What is your favorite rattlesnake?

[leosweeny]

Yes Ferdelance are quite aggressive they are almost as aggressive as forest cobras. Although I had a 6' puff adder I would put up against anything you can name! If you have never seen a 25 pound 6' foot long coiled spring with
1-1/2"+ long fangs you aint seen nothing! I know exactly how big she was because she got mouth rot and we had to knock her out and do surgery on her. So when she was out we took measurements. She was an awesome sight!

[JJFeldner]

to it. The name of the northern populations of Bothrops were changed a long time ago. About the same time that all the American snakes known as Trimeresurus (now strictly Asian) had name changes to Bothriechis, Bothriopsis, etc. See>>> http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/species...&species=asper

Kris, you have seen just one species of those feared Terciopelos in México. I have seen many examples of both spp. in my four years in Panamá plus trips to South America and México. Many Terciopelos are content to lie along a jungle path and try to be invisible while waiting for a tasty prey item to come by. The great majority of both B. atrox and B. asper which I have seen were not aggressive and would not "attack" unless the object being attacked were edible.
While in Panamá, I saw a B. asper lying in the same place, waiting, for nearly a week. This was on a trail at Fort Sherman, CZ, and was a path used frequently by people going down to the beach or the Chagres River.
I think Fer-de-Lance act pretty much like rattlers either by individual or population. I am sure you have seen, for instance, C. atrox which appeared to be aggressive as well as many which were content to rattle and hit the trail to avoid a huge animal it could not eat.

[AnimalMan1981]

I concur Jerry, most of the Bothrops asper I have ever encountered in Costa Rica had very similar behavior to what you described, including this one:

http://www.azreptiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12249

Scroll down to get to the Bothrops.....Although I'm sure that behavior is NEVER a constant, as different populations adapt to ever changing conditions, etc ......Maybe the ones in Mexico are simply more aggressive because they don't like the hot peppers the rats much on? LOL!!! Can you imagine that? A viper of any kind with post-chili gas?!?!?!

[katsnake]

Originally Posted by Uncloudy

1) speckled rattlesnakes due to the variation of natural color morphs and camoflauge

2) I've kept roadkill buzztails in my freezer to kill pathogens then recycled them as frozen/thawed food for my calkings (maybe not a popular answer in this thread)

I agree with you about specks, though I haven't really herped in the field much, would love to get down to the sky islands now that I have a decent camera, but I need to get in a little better shape, or I'd just slow down anyone I went with. LOL

I don't keep any hots at home, other than keeping a couple of Jerry's after an event when he was out of town for a week, that was an interesting experience. They buzzed every morning when I came into the living room, which certainly jolted me out of grogginess real fast. Would I consider keeping one for myself? Probably not.

My favorite S. Mtn Speckled Reloc's:




Oh, as for bringing home roadkilled crotes to feed to kingsnakes, I honestly can say that I appreciate you taking roadkill instead of live to feed your snakes, it makes perfect sense to me.

[azatrox]

Yes, each individual snake does have a unique temperment...That being said, the Bothrops asper C. willardi and I encountered in Mexico last year were definitely on the "reactive" side...While they didn't "attack" us (very few snakes will ever do this to a human), they certainly didn't take kindly to our trying to get them off of a busy Mexican roadway...In response to our good samaritan efforts, they most assuredly DID launch themselves at us...no doubt because they felt threatened and vulnerable.

If I gave the impression that these are blood thirsty animals intent on the fall of mankind, I can assure you that wasn't the case...but the vigor and passion with which these animals defended themselves puts any scute I've ever seen to shame.

-Kris

[AnimalMan1981]

No big deal man, wasn't thinking anything of the sort was implied, and I also have seen MANY films and videos of VERY "reactive" Bothrops asper, just as you mentioned.....Just nice to hear different stories and experiences, thanks for sharing!!!



Nick

[feflicker]

Originally Posted by azatrox

If you enjoy snakes that will launch themselves at you at 100 mph, then you need to make your way down to Mexico and play with some Bothrops atrox...I promise those will make our scutes look like kittens! LOL

-Kris

I've heard these stories! But I'm more scared of placing myself in Mexico than I am of the snakes. Ha ha ha