Corn Snakes Can Behaviorally Enhance Crypsis by Choosing Complex Backgrounds and Substrate

Abstract

Citation -Kravchuck, L., & Watson, C. M. (2020). Corn snakes can behaviorally enhance crypsis by choosing complex backgrounds and substrate.

Background Color Matching in Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum)

“…It is possible that there is always inherently a higher COI between two or more objects within a single photograph than for objects in different photographs (e.g., because of nearby objects reflecting light off each other). Alternatively, it is possible that horned lizards choose the most optimal color-matching microhabitats for enhanced crypsis, as in some squamate reptiles with generally less visual acuity than lizards that show this behavior (Kravchuk and Watson, 2020).…”

You can’t see me: Background matching in the Western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

“…Behavioral background matching has already been observed in snakes. Corn snakes (Panterophis guttatus) choose more complex substrate and tend to avoid plain background in laboratory settings (Kravchuk and Watson 2020). Moreover, western terrestrial garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) have been shown to choose basking site matching their coloration, thus enhancing their crypsis (Isaac and Gregory 2013).…”

Camouflage versus running performance as strategies against predation in a lizard inhabiting different habitats

“…Animals employ various strategies to cope with predation or anti‐predation pressure through morphological and/or behavioral changes (Bauwens & Thoen, 1981; Duchateau et al, 2007; Ge et al, 2011; Vermeij, 1994; Watson et al, 2012). Some animals employ camouflage successfully to strengthen the efficiency of predator–prey interactions (Stuart‐Fox et al, 2006; Tong et al, 2016, 2019), while others adapt to it by improving their running abilities (Cooper, 2010; Husak, 2006a; Kravchuk & Watson, 2020).…”

“…Camouflage is key for animals to survive in different color backgrounds (Johansson & Nilsson‐Örtman, 2013; Manríquez et al, 2008; Merilaita & Stevens, 2011). Because the visual background is the main basis of camouflage, it is crucial for various species to adapt their body coloration to the surrounding substrate, including fish (Kelley et al, 2017; Kjernsmo & Merilaita, 2012), amphibians (Polo‐Cavia et al, 2016; Rabbani et al, 2015), reptiles (Hamilton et al, 2008; Kravchuk & Watson, 2020; Krohn & Rosenblum, 2016; Marshall et al, 2016; Merilaita & Lind, 2005), birds (Lovell et al, 2013), and insects (Batty, 2008; Kang et al, 2015). The camouflage strategy not only benefits the prey by defending it against predators, but also helps predators capture the prey more efficiently (Cadena et al, 2017; Cook et al, 2012; Edelaar et al, 2017).…”