Meeting Abstract
Animal communication is a complex process that can occur in multiple sensory modalities. The rattlesnake rattle is known to be an auditory signal used in a defensive context. We present novel data suggesting that the rattle is also a visual signal when illuminated under ultraviolet light. The rattles of several species of rattlesnake were photographed while illuminated under a UV-LED array. Fluorescent intensity was quantified on the two proximal and two distal lobes of the rattle string using imageJ. We assessed variation in fluorescent intensity in a phylogenetic context and suggest some possible adaptive scenarios for rattle fluorescence.
