Diamondback terrapin ( Malaclemys terrapin ). Photo by Parker Gibbons . Intricate designs sported by Kiawah ’ s diamondback terrapins have been described as natural art .
cottonmouths , offer classic examples of deceptive advertising . Babies of these dark patterned snakes are born with bright yellow tails . Rather than crawling around looking for prey , the juveniles lie amid brown leaves or fallen palm fronds with their tail in the middle of a tight coil . When a small frog or lizard is nearby , the baby snake waves its sulfur-colored tail enticingly . The tail , which resembles a caterpillar , attracts a would-be predator . Mistaking the tail for something edible , the hungry frog or lizard moves in for the kill and instead becomes a meal .
Now You See Me , Now You Don ’ t : Flash Colors Flash colors represent a special kind of defense used by some animals . A brown cottontail rabbit sitting in the shade may not be noticed by a pedestrian or even by a patrolling predator such as a gray fox . But what if the rabbit runs away ? With visions of rabbit for lunch , the fox takes off in pursuit , focused on the white beacon bobbing through the undergrowth . Suddenly the rabbit stops , drops its tail down , and remains motionless . The pursuing fox , still looking for something white , continues its fruitless search . The same phenomenon is evident in white-tailed deer as they run from danger , a ploy that presumably worked historically to escape from mountain lions , coyotes , and wolves .
Enjoying Unexplained Colors Many colors in nature have obvious or assumed functions , particularly those related to reproduction , feeding , and protection . Some colors have no confirmed scientific explanation , which gives observers free rein to imagine what role color might play in a particular plant ’ s or animal ’ s life . It ’ s even possible that the colors are genetic holdovers with no particular survival value in today ’ s world .
Kiawah ’ s reptiles provide several ecological mysteries about hues and patterns of presentation . Consider the brilliant blue tails of young skinks found throughout the Southeast . Do they serve as a warning that the skink might be toxic to some predators , such as birds that would notice such an obvious extremity ? Or is it a decoy to attract a would-be predator to an expendable part of the body that will regenerate if broken ? Regarding amphibians , scientists have offered no convincing explanation for why a vivid white or yellow stripe runs down a green treefrog ’ s body length , thus distinguishing it from other treefrogs .
WINTER / SPRING 2021 • VOLUME 43
41