Field video recordings reveal factors influencing predatory strike success of free-ranging rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.)

Animal Behaviour

Volumn 84, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 183-190

  Clark, Rulon W ^a   Tangco, Sean ^a   Barbour, Matthew A ^a  

^a SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Antipredator behaviour; Crotalus horridus; Crotalus oreganus; Crotalus ruber; Crotalus scutulatus; Foraging behaviour; Predator prey interaction; Snake strike kinematics

Indexed keywords

ANTIPREDATOR DEFENSE; BIOMECHANICS; FORAGING BEHAVIOR; PREDATION; PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTION; PREY CAPTURE; SNAKE; VIDEOGRAPHY;

ANIMALIA; CROTALUS; CROTALUS HORRIDUS; CROTALUS OREGANUS; CROTALUS RUBER; CROTALUS SCUTULATUS; SERPENTES;

EID: 84862662981     PISSN: 00033472     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.04.029     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Abramoff M.D., Magalhaes P.J., Ram S.J. Image processing with ImageJ. Biophotonics International 2004, 11:36-42.
2. Aubret F., Bonnet X. Influence of body reserves and eye opacity on foraging behaviours of tiger snakes. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology 2005, 303A:1075-1084.
3. Bouskila A. Interactions between predation risk and competition: a field study of kangaroo rats and snakes. Ecology 1995, 76:165-178.
4. Caro T.M. Antipredator Defenses in Birds and Mammals 2005, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
5. Chiszar D., Lee R.K.K., Radcliffe C.M., Smith H.M. Searching behaviors by rattlesnakes following predatory strikes. Biology of the Pitvipers 1992, 369-382. Selva, Tyler, Texas. J.A. Campbell, E.D. Brodie (Eds.).
6. Clark C.W. Antipredator behavior and the asset-protection principle. Behavioral Ecology 1994, 5:159-170.
7. Clark R.W. Fixed videography to study predation behavior of an ambush foraging snake, Crotalus horridus. Copeia 2006, 2006:181-187.
8. Clark R.W. Post-strike behavior of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) during natural predation events. Ethology 2006, 112:1089-1094.
9. Creel S., Winnie J.A., Christianson D. Glucocorticoid stress hormones and the effect of predation risk on elk reproduction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 2009, 106:12388-12393.
10. Cresswell W., Quinn J.L. Predicting the optimal prey group size from predator hunting behaviour. Journal of Animal Ecology 2010, 80:310-319.
11. Cundall D. Viper fangs: functional limitations of extreme teeth. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 2009, 82:63-79.
12. Cundall D., Beaupre S.J. Field records of predatory strike kinematics in timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus. Amphibia-Reptilia 2001, 22:492-498.
13. Cundall D., Greene H.W. Feeding in snakes. Feeding: Form, Function, and Evolution in Tetrapod Vertebrates 2001, 293-333. Academic Press, San Diego. K. Schwenk (Ed.).
14. Curio E., Regelmann K. Predator harassment implies a real deadly risk: a reply to Hennessy. Ethology 1986, 72:75-78.
15. Eccard J., Pusenius J., Sundell J., Halle S., Ylönen H. Foraging patterns of voles at heterogeneous avian and uniform mustelid predation risk. Oecologia 2008, 157:725-734.
16. Fitzgibbon C.D. A cost to individuals with reduced vigilance in groups of Thomson's gazelles hunted by cheetahs. Animal Behaviour 1989, 37:508-510.
17. Hennessy D.F., Owings D.H. Rattlesnakes create a context for localizing their search for potential prey. Ethology 1988, 77:317-329.
18. Herrel A., Huyghe K., Oković P., Lisičić D., Tadić Z. Fast and furious: effects of body size on strike performance in an arboreal viper Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) albolabris. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology 2010, 315A:22-29.
19. Hersek M.J., Owings D.H. Tail flagging by adult California ground squirrels: a tonic signal that serves different functions for males and females. Animal Behaviour 1993, 46:129-138.
20. Janoo A., Gasc J. High speed motion analysis of the predatory strike and fluorographic study of oesophageal deglutition in Vipera ammodytes: more than meets the eye. Amphibia-Reptilia 1992, 13:315-325.
21. Kardong K.V., Bels V.L. Rattlesnake strike behavior: kinematics. Journal of Experimental Biology 1998, 201:837-850.
22. Kardong K.V., Smith T.L. Proximate factors involved in rattlesnake predatory behavior: a review. Biology of the Vipers 2002, 253-266. Eagle Mountain, Eagle Mountain, Utah. G.W. Schuett, M. Höggren, M.E. Douglas, H.W. Greene (Eds.).
23. Klauber L.M. Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind 1972, University of California Press, Berkeley.
24. Kotler B.P., Brown J.S., Hasson O. Factors affecting gerbil foraging behavior and rates of owl predation. Ecology 1991, 72:2249-2260.
25. Krause J., Godin J.G.J. Influence of prey foraging posture on flight behavior and predation risk: predators take advantage of unwary prey. Behavioral Ecology 1996, 7:264-271.
26. LaDuc T.J. Does a quick offense equal a quick defense? Kinematic comparisons of predatory and defensive strikes in the western diamon-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). Biology of the Vipers 2002, 267-278. Eagle Mountain, Eagle Mountain, Utah. G.W. Schuett, M. Höggren, M.E. Douglas, H.W. Greene (Eds.).
27. Lima S.L. Life in a multi-predator environment: some considerations for antipredatory vigilance. Annales Zoologici Fennici 1992, 29:217-226.
28. Lima S.L. Back to the basics of antipredatory vigilance: the group size effect. Animal Behaviour 1995, 49:11-20.
29. Lima S.L. Nonlethal effects in the ecology of predator-prey interactions. Bioscience 1998, 48:25-34.
30. Lima S.L. Putting predators back into behavioral predator-prey interactions. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 2002, 17:70-75.
31. Lima S.L., Dill L.M. Behavioral decisions made under the risk of predation: a review and prospectus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 1990, 68:619-640.
32. Lind J., Cresswell W. Determining the fitness consequences of antipredation behavior. Behavioral Ecology 2005, 16:945-956.
33. Loughry W.J. The dynamics of snake harassment by black-tailed prairie dogs. Behaviour 1987, 103:27-48.
34. Nowak E.M., Theimer T.C., Schuett G.W. Functional and numerical responses of predators: where do vipers fit in the traditional paradigms?. Biological Reviews 2008, 83:601-620.
35. Orrock J.L., Danielson B.J., Brinkerhoff R.J. Rodent foraging is affected by indirect, but not by direct, cues of predation risk. Behavioral Ecology 2004, 15:433-437.
36. Preisser E.L., Bolnick D.I., Benard M.F. Scared to death? The effects of intimidation and consumption in predator-prey interactions. Ecology 2005, 86:501-509.
37. Preisser E.L., Orrock J.L., Schmitz O.J. Predator hunting mode and habitat domain alter nonconsumptive effects in predator-prey interactions. Ecology 2007, 88:2744-2751.
38. Quenette P.Y. Functions of vigilance behavior in mammals: a review. Acta Oecologica 1990, 11:801-818.
39. Randall J.A., King D.K.B. Assessment and defence of solitary kangaroo rats under risk of predation by snakes. Animal Behaviour 2001, 61:579-587.
40. Randall J.A., Stevens C.M. Footdrumming and other antipredator responses in the bannertail kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabalis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 1987, 20:187-194.
41. Reinert H.K., Cundall D. An improved surgical implantation method for radio-tracking snakes. Copeia 1982, 1982:702-705.
42. Reinert H.K., Cundall D., Bushar L.M. Foraging behavior of the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. Copeia 1984, 1984:976-981.
43. Roth E.D., May P.G., Farrell T.M. Pigmy rattlesnakes use frog-derived chemical cues to select foraging sites. Copeia 1999, 1999:772-774.
44. Roth T.C., Lima S.L., Vetter W.E. Determinants of predation risk in small wintering birds: the hawk's perspective. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 2006, 60:195-204.
45. Sansom A., Lind J., Cresswell W. Individual behavior and survival: the roles of predator avoidance, foraging success, and vigilance. Behavioral Ecology 2009, 20:1168-1174.
46. Sheriff M.J., Krebs C.J., Boonstra R. The sensitive hare: sublethal effects of predator stress on reproduction in snowshoe hares. Journal of Animal Ecology 2009, 78:1249-1258.
47. Shine R., Sun L.X. Arboreal ambush site selection by pit-vipers Gloydius shedaoensis. Animal Behaviour 2002, 63:565-576.
48. Tsairi H., Bouskila A. Ambush site selection of a desert snake (Echis coloratus) at an oasis. Herpetologica 2004, 60:13-23.
49. Vincent S.E., Mori A. Determinants of feeding performance in free-ranging pit-vipers (Viperidae: Ovophis okinavensis): key roles for head size and body temperature. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2008, 93:53-62.
50. Vincent S.E., Herrel A., Irschick D.J. Comparisons of aquatic versus terrestrial predatory strikes in the pitviper, Agkistrodon piscivorus. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology 2005, 303A:476-488.
51. Watkins T.B. Predator-mediated selection on burst swimming performance in tadpoles of the Pacific tree frog, Pseudacris regilla. Physiological Zoology 1996, 69:154-167.
52. Webster D.B. A function of the enlarged middle-ear cavities of the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys. Physiological Zoology 1962, 35:248-255.
53. Weihs D., Webb P.W. Optimal avoidance and evasion tactics in predator-prey interactions. Journal of Theoretical Biology 1984, 106:189-206.
54. Werner E.E., Peacor S.D. A review of trait-mediated indirect interactions in ecological communities. Ecology 2003, 84:1083-1100.
55. Yager D., May M., Fenton M. Ultrasound-triggered, flight-gated evasive maneuvers in the praying mantis Parasphendale agrionina. I. Free flight. Journal of Experimental Biology 1990, 152:17-39.
56. Young B.A. Kinematic modulation of the strike of the western diamondback rattlesnake. Hamadryad 2001, 26:316-349.