Chemical selection of prey in newborn white-lipped tree vipers (Cryptelytrops albolabris G.)

Abstract

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi povezanost između palucanja jezika i sposobnosti diskriminacije različitih vrsta plijena u mladih zmija neiskusnih u hranjenju. Također odgonetnuti mijenja li se sklonost odabira nekog plijena nakon nekoliko hranjenja jednom vrstom plijena. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 14 mladih zelenih jamičarki, Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) albolabris, uzgojenih u zatočeništvu. Provedene su dvije serije istraživanja, a u obje serije je svaka zmija testirana na 10 različitih mirisa plijena. Između serija zmije su nekoliko puta uzastopno hranjene jednom vrstom plijena. Istraživanje pokazuje da mlade zmije imaju sposobnost diskriminacije plijena iako prethodno nisu bile hranjene. Palucanjem jezika pokazuju veću ili manju zainteresiranost za određenu vrstu plijena. Zabilježena je značajna razlika u reakcijama na pojedine mirise prije hranjenja kao i na pojedine mirise poslije hranjenja. Dokazano je da se sklonost odabira nekog plijena, nakon nekoliko hranjenja jednom vrstom plijena, mijenja u korist plijena kojim su bile hranjene.The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between tongue flicking and ability to discriminate different types of prey in young snakes inexperienced in feeding. Also figure out whether the tendency of a selection of a prey changes after a few feeding with one prey species. The study was conducted on a sample of 14 young White – lipped tree vipers, Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) albolabris, bred in captivity. It was conducted two series of studies, in both series each snake was tested on 10 different prey odors. Between series snakes are several times repeatedly fed with one type of prey. Research shows that young snakes are capable to discriminate the prey even though they have not previously been fed. With tongue Flicking they show greater or lesser interest in a particular type of prey. It was noticed significant difference in responses to particular odors before feeding and in responses to particular odors after feeding. It has been shown that the tendency of prey selection, after few feeding with one prey species, changes in favor of the prey with which they were fed