Weird behaviour

Weird behaviour

Postby AM-Rock python » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:51 pm

This was my second time witnessing an african rock python constricting its prey without striking to get hold of its prey first .
I came down from the house and saw this 2-3meter african rock python , P. natalensis , interested in a medium sized rock rabbit ( aka Dassie ) . The rock rabbit seemed to have been injured , and was sitting between 2 bowlders , trying to warn off the python . After about 15 minutes of inspecting the rock rabbit , the rock python moved closer and squashed it against the rocks but attempts were futile , so it started constricting the rock rabbit like normal but didnt bite onto it . After the rock rabbit died the python uncoiled itself and took off into the thick south coast undergrowth

Would like to read your opinion on this what seems to me as weird behaviour :smt006
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Re: Weird behaviour

Postby AM-Rock python » Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:03 pm

#Took off without eating the Dassie.
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Re: Weird behaviour

Postby froot » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:42 am

It was hungry but it's too cold to digest?
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Re: Weird behaviour

Postby AM-Rock python » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:55 am

But why kill the dassie ? The constricting part is what made me post this.
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Re: Weird behaviour

Postby Bushviper » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:08 am

Did the snake not feel disturbed by you? Possibly it had constricted the dassie before you arrived and then released it and that's why it was "injured". It then finished the job but your presence disturbed it again and it left.
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Re: Weird behaviour

Postby AM-Rock python » Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:50 pm

I highly doubt that the python saw me but could have been the case ! Will take pics of the area Saturday at 3-5 pm.
Have you guys ever witnessed a python constrict in the above manner ? Thats kind of why I started this topic , lol .
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Re: Weird behaviour

Postby Serpents4life » Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:23 pm

Only once .But with a CB specimen. Was a normal feeding day, stuned the rat and put it on the cage floor, the african rock shoved the rat into the corner and " constricted " it without opening his mouth to strike, unlike a normal feeding response.
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