Why are thier tails red?

I've looked all over but can't find any information on why the tails are so differently pigmented to the rest of the body.

Perhaps my skills with Google are failing me...

But there has to be a reason why they evolved this way. Defense? Attack? Attracting a mate?

If anyone can shed some light on this for me I would appreciate it :)

I don't know, but my guess would be to move an attacker's attention to the tail and away from the head. Protects the head..

Some juvenile snakes have a bright colored tail that they use as a lure to attract prey. I haven't heard of red tails doing this, but it's a thought.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shelby

Some juvenile snakes have a bright colored tail that they use as a lure to attract prey. I haven't heard of red tails doing this, but it's a thought.

---

Works great when the prey is snake-crazy shoppers...;)

lol.. yes, good point. :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cassandra

Works great when the prey is snake-crazy shoppers...;)

---

I second that Cass! No doubt there. LOL

Didn't work on me lol...

It was the combination of body markings and temperament that sold me. To be honest I find the tail to be the least attractive part - but then that's probably me being weird :P

All I could find when I googled madly on this was a bit about a theory that the snakes with the reddest (or brightest) tails come from the more heavily forested areas. Don't have a clue if this theory is at all factual but there you go.



~~Jo~~

Hm.. you know, Jo, as bright as they are, I'm sure red tails would blend in with forest litter quite well. kind of like the outrageous looking gaboon viper pattern that just disappears in the leaves..

And Rick, you're not 'completely' weird. I find the pattern of BCC boas to be almost as important as the color when I'm looking at a snake I like.

Yep most likely they do Shelby. I wonder (pure speculation) though if the bright tail is in some way to attract or distract prey while the head swings around for the strike? Wow this really is interesting! I'll have to ask our vet who did some of her training at a zoo if she's got any information/theory on this.


~~Jo~~

Yeah this kind of stuff is really interesing. It's cool to see how each animal was made for it's environment so perfectly.

I did see something like that in a snake documentary, can't remember which one, probably part of the "SnakeBites" series.

But anyway it was a baby snake that stuck the tip of it's tail though the leaf litter... some rodent would come along try to bite it and whup... no more rodent.

I bet sometime, somewhere, someone got a fat research grant to figure out why the tails are red... just gotta find it!