Cannibalism among rattlesnakes helps females to recover after birth
Friday, February 20, 2009 - 09:21
in Biology & Nature
Spanish, American and Mexican researchers have produced the first quantitative description of cannibalism among female rattlesnakes Crotalus polystictus after monitoring 190 reptiles. The study has shown that these animals ingest on average 11% of their postpartum mass (in particular eggs and dead offspring) in order to recover energy for subsequent reproduction...