Especialidades JA/Reptiles - Avanzado/Respuestas

Reptiles - Avanzado
Asociación General Estudio de la naturaleza	Destreza: 1 Año de introducción: 1937

Requisitos

1

Tener la especialidad de Reptiles.

Para consejos e instrucciones, véase Reptiles.

2

¿Cómo es llamado el estudio de los reptiles?

3

Descubrir y grabar (o decir) por lo menos tres cuentos populares y tres sobre los hechos relacionados con los reptiles.

4

¿Por qué puede ser que la mayoría de los seres humanos tienen miedo en relación a los reptiles y hay tantas historias falsas donde participan los reptiles?

Snakes are vilified in Judeo-Christianity because of their association with the Garden of Eden. Some snakes are indeed poisonous, and their bites can be fatal to people. Because of this, and out of an abundance of caution, people are taught to fear snakes. It is easier to fear all snakes than it is to identify and respect only the poisonous ones.

Snakes are almost always smaller than reported. For example, people in New England routinely report seeing snakes eight to ten feet long, but only very rarely do Northern Water Snakes exceed three and a half feet long. Perhaps the size of the snake is amplified by the sensation of fear.

1. ^ University of Massachusetts

5

¿Cómo los reptiles se protegen a sí mismos?

Snakes

The primary line of defense with which snakes are endowed, is their coloration. There are two strategies employed; camouflage, and bright, warning colors. Most snakes are difficult to see when they are hiding because their colors blend in with their environment. Other snakes have brightly colored skin which serves as a warning (even if a false warning) that the snake is poisonous and should be avoided.

The second line of defense employed by snakes is to get away. Snakes are surprisingly elusive and can scurry beneath a log, or find a hole in the ground very quickly.

The last line of defense is for the snake to threatened whatever is threatening it. If this is not effective, the snake may attack. Often these attacks do not include venom, as the venom's primary purpose is for subduing prey. But even a non-envenomated bite can be very painful, and most aggressors know this instinctively.

Turtles

Turtles protect themselves by attempting to escape first, and withdrawing into their shells second. In some cases, they too may bite. It is for this that the snapping is named, and aptly so, as they can snap with amazing speed and power - a large adult snapper can easily bite off a finger or toe.

Lizards

Lizards employ camouflage more often than not, and some, such as the chameleon, are masters at it, having the ability to change the color of their own skin to match their surroundings. Lizards are also fast runners and can often escape this way. If caught, the tails of many lizards will detach, leaving the predator with a measly little snack, and letting the lizard escape with its life. The tail can be regrown.

Crocodilians

For crocodiles and alligators, the best defense is a good offense. These animals are apex predators, and as such, face very few threats from other creatures (man aside). These animals also have a very thick, protective skin, so that even if attacked by another predator, an incredible amount of force must be applied to a very sharp tooth or claw to puncture the skin. Meanwhile, the croc counter-attacks with its formidable tail, teeth, and jaws. Only the most desperate predator would dare attack a full-grown member of the crocodile family.

6

¿Cuáles son las dos principales clases de venenos de reptiles y cómo afectan a su presa objetivo o enemigo?

Technically, reptiles do not have poison, they have venom. There is a difference between organisms that are "venomous" and those that are "poisonous", two commonly confused terms applied to plant and animal life. Venomous refers to animals that inject venom into their prey when hunting or as a self-defense mechanism. Poisonous, on the other hand, describes plants or animals that are harmful when consumed or touched.

But to answer the question, the two types of venom found in reptiles are hemotoxic and neurotoxic. Hemotoxic venom attacks the blood, preventing it from clotting and damaging the blood vessels. Neurotoxic venom attacks the nervous system, causing respiratory difficulty, paralysis, and heart failure.

7

Identificar en la naturaleza por lo menos la mitad de su lista del requisito número dos de la especialidad básica.

Requirement 2 from the basic honor reads thusly:

Name 15 reptiles (lizards, snakes, and/or turtles) found in your locality. Tell where they live, their food habits, and their economic importance.

Again, we refer you to http://enature.org and Wikibooks Field Guide to Reptiles. Be practical - when checking which lizards lived in British Columbia one contributor found there were 4 recorded by the Provincial Government but further reading found that 3 of these are exceedingly rare in BC, with one only spotted three times over 50 years ago, and another only existing in a small area as a result of being released from a private zoo.

8

Encontrar un reptil en en la naturaleza y registrar las observaciones de su actividad durante las horas de luz solar de uno o más días.

It is not necessary for the days of observation to be consecutive. Lizards often stay in the same area over a period of time, so they might be the easiest for you to repeatedly find. They often hang around near the outside (or inside!) of a house. If you see one on a given day, the chances are pretty good that you will see the same individual in the same place on the next day as well. If you do not see it again the next day, keep looking. You are highly likely to see it again within a week or so.

Do not attempt to capture the reptile, but rather, observe it in its natural environment. Animals in captivity do not behave the same way as animals in the wild, so capturing it would defeat the purpose of the observation. Take pictures if you like, and jot down a few notes.