Rattlesnake predatory behaviour: mediation of prey discrimination and release of swallowing by cues arising from envenomated mice.

摘要: Abstract Responses of rattlesnakes to envenomated mice were examined in five experiments. In experiment 1 ( Crotalus durissus terrificus and C. viridis ) discriminated that they had envenomated, as indexed by number tongue flicks accumulated investigation time, when these prey items paired with control killed the experimenter. Experiment 2 demonstrated also exhibited this discrimination presented a conspecific controls experiments 2, we observed delivered large exudates associated nasal-oral tissues mice. It has commonly been noted typically swallow dead head first. 3 observation was statistically verified. Evidence obtained 4 indicated from anogenital rattlesnakes. Cues arising probably (1) assisted snakes locating head-end rodent, (2) released swallowing modal-action pattern, final phase predatory sequence. 5, no between non-envenomated, mice, indicating results dependent upon effects envenomation.