Effects of novel chemical cues on predatory responses of rodent-specializing rattlesnakes

Abstract

We examined predatory responses of prairie (Crotalus viridis) and timber (Crotalus horridus) rattlesnakes to mouse carcasses misted with diluted perfumes or water. In Experiment 1, snakes showed equivalent latencies to strike, grasp, and ingest perfume- and water-misted carcasses. In Experiment 2, snakes that struck carcasses misted with perfume, water, or no liquid subsequently showed similar increases in tongue-flicking. In no-strike trials, snakes showed very low levels of tongue-flicking regardless of the type of chemical cues on the carcass. We conclude that during and after strikes, rattlesnakes behaved similarly towards both normal and chemically-novel rodent prey, implying that such prey are equally acceptable to the snakes. © 1988, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.