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Odorized Air Current Trailing by Garter Snakes,Thamnophis sirtalis

 

作者: Roy Mark Waters,  

 

期刊: Brain, Behavior and Evolution  (Karger Available online 1993)
卷期: Volume 41, issue 3-5  

页码: 219-223

 

ISSN:0006-8977

 

年代: 1993

 

DOI:10.1159/000113841

 

出版商: S. Karger AG

 

关键词: Odor trailing;Garter snakes;Reptiles;Chemoreception;Vomeronasal organ

 

数据来源: Karger

 

摘要:

The response of adult red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, to airborne odor trails was studied. An airtight T-maze was used, through which a constant airflow was drawn by a vacuum pump. The arms of the ''T'' provided a choice between earthworm extract and distilled water. Experiment 1 tested the snake''s responses to varying concentrations of earthworm extract. Snakes accurately trailed the extract at tested concentrations (0.0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100%). At ten percent concentration, tongue-flick rate and speed along the maze increased significantly above lower levels, suggesting the existence of a threshold concentration. A correlation between mean tongue-flick rate and mean speed was demonstrated. Experiment 2 tested the effect of differentially blocked vomeronasal ducts on a snake''s ability to trail. When both ducts were blocked, no trailing was observed, suggesting that vomeronasal stimulation is required. Blocking a single duct resulted in a significant number of snakes turning to the side of the functioning duct, suggesting that the tongue-vomeronasal system may function as a chemotaxic system.

 

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