Integrative Biology of Rattlesnakes

Abstract

There are several ways in which a species may be useful in answering questions in organismal biology. First, the organism may represent a larger group that shares the process or attribute in question (note that this sense of "representation" differs from simply representing a more inclusive taxonomic group). Second, the organism may represent an exception to a generally accepted process and, thus, may provide new insight into that process. Third, an organism may have specific characteristics that facilitate the application of particular approaches and allow tests of key hypotheses, assumptions, or theory. For many questions in integrative organismal biology, rattlesnakes fit these criteria and thus are superb models for study