Personally Rattled: a Unique Protocol to Support the Presence of Personality and Behavioral Syndromes in Rattlesnakes

Abstract

Abstract While personality studies have been growing in number for various animal taxa, some groups have been underrepresented in the literature. Even if individual differences have been acknowledged, reptiles have been severely overlooked for behavioral studies potentially due to the challenges arising with studying their behavior. This study investigated the personality of wild Western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) across five axes: activity, exploration, boldness, sociality, and aggressiveness. The objectives of this study were to develop a protocol to successfully test personality in rattlesnakes following these axes and to determine whether Crotalus atrox exhibits personality and behavioral syndrome. To do so, 22 wild rattlesnakes were captured and submitted to a series of captive behavioral trials. Crotalus atrox exhibited individual differences that were repeatable through time across the five previously mentioned axes. Activity was the only axis that was sex-dependent where males move more than females on average. Moreover, these axes were grouped into three personality dimensions: aggressiveness, exploration, and activity-boldness-sociality. This last personality dimension provides evidence for the presence of a behavioral syndrome within this species. This study provides a repeatable and ecologically relevant protocol to study personality in rattlesnakes throughout five different axes. Crotalus atrox exhibits individual behavioral differences consistent through time and behavioral syndromes comparable to other species. This study provides a baseline to answer questions pertinent to personality in rattlesnakes such as conflict management and will help gain insights in the secretive life of serpents.