01/02/2026
爬行動物界的花枝鼠?生活需要朋朋的陪伴!🐍🐍
多數人認為大部分爬行動物同種之間不需要陪伴的需求,但Jonathon Howard博士(爬行動物獸醫師)在今年二月分享了一篇關於黃腹海蛇的救援文章,生病受傷的個體若一起飼養,復原的速度會更快,他們觀察到牠們會同步游泳,跟隨等行為。
可惜的是,當他們發現到這點時,許多救援個體的狀況已經很差。當救援人員把牠們放在一起後卻可以看到顯著的進步。
🌊 🌊 有人將類似的行為歸咎於求偶行為,但真的是這樣嗎?🌊 🌊
在外海(開放海域)中,黃腹海蛇(Yellow-bellied sea snake)常常會大量聚集,並與綿延成線的海上漂流物一同出現。這些被稱為 「slicks」 的帶狀聚集區,通常形成於風平浪靜的海況,由匯聚的水流將各種漂流物、泡沫與表層浮渣集中在一起。
在某些地區,例如東太平洋的巴拿馬灣(Gulf of Panama),這些 slick 的寬度可從 1 公尺到 300 公尺不等,並且綿延數公里之長。單一 slick 中可能聚集數千條海蛇。
目前仍不清楚這些海蛇是主動游向 slicks,還是被動隨水流帶入其中。研究人員曾觀察到這些 slick 中的海蛇有覓食行為;然而,在如此大型的聚集情況下,尚未記錄到交配行為。🌊
The need for companionship isn’t limited to just humans. Even the most unusual of wildlife patients need friends.
“This photo always makes me smile. Dr Howard and myself discovered that sick and injured Yellow Bellied Sea Snakes heal faster and recover when they co habit together. They adore companionship, followed each other, lay together and swam in sync together.
Before discovering this, many showed signs of a depressed state with head hanging, slow movement and a reluctance to eat. But when together they thrived ❤️
I loved watching them when they transitioned to the large pre release tanks and they would glide side by side together, and playfully weave under and around bubbles and currents before resting on a dock and laying next to each other, sometimes putting their heads together or entwining their tails.
So beautiful to watch!”
Thank you for sharing such a lovely story and for all you do for wildlife, Nic Martini from the New South Wales Wildlife Council
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