Effects of Sex, Environment, and Condition on the Musking Behavior of Sympatric Gartersnakes (Thamnophis Spp.)

Abstract

Despite an abundance of studies documenting antipredator and defensive behaviors of gartersnakes (genus Thamnophis), few have quantitatively examined musking, a widely utilized antipredator tactic. In this study we quantify musking behaviors in the Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) and the Plains Gartersnake (T. radix) when hand-captured at four sites in and near Denver, Colorado, USA. Overall, Plains Gartersnakes musked significantly more often than Terrestrial Gartersnakes. Female Terrestrial Gartersnakes musked more frequently than males, a pattern not evident in the Plains Gartersnake. Additionally, we observed a positive correlation in body condition and musking propensity in Terrestrial Gartersnakes, suggesting resource-dependent behavior in this species. Musking behavior was consistent across variations in predation pressure, environmental conditions, and snake body size, all factors shown to influence other gartersnake defensive behaviors. These results corroborate other research which demonstrates that snake antipredator behaviors are determined by complex interactions of abiotic and biotic factors.

Synergistic effects of musking and autohaemorrhaging on the duration of death feigning in dice snakes ( Natrix tessellata )

“…Smearing is one of the most common capture behaviours exhibited by dice snakes [28] with a rather straightforward role-to make the snake unpalatable to the predator and potentially smear the musk and faeces on the predator as well [48,49]. This is the likely explanation for why DF is shorter in individuals who performed smearing before DF; these individuals can benefit from the predator being more inclined to abandon its prey sooner due to the foul smell and taste.…”

Paradoxical Exception to Island Tameness: Increased Defensiveness in an Insular Population of Rattlesnakes

“…It may also serve as an alarm pheromone for intraspecific communication [ 38 ], particularly among aggregated gravid females [ 96 ]. In garter snakes (genus Thamnophis ), cloacal discharge frequency was consistent across variations in predation pressure, environmental conditions, and snake body size; however, musking propensity differed between the two species examined, as it occurred more frequently in females than males and was positively associated with body condition [ 101 ]. We noted no difference in propensity to discharge the scent gland between mainland and island rattlesnakes, and individuals from neither population relied often on this strategy (10–15% of trials).…”

Tactile stimuli induce deimatic antipredator displays in ringneck snakes

“…However, during the initial capture and handling, snakes also exhibited musking and defecation. Musking and defecation is a widespread behavior in snakes, and probably renders the snakes unpalatable to potential predators (Delaney, 2019; Gangloff et al., 2014; Martins, 1996). We found that snakes only used this antipredator behavior during the first contact of capturing and handling during processing, but did not musk or defecate during visual or tactile stimuli experiments.…”