Title

Ontogenetic shifts and sex differences in caudal luring in the dusky pygmy rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius barbouri

Authors

Authors

A. M. Rabatsky;J. M. Waterman

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Herpetologica

Keywords

behavior; caudal luring; foraging; ontogeny; rattlesnake; FLORIDA; Zoology

Abstract

Caudal luring is a behavior used by many ambush-foraging snakes that increases their encounter rate with prey. In this study, we used the dusky pigmy rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius barbouri, in a series of trials involving prey and measured the frequency and duration of caudal hiring. This behavior varied ontogenetically, with adults never performing caudal luring. juveniles that lured for longer durations were more successful in attracting prey. Males and females caudal lured in equal frequency but females took longer time periods to achieve a similar level of foraging success. Because the tails are sexually dimorphic in this species, we suggest that the longer tail of the male may be a more effective luring device. This is the first quantification of a sex difference in caudal luring, and the results suggest important differences in foraging ecology among males and females.

Journal Title

Herpetologica

Volume

61

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

87

Last Page

91

WOS Identifier

WOS:000229100000001

ISSN

0018-0831

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