Tail Loss Patterns in Thamnophis (Reptilia: Colubridae) and the Probable Fate of Injured Individuals

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Abstract
The frequency of tail loss in 3 spp. of Thamnophis was evaluated. Significant sex and size dependencies of tail loss were found in T. sirtalis and T. sauritus, but not in T. butleri. Tail loss was greater in females than in males and generally increased with size. The frequency of tail loss was reduced in the 25-29 cm size class. Because smaller, injured individuals must be preferentially eliminated from the population for this reduction in tail loss frequency to occur, it is hypothesized that injured juveniles do not survive their 1st year, possibly due to hibernation stress. Alternately, injured snakes may emigrate or have injury-related behavioral changes which result in reduced frequencies of recapture. No injured snake less than 1 yr old was recaptured after its 1st year; the frequency of injury of recaptured snakes in larger size classes was not different from the frequency of injury in original captures, further suggesting that injury in 1st year snakes results in death before the 2nd year.

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