Characteristics of Earthworm Washings Detected by the Vomeronasal System of Snakes

Halpern, Mimi; Schulman, Nancy; Kirschenbaum, Donald M.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-2235-1_6

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…For example, the snake's tongue does not appear to be important for the direct intake of food but might be used exclusively for olfaction in co‐operation with Jacobson's vomeronasal organs (Kahmann, 1932; McDowell, 1972; Gillingham & Clark, 1981). The flicking of a snake's tongue is thought to be a way of adsorbing odorants in the air (Halpern et al ., 1986). The epithelium of the anterior half of the snake's tongue, which is involved in such flicking, includes numerous lipid‐containing granules (Iwasaki et al .…”

Section: Adaptation Of the Tongue To The Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the structure and function of the vertebrate tongue

Iwasaki

2002

Journal of Anatomy

268

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Studies of the comparative morphology of the tongues of living vertebrates have revealed how variations in the morphology and function of the organ might be related to evolutional events. The tongue, which plays a very important role in food intake by vertebrates, exhibits significant morphological variations that appear to represent adaptation to the current environmental conditions of each respective habitat. This review examines the fundamental importance of morphology in the evolution of the vertebrate tongue, focusing on the origin of the tongue and on the relationship between morphology and environmental conditions. Tongues of various extant vertebrates, including those of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, were analysed in terms of gross anatomy and microanatomy by light microscopy and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Comparisons of tongue morphology revealed a relationship between changes in the appearance of the tongue and changes in habitat, from a freshwater environment to a terrestrial environment, as well as a relationship between the extent of keratinization of the lingual epithelium and the transition from a moist or wet environment to a dry environment.The lingual epithelium of amphibians is devoid of keratinization while that of reptilians is keratinized to different extents. Reptiles live in a variety of habitats, from seawater to regions of high temperature and very high or very low humidity. Keratinization of the lingual epithelium is considered to have been acquired concomitantly with the evolution of amniotes. The variations in the extent of keratinization of the lingual epithelium, which is observed between various amniotes, appear to be secondary, reflecting the environmental conditions of different species.

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Section: Adaptation Of the Tongue To The Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the structure and function of the vertebrate tongue

Iwasaki

2002

Journal of Anatomy

268

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Comparison of earthworm- and fish-derived chemicals eliciting prey attack by garter snakes (Thamnophis)

1988

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Materials eliciting increased tongue flicking and prey attack in garter snakes were isolated from both earthworm and fish prey. New extraction methods based on chloroform-methanol mixtures are valuable adjuncts to the more typical aqueous preparations. Both high- and low-molecular weight components from earthworms and fish were active. The similarity between the active chemicals in these two classes of prey was established using several methods of analysis. These included chromatography, carbohydrate and amino acid analyses, and nuclear magnetic resonance.

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Analysis of chemicals from earthworms and fish that elicit prey attack by ingestively naive garter snakes (Thamnophis)

et al. 1990

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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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Characteristics of Earthworm Washings Detected by the Vomeronasal System of Snakes

Cited by 4 publications

References 32 publications

Evolution of the structure and function of the vertebrate tongue

Evolution of the structure and function of the vertebrate tongue

Comparison of earthworm- and fish-derived chemicals eliciting prey attack by garter snakes (Thamnophis)

Analysis of chemicals from earthworms and fish that elicit prey attack by ingestively naive garter snakes (Thamnophis)

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