A chemical sense of self in timber and prairie rattlesnakes

Abstract

Eight rattlesnakes (4 Crotalus horridus and 4 C viridis) were observed in their home cages after the cages were thoroughly cleaned. In another trial, a patch of paper soiled by the cage inhabitant was present in the otherwise clean home cage. In a third trial, a patch of paper soiled by a conspecific was present in the otherwise clean cage. Equally high rates of lingual exploration were seen in clean cages and in cages containing conspecific chemical cues, whereas reduced rates were seen when the resident’s cues were present.