Chemosensory discrimination of social cues mediates space use in snakes, Cryptophis nigrescens (Elapidae)

摘要: Snakes have traditionally been viewed as solitary, asocial animals whose habitat use is driven by temperature, prey and predators. However, recent studies suggest that snake spatial ecology may also be socially mediated. We examined the influence of conspecific chemical cues on refuge selection in a small nocturnal (the small-eyed snake) engages male contest competition. Females preferred refuges containing scent from conspecifics (of either sex) rather than scentless refuges. Males female-scented male-scented refuges, larger (and hence, more fecund) females smaller females. spent time males, but males lost did not avoid scented winner therefore show evidence winner–loser effect. males. Small-eyed snakes can distinguish sex body size using cues, they these to select alternative sites. social factors play significant role driving distribution patterns wild exhibit complex systems has generally believed.