FaunaClassifieds - View Single Post - Crotalus thermal detection range?
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Old 10-19-2008, 08:47 PM   #5
ChuckHurd
In response to your direct question, the ambient temperature in the room will be relevant to how far out the snake can detect you. assume your body temp is 98.6, the snake will detect that quicker and (probably) further away in a 70 degree room, then it would in a 90 degree room. A few years ago, we conducted an experiment. we used a latex glove, filled with gelatin. we heated the test hand to 98 degrees. we tested at 90 degrees, 85 degrees, 80 degrees, etc all the way to 55 degrees. we found that all test subjects struck more often as the temp decreased in the room. snakes that would not strike at all at 90, were hitting the hand at 70 and below.
now, for what you didn't ask, but should be aware of, they use way more then the heat seeker to ID food. at one of our labs, the snakes are in a 15 x 30 room. we can be feeding the rattlesnakes on one end and see food responses start in the cottonmouths on the other end, 30 feet away. the sense of smell is very defined in the animals. hope this helps.