Prey recognition learning by red spitting cobras, Naja mossambica pallida

Abstract

Eleven ingestively inexperienced red spitting cobras (Naja mossambica pallida; 4 weeks old) failed to respond to food items (neonatal mice, Mus musculus, and live lizards, Sceloporus undulatus). Live prey were inside clean plastic boxes that were placed into snake cages for 5 min. Rate of tongue flicking and number of biting attacks were recorded. The cobras were then offered neonatal mice (but not lizards), and gradually, these prey were accepted. By the end of the 5th week, all snakes had eaten at least one mouse. From this time until the snakes were 10 months old, mice were offered once each week, and most snakes ate each week. Prey recognition tests were conducted again (at 10 months), and the snakes responded to mice but not to lizards (Anolis carolinenesis). It is concluded that increased response to mice between the 1-month and 10-month tests was not based on increased predatory motivation and/or acclimation to the laboratory, because these factors should also produce increased response to lizards. Accordingly, it seems probable that experience with mice resulted in the acquisition of stimulus control by mouse-derived cues over snake predatory behavior (i.e., prey recognition learning).