Cover object usage among an assemblage of Iowa snakes

Cover object usage among an assemblage of Iowa snakes Article

Cox, CL, Farrar, ES, Hey, JD et al. (2009). Cover object usage among an assemblage of Iowa snakes . 4(1), 80-84.

We assessed cover object usage among four species of snakes in western Iowa to evaluate the different characteristics of surface cover objects used by each species. Snake species differed significantly in both size and type of cover object utilized, with the Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis) using smaller and non-metal cover more frequently than other species at the study site. Snakes did not differ in the size or type of cover object used based on sex, body size, or state of ecdysis. The difference in cover object usage may be attributed to intrinsic requirements of the snake species or competition among individuals. Moreover, this differential use of cover objects might have implications for the management and sampling of snake communities. © 2009. Christian L. Cox. All Rights Reserved.