{"id":2033,"date":"2021-05-17T02:15:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T06:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/?p=2033"},"modified":"2023-07-28T13:42:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T17:42:51","slug":"do-water-snakes-get-thirsty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/do-water-snakes-get-thirsty\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Water Snakes Get Thirsty?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New research shows that snakes in watery habitats are sensitive to dehydration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anglers who spend all Saturday on the boat know the importance of drinking water and staying hydrated when it\u2019s warm out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humans, in fact, can live without food much longer than we can live without water. But does this general rule apply to other animals like reptiles, some of which live in freshwater?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both the banded and brown water snakes are freshwater amphibious species that live throughout North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These snakes utilize various sources of water in the environment to remain hydrated and keep their electrolytes balanced. After a meal, they take in more water, which suggests that feeding increases their need for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, specifically, under what conditions do water snakes change their drinking and feeding behavior?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did they study?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Researchers hand-captured live specimens of banded and brown water snakes from creeks and swampy habitats in Alachua County, Florida. They maintained each snake in a cage, and, during a one-hour period each day, they provided access to a pool of tap water and food (live feeding fish).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research team then observed the feeding behavior of the snakes and continuously weighed each one to measure any evidence of the effects of dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did they find?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All snakes drank freshwater when they experienced relatively small amounts of dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snakes that had access to food but not water readily ate while dehydrated, but stopped eating during prolonged dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both freshwater and semi-marine\u00a0species of water snakes are more sensitive to dehydration than other species of snakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By documenting the relationship between freshwater availability and feeding behavior in water snakes, it may be possible to better understand how these and similar animals evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Edwards, Coleman M. Sheehy, Matthew T. Fedler, Harvey B. Lillywhite. Thirst and drinking in North American watersnakes (Nerodia<\/em> spp.). J Exp Biol<\/em> 1 March 2021; 224 (5): jeb241414. doi: https:\/\/doi-org.prox.lib.ncsu.edu\/10.1242\/jeb.241414<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open access funding provided by University of Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary by Lauren D. Pharr<\/em>
Lead photo: banded water snake, Lower Roanoke River, courtesy of NC Wetlands<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The text from Hook, Line & Science<\/em> is available to reprint and republish at no cost but only in its entirety and with this attribution: Hook, Line & Science<\/em>, courtesy of Scott Baker and Sara Mirabilio, North Carolina Sea Grant. HookLineScience.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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