Neonate plains garter snakes (Thamnophis radix) are attracted to conspecific skin extracts.
Several species of snakes aggregate in areas previously marked by conspecifics. However, species differences and sources of such chemical signals have received little attention. Methylene chloride-soluble substances from shed epidermis of adult plains garter snakes attracted neonate conspecifics, whereas similar extracts from a congener and a viperid did not. The functional significance of such conspecific aggregation may relate to location of hibernacula, foraging areas, osmoregulation, or predation avoidance.
Graves
B M
BM
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Brooklyn 11203.
Halpern
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000502:physiology*
D008055:Lipids; D010675:Pheromones; D014020:Tissue Extracts