A new study reveals how prairie rattlesnakes in arid environments have evolved to collect rainwater efficiently. Researchers, led by herpetologist Scott Boback, simulated rainfall at a rattlesnake hibernaculum in Colorado, observing nearly 100 snakes. The study, published in Current Zoology, highlighted several rain-harvesting behaviors: • Rain-collecting posture: Snakes coil their bodies to catch water on their scales, which are specially adapted to retain droplets. • Social drinking: Snakes in large groups drank water off one another’s bodies. • Innovative movements: Some snakes tilted their bodies forward or extended over ledges to collect water. • Unknown mechanisms: Some appeared to channel water from their heads to their mouths, a phenomenon not yet fully understood. The study emphasized the snakes’ complex social behaviors, challenging their stereotypical solitary image. Researchers also noted the role of hydrophobic yet hydrophilic scales in facilitating this behavior. The findings shed light on the snakes’ adaptability and social dynamics, offering a new perspective on their ecological importance. Read more here: https://nyti.ms/3CfuCtG