We Thought These Snakes Were All The Same

[@BizarreBeasts]

Would you like some eyelash viper socks?! complexly.store/products/eyelash-viper-socks

[@redschafer7804]

to answer you query yes i would love some eyelash viper socks may be have a three pack with a random color mix lol

[@fakjbf3129]

Another reason for high variability is to decrease intraspecies competition. If you and your sibling are both green you’ll both live out among the leaves eating the same things. If you are green and your sibling is brown you’ll probably spend time out among the leaves while they stay near the trunk of the tree and you aren’t going to be directly competing with each other which helps both of you.

[@melkwarseeker172]

Pretty sure that's what they said 😅

[@fakjbf3129]

@@melkwarseeker172 No, what they said is that having multiple color morphs lets them access more parts of the canopy. That’s halfway to the statement I made, but they never actually made the point that it means individuals aren’t directly competing with each other.

[@kennethmullen-qe9hg]

​@@fakjbf3129 True, but that's where both implication and inference find their times to shine, coming to play lol! Yes that wasn't stated explicitly yet most people would infer that as that was the implication. It's called "reading between the lines" as well, and is why the other commenter, in his or her reply, thought that it HAD been stated as such in this video... However, your point also isn't moot, as, this being an educational video, science-based and whatnot, there's a chance of a wide range of people, of all different ages and skillsets or experience, partaking in this nature video. So, for some viewers it could be beneficial to them, to spell it out a little bit clearer. To others it could maybe feel, as if like they are being spoonfed the information but since the nature of this video is nature or science, and/or educational people really should not have a problem in that department, here, in this CASE knowing it is a family-friendly video and channel, with how many small children are on KZbin nowadays, for sure! LmMFaO! ;) :P :o)

[@fakjbf3129]

@@kennethmullen-qe9hg holy hell you’re condescending.

[@melkwarseeker172]

@@fakjbf3129 my apologies then, zoology grad so guess I just inferred 🙂

[@mikamekaze]

I've loved every pin i've gotten from the pin club, but none have made me gasp and yell out lout upon seeing it quite like this one. Absolutely stunning.

[@nebulan]

6:33 "the difficult step: finding mates in the first place. " Mood.

[@The8BitPianist]

Taxonomy truly is the messiest scientific discipline

[@itsmeblank4028]

And I just can't help love it ❤

[@reviewchan9806]

It's what makes it genuinely challenging

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

WHAT EVEN IS NANOTYRANNUS

[@FischerNilsA]

Well, a lot of the foundations where laid before people understood evolution. Linneus was a creationist after all. Modern genetic-driven cladistic descriptions are much less messy.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

@@FischerNilsA Yeah, but it's still difficult to clearly define a species sometimes.

[@WizardOfDocs]

I'm used to wide color variation being a consequence of artificial selection (think of how many colors dogs can be!) It is absolutely wild (pun very much intended) to see natural selection do the exact same thing all on its own.

[@Hurricayne92]

It's almost as if 'artificial' selection is just made up 😜

[@FischerNilsA]

@@Hurricayne92 You saying people dont breed domesticated organisms selectively? Because I know kennel owners and cattle farmers who would laugh in your face for that. And point to their most important tool: The stockbook their great-grandparents started.

[@Popebug]

​@Hurricayne92 Dude it's not exactly a mystery that humans breed animals. Just how dumb are you?

[@BackYardScience2000]

Green tree pythons are like this, but mostly only when young. Eastern Hognose snakes also come in many variations in the wild, from normal brown, to bright orange to solid black. I've found all 3 of those variants in the wild within around a 2 square mile area. In eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia there are blackish/purple copperheads with abberant patterns as well. Many have been documented. So yeah, color variation is pretty common in the wild, even here in the US.

[@reptilez13]

Tree vipers in general are fascinating, especially with the convergent evolution with insularis pit vipers, among other Old World tree/bush vipers. Super awesome and beautiful animals!

[@SAmaryllis]

Thanks for spelling out the implications of species splitting in terms of endangerment categories - obvious in retrospect, but not one I thought of on my own!

[@Algrenion]

(bursts through the doors 5 minutes after upload) did someone say colourful snakes?!!??!?

[@angelalewis3645]

😂🙌🏻

[@jessecarlucci9473]

On a recent trip to Manuel Antonio National Park and Monteverde in Costa Rica we managed a couple peeks at this little guy. They’re so well camouflaged that they were all but invisible to the naked eye. In one instance, a hummingbird alerted us to the viper’s presence, loudly dancing to ward the imposing - if beautiful - beast off a branch. 10:24

[@eshiffer]

I saw one or two in Monteverde last year as well!

[@GSBarlev]

haha, I knew about these beauties from Joey "Call Me The Lamp" Josselson's channel, where he keeps several varieties. It's really cool to get a deep dive of the science behind these incredible snakes. Bonus shout-out of the appearance of the "judgemental shoelace" at 5:40

[@MoonLitChild]

For a second I thought this was one of his videos! And yeah, the judgemental shoelace cameo was pretty great. xD

[@melkwarseeker172]

Eyelash vipers have been my fave venomous snake for a real long time now but i always thought it was just one species.. informative stuff!!

[@Sarappreciates]

Me too! I also learned something new here, I thought they were all one type of snake.

[@paulkinzer7661]

I knew nothing about this species, but, oh my goodness, they are beautiful!

[@SandyRiverBlue]

They are berry colored and while resting on a branch they sometimes scrunch up their bodies in what can often look like a bunch of berries. Since they eat birds, which see in a pretty wide range of colors, I'd say it's a pretty good adaptation.

[@YochevedDesigns]

Molecular phylogeny is really shaking up everything we thought we knew about clades and species. I'm loving it! (BTW, if I were ever to own an eyelash viper, I would have to name it Billie.)

[@redschafer7804]

i see what you did made me giggle so hard i almost fell off of my bed lol

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

I don't think vipers make good pets, though, since they are venomous.

[@redschafer7804]

@@MatthewTheWanderer that may be but i think we all have that one reptile that we wold love to keep but for what ever reason we cant keep.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

@@redschafer7804 Yeah, that's certainly true for me. I'd love to have several kinds of reptiles, but I can't have any pets right now.

[@redschafer7804]

@@MatthewTheWanderer me too i would love to have an Eastern Box Turtle but in my state its illegal to bring one in from out of state. that makes me sad because i want to get one that wasn't taken from the wild

[@obambagaming1467]

Here in our area are alot of Leopard slugs. And they have all kinds of patterns and shades. Some are dark brown with stripes, some have spots and some are much lighter colored. There are appearently even red variations, just havent found them yet

[@Caterfree10]

I don’t always get the rare variants of the pins, but when I do, I love it best when it’s a snake. :>

[@jungtothehuimang]

Pit vipers are some of my favorites! I think their looks are super impressive and pretty, and their color differences are so striking. I am a huge snake fan and i think these guys are pretty neat.

[@JayKwell]

Have scientists considered that eyelash vipers developed their specialized head scales because it makes them feel bonita?

[@JessF42]

Muy Bonita 🐍 🐍 🐍

[@dragonbowlsupper]

They look like a packet of snake Skittles. Snittles?

[@astralb.2647]

SNITTLES 🥺💞

[@Sarappreciates]

The rainbow you don't wanna taste.

[@germanomagnone]

it's basically a "rainbow viper" or an "eevee viper"!

[@nettlesandsnakes9138]

Keep one with high friendship and teach it rough play or charm and it may become fairy type.

[@nettlesandsnakes9138]

Keep in mind that most of the time the viper will evolve into a grass type because it’s in the rainforest and it’s near Mossey rock

[@germanomagnone]

@@nettlesandsnakes9138 a cutie version of the quetzalcoatl (the Aztec feathered serpent)!

[@angelwhispers2060]

🎉 Eevee viper 😂

[@germanomagnone]

@@angelwhispers2060 Eeviper

[@takenname8053]

Color morphs are so cool!

[@888Grim]

You've convinced me, the eyelash viper is my new favorite snake =)

[@fishor6527]

that is such a good title and image I clicked on it before I had even realised it was a bizarre beasts video 😂

[@cathyb1273]

This is a stunning snake.

[@nariu7times328]

gorgeous pin

[@crackedemerald4930]

they're so pretty!

[@NewMessage]

There's a tree boa from South America that come in the same kind of color swatches... Corallus hortulana. Mean as heck, but my fave snake for display by far.

[@paulkinzer7661]

Hey, new message! Thanks for this. I looked them up and they are gorgeous. Also, I see your comments on lots of KZbin channels I watch, and just wanted to say how spot on so many of them are. Well done, you!

[@NewMessage]

@@paulkinzer7661 * tips an imaginary hat *

[@laurachapple6795]

These are GORGEOUS. Also, I'm intrigued that the snakes apparently know what colour they are?

[@The_Leftysaurus]

okay not related to the wonderful amazing snakies, buuut gawd I LOOOVE that shirt!!!! You look aamaazinggg! ♥♥♥♥

[@AngryKittens]

I'd like the Fire-type viper.

[@AdamYJ]

[Gasp] Popsicle snakes!

[@Eltuine]

They're a snainbow!

[@ostremnomer]

Perhaps a rainbowa

[@leeeorama]

So how do the vipers end up in the places best suited for their colorings? Would a yellow viper look at its tail and think, "Time to find a banana tree"?

[@05Matz]

I think their colour vision is perfectly decent? So I'd guess that they look at their tail, look at the surroundings, and think "Hmm, not a good match, I should move somewhere else." until they eventually find a place where they match the colours closely, then as long as there isn't anything else wrong with it that place quickly becomes their 'favourite spot' for hunting. All they need to display that behaviour is some kind of instinct that contrasting with their surroundings is bad (or that hanging out near other things that look like them is good), they don't need understanding of why -- just a vague discomfort at the sight of their body contrasting with the surroundings. Though from what little I know about snake intelligence, it seems entirely plausible that they'd "feel exposed" in surroundings that contrast with their colour. I know that a lot of snakes are pretty clever about hiding themselves, even if their overall intelligence isn't considered particularly impressive.

[@ThatJaymsWisdom]

So cool. And truly the greatest KZbin show there is

[@plovergrrl]

We got so lucky to see one of snakes in the wild in Costa Rica, so I was thrilled to share this with my wife when I saw the topic of the video!

[@allanjackson4624]

Very interesting indeed. This video not just told me something I did not know, but a whole class of things I didn't know, being how evolution can favour plurality. Great stuff.

[@astralb.2647]

This has literally nothing to do with vipers, but I need to come here and say that the bodysuit the host is wearing is absolutely gorgeous!

[@larsgottlieb]

Her new hair is gorgeous too (o:

[@astralb.2647]

@@larsgottlieb yeah, she's got style!

[@sungillk12]

I think you should do an episode on the most bizarre beast - humans - the mostly hairless mammal that walks on two legs, exhibits color polymorphism, and has to care for their offspring for two decades.

[@prezhenz6969]

Lol unsurprising that some scientists assumed that color variation was indicative of speciation-despite regional/niche overlap. People do this with so many species not just snakes, relying on phenotype even though we KNOW genotype isn’t always expressed visually

[@Zenpaper]

Hey, might be a silly question here... Thinking of the colorful variants within the same species as indication that their environment selects for polymorphism, can we reasonably extrapolate that if humans can be classified as polymorphic, then our diversity in color is actually an evolutionary advantage selected for in our unique environment? I know there are a lot of assumptions and possible alternatives in my thinking here, but that was the thought that hit me good.

[@agalv9017]

That’s a crazy color on that coachwhip I’ve never seen one in that color before

[@user-McGiver]

''...how does this work?...'' well ''hello!''.... human beings!... many variants, same species!... it's called adaptation!

[@redschafer7804]

they prove the saying that variety is the spice of life

[@monicamares9198]

Omg how I wish they weren't venomous and made good pets, they'd be beautiful in a nice large arboreal tararium and so many more people would keep them and we'd knoe a ton about them by now maybe even make more color morphs

[@CasaVipera]

They make pretty good pets. I've got 4 of them, and more underway.. easiest venomous snake to care for.

[@monicamares9198]

@CasaVipera sounds pretty. If you don't yet, you should post videos about them

[@quitlife9279]

Do we know if the different species can still interbreed or any behavioural differences? I'm guessing there hasn't been much active evolutionary speciation but the populations were just geographically separated and became genetically distant, but not distant enough to stop interbreeding and gene flow.

[@soundslikephiladelphia]

I got to see a bright yellow Eyelash viper when I went to Costa Rica last year! It was not nearly as large as I thought they were.

[@blipboop5594]

Wait, pit vipers are called that because of their... anatomy? Not because of like, snakepits? Which snakey pit came first?? 😵‍💫

[@AndrewTBP]

The pits in the snakes came first by a long way.

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

She keeps saying Eyelash Vipers when she means Eyelash Pit-vipers. These sepcies are from Central and South America, there are eyelash “true” viper species from Asia, they often get conflated.

[@Katiapunchh]

Just found out this channel and let me tell ya this is gold!!!! Congrats 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉. Keep it up with the excellent work guys. Greetings from South America. Eager to see these snakes (of course carefully 😂❤)

[@mossydog2385]

For years I've been cross breeding in order to create an entirely new species of viper that can only survive in urban areas. I call them the windshield viper. No really...

[@phoeberose2429]

Learning about snakes always makes me feel like I'm 10 and excitedly reading a book

[@awaredeshmukh3202]

So if they pick a location that's correlated to their color, do they know what color they are and actively plan a good location to hunt based on that? Or does, say, a yellow snake just try a bunch of spots before it has great luck at the banana farm? They can't all be doing it based on instinct because they need different instincts within the same species.

[@DJFracus]

They do not need different instincts within the same species. They only need one instinct: the instinct of staying around surroundings that look like them. Because of the long, bendy nature of a snake, they can easily see what their own body looks like, of course.

[@RickySTT]

I have met a different species of pit viper in the wild. Fortunately, it was of a shy species (a rattler-either timber or eastern diamondback), and we wanted nothing to do with each other. And I’d like it to stay that way.

[@AroundTheBlockAgain]

Biology: "So how many different morphs do you want?" Eyelash vipers: "Yes"

[@Sarappreciates]

These are some of the prettiest snakes in the world. Their "eyelashes" give them a horned appearance like dragons. They almost don't look real.

[@Bryan-cs9to]

Great video!

[@sarahpooler2330]

Your outfit is gorgeous today!

[@oleksandrbyelyenko435]

They look kinda cute 😅

[@doginhat13]

You can't stop me from tasting the rainbow

[@stephaneclerc667]

I've participated to several studies on vipers in Europe and for example, the snake I k own the most, vipera aspis can be almost any colors. I've found black, grey, dark green, red, brown, light blue, yellow.... Some with no pattern, some with reduce pattern, some where the pattern is so big you don't see anything else.. And in the moutains, populations are isolated and some trait become prevalent. So when I have guest who want to see that viper in its environment, I just ask them : what color do you want you viper? And they are staggered by the question, answer, and then I go to the right place. Vipera aspis are terrestrial though, but the variations are crazy and yes, it's always related to the environment.

[@rhondahuggins9542]

Love the colors, and that is a bitchin' lace creation!

[@benmccrobie9272]

The music is making feel like I'm watching a Spirit of the Law video

[@javieroa8214]

In one of native languages of Costa Rica they are called "bocaracá" that means kiss of death because they tend to camouflage in areas around human height so it was and is probable to get bitten in the face.

[@canaanval]

Want a snake with a lot of variety? Look into the Variable Kingsnake (lampropeltis leonis)🥰

[@FelixHelixihare]

I really want that pin.

[@herambhasabnis6949]

This is very similar to the Malabar pit viper, could you also make a video on it please.

[@XavierKatzone]

Fascinating!

[@j.l.emerson592]

If you haven't done it previously, will you make a video on legless lizards?

[@joshualieberman7558]

“Sign up to keep this channel going” very ominous thing to say. Maybe reading between the lines.

[@UshioKiss]

6:40 is this a real photo??? it looks like art or ai because the snake is so small

[@jungtothehuimang]

It looks fake in my opinion, I don't think even a baby viper could fit in a flower like that.

[@johnzheng8652]

Apparently eyelash vipers are just fairly smol snakes (max size 50-80cm long), and looking at Google images there's a ton of them wrapped around leaves or other small things

[@BizarreBeasts]

It is getting harder to figure this out every day, but as far as we can tell, this is a real image! www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/eyelash-viper-royalty-free-image/1425994963 Also, it looks like there is another angle: www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/eyelash-viper-royalty-free-image/1425994965

[@jungtothehuimang]

@@BizarreBeasts thank you for responding!

[@Zahri8Alang]

Like calling all noodles the same, no Uncle Roger would beg to differ

[@franklyfrustrating]

One of my favorite snakes, they're difficult to keep in captivity though, best left to zoo's and experts.

[@ariverwilde]

I’m late to this but I loooove your top!!!!!!

[@raphlvlogs271]

can viper species hybridise between each others?

[@FreedomAnderson]

Yes, they can.

[@raymoonstar13]

This case reminds me a lot of Chinese Giant Salamander one

[@martlettoo]

The important thing is that they don't struggle with their own identity ❤

[@angelalewis3645]

It comes in lots of colors - like pygmy puffs!

[@MrT_Rex]

Ssssssensational

[@mistformsquirrel]

*Snake the Rainbow~*

[@oscaryikes9822]

So the eyelash vipers in the pet trade are now all mutts? Or do keepers have to try to figure out what theirs are if they want to sell or breed them?

[@BizarreBeasts]

Great question! I know that for some snakes in the pet trade (like reticulated pythons) the locality (where the wild snakes were caught) is something breeders track. That would probably be the only way for them to keep the species distinct in captivity, but I don't know if folks are doing that for eyelash vipers. Maybe @ClintsReptiles or @ChandlersWildLife would know? -Sarah

[@Ulthar_Cat]

High color and shape variability. I'm surprised that it surprised the researchers. I studied a species like that in college. It's a weird endangered mammal. We call it Homo sapiens. I studied Art History in college XD 💜

[@raphlvlogs271]

can they get accidentally introduced to places far away due to hiding in shipments of timber or live plants too? considering that humans are taking away so much materials from their habitats

[@americaroleplayer]

Well I have a new favorite snake! 🐍❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

[@AwesomeFish12]

Childrens pythons have a similar history. They used to be considered one species.

[@falcolf]

Such gorgeous little candy noodles❤❤❤

[@finalmage6]

Once again requesting that the flying squirrel get it's bizarre beast due!

[@terolix]

I love your outfit!

[@KydtheSyd]

6:06 snision

[@threeraven13]

NoniSnek!!😂😂😂

[@sylvio7239]

damn

[@ditzfough]

Is that the voice of Sarah Suta?

[@rynfornow3411]

This explains GoT dragons.

[@prezhenz6969]

Its funny/sad that even scientists assume that they can visually tell species solely by appearance. Just reinforces why prejudice persists within human societies

[@askthebubble28]

Mmm, what a delicious rainbow…. **LiCk** **I HATE MY LIFE**

[@ThatGuy38757]

Woa

[@EmpressOfExile206]

Taxonomy is easily the least objective and most messy field of the biological sciences‼️ This almost totally stems from the fact that while the International Code for Zoological (& Botanical) Nomenclature has one of the most stringent & extensive sets of rules & guidelines... The "rules" for defining a species are still just as ambiguous/arbitrary as ever 💯 Also, as if "taxonomy" wasn't bad enough... The fact there's _no standardization_ in the degree to which species are "separated" from their close relatives often causes contrasting or even completely contradictory conclusions to be reached by the large comparative data models used in cladistics depending on which traits/variables the researchers decide include‼️ e.g. It's well known amongst paleontologists that cladistical analysis of Mesozoic taxa can be *heavily skewed* by the inclusion of juvenile specimens! This is due to dinosaurs laying 🥚's no larger than modern ostrich 🥚's thus causing the comparatively tiny juveniles to vary _significantly_ in morphology/ecology from the adults lmao

[@quitlife9279]

Don't humans have different colours even in the same litter too? Why would it be surprising...?

[@Coolmanbob7]

Y'all better pay yourselves if you don't have a style/clothing/hairdresser in charge 😍