Tongue flicking heralds flight behaviour following passive antipredator displays in dice snakes

Author:

Bjelica V.1ORCID,Anđelković M.2,Maričić M.1,Tomović L.1ORCID,Bonnet X.3,Golubović A.1

Affiliation:

1. Faculty of Biology Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia

2. Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia

3. Centre d'Etude Biologique de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS Université de La Rochelle Villiers en Bois France

Abstract

AbstractWhen captured, many prey respond by biting the predator or struggling to get free. However, one indirect escape option is death feigning (DF), in which complete immobility supposedly “tricks” the predator into abandoning its meal. But lying motionless and exposed to a predator is dangerous; therefore, individuals should optimize DF occurrence and duration. We captured colour polymorphic dice snakes (Natrix tessellata, Natricidae) (N = 271) in the field and measured two behavioural responses: (1) the occurrence and duration of immobility/DF; (2) the number of tongue‐flicking sequences (TF). Tongue flicking is an essential component of a key sensory mechanism to check the safety of the environment before attempting escape. We experimentally assessed the relationship between these two behaviours and the effects of phenotypic characteristic of snakes on the occurrence and duration of immobility and of TF. Snake phenotype had multiple effects. Gravid females avoided DF and displayed more TF sequences during the tests compared to non‐gravid females and males. Blotched snakes stayed immobile longer than green and melanistic snakes. Larger individuals remained in DF for longer and showed fewer TF sequences than smaller individuals. Snakes burdened with a recent meal postponed fleeing and displayed more TF sequences than snakes without food. Finally, snakes showing more TF sequences postponed fleeing, which suggests that dice snakes assessed predatory risks and adapted escape behaviour to their risk status. Future studies should examine how individuals estimate the appropriate timing to shift from immobility to escape.

Funder

the Rufford Foundation

Publisher

Wiley

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3