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Chemical recognition in a snake–lizard predator–prey system

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Abstract

In a predator–prey interaction, the fitnesses of the predator and the prey depend on their abilities to recognize each other, a process that may involve different sensory modalities. Squamate reptiles are highly dependent on chemical senses for such recognition, and here we explored the ability of a generalist saurophagous snake, Philodryas chamissonis, to discriminate scents of two congeneric and sympatric lizard prey species, Liolaemus nitidus and L. chiliensis. A generalist saurophagous snake might just be sensitive to lizard scents in general, and if so, no discrimination between prey species is expected. However, these lizards use different substrates; L. nitidus basks on rocks, whereas L. chiliensis mainly basks on bushes and rarely on ground. The snake P. chamissonis basks on ground and rocks, and rarely on bushes. Therefore, if the rate of encounter affects the ability to recognize prey, we predict that P. chamissonis would show prey discrimination because scents of L. chiliensis may be encountered less frequently in its habitat. Results showed that the snake had a refined discrimination of lizard prey, reducing tongue flick rate and movements in response to scents from the common prey scents, L. nitidus. We also studied the ability of L. chiliensis to detect the snake and found that snake scents triggered a reduction in activity. The potential infrequent encounter between predator and prey may explain the asymmetric predator–prey recognition, as can be predicted from the “life-dinner” principle.

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Acknowledgments

The study was authorized by SAG (Resolution No.7266) and by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile. We thank K. Aguilera, F. Contreras, A. Martínez, B. Segura, G. Silva, F. Urra, A. Zapata, M. Penna, O. Acevedo and particularly to J. Constanzo, J. Lagos, F. Norambuena, and J. Troncoso-Palacios for their invaluable help in the field and laboratory. We are very grateful for the language improvements and important comments made by T.F. Hansen, and for the comments made by H. Díaz, C. Reyes-Olivares, F. Toledo and two anonymous reviewers, all of which improved significantly this manuscript. M. Hoare was supported by a fellowship from Fundación Guillermo Puelma (Universidad de Chile). Funds came from Fondecyt 1090251/1120181 (AL).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Antonieta Labra & Misque Hoare

  2. Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Antonieta Labra

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  1. Antonieta Labra
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  2. Misque Hoare
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Correspondence to Antonieta Labra.

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Labra, A., Hoare, M. Chemical recognition in a snake–lizard predator–prey system. acta ethol 18, 173–179 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-014-0203-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-014-0203-7

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