Skip to main content
Log in

Sex pheromone source location by garter snakes:

A mechanism for detection of direction in nonvolatile trails

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Male plains garter snakes,Thamnophis radix, tested in a 240-cm-long arena can detect directional information from a female pheromone trail only when the female is allowed to push against pegs while laying the trail. The female's normal locomotor activity apparently deposits pheromone on the anterolateral surfaces of vertical structures in her environment. The male sensorily assays the sides of these objects and from this information determines the female's direction of travel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bossert, W., andWilson, E. 1963. The analysis of olfactory communication among animals.J. Theor. Biol. 5:443–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devine, M. 1977. Chemistry and source of sex-attractant pheromones and their role in mate discrimination by garter snakes. PhD dissertation. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, S., andShorey, H. 1974. Mechanisms of orientation to a distant pheromone source, pp. 81–95,in M. Birch (ed.). Pheromones. American Elsevier, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N. 1976. Sex pheromone pheromone trailing behavior in three species of garter snake (Thamnophis). MS thesis. University of Oklahoma, Norman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N. 1978. Evidence for species specificity of pheromone trails in two sympatric garter snakes,Thamnophis, Herpetol. Rev. 9:10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N. 1979. Aspects of pheromone trailing in garter snakes (Thamnophis). PhD dissertation. Miami University, Oxford. (Ohio)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N. 1981. Seasonality of pheromone trailing behavior in two species of garter snake,Thamnophis (Colubridae).Southwest. Nat. 26:385–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N. 1982. Species specificity of sex pheromone trails of sympatric and allopatric garter snakes (Thamnophis).Copeia 1982:10–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N., andSchofield, C. 1984. Species specificity of sex pheromone trails in the plains garter snake,Thamnophis radix.Herpetologica. 40:51–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gans, C. 1962. Terrestrial locomotion without limbs.Am. Zool. 2:167–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garstka, W., andCrews, D. 1981. Female sex pheromone in the skin and circulation of a garter snake.Science 214:681–683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, A.,Bast, R., andBryan, P. 1983. Noninvasive monitoring of female reproduction in the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). Abstract, S.S.A.R. and H.L. joint meeting, University of Utah. Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians Herpetologists' League, Salt Lake City.

  • Gillingham, J., andClark, D. 1981. Snake tongue-flicking: Transfer mechanics to Jacobson's organ.Can. J. Zool 59:1651–1657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillingham, J., andDickinson, J. 1980. Postural orientation during courtship in the eastern garter snake,Thamnophis s. sirtalis. Behav. Neurol. Biol. 28:211–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halpern, M., andKubie, J. 1983. Snake tongue flicking behavior; clues to vomeronasal system functions, pp. 45–72,in Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, III. R. Silverstein, D. Muller-Schwarze (eds.). Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hangartner, W. 1967. Spezifität und Inaktierung des Spurpheromons vonLasius fuliginosus Latr. und Orientierung der Arbeiterinnen im Duftfeld.Z. Vergl. Physiol. 57:103–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, S., andHalpern, M. 1981. Laboratory observations on conspecific and congeneric scent trailing in garter snakes (Thamnophis).Behav. Neurol. Biol. 33:372–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hölldobler, B. 1971. Homing in the harvester antPogonomyrmex badius.Science 171:1149–1151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leuthold, K. 1968. A tibial gland scent-trail and trail-laying behavior in the antCremalogaster ashmeadi Mayr.Psyche 75:223–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble, G. 1937. The sense organs involved in the courtship ofStoreria, Thamnophis and other snakes.Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 73:673–725.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raftery, R. 1983.Littorina trail following: Sexual preference, loss of polarized information and trail alterations.Veliger 25:378–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauch, J. 1978. Integumentary bloodvascular system in garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis and T. radix).Can. J. Zool. 56:469–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, M., andBuckley, W. 1972. Snails and trails.Anim. Behav. 20:345–355.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ford, N.B., Low, J.R. Sex pheromone source location by garter snakes:. J Chem Ecol 10, 1193–1199 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988548

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988548

Key words

Navigation