Contrary to its reputation for being desolate, the deserts of New Mexico are full of various types of wildlife, including snakes.
The floors of the desert are crawling, or in the case of snakes slithering, with wildlife making it a hotspot for biologists.
Hosted by the Chiricahua Desert Museum, the Biology of Pitvipers conference brings experts on these creatures together to discuss their research. Starting on July 23 and ending on the 26, the conference attracts biologists from across the globe who specialize in the study of snakes, whether that be studying their mating habits or the medical implications of pit viper venom. The conference also allows people outside of the profession who still have an interest in pit vipers to attend.
Pit vipers are a subfamily of snakes characterized by a small pit between their eyes and nostrils. This feature gives the snake the ability to sense heat from their prey and assists them in hunting. While they can be found in both the Americas and Asia, pit vipers are especially common in the southwest of the United States. Pitvipers include rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths.
Originally held in Sweden during 2000, the Biology of Pitvipers has been hosted in Rodeo, NM for the past three conferences. Chiricahua Desert Museum Science Director Gordon W. Schuett explained the location was chosen for its species diversity, which has made the area a hotspot for biologists since the 1950s. This makes it an ideal space for the conference. The area is already home to five unique species of rattlesnakes.
“People come here, they camp, they go on birding tours, and we have another place from the American Museum of Natural History called the southwestern Research Station,” Schuett said, “That has attracted people since the 1950s and it operates within the mountains, and it's mostly for mammal work and reptile work and bug work.”
The event is set to have over 45 speakers and more poster presentations, all surrounding the current advancements in the study of pit vipers. Keynote speaker Brenna Levine discussed how she is set to present her research on the sexual selection of pit vipers and their potential as a model for the study of sexual selection. She explained how their complex mating habits imply more males are in a population than females, making their relationship to reproduction unique.
Along with presenting her research, Levine expressed excitement at seeing the research her peers have been working on.
“It's like it's such an amazing time to be able to just be immersed in all of this incredible pit viper science and see people that I've known for years,” Levine said. “See people that kind of helped raise me from being a baby biologist, you know, back when I was a kid to where I am now.”
Topics that will be covered include the medicinal implications of pit viper venom. While using venom in medicine maybe sound counter intuitive, the venom contains toxins that target a variety of body functions including blood clotting, muscle function, and the nervous system. It currently is already in many medications, notably captopril which are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
Visit biologyofthepitvipers.com for information on the conference and registration.
