What primary activity characterizes the ecological role of Lycodon snakes?
Answer
Nocturnal hunting of small vertebrates.
The ecological niche occupied by wolf snakes is largely defined by their behavior as nocturnal hunters. They are active during the dark hours, focusing their diet on smaller prey items such as lizards, small rodents, and frogs. This lifestyle places a high selective pressure on traits that facilitate effective camouflage or quick, unobtrusive movement in low-light conditions. This contrasts sharply with heavier-bodied species that rely on constriction and ambush tactics, emphasizing the *Lycodon* lineage's specialization toward smaller, more agile food sources.
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