Chemosensory Response of Desert Iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) to Skin Lipids from A Lizard-Eating Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)

摘要: Several species of lizards respond to chemicals from sympatric lizard-eating snakes with increased tongue-extrusion rates. These substances also elicit antipredator behavior indicating that they have important ecological functions and the resulting can serious implications for individual fitness lizards. However, source type snake chemical cues these behavioral changes in yet be determined. We tested ability adult desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) detect identify a potential predator by exposing them lipids extracted shed snakeskins. Lipids were cast skins known snake, California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae), using chloroform methanol. Test subjects presented skin as well clean, pungent, controls on cotton-tipped applicators random order. Desert directed significantly more tongue extrusions toward bearing snakeskin when compared controls. In addition, overall frequency following exposure during 5-min trials. clearly detected lipids, but this stimulus failed body posture movement patterns previously observed experiments live snakes. Increased flicking response may represent generalized class chemicals. Additional sources used detection are discussed.