Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Chemosensory predator recognition induces specific defensive behaviours in a fossorial amphisbaenian

2001; Elsevier BV; Volume: 62; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1006/anbe.2001.1762

1095-8282

Pílar López, José Martı́n,

Plant and animal studies

We tested the ability of amphisbaenians, Blanus cinereus, a fossorial and almost blind reptile, to detect and discriminate odours from potential predators and to show the corresponding defensive response. Amphisbaenian behaviour was observed in tubes, where we recorded the tongue-flick rate to swabs impregnated with odours of (1) a southern smooth snake, Coronella girondica, which feeds on amphisbaenians, (2) a scolopendromorph centipede (Scolopendra sp.), which are aggressive prey species that can seriously damage amphisbaenians, and (3) Bedriaga's skink, Chalcides bedriagai, a semifossorial reptile innocuous to amphisbaenians. Cologne odour and deionized water were used as pungent and nonodoriferous controls. The amphisbaenians responded to the chemical cues by increased tongue-flick rates, with the highest rates being given in response to the snake and centipede, showing that they were able to detect and discriminate the odours arising from potentially harmful species. The chemical exploration of these odours also induced defensive responses. The amphisbaenians bit or retreated from the applicators bearing snake and centipede odours, whereas skink odour did not elicit defensive responses. In addition, they showed more stress and antipredator behaviours, fled rapidly and later became less mobile during trials with the snake or centipede odours, but produced different complexes of defensive responses to each one. These results indicate that chemical cues of a predator may elicit specific defensive antipredator behaviours in amphisbaenians. We discuss the possible evolutionary advantage of identifying and avoiding potential predators in relation to fossoriality.