Stimulus control of lingual predatory luring and related foraging tactics of Mangrove Saltmarsh Snakes (Nerodia clarkii compressicauda)

摘要: Knowledge of the various cues that elicit natural behavior is important to our understanding why and when animals behave as they do. In order gain insight into ecology Nerodia clarkii compressicauda, a piscivorous snake uses unique form predatory luring foraging tactic, we observed 22 juvenile subjects in presence visual chemical prey stimuli repeated-measures design. The use video playback stimulus this experiment permitted complete isolation from tactile cues. Snakes were more sedentary used lingual both cue types present than none or only one was available. Subjects also attacked often stimuli. Predatory attacks by prey-naive directed available demonstrated snakes can identify visually without prior experience.