Odorized air current trailing by garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis.
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.
Waters
R M
RM
Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant 48859.
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000294:innervation; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*; D012931:Social Environment
D010675:Pheromones