Rate of tongue flicking by garter snakes ( Thamnophis radix haydeni) and Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus v. viridis, Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus, and Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi) during prolonged exposure to food odors

Abstract

Garter snakes (Thamnophis radix haydeni) emitted more tongue flicks in environments containing fish or salamander odors than in a control environment. This indicates that appetitive searching (guided by the vomero-nasal system) can be activated by olfactory cues. Specimens of three taxa of rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis, Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus, and Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi) did not emit more tongue flicks in an environment containing mouse odors than in a control environment. Hence, the vomeronasal systems of these rattlesnakes were not activated by olfactory cues. A hypothesis is offered about the conditions required to stimulate tongue flicking in rattlesnakes.