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A Resistant Predator and Its Toxic Prey: Persistence of Newt Toxin Leads to Poisonous (Not Venomous) Snakes

Journal of Chemical Ecology volume 30, pages 1901–1919 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) preys upon the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), which contains the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) in the skin. TTX is toxic, large quantities are present in a newt, and highly resistant snakes have the ability to ingest multiple newts; subsequently snakes harbor significant amounts of active toxin in their own tissues after consuming a newt. Snakes harbor TTX in the liver for 1 mo or more after consuming just one newt, and at least 7 wk after consuming a diet of newts. Three weeks after eating one newt, snakes contained an average of 42 μg of TTX in the liver. This amount could severely incapacitate or kill avian predators, and mammalian predators may be negatively affected as well.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building # 3140, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA

    Becky L. Williams

  2. Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322-5305, USA

    Edmund D. Brodie Jr.

  3. Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405-3700, USA

    Edmund D. Brodie III

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  1. Becky L. Williams
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  2. Edmund D. Brodie Jr.
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Williams, B.L., Brodie, E.D. & Brodie, E.D. A Resistant Predator and Its Toxic Prey: Persistence of Newt Toxin Leads to Poisonous (Not Venomous) Snakes. J Chem Ecol 30, 1901–1919 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000045585.77875.09

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000045585.77875.09

  • Taricha granulosa
  • Thamnophis sirtalis
  • toxicity
  • resistance
  • chemical defense
  • tetrodotoxin
  • aposematism
  • coevolution