The Chinese language New 12 months falls on January twenty ninth in 2025, making the start of the 12 months of the Snake. In celebration of the New 12 months, we spotlight a captivating group of snakes, the Elapidae. These widespread snakes embrace cobras, mambas, taipans and sea snakes, and are characterised by completely erect fangs within the entrance of the mouth. Many are extremely venomous, together with, for instance, the frequent demise adder (Acanthophis antarctica), which was described by Krefft (1862) as widespread in Australia displaying marked variation in color and markings. It was not till 1996 that Johnston (1996) might verify each a genetic and environmental part to the expression of those color traits. The variation in bodily traits has continued to trigger confusion throughout virtually 150 years of analysis, utilizing morphological traits and life historical past traits to differentiate between species, such because the Australian bandy-bandy snakes (Keogh & Smith 1996).
Usually, many species of snakes happen in the identical geographical location. For instance, Luiselli et al (1998) present stunning specialisation and useful resource partitioning amongst 24 species in a swamp rainforest. Amongst eight species of cobra in Africa, diets are extra broad however different traits additionally range, together with diploma of sexual dimorphism and reproductive life historical past traits (Shine et al. 2007). Amongst snakes extra typically, clutch-size is a extremely variable trait, greater than anticipated from comparable analysis in lizards (Shine & Siegel 1996).
The normally neurotoxic venom is delivered by means of a deep groove within the erect tooth (Boulenger 1896), and variation within the traits of fangs and tooth have been used to help in taxonomic classifications (e.g. McDowell 1969). In spitting cobras, venom is pushed outstanding distances by means of the fang, typically accompanied by a lunge and/or a burst of exhaled air (Rasmussen et al. 1995). That is additionally accompanied by the menace show of a raised physique and unfold neck flap so related to cobras. The venom could be of medical significance, making right species identification much more essential (e.g. Wuster et al. 1997).
The group additionally consists of sea snakes with a brand new species described by Boulenger (1898) with great intricate illustrations. The biology of sea snakes is fascinating. Wang et al. (2013) confirmed variation between species of their use of coastal areas and emergence onto land in sea kraits linked to their morphology and physiology. The marine surroundings presents challenges together with dehydration – snakes are secondarily marine and require freshwater to keep away from dehydration with species variation in dehydration tolerance (Lillywhite et al. 2015). Advances in know-how have allowed higher characterisation of behaviour of sea snakes, similar to implanted temperature-depth information loggers which have proven the extent of forays at sea and dive depth permitting calculation of metabolic prices of aquatic vs terrestrial life for snakes (Cook dinner et al. 2016).
Not all swimming snakes are aquatic. How & Shine (1999) describe ecological traits in ‘sand-swimming’ snakes, with variable seize charges elevating concern about success of monitoring for conservation functions. That is essential as many snakes are actually threatened. For instance, whereas the demise adder described by Krefft (1862) continues to be widespread and comparatively frequent, not all Australian Elapids have been so lucky. The broad-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) is Australia’s most threatened snake, though Goldingray (2018) confirmed that even extremely used protected areas could be efficient for retaining species presence. The conservation of snakes is an growing precedence globally.
The traits that make snakes valued in Chinese language tradition make them equally valued in zoology. All the perfect to you all for the 12 months of the Snake.
Elissa Cameron
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Zoology
VIRTUAL ISSUE ARTICLES:
Krefft, G (1862) Notes upon Australian Snakes, and their Geographical Distribution. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 30 (1), 224-226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1862.tb06513.x
Boulenger, G.A. (1896) 2. Remarks on the Dentition of Snakes and on the Evolution of the Poison‐fangs. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 64 (3), 614-618. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1896.tb03069.x
Boulenger, G.A. (1898) Description of a brand new Sea‐Snake from Borneo. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 66 (1), pp. 106-107. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1898.tb03133.x
McDowell, S.B. (1969) Toxicocalamus, a New Guinea genus of snakes of the household Elapidae. Journal of Zoology, 159 (4), 443-511. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1969.tb03900.x
Rasmussen, S., Younger, B., Krimm, H. (1995) On the ‘spitting’ behaviour in cobras (Serpentes: Elapidae). Journal of Zoology, 237 (1), 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02743.x
Johnston, G. (1996) Genetic and seasonal variation in physique color of the Australian demise adder, Acanthophis antarcticus (Squamata: Elapidae). Journal of Zoology, 239 (1), 187-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05446.x
Keogh, J.S., Smith, S.A. (1996) Taxonomy and pure historical past of the Australian bandy-bandy snakes (Elapidae: Vermicella) with an outline of two new species. Journal of Zoology, 240 (4), 677-701. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05315.x
Shine, R., Seigel, R.A. (1996) A uncared for life-history trait: Clutch-size variance in snakes. Journal of Zoology, 239 (2), 209-223. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05448.x
Wuster, W., Warrell, D.A., Cox, M.J., Jintakune, P., Nabhitabhata, J. (1997) Redescription of Naja siamensis (Serpentes: Elapidae), a extensively neglected spitting cobra from S.E. Asia: Geographic variation, medical significance and designation of a neotype. Journal of Zoology, 243 (4), 771-788. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb01975.x
Luiselli, L., Akani, G.C., Capizzi, D. (1998) Meals useful resource partitioning of a group of snakes in a swamp rainforest of south-eastern Nigeria. Journal of Zoology, 246 (2), 125-133. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1998.tb00141.x
How, R.A., Shine, R. (1999) Ecological traits and conservation biology of 5 fossorial ‘sand-swimming’ snake species (Simoselaps: Elapidae) in south-western Australia. Journal of Zoology, 249 (3), 269-282. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00764.x
Shine, R., Department, W.R., Webb, J.Ok., Harlow, P.S., Shine, T., Keogh, J.S. (2007) Ecology of cobras from southern Africa. Journal of Zoology, 272 (2), 183-193. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00252.x
Wang, S., Lillywhite, H.B., Cheng, Y.C., Tu, M.C. (2013) Variation of traits and habitat use in three species of sea kraits in Taiwan. Journal of Zoology, 290 (1), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12012
Lillywhite, H.B., Heatwole, H., Sheehy, C.M. (2015) Dehydration and consuming habits in true sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae: Hydrophiini). Journal of Zoology, 296 (4), 261-269. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12239
Cook dinner, T.R., Bonnet, X., Fauvel, T., Shine, R., Brischoux, F. (2016) Foraging behaviour and power budgets of sea snakes: Insights from implanted information loggers. Journal of Zoology, 298 (2), 82-93. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12286
Goldingay, R.L. (2018) Persistence of Australia’s most threatened snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) in Australia’s oldest Nationwide Park. Journal of Zoology, 304 (3), 202-209. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12505