally Posted by
exotica0095
mark but the venom of those snakes would still kill it
Maybe the snake won't try to kill it if it doesn't see it as a potential meal or a danger to itself?
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
the one that has always made me think "why?" are the animals that play dead when they feel threatened. if the predator was going to eat them wouldnt them playing dead just make them think that they were going to have an easy dinner?
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Quote:
Originally Posted by
771subliminal
the one that has always made me think "why?" are the animals that play dead when they feel threatened. if the predator was going to eat them wouldnt them playing dead just make them think that they were going to have an easy dinner?
Usually the ones that play dead omit a foul musky smell. A foul smelling carcass should be enough to deter a predator.
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
It's really very little understood--animals that normally eat stinky, rotted carcasses will leave an animal that is playing dead alone.
Why doesn't a coyote eat an opossum, or a hognose snake, when it will eat 4 day old roadkill? We still aren't sure, but whatever the reason...it actually works.
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
They're actually fairly immune to cobra venom. So I've heard around here.
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WingedWolfPsion
It's really very little understood--animals that normally eat stinky, rotted carcasses will leave an animal that is playing dead alone.
Why doesn't a coyote eat an opossum, or a hognose snake, when it will eat 4 day old roadkill? We still aren't sure, but whatever the reason...it actually works.
exactly and some animals even seem to wait till it smells its worst to eat it.
i dont understand things in nature most times.
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Also the ball mechanic is so that they can close off the entrance to the termite mound or hiding place so other unwanted animals can't get in.
They also tighten the muscles making it hard for any animals to eat them.
Food for thought, we're still learning why things are the way they are.
What should be noted is that it works.:gj:
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
are snakes the biggest predators of ball pythons in their native range?
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Ever see a cat play with a mouse?
I imagine a balled up ball python would fare better to being batted around like that and might stand a better chance of survival if the predator gets bored.
Re: what is the purpose of going into a ball
Quote:
Originally Posted by
exotica0095
mark but the venom of those snakes would still kill it
Not really sure, although I would imagine that being cold blooded with slower metabolisms venom would work more slowly on reptiles then it would on mammels. Here is the source I got that info from.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cite...thon_ghana.pdf
From page 10 of this report...
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There were no signs of any obvious predators of royal pythons in the farmlands. Mongooses are known to occur in Ghana, but the trappers and the local people considered them to be absent from the areas that the team visited. Birds of prey were sighted very infrequently, but this may have been due to the dry season. The trappers believe that the black cobras prey on young and medium sized royal pythons, and that the “balling” behaviour of royal pythons is a defence against being swallowed.
