this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] Communist@lemmy.ml 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I can't see the paper on that page, just the image, is there more to it than just the image and the claim?

What snakes have they checked?

edit: I think this is really about identifying rattlesnakes, more than about identifying venomous snakes in general. There's two counterexamples on the "anal scale" page of wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_scale

the undivided end on an elapid venomous snake, and the divided on a colubrid

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

There isn't much more than the pictures, title and review date/information.

I mentioned in another comment that I am just going to write the reviewer of that page and see what the specifics are and get proper context.

It's not about who is right or wrong now. (You seem to know a lot more about snakes or you are a better rapid-researcher than I, at least.) If I can track this down and get a better review of stuff that is posted as a "government reference", more people could benefit from that.

In the past, I have had great success in reaching out to subject experts, so this should be kinda easy. I am also not shy, so that helps. I know the Denver Zoo (where I live) has a large reptile exhibit and they have close ties to people at the San Diego zoo who also does. It should be just a simple matter of contacting some of those folk with a short summary of this thread. If anything, they would have the "oomph" to get government resources updated. (I may have my zoos mixed up, but I'll get that sorted when I start this little research project.)

Side note: If you want to have an argument about chameleons, I am absolutely the person to have one with. ;)

[–] Communist@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'd be very interested to see what they say, please keep us posted!

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Sure thing. I'll tag you in this thread if I get responses.

(In a similar style thread a few months ago, I reached out to a Professor Lucas regarding some old stars that were discovered and dubbed "Old Smokers". We had a tiny debate about the relevance of Betelgeuse and he squashed the debate for us. Feel free to search my profile on it as it's kinda interesting. Same Lemmy community maybe? I can't remember.)

Edit: I just reached out to one of the reptile experts at the Denver Zoo, so let's see how this moves. This process usually takes a few days, so don't expect anything extraordinary, quickly.