Oviposition site selection in<i>Tetradactylus africanus africanus</i>: A relationship with the ant<i>Anochetus faurei</i>

Mason, Makena; Alexander, Graham J.

doi:10.1080/21564574.1996.9649960

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Resetarits & Binckley [49] showed that pirate perch (Aphredoderus sayanus) remain undetected by several species of aquatic beetles on which they feed, and several species of reptiles use chemical mimicry to gain unchallenged access to ant colonies on which they feed [50]. The detectability of puff adder scent by prey species remains to be tested; however, our video footage of rodents remaining seemingly unaware of ambushing puff adders despite being in direct contact with the snakes is highly suggestive that they are chemically cryptic towards at least some prey species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ambusher's arsenal: chemical crypsis in the puff adder (Bitis arietans)

et al. 2015

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Ambush foragers use a hunting strategy that places them at risk of predation by both visual and olfaction-oriented predators. Resulting selective pressures have driven the evolution of impressive visual crypsis in many ambushing species, and may have led to the development of chemical crypsis. However, unlike for visual crypsis, few studies have attempted to demonstrate chemical crypsis. Field observations of puff adders (Bitis arietans) going undetected by several scent-orientated predator and prey species led us to investigate chemical crypsis in this ambushing species. We trained dogs (Canis familiaris) and meerkats (Suricata suricatta) to test whether a canid and a herpestid predator could detect B. arietans using olfaction. We also tested for chemical crypsis in five species of active foraging snakes, predicted to be easily detectable. Dogs and meerkats unambiguously indicated active foraging species, but failed to correctly indicate puff adder, confirming that B. arietans employs chemical crypsis. This is the first demonstration of chemical crypsis anti-predatory behaviour, though the phenomenon may be widespread among ambushers, especially those that experience high mortality rates owing to predation. Our study provides additional evidence for the existence of an ongoing chemically mediated arms race between predator and prey species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ambusher's arsenal: chemical crypsis in the puff adder (Bitis arietans)

et al. 2015

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“…In amphibians, skin secretions of Phrynomantis microps Peters (Accra Snake-necked Frog; Rödel et al 2013) and Lithodytes lineatus (Schneider) (Painted Antnest Frog; de Lima Barros et al 2016) have been found to contain chemicals that inhibit aggression in the ants Paltothyreus tarsatus (Fabricius) (African Stink Ant) and Atta spp., respectively. When attacked by ants, rena dulcis Baird & Girard (Plains Threadsnake), a predator of termites and ant broods, demonstrates a defensive coiling behavior that coats its body with cloacal secretions which deters further attacks (Gehlbach et al 1968) (Mason and Alexander 1996). These results, while preliminary, present a possible explanation for the ants' grooming behaviors and may also suggest that Eastern Long-tailed Seps hatchlings engage in a similar defensive behavior to Plains Threadsnake.…”

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confidence: 76%

“…Gray (Eastern Long-tailed Seps) oviposits exclusively in Anochetus faurei Arnold nests. Eastern Long-tailed Seps eggs and hatchlings share surface hydrocarbons in common with cuticular hydrocarbons of A. faurei workers (Mason and Alexander 1996). These results, while preliminary, present a possible explanation for the ants' grooming behaviors and may also suggest that Eastern Long-tailed Seps hatchlings engage in a similar defensive behavior to Plains Threadsnake.…”

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confidence: 99%

First Observations of Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) Communal Oviposition within An Active Ant Nest of Lasius interjectus

Sacerdote-Velat,

Sekits

2023

Northeastern Naturalist

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“…other reptiles, ants and termites). For example, little brown skinks ( Scincella lateralis ) oviposit in nests of American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis ) [71], an African lizard ( Tetradactylus africanus africanus ) lays its eggs in nest mounds of the ant Anochetus faurei [72], and other reptiles nest within the nesting burrows of monitor lizards ( Varanus panoptes , Varanus gouldii ) [73].…”

Section: Nesting Behaviour and Nest Design Of Reptilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can nesting behaviour allow reptiles to adapt to climate change?

Sun

et al. 2023

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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A range of abiotic parameters within a reptile nest influence the viability and attributes (including sex, behaviour and body size) of hatchlings that emerge from that nest. As a result of that sensitivity, a reproducing female can manipulate the phenotypic attributes of her offspring by laying her eggs at times and in places that provide specific conditions. Nesting reptiles shift their behaviour in terms of timing of oviposition, nest location and depth of eggs beneath the soil surface across spatial and temporal gradients. Those maternal manipulations affect mean values and variances of both temperature and soil moisture, and may modify the vulnerability of embryos to threats such as predation and parasitism. By altering thermal and hydric conditions in reptile nests, climate change has the potential to dramatically modify the developmental trajectories and survival rates of embryos, and the phenotypes of hatchlings. Reproducing females buffer such effects by modifying the timing, location and structure of nests in ways that enhance offspring viability. Nonetheless, our understanding of nesting behaviours in response to climate change remains limited in reptiles. Priority topics for future studies include documenting climate-induced changes in the nest environment, the degree to which maternal behavioural shifts can mitigate climate-related deleterious impacts on offspring development, and ecological and evolutionary consequences of maternal nesting responses to climate change. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach’.

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Oviposition site selection inTetradactylus africanus africanus: A relationship with the antAnochetus faurei

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

An ambusher's arsenal: chemical crypsis in the puff adder (Bitis arietans)

An ambusher's arsenal: chemical crypsis in the puff adder (Bitis arietans)

First Observations of Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) Communal Oviposition within An Active Ant Nest of Lasius interjectus

Can nesting behaviour allow reptiles to adapt to climate change?

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