How snakes work: structure, function and behavior of the world's snakes

256 Pages·2014·17.953 MB·English

by  Lillywhite, Harvey B

How Snakes Work
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How Snakes Work
Structure, Function, and Behavior of
the World’s Snakes
Harvey B. Lillywhite

1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lillywhite, Harvey B., 1943–
How snakes work : structure, function, and behavior of the world’s snakes / Harvey B. Lillywhite.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-19-538037-8 (alk. paper)
1. Snakes. I. Title.
QL666.O6L724 2014
597.96—dc23 2013019018
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
o n acid-free paper
This book is dedicated to
Rodolfo Ruibal,
George Bartholomew, and
Kenneth Norris,
who inspired and mentored my passion
for discovery and science.
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C O N T E N T S
FOREWORD BY RICK SHINE ix CHAPTER 6:
PREFACE xi Internal Transport: Circulation
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii and Respiration 141
CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 7:
Evolutionary History Perceiving the Snake’s World:
and Classification of the Structure and Function of Sense
World’s Snakes 3 Organs 163
CHAPTER 2: CHAPTER 8:
Feeding, Digestion, and Water Sound Production 181
Balance 37
CHAPTER 9:
CHAPTER 3: Courtship and Reproduction 191
Locomotion: How Snakes Move 77
GLOSSARY OF TERMS 213
CHAPTER 4: INDEX 227
Temperature and Ectothermy 103
CHAPTER 5:
Structure and Function of Skin 117
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F O R E W O R D
We share this beautiful planet with an astonishing array of researchers to have focused on the physiology of snakes—
diff erent kinds of creatures, but few are as remarkable as that is, the ways that these mysterious animals deal with
snakes. Some people worship snakes, some are terrifi ed of basic challenges such as fi nding, capturing, and digesting
them, and some even keep them as pets. Despite a wide their food, maintaining their water balance, and regulating
public interest in serpents, however, we still know very their body temperature. By embedding his research in
little about the day-to-day lives of most species—including the fi eld biology of his study animals, Harvey has revealed
really basic issues such as how they move around, fi nd food the fascinating complexity and elegance of these much-
or mates, or infl uence the ecosystems in which they occur. misunderstood creatures.
Dedicated fi eld biologists like Harvey Lillywhite are Th is book brings together a lifetime of experience, to ex-
shedding new light on these questions. Over his long ca- plain in easy-to-understand terms what snakes do, and
reer, Harvey has pioneered many new insights into snake how and why they do it. I am sure that this attractive vol-
biology—not just in the laboratory, but also out in the fi eld, ume not only will educate people about snakes, but also
where he can explore an animal’s functioning in the condi- will inspire its readers and help them to understand why
tions that it actually encounters. Harvey has worked on a we need to conserve these amazing creatures for future
very wide variety of snake species, in many parts of the generations.
world, and thus brings a truly broad perspective to this en-
gaging book. Importantly, Harvey is one of the very few —Rick Shine, Sydney, January 2013
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