Rattlesnake chemosensory

Experience can further hone behaviors that are already present in naive animals. From 28 to 138 days of age, neonate rattlesnakes [Crotalus viridis and C. horridus) recognize and attack prey. They also show chemosensory searching and trailing. The initial trailing is Jerky and erratic, but after several feeding experiences becomes more methodical (Scudder etal., 1992). 

Chiszar, D., Radcliff, C. W., Scudder, R. M., and Duvall, D. (1983). Strike-induced chemosensory searching by rattlesnakes the role of envenomation-related chemical cues in the post-strike environment. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates vol. 3, ed. D.Miiller-Schwarze and R. M. Silverstein, pp. 1-24. New York Plenum. 

Chiszar, D., Nelson, P., and Smith, H. M. (1988a). Analysis of the behavioral sequence emitted by rattlesnakes during feeding episodes III strike-induced chemosensory searching and location of rodent carcasses. Bulletin ofthe Maryland Herpetological Society 24,99-108. 

Chiszar, D., Grant, H., and Hobart, M. (1993b). Prairie rattlesnakes Crotalus viridis) respond to rodent blood with chemosensory searching. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 41,229-233. 

Cruz, E., Gibson, S., Kandler, K., Sanchez, G., and Chiszar, D. (1987). Strike-induced chemosensory searching in rattlesnakes a rodent specialist (Crotalus viridis) differs from a lizard specialist [Crotalus pricer). Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 25, 136-138. 

Chiszar, D., Radcliffe, C, W., O Connell, B., and Smith, H. M., 1981, Strike-induced chemosensory searching in rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) as a function of disturbance prior to presentation of rodent prey, Psychol Rec. 32 57-62. 

Chiszar, D, Walters, A, Urbaniak, J., Smith, H. M., and Mackessy, S. P., 1999b, Discrimination between envenomated and nonenvenomated prey by Western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox). Chemosensory consequences of venom, Copeia 1999 640-648. 

Furry, K., Swain, T., and Chiszar, D., 1991, Strike-induced chemosensory searching and trail following by prairie rattlesnakes (Crolalus viridis) preying upon deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) chemical discrimination among individual mice, Herpelologica 47(l) 69-78. 

J, Moran, K., and Smith, H. M., 1985, Duration of strike-induced chemosensory searching in long-term captive rattlesnakes at National Zoo, Audubon Zoo, and San Diego Zoo, Zoo Biol., in press. 

H. M., 1984, No social induction of chemosensory searching in rattlesnakes at National Zoo. Paper presented at meetings of the Animal Behavior Society, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA. 

B., 1981, Effect of chemical and visual stimuli on chemosensory searching by garter snakes and rattlesnakes, J. Herpetol., 15 415. 

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