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Rattlesnakes have personalities too — to venomous effect
Southern Pacific rattlesnakes have distinct personalities that are linked to the quantity of venom they extrude. Credit: Jeff Foott/Nature Picture Library
Personalities in the animal kingdom can dictate everything from the hunting tactics of spiders to how long chimpanzee mothers nurse their young. Now, researchers have found that personality could also influence how much venom a rattlesnake produces when it bites1.
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Martin, C. E. & Hayes, W. K. Front. Ethol. 5, 1918065 (2026).
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