title: Inter-individual variation and temperature-dependent antipredator behavior in the snake Tomodon dorsatus (Dipsadidae).
abstract: Although many studies assessed the influence of temperature on the behavior of ectotermic vertebrates, little attention has been given to interindividual variation in the defensive responses of reptiles. In the present study we investigated the defensive behavior of the snake Tomodon dorsatus, in order to test the hypotheses that (1) individuals differ in their antipredator behavior consistently with the concept of behavioral syndromes, (2) temperature influences the defensive behavior, and (3) these two factors interact with each other. There was significant interindividual variation in defensive behavior, as well as consistently aggressive, passive or evasive behaviors. Temperature influenced aggressiveness, which was slightly higher when body temperature was lower, but this trend was only evident in animals with aggressive disposition. Our results corroborate the hypothesis of interaction between individuality of behavior and temperature-dependent defensive behavior in T. dorsatus. These results, together with results from previous studies, suggest that the evolution of temperature-dependent defensive behavior differs among lineages of ectothermic tetrapods. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: insert SI title.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Trav. 14, n° 321, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 05508-090 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jessyca Michele
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Citadini
authors.forename: Carlos Arturo
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Navas
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Antipredator behavior; Individuality; Snakes; Temperature; Tomodon dorsatus