Preference for envenomated rodent prey by rattlesnakes

Abstract

Adult specimens of several rattlesnake species which struck and envenomated a mouse or which did not have an opportunity to strike were allowed to choose between an envenomated mouse and one manually killed by the experimenter. Only rattlesnakes that struck a mouse made a choice, and the envenomated mouse was selected most frequently. Odor cues emanating from the envenomated mouse and/or remembrance of taste or odor cues briefly experienced during the strike probably mediated eventual selection of the envenomated mouse, and may represent important components of the stimulus configuration releasing swallowing once dead prey are located. © 1978, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.