ABSTRACT Predation risk may be high in small snakes and most small snakes are thought to avoid certain behaviours, such as basking in open areas to reduce predation risk. The extent to which this concealment limits predation during basking is not known, but available data suggests that such concealment may significantly reduce predation attempts. Using model snakes placed in the field, predation rates on small model snakes were tested, specifically whether attack rates differ between partially concealed model snakes and model snakes placed in open unconcealed positions. Results from the current study support previous studies that predation pressure was high (average = 22.15%), but was not significantly reduced by semi-sheltered basking. An important new finding of this study was the high number of model snakes that experience trampling by wild ungulates (average = 12.72%.) This suggests that snakes basking in open and sheltered areas are also at risk of being killed or injured through trampling by larger animals. This study makes an important contribution to understanding predation pressure in African snakes and highlights other threats that snakes are exposed to during basking and thermoregulation.

中文翻译：

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部分隐藏是否会影响南非对小型模型蛇的捕食尝试？

摘要 小蛇的捕食风险可能很高，并且大多数小蛇被认为会避免某些行为，例如在开阔区域晒太阳以降低被捕食的风险。这种隐藏在晒太阳期间限制捕食的程度尚不清楚，但现有数据表明这种隐藏可能会显着减少捕食尝试。使用放置在野外的模型蛇，测试了小型模型蛇的捕食率，特别是部分隐藏的模型蛇和放置在开放式未隐藏位置的模型蛇之间的攻击率是否不同。当前研究的结果支持先前的研究，即捕食压力很高（平均 = 22.15%），但并未因半遮蔽晒太阳而显着降低。这项研究的一个重要新发现是大量模型蛇被野生有蹄类动物践踏（平均 = 12.72%）。这表明，在开阔和隐蔽区域晒太阳的蛇也有因被更大的动物践踏而死亡或受伤的风险。动物。这项研究为了解非洲蛇的捕食压力做出了重要贡献，并强调了蛇在晒太阳和体温调节过程中面临的其他威胁。