Abstract
Prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) exhibited higher rates of tongue flicking after striking and envenomating a mouse than after seeing, smelling, or detecting the warmth of a mouse. Thus, as in several previous studies, chemosensory searching subserved by the vomeronasal system was activated consequent to the delivery of a successful predatory strike. This effect, however, was not observed when the snakes were disturbed (by handling or transportation to a new environment) just prior to being exposed to mice. The same kinds of disturbance did not interfere with strike-induced chemosensory searching in specimens of C. enyo, which are characteristically less likely than C. viridis to exhibit ritualized defensive patterns (Rdps) consequent to disturbance. Thus, for C. enyo the predatory reaction chain appears to be immune or closed to at least some disturbing influences and runs to completion once initiated by a strike. For C. viridis, on the other hand, the chain is vulnerable to interference, probably because cues which elicit Rdps receive attentional priority. It is now interesting to ask if C. viridis eventually will exhibit chemosensory searching after the Rdps subside (usually 10-15 min are required for this); that is, do the animals have a memory system which will cause them to begin searching for the en-venomated prey after the hiatus (retention interval) created by RDPs.
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Reference Notes
CHISZAR, D., RADCLIFFE, C. W., & SMITH, H. M. Feeding strategies in rattlesnakes: Ambushing vs. foraging. Paper presented at meetings of the Animal Behavior Society, Ft. Collins, Colo., June 9-13, 1980.
CHISZAR, D., RADCLIFFE, C. W., SMITH, H. M., & BASHINSKI, H. Effects of prolonged food deprivation on response to prey odors by rattlesnakes: A signal detection analysis. Under review.
RADCLIFFE, C. W., & CHISZAR, D. Rattlesnake feeding behavior: Duration of the chemosensory searching effect of a predatory strike. In preparation.
SCUDDER, K. M. Mechanisms mediating the sequential aspects of predatory episodes in crotalid snakes. In preparation.
O’CONNELL, B., & CHISZAR, D. Analysis of the behavioral sequence emitted by rattlesnakes during feeding episodes. II. Chemosensory searching after recovery from disturbing stimulation. In preparation.
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Chiszar, D., Radcliffe, C.W., O’Connell, B. et al. Strike-Induced Chemosensory Searching in Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Viridis) as a Function of Disturbance Prior to Presentation of Rodent Prey. Psychol Rec 31, 57–62 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394720
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394720