RAUK - Archived Forum - The smell of fear

Just saw an episode of O'Shea on TV where he mentioned venomous snakes tracking prey which had been envenomated. He said experiments had shown that the snake can track its venom scent, and hence differentiate crossed tracks and find the prey it bit.

It seems that may only be half the story !...Interesting article attached:

http://www.slic.wsu.edu/kkardong/htm/trailing.htm

Kelleway, L.G. 1982. Competition for mates and food items in Vipera berus. British Journal of Herpetology 6:225-230

Covers the bit about competition for food items. I'm sure I've heard mention that adder can differentiate the scent of an envenomated prey item and one that is not and this is how rivals are attracted.

So, if the theory proves to be accurate and snakes do have the ability to track by odours given off in chemical reactions, does it not then follow, that, the snakes can dintinguish individuals within their own species and identify them by scent if not sight??? R 

 .....Further to this, I'm hoping that Gemma will be able to somehow place on here, a sequence of four photographs taken last year in early August (apologies for poor quality but at least you get the basic idea). The smaller snake that starts closer to the camera was a juvenile (definitely not sexually mature) and so the interaction between them must have been something other than just a 'mating instinct'. If this sequence shows a deliberate move to identify an individual by scent by both snakes (see how the adult has moved nearer the water in the last frame) I'll let you all decide......I know what I think. R

Rob, not received any piccies but I'll put them up when they are sent.

Gonzalo,A.,Cabido, B., Martin, J., and Lopez,P.2004. Detection and discrimination of conspecific scents by the anguid slow-worm (Anguis fragilis).J.Chemcial.Ecol, Vol.30, 8:1565-1573

may be of interested, the authors concluded that slow-worms 'probably' distinguish the scents of other males from their own and determine factors such as size and fitness to avoid confrontation, though suggest further research is needed.

I've observed adder that had lost spring confrontations re-investigate a mating pair, the second investigation always seemed shorter as if they knew the male and also knew he was not worth taking on.

Thanks Gemma, I tried to send them last night but all of the attempts failed. i'll try one of them now, so please let me know if a). It comes through ok and b). They will be able to fit on the screen in a meaningful sequence. R 

Thanks Gemma, I think, with a slide of the cursor, you could get the general idea eh? R