July 7 (Reuters) - Warm and cuddly are adjectives that seldom spring to mind when one thinks of rattlesnakes. The findings challenge the notion that reptiles are solitary hunters that display little in the way of complex social behavior. Ethology, the study of animal behavior, has long recognized that birds and mammals, including humans, find comfort from being physically close to their own kind. To measure stress levels in the snakes, Martin used a heart-rate monitor designed for humans. "It lets us know as humans that, hey, we're not that different from these snakes," Martin said.

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Persons: Chelsea Martin, William Hayes, Hayes, " Hayes, Martin, Rich McKay, Frank McGurty, Will Dunham Organizations: Loma Linda University, rattlers, Loma, wrangle rattlers, Thomson Locations: San Bernardino , California, Southern California, Atlanta