Abstract
Abstract The ability to discriminate among potential prey is foundational for predators making foraging decisions, as well as for the evolution of food preferences. Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi; EIS) are federally threatened and considered dietary generalists, but qualitative evidence indicates that snakes are consumed more often than other prey types. In this study, we used a repeated-measures tongue-flick assay to investigate EIS response to prey scent experimentally, and made inferences about potential preferences. Hatchling EIS responded more strongly to scents from snakes as compared to their response to scents from mice or controls. Moreover, hatchling EIS discriminated between the scents of representative colubrid and crotaline snakes, exhibiting a stronger response to the latter. A follow-up experiment using scents from three different species of pit vipers indicated that hatchling EIS did not discriminate among scents from members of this snake subfamily. After a year in captivity in...
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