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Rattlesnake colouration affects detection by predators
Journal of Zoology ( IF 1.9 ) Pub Date : 2020-05-12 , DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12786 M. V. Harmel 1 , H. L. Crowell 1 , J. M. Whelan 1 , E. N. Taylor 1
Journal of Zoology ( IF 1.9 ) Pub Date : 2020-05-12 , DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12786 M. V. Harmel 1 , H. L. Crowell 1 , J. M. Whelan 1 , E. N. Taylor 1
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Crypsis, or the ability of an animal to avoid detection by other animals, is strongly impacted by an animal’s colouration and pattern. Crypsis may be especially important for ambush foragers, which spend much of their time above ground and therefore benefit from being inconspicuous to predators and prey. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rattlesnake skin colouration on the likelihood of it being detected and attacked by a predator, on the latency (time) to attack, and on the attack frequency on each physical body section of the models. Clay models representing four commonly observed rattlesnake colour morphs (light, dark and two intermediate colour patterns) were deployed in two different habitat types (wooded area and open field), and the marks made on the models by predators were quantified over time. We found that light snake models, which have little contrast with substrate, were less likely to be attacked and were attacked later than darker model types, which have higher contrast with substrate. Predators attacked the various body segments of the models at similar frequencies. Our data suggest dark-coloured rattlesnakes, which have the most contrast with the golden-coloured grasses and therefore have the lowest crypsis, are most at risk from predation.
中文翻译：
响尾蛇的颜色会影响捕食者的发现
Crypsis，或动物避免被其他动物发现的能力，受到动物的颜色和图案的强烈影响。Crypsis 对于伏击觅食者来说可能尤其重要，因为他们大部分时间都在地面上度过，因此不会被掠食者和猎物发现。本研究的目的是研究响尾蛇的皮肤颜色对其被捕食者检测和攻击的可能性、攻击的潜伏期（时间）以及模型每个身体部分的攻击频率的影响。代表四种常见响尾蛇颜色变体（浅色、深色和两种中间颜色图案）的粘土模型被部署在两种不同的栖息地类型（林区和开阔地），并且随着时间的推移，对捕食者在模型上留下的标记进行量化。我们发现与底物对比度很小的浅色蛇模型比与底物对比度更高的深色模型类型更不容易受到攻击并且被攻击得更晚。捕食者以相似的频率攻击模型的各个身体部位。我们的数据表明，深色响尾蛇与金色草丛的对比度最大，因此具有最低的隐匿性，因此最容易被捕食。
更新日期：2020-05-12
中文翻译：
响尾蛇的颜色会影响捕食者的发现
Crypsis，或动物避免被其他动物发现的能力，受到动物的颜色和图案的强烈影响。Crypsis 对于伏击觅食者来说可能尤其重要，因为他们大部分时间都在地面上度过，因此不会被掠食者和猎物发现。本研究的目的是研究响尾蛇的皮肤颜色对其被捕食者检测和攻击的可能性、攻击的潜伏期（时间）以及模型每个身体部分的攻击频率的影响。代表四种常见响尾蛇颜色变体（浅色、深色和两种中间颜色图案）的粘土模型被部署在两种不同的栖息地类型（林区和开阔地），并且随着时间的推移，对捕食者在模型上留下的标记进行量化。我们发现与底物对比度很小的浅色蛇模型比与底物对比度更高的深色模型类型更不容易受到攻击并且被攻击得更晚。捕食者以相似的频率攻击模型的各个身体部位。我们的数据表明，深色响尾蛇与金色草丛的对比度最大，因此具有最低的隐匿性，因此最容易被捕食。
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