Meeting Abstract

P3.111  Wednesday, Jan. 6  Snakes that go bump in the night OLBERDING, J.P.*; RILEY, M.A.; JAYNE, B.C.; University of Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati olberdjp@mail.uc.edu

Haptic exploration, which is the use of touch to obtain information about surfaces and objects in the environment, is well studied for humans but not for many other species for which it is probably ecologically relevant. The importance of this sensory mode also probably increases in dark environments. For example, many species of snakes move in environments where vision is probably ineffective. Many snakes also move in challenging arboreal habitats where the risk of falling makes the choice of surfaces and branches to support locomotion paramount. Data on the haptic behavior of snakes are lacking, however. Thus, we studied the exploratory behaviors of juvenile boa constrictors, which are often nocturnal and move readily in arboreal habitats. All experiments were in a dark chamber and used infrared video to quantify the three-dimensional movements and behaviors of the snakes. Some experiments determined the searching patterns used by snakes to encounter an object, and others manipulated the size, shape, orientation, and mechanical properties of objects that snakes encountered. The perches upon which snakes were placed were one meter above the floor and did not allow the snakes to crawl down. Exploratory movements below the perch were more numerous and had greater vertical amplitudes than those above the perch. Most exploratory movements were much closer to the edges of the perches than the maximum distance that snakes could cantilever, especially horizontal movements perpendicular to the long axis of the horizontal cylindrical perch. Unexpectedly, the snakes did bridge some gaps by crawling onto surfaces that made locomotion extremely difficult. Some preferences were shown, however, for surfaces that were less compliant and had higher coefficients of friction. Thus, haptic information does appear to influence choice of substrate.