Context and Animal Behavior III: The Relationship Between Early Development and Evolutionary Persistence of Ground Squirrel Antisnake Behavior

Coss, Richard G.

doi:10.1207/s15326969eco0304_1

Cited by 55 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…Snakes represent meaningful predatory threats, especially to pups (Coss 1991a;Fitch 1949;Owings and Coss 2008;Poran and Coss 1990). Tail flagging occurs almost exclusively after ground squirrels have detected snakes (Hennessy et al 1981).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the ground squirrels that have been studied, the first expression of antisnake behavior has been recorded in preemergent pups (Coss 1991a), even during an encounter with a devenomated rattlesnake in an artificial burrow (1998 BBC film: Squirrels Under Siege, Bernard Walton, producer). Using a tethered rattlesnake, we have photographed antisnake behavior the first day pups emerge from natal burrows and adults cautiously sniffing burrow entrances after having seen a rattlesnake (Coss and Owings 1989, p. 34;Poran and Coss 1990, p. 225).…”

Section: Latent Expression Of Antisnake Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

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Isolation rearing reveals latent antisnake behavior in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus becheeyi) searching for predatory threats

Tromborg

Coss

2015

Anim Cogn

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This study of California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) investigated the long-term effects of isolation rearing on alarm-call recognition. Six wild-caught squirrels, trapped as yearlings, and six laboratory-reared squirrels were maintained in solitary cages for approximately 3 years prior to the study. Visual searching and olfactory searching were measured as squirrels emerged from their burrow-like nest box into a laboratory room after hearing repetitive playbacks of alarm calls or control sounds consisting of pulses of white-noise or ambient laboratory sounds. Before exiting completely after hearing alarm calls, both groups exhibited similar levels of visual searching that was reliably higher than after hearing the other sounds. After exiting completely, the laboratory-reared squirrels exhibited a reliably greater amount of olfactory investigation than the wild-caught squirrels. Five laboratory-reared squirrels turned around after exiting and inspected their dark nest-box opening, three of which tail flagged repeatedly and one threw substrate into the opening. Since pups recognize snakes and engage in this behavior, this latent expression of antisnake behavior illustrates its robust organizational properties in the appropriate burrow-like context irrespective of the presumed retardation of neural development known to occur in other species of rodent subjected to similar isolation rearing.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Latent Expression Of Antisnake Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation rearing reveals latent antisnake behavior in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus becheeyi) searching for predatory threats

Tromborg

Coss

2015

Anim Cogn

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“…Because venomous, non-venomous and non-predatory snakes of various sizes are common in their environment [16,34], such information would be useful in mounting a response appropriate to the nature of the threat. This information may be especially important for pups that are just learning to recognize snake predators [35].…”

Section: Discussion (A) Strike Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground squirrel tail-flag displays alter both predatory strike and ambush site selection behaviours of rattlesnakes

Barbour

Clark

2012

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Many species approach, inspect and signal towards their predators. These behaviours are often interpreted as predator-deterrent signals-honest signals that indicate to a predator that continued hunting is likely to be futile. However, many of these putative predator-deterrent signals are given when no predator is present, and it remains unclear if and why such signals deter predators. We examined the effects of one such signal, the tail-flag display of California ground squirrels, which is frequently given both during and outside direct encounters with northern Pacific rattlesnakes. We video-recorded and quantified the ambush foraging responses of rattlesnakes to tail-flagging displays from ground squirrels. We found that tail-flagging deterred snakes from striking squirrels, most likely by advertising squirrel vigilance (i.e. readiness to dodge a snake strike). We also found that tail-flagging by adult squirrels increased the likelihood that snakes would leave their ambush site, apparently by elevating the vigilance of nearby squirrels which reduces the profitability of the ambush site. Our results provide some of the first empirical evidence of the mechanisms by which a prey display, although frequently given in the absence of a predator, may still deter predators during encounters.

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“…Goodall 1968, Beason and Pattee 1975, Owings and Loughry 1985, Coss 1991, Griffiths et al 1998. Snakes are one of important predators for Siberian chipmunks Eutamias sibiricus asiaticus (Kawamichi 1978, Snigirevskaya 1962.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Responses of Siberian Chipmunks toward Conspecifics Applied Snake Scent.

Kobayashi¹

2000

Zoolog Sci

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Context and Animal Behavior III: The Relationship Between Early Development and Evolutionary Persistence of Ground Squirrel Antisnake Behavior

Cited by 55 publications

References 94 publications

Isolation rearing reveals latent antisnake behavior in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus becheeyi) searching for predatory threats

Isolation rearing reveals latent antisnake behavior in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus becheeyi) searching for predatory threats

Ground squirrel tail-flag displays alter both predatory strike and ambush site selection behaviours of rattlesnakes

Behavioral Responses of Siberian Chipmunks toward Conspecifics Applied Snake Scent.

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