RESPONSES BY DOMESTIC CATS (FELIS-CATUS) TO SNAKE SCENT GLAND SECRETIONS

被引:8
|
作者
WRIGHT, J [1 ]
WELDON, PJ [1 ]
机构
[1] TEXAS A&M UNIV SYST,DEPT BIOL,COLLEGE STN,TX 77843
关键词
Domestic cat; Elaphe obsoleta; feeding deterrence; Felis catus; rat snake; snake scent glands;
D O I
10.1007/BF00979486
中图分类号
Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];
学科分类号
071010 ; 081704 ;
摘要
The scent gland secretions of snakes are thought to repel predators, but few predator species have been tested for responses to these exudates. Domestic cats (Felis catus) were tested for responses to scent gland secretions of the gray rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta), or to choloroform extracts of them, applied to filter paper or food. More cats salivated or rubbed on filter papers treated with scent gland secretions than on control papers. Scent gland exudates elicited rubbing and pawing in cats more frequently than did chemicals from a shed snake skin. Cats offered food pieces treated either with water or with scent gland secretions ate fewer of the latter; this result is consistent with the hypothesis that scent gland secretions deter feeding. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.
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页码:2947 / 2953
页数:7
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