Analysis of chemicals from earthworms and fish that elicit prey attack by ingestively naive garter snakes (Thamnophis) |
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Authors: | Fred M. Schell Gordon M. Burghardt Adam Johnston Christopher Coholich |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Chemistry Graduate Program in Ethology (Life Sciences), University of Tennessee, 37996 Knoxville, Tennessee;(2) Departments of Psychology and Zoology Graduate Program in Ethology (Life Sciences), University of Tennessee, 37996 Knoxville, Tennessee |
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Abstract: | Materials previously shown to elicit increased tongue-flicking and prey attack in garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) were isolated from both earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) and fish (Pimephales promelas). Both high- and low-molecular-weight components from earthworms and fish stimulated attacks and increased tongue-flicking in previously unfed neonate garter snakes relative to distilled water controls. Earthworm collagen was also effective, but even concentrated fractions were less effective than raw extract. Conflicting reports on the effectiveness of collagen suggest that the salient chemical(s) is a smaller molecule tightly bound to collagen and resisting standard purification methods. |
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Keywords: | Chemoreception garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis chemical cues Lumbricus terrestris earthworm Pimephales promelas fish prey odors glycopeptide |
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