Olfaction in Rattlesnakes

Cowles, Raymond B.; Phelan, R. L.

doi:10.2307/1440544

Cited by 108 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The C. atrox responded to odors arising from adult M. musculus with a higher rate of tongue flicking than was seen in the control condition, a fact that agrees with numerous studies of chemical cue utilization by rattlesnakes (Chiszar, Radcliffe, Scudder, & Duvall, 1983;Cowles & Phelan, 1958;Duvall et al, 1990;Kardong, 1986). The ANOVAs applied to the data shown in Figures 1 through 4 implied that neonatal mice did not inspire greater chemosensory examination than did the control condition.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Rate of tongue flicking is a measure of the extent to which snakes are using their vomeronasal system to analyze nonvolatile chemical cues. Further, detection of volatile cues by the nasal system is known to trigger activation of the vomeronasal system (Cowles & Phelan, 1958). Therefore, rate of tongue flicking is a useful measure of nasal (volatile) as well as vomeronasal (nonvolatile) chemoreception.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Atrox) to Chemical Cues of Mice (Mus Musculus) of Different Genders and Reproductive Status

et al. 2010

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Atrox) to Chemical Cues of Mice (Mus Musculus) of Different Genders and Reproductive Status

et al. 2010

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“…Following a period of buccal pulsing, most lizards approached and investigated the stimulus using the tongue-vomeronasal organ system. These results provide indirect support for Cowles and Phelan's (1958) hypothesis of the different functions of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems.…”

Section: The Role Of Visual and Chemical Prey Cues In Predatory Behaviormentioning

confidence: 51%

Stimulus control of predatory behavior by the Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanica, Sauria, Lacertidae): Effects of familiarity with prey.

Desfilis

Font

Guillén-Salazar

2003

Journal of Comparative Psychology

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The authors examine the relative roles of vision and chemoreception and the influence of previous experience with prey on the predatory behavior of Iberian wall lizards (Podarcis hispanica). Experiment 1 compared the responses to visual, chemical, and a combination of visual and chemical cues of a familiar prey by 2 groups of lizards that had been kept in captivity for either 3 months or 21 days. Experiment 2 assessed the responses of lizards kept in the laboratory for more than 3 months to a novel prey species. The results reveal that feeding on a prey species affects the lizards' responses to chemical stimuli from that prey. The response to chemical cues of a novel prey requires a 1st-feeding experience with that prey. Lizards that have been fed the same prey species for several months cease responding to the chemical stimuli of that particular prey.

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“…In vipers and pit vipers, however , olfactory cues seem less important for initial appetitive behavior (orientation and approach to prey) and for striking than for subsequent trailing and ingestion. Although rattlesnakes can detect rodent prey by odor alone (Cowles & Phelan, 1958), these snakes seem always to strike a live (and moving) mouse when given the choice between live and freshly killed mice, indicating that visual cues are most salient. Moreover, it is our impression that few, if any, tongue flicks are seen before the strike , indicating that no air sampling is required (presumably because visual and/or thermal information is sufficient).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rate of tongue flicking by rattlesnakes during successive stages of feeding on rodent prey

Chiszar

Radcliffe

1976

Bull. Psychon. Soc.

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Specimens of each of three species of rattlesnakes (Crotalus enyo enyo, C. durissus culminatus, and Crotalus vegrondis) exhibited no tongue flicking prior to striking live mice during a regular feeding session. All snakes flicked their tongues at high rates (more than 20 flicks/minute') between striking and commencement of swallowing. Also. frequent tongue flicking (10 to 15 flicks/minute) was seen for about 15 min after swallowing . These data indicate that well-acclimated, captive rattlesnakes do not rely upon the Jacobson's organ to detect prey or to guide the predatory attack, but that they do use this sensory system to locate prey after striking. Since an envenomated rodent may wander several meters prior to dying, Jacobson's organ may be very important in finding such prey . It is also of interest that renewed tongue flicking occurs after swallowing. A hypothesis is offered concerning the role of the latter behavior.Garter snakes and other natricine snakes detect and locate prey mainly by the Jacobson's organ (paired sacs which open into the roof of the mouth and which receive chemical input from the tongue). Indeed , a cotton swab soaked in a solution of surface substances from potential prey will be sampled with the tongue and attacked as if it actually was a prey organism, indicating that olfactory cues are sufficient for the release of both appetitive and consummatory behavior and that visual cues are probably unnecessa ry (Burghardt, 1969; see Burghardt, 1970 for a review of the literature). In vipers and pit vipers, however , olfactory cues seem less important for initial appetitive behavior (orientation and approach to prey) and for striking than for subsequent trailing and ingestion. Although rattlesnakes can detect rodent prey by odor alone (Cowles & Phelan, 1958), these snakes seem always to strike a live (and moving) mouse when given the choice between live and freshly killed mice, indicating that visual cues are most salient. Moreover, it is our impression that few, if any, tongue flicks are seen before the strike , indicating that no air sampling is required (presumably because visual and/or thermal information is sufficient). The purpose of the present study is to compare the frequencies of tongue flicking during various stages of feeding in order to determine if, in fact , air sampling occurs more often after striking rather than prior to it. Such data should indicate the relative importance of the vomeronasal system dur ing different stages of the feeding episode.This paper is sponsored by Raymond C. Miles, who takes full editorial responsibility for its contents. We thank the Mexican government for granting a permit to the second author which allowed collection of four specimens used in this experiment. We also thank Dr. H. M. Smith and the Marjorie Mosher Schmidt Foundation for their contributions to this work.

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Olfaction in Rattlesnakes

Cited by 108 publications

References 3 publications

Response of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Atrox) to Chemical Cues of Mice (Mus Musculus) of Different Genders and Reproductive Status

Response of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Atrox) to Chemical Cues of Mice (Mus Musculus) of Different Genders and Reproductive Status

Stimulus control of predatory behavior by the Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanica, Sauria, Lacertidae): Effects of familiarity with prey.

Rate of tongue flicking by rattlesnakes during successive stages of feeding on rodent prey

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