11/25/2023 0 Comments Leopard kills yellow boa constrictor![]() ![]() Snakes, and other reptiles in general, aren't known to typically show these behaviors.īoback offers another theory: It's possible, he says, that Tiny felt she was going to fall. While the coroner hypothesized that Tiny was showing some sort of affection, Boback says that's likely a mischaracterization.Īffection, as we refer to it, generally refers to physical contact to express some sort of bond. "The constriction pressure would have caused asphyxiation, compounded by the faster effects of disrupted blood flow and possibly disrupted neural function," says Moon. He adds that constriction around the torso can put pressure on internal organs and damage blood vessels like the hemorrhages found in Brandon's eyes. "Disruption of blood flow and brain function can cause unconsciousness and become lethal much faster than suffocation alone," says Brad Moon, a National Geographic explorer who's authored several papers on how snakes kill by constriction. "Your brain is such an oxygen hog, that if you deprive it of oxygen there's a mechanism in your body that just sort of shuts off," he says.Įxactly how long it takes for constriction to cause death isn't quite known, but a person can lose consciousness from this in seconds. With eight feet of muscle, constrictors can constrict blood flow to the brain in a matter of minutes. It suggests they kill their prey by cardiac arrest." But, he adds, "The scientific evidence to date would suggest snakes don’t kill by asphyxiation. "Is it impossible? No," says snake expert and Dickinson College professor Scott Boback. ![]() They don’t, despite popular misconceptions, typically kill by suffocating their prey. These pythons are a type of snake called a constrictor, which kills by cutting off blood circulation. In 2013, a snake of the same species killed two boys in Canada. It's the largest snake in Africa and can grow to be 20 feet long. Tiny is an African rock python, a species of snake with an especially formidable reputation. "He made clear he did not believe the snake had been aggressive towards its owner, but the most likely scenario was that the reptile had been coiling around him in an affectionate way," the Guardian reported. ![]() Still, the coroner concluded that the python was involved in Brandon's death. ![]() This lung and eye damage could have been caused by pressure applied to the chest or neck, but Brandon was found without physical markings in either area. The pathologist indicated these were signs Brandon died by asphyxiation. Authorities immediately suspected Tiny was the culprit, but it wasn't until this week that a coroner confirmed that cause of death.ĭuring a postmortem exam, a pathologist found that Brandon's lungs were heavier than expected and that he had pinpoint hemorrhages in one eye. The Coroner's Reportīrandon was an experienced snake owner who had kept them for years. The Sonoran whipsnake bites readily if handled.It's the same snake that would be found on August 25, coiled in the corner of his room while Brandon laid dead on the floor.īrandon's mother, Babs, tells the Guardian that she was making dinner in their home in Hampshire, England, when she heard a thud come from Brandon's room. Six to 13 eggs are laid in June and July. When a bird, lizard or frog is spotted, the snake will seize and swallow the prey without killing it first. When hunting, the Sonoran whipsnake may elevate its head off the ground and scan the surrounding area for possible prey. This fast-moving snake is primarily active in the early morning from March to October. Look for the Sonoran whipsnake in areas with ocotillos, saguaros, and palo verdes, but also in chaparral, cottonwood, juniper, and pine-oak forests. It is equally at home on the ground or in low, shrubby vegetation. However, this snake is also found in open creosote bush flats. The Sonoran whipsnake is most commonly found in rocky canyons, riparian areas, foothills and mountains with dense vegetation in elevations up to 6100 feet (1800 m). RangeĬhiefly a Mexican species, the Sonoran whipsnake enters the United States in extreme southwestern New Mexico and southeastern to west-central Arizona. The belly is cream fading to pale yellow towards the tail. It is olive or bluish-gray fading to yellow towards the tail, with 2 or 3 light-colored stripes on each side. The Sonoran whipsnake is a long, slender snake reaching lengths between 2 and 5 feet (60 to 150 cm). Spanish names: alicantre, chirrionero Description ![]()
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