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Following of conspecific and avoidance of predator chemical cues by pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus)

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Abstract

The ability of hatchling pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) to follow or avoid the chemical trails of conspecifics and a king snake (Lampropeltis getulus) on paper substrates was investigated inY-maze experiments. Hatchlings entered the arm with the adult conspecific trail and avoided the arm containing the king snake trail at a frequency much greater than that due to chance. The data support the hypotheses that pine snakes follow the chemical trails of adult conspecifics and avoid the chemical trails of a predator.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Nelson Biological Laboratory, 08855-1059, Piscataway, New Jersey

    Joanna Burger

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  1. Joanna Burger
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Burger, J. Following of conspecific and avoidance of predator chemical cues by pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus). J Chem Ecol 15, 799–806 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01015178

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01015178

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