Illness: Swamp wamps, more commonly known as eastern fox snakes, are susceptible to snake fungal disease (SFD), an illness caused by the fungus; 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢. SFD can bring about bumps under the skin, ulcers and face disfiguration among other symptoms. This can hinder the snake’s ability to hunt, leading to emaciation and eventual death. Many snake populations are already in decline which is becoming exasperated due to the presence of SFD. This can cause localized extinctions of many species of North American snake including but not limited to; rat snakes, water snakes, king snakes and even rattlesnakes who are particularly effected. There are many hypothesis as to where this pathogen originated from, one is that it was introduced to wild snake populations through the pet trade. Others suggest that it has always been around but became more apparent due to climate change. When snakes hibernate in winter, they often congregate together below the frost line. Warmer than normal temperatures during this time create the perfect environment for the fungus to grow and spread more efficiently while the snakes are huddled together, asleep.
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Regional Variations: In Ontario, there are two populations of eastern fox snake; the northern population in the Georgian Bay and the southern population in the Carolinian zone. Those in the Georgian bay population tend to be larger with an average length of 120cm - 125cm (47.2in - 49.2in) from the snout to the cloaca. In the Carolinian zone, fox snakes have an average snout to cloaca length of 90.6cm - 99.7cm (35.6in - 39.2in), according to one study. Being larger in northern populations is not unique to fox snakes with other species such as skinks adapting in a similar manor. The reason for this is due to it being colder further north and to adapt, they have become larger to be more insulted and better at retaining heat. More heat means they are better able to gestate, digest and copulate among other processes. In fox snakes, the egg size also differs between populations with the northern population having eggs 0.5cm (0.19in) longer than their southern counterparts. For the egg, this can aid in incubation, possibly increasing the success rate of hatching.
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Sources:
Davy, Christina M., et al. "Revisiting Ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease) After a Decade of Targeted Research." Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 31 May 2021, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.665805/full. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021. "Eastern Foxsnake." Ontario Nature, 2021, ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/eastern-foxsnake/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021. Marks, Steve. Personal interview. 2021. Rowell, Jeffrey C. The Snakes of Ontario: Natural History, Distribution and Status. Winnipeg, Art Bookbindery, 2012. |