Chemosensory age discrimination in the snake Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae)
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| Formato: | Artículo científico |
| Lenguaje: | en |
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2012
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| _version_ | 1876451095660724224 |
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| author | Marianne Gabirot |
| author_facet | Marianne Gabirot |
| contents | Chemosensory age discrimination in the snake Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae) Marianne Gabirot Pablo Picerno Jorge Valencia Pilar Lopez José Martin Biología snakes Ecuador chemoreception Age recognition Boa constrictor Many snakes are able to use their chemosensory system to detect scent of conspecifics, which is important in many social contexts. Age discrimination based on chemical cues may be especially important to ensure access to sexually mature potential partners. In this study, we used 24 individual Boa constrictor snakes (12 adults mature and 12 non-mature individuals) that had been captured in different areas of Ecuador, and were maintained in captivity at the Vivarium of Quito. We used tongue-flick experiments to examine whether these snakes were able to discriminate between scents from mature and non-mature individuals. Results showed that B. constrictor snakes used chemical cues to recognize conspecifics and that the scent of individuals of different ages elicited chemosensory responses of different magnitudes. The scents from adult conspecifics elicited the quickest and highest chemosensory responses (i.e., short latency times and high tongue-flick rates), although we did not find differential responses to scent of males and females. The magnitude of the responses was lower to scent of sub adult individuals, and then even lower to scent of juvenile snakes, but in all cases the scent of snakes was discriminated from a blank control. We discuss the potential chemical mechanisms that may allow age recognition and its implications for social and sexual behavior of this snake species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (4): 1603-1611. Epub 2012 December 01. 2012 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44925088016 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.4 Vol.60 |
| format | Artículo científico |
| id | redalyc_44925088016 |
| institution | Redalyc |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| spellingShingle | Chemosensory age discrimination in the snake Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae) Marianne Gabirot Biología snakes Ecuador chemoreception Age recognition Boa constrictor Chemosensory age discrimination in the snake Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae) Marianne Gabirot Pablo Picerno Jorge Valencia Pilar Lopez José Martin Biología snakes Ecuador chemoreception Age recognition Boa constrictor Many snakes are able to use their chemosensory system to detect scent of conspecifics, which is important in many social contexts. Age discrimination based on chemical cues may be especially important to ensure access to sexually mature potential partners. In this study, we used 24 individual Boa constrictor snakes (12 adults mature and 12 non-mature individuals) that had been captured in different areas of Ecuador, and were maintained in captivity at the Vivarium of Quito. We used tongue-flick experiments to examine whether these snakes were able to discriminate between scents from mature and non-mature individuals. Results showed that B. constrictor snakes used chemical cues to recognize conspecifics and that the scent of individuals of different ages elicited chemosensory responses of different magnitudes. The scents from adult conspecifics elicited the quickest and highest chemosensory responses (i.e., short latency times and high tongue-flick rates), although we did not find differential responses to scent of males and females. The magnitude of the responses was lower to scent of sub adult individuals, and then even lower to scent of juvenile snakes, but in all cases the scent of snakes was discriminated from a blank control. We discuss the potential chemical mechanisms that may allow age recognition and its implications for social and sexual behavior of this snake species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (4): 1603-1611. Epub 2012 December 01. 2012 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44925088016 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.4 Vol.60 |
| title | Chemosensory age discrimination in the snake Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae) |
| topic | Biología snakes Ecuador chemoreception Age recognition Boa constrictor |
| url | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44925088016 |