Figure 26.1 Composite episode of California ground squirrels confronting a northern Pacific rattlesnake hunting for pups. Ground squirrel mother
confronts the rattlesnake (a), which pauses but then enters a nearby burrow and coils itself in an ambush posture (b). Other squirrels are vigilant after
seeing the snake as characterized by this tail-flagging adult, who cautiously inspects a snake-like stick (c). The mother supplants another snake-directed
adult and inspects the snake (d). The snake leaves the burrow and one of the mother’s pups confronts the snake in an adult-like manner (e), an event
terminated when the snake strikes and envenomates the pup. As the snake trails the pup to a burrow, the mother throws loose soil and leaf litter in an
apparent effort to deter the snake (f) and is also bitten. While the snake consumes her pup, the mother hobbles on her injured leg while she transfers
her other pups to a distant burrow (g). Having recovered from her snakebite, the mother tail flags the next day as she cautiously inspects burrows
around the snake-encounter site (h).
greg delong
(Greg DeLong)
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