Why Snakes Make Sounds: Communication, Defense, and Survival

Nature is filled with intriguing sounds, and among the most fascinating are those produced by snakes. Snakes use a variety of sounds for different reasons, primarily related to communication and defense. This article explores the different sounds snakes make and their significance.

Understanding Snake Sounds

Snakes produce sounds for multiple purposes, such as communication, establishing territory, and deterring predators. Here are some key points to understand why snakes make these sounds:

Communication

Some snakes use sounds to communicate with each other, particularly during mating rituals or to establish territory.

Mating Rituals: Male rattlesnakes, for example, may rattle their tails to attract females, signaling their presence and readiness for mating.

Territorial Displays: Snakes may use sound to mark their territory, deterring rivals and asserting dominance.

Defense Mechanism

The rattling sound produced by rattlesnakes serves as a potent warning to potential predators. This sound signals to them that the snake is venomous and ready to defend itself. Similarly, many snakes hiss as a defensive behavior when threatened, startling predators and indicating that the snake is ready to strike if necessary.

Vibration Sensitivity

Snakes primarily rely on chemical cues and body language for communication, but sounds can also help them detect nearby threats. This is particularly useful in environments where visibility is limited, as vibrations can provide early warning signals.

Types of Sounds Snakes Make

Snakes produce a variety of sounds, including hissing, growling, and shrieking. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of sounds:

Hissing

Hissing is one of the most common sounds produced by snakes. This sound can startle predators and signal that the snake is ready to strike if necessary. Non-venomous hissing snakes, such as Pine Snakes and Hognose Snakes, are probably capitalizing on this built-in system to mimic the behavior of venomous snakes without having the venom to back it up. This mimicry is an effective way to deter predators.

Growling and Shrieking

Some snakes also produce growling and shrieking noises, which can serve as further warnings or signals of aggression.

The Rattlesnake Rattle

The rattlesnake rattle is perhaps the most recognizable and effective sound produced by snakes. This distinctive noise serves as a clear warning to potential predators, indicating that the snake is venomous and ready to defend itself. The rattle is a series of segments that the snake can shake rapidly to produce a distinctive sound.

Adaptations for Sound Production

Most snakes make hissing noises either by passing air from the lungs over the epiglottis or by cycling their bodies through a figure-8 shape, thus rubbing keeled scales together and producing a hissing noise. Rattlesnakes, in contrast, produce a hissing sound by vibrating their rattles. This mechanism is highly specialized and unique to rattlesnakes.

Prey and Predators

It seems that most mammals have an innate fear of snakes, likely due to the potential for venomous envenomation. This built-in aversion program is particularly useful for large mammals that could potentially harm a snake. Non-venomous hissing snakes such as Pine Snakes and Hognose Snakes may be exploiting this instinct without the actual threat of envenomation.

Conclusion

While not all snakes are vocal, those that do produce sounds use them as a means of survival and interaction with their environment. Understanding the different types of sounds snakes make and their purposes can help us appreciate the complexity of their behavior and communication strategies.