Chemical-Cue Preferences of Newborn Snakes: Influence of Prenatal Maternal Experience
- 5 March 1971
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 171 (3974) , 921-923
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.171.3974.921
Abstract
Newborn garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) responded similarly to worm and fish surface extracts regardless of whether the mothers were fed exclusively on fish or worms during the gestation period. Worm extract was the more effective. This result is in contrast with the easy modifiability of chemical-cue preferences in young snakes after birth. The initial stimulus control of the attack response in newborn snakes thus seems relatively unmodifiable.Keywords
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