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First published online May 5, 2005
Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 1835-1847 (2005)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2005
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01580

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Effects of size and behavior on aerial performance of two species of flying snakes (Chrysopelea)

John J. Socha^* and Michael LaBarbera

Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

View larger version (18K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Definitions of trajectory variables. Data from a single snake (C. paradisi, mass=27 g, SVL=63 cm) are shown to illustrate features of a snake glide trajectory. Filled circles represent the snake's midpoint throughout its trajectory, as seen in lateral projection (A). The black and grey lines (B) represent the snake's glide angle and airspeed, respectively, through time. By definition, the ballistic dive (grey background) ends and the shallowing glide (white background) begins at the point when glide angle begins to decline. The grey arrow represents the transition in airspeed from initial acceleration to a steady speed or lower rate of acceleration. (Adapted from Socha et al., 2005.)

View larger version (33K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Significant correlations between performance and size variables in C. paradisi. RMA regression lines and associated statistics are shown for each relationship. Horizintal distance traveled (A) adn shallowing rate (B) were indirectly proportional to snout-vent length, and minimum glide angle (C) and maximum sinking speed (D) were directly proportional to mass and snout-vent length, respectively. In A and B, the young juvenile snake (open circle) was deemed an outlier and was therefore excluded from the regressions.

View larger version (24K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Significant correlations between performance and behavioral variables in C. paradisi. RMA regression lines and associated statistics are shown for each relationship. Airspeed at transition (A), sinking speed at transition (B), maximum airspeed (C) and maximum horizontal speed (D) were directly proportional to the interaction between relative amplitude and snout-vent length. Horizontal speed at transition (E) was directly proportional to average relative amplitude.

View larger version (22K): [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Box plots comparisons of performance and behavior between C. ornata and C. paradisi. Values for C. paradisi are represented in gray. Significantly different comparisons, as determined by t-tests, are indicated with an asterisk (*).

View larger version (24K): [in a new window]   Fig. 5. RMA comparison of snout-vent length and mass differences in C. ornata and C. paradisi. As determined using a permutations test, the slopes and the intercepts between the species are marginally significantly different and significantly different, respectively. Filled circles represent C. paradisi, unfilled circles represent C. ornata, and crosses represent C. ornata whose trajectories were not analyzed in this study. RMA slopes and 95% confidence intervals are shown.

View larger version (17K): [in a new window]   Fig. 6. Size dependence of two behavioral variables in C. paradisi. RMA regression lines and associated statistics are shown for each relationship. Undulation frequency (A) was indirectly proportional to snout-vent length, whereas vent amplitude (B) was directly proportional to snout-vent length.