Abstract
Bushmasters (Lachesis muta) at Dallas Zoo demonstrated strike-induced chemo- sensory searching (SICS) and trail-following when feeding on relatively large prey (>25% of snake body mass). Smaller prey were usually held following predatory strikes. Facultative use of the strike-and-release pattern based on prey size has not previously been documented for any rodent- feeding viper. Experiment I documented the relationship between prey mass and post-strike holding or releasing. Experiment II showed that SICS occurred after large prey were released. Experiment III revealed that bushmasters followed chemical trails after releasing large prey, indicating that trailing behavior is a facultative component of predation in these snakes.
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