The Relative Roles of Vision and Olfaction in Prey Detection by the Ground Skink, Scincella lateralis

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Abstract
Scincella lateralis responds primarily to the visual stimulus of prey. Nineteen lizards were randomly presented visual, chemical, and visual and chemical cues of prey. When chemical cues of "normal concentrations" were presented only those treatments containing a visual cue elicited a greater rate of tongue flicking, stimulated orientation to the prey, and attack behavior. However, lizards presented concentrated chemical cues of prey had a significantly greater rate of tongue flicking than when presented a control. This increase in the rate of tongue flicking was not due to the mere strength of the stimulus, as lizards presented a novel chemical stimulus did not demonstrate an increase in tongue flicking.