Abstract In many animals, chemosensation acts as a first line of defence against snake predators. However, in spite of their obvious importance, the chemical nature of cues used by prey to detect snakes remains to be discovered. Here, we analyse which neutral lipids, extracted with n-hexane, are present in the skin of the European adder (Vipera berus) using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. The analyses revealed that the washes held a complex cocktail of chemical compounds, with a total of 165 different molecules, mostly steroids (82% of the total ion current) and alkanes (13%), and smaller amounts of carboxylic acids, wax esters, ketones, amides and alcohols. Using bio-assays in which we confronted individuals of a prey species (the European common lizard, Zootoca vivipara) with these washes, we were able to confirm that the kairomones can be extracted using n-hexane. In fact, lizards did not respond to chemical cues still present in adder skin after washing, indicating that the kairomones are indeed strongly n-hexane soluble. Consequently, we have set a next step in deciphering the chemical nature of the predator-prey interaction between the European adder and the European common lizard. We hope our results facilitate further investigation into the chemical ecology of snakes and their prey.

中文翻译：

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破解化学密码：欧洲普通蜥蜴（Zootoca vivipara）对可溶于己烷的捕食者 kairomone 做出反应

摘要 在许多动物中，化学感觉是抵御蛇类捕食者的第一道防线。然而，尽管它们的重要性显而易见，但猎物用来检测蛇的线索的化学性质仍有待发现。在这里，我们使用气相色谱 - 质谱法分析了欧洲蝰蛇（Vipera berus）的皮肤中存在哪些用正己烷提取的中性脂质。分析表明，洗涤液含有复杂的化合物混合物，共有 165 种不同的分子，主要是类固醇（占总离子流的 82%）和烷烃（13%），以及少量的羧酸、蜡酯、酮、酰胺和醇。使用生物测定法，我们用这些洗涤液对猎物物种（欧洲普通蜥蜴，Zootoca vivipara）的个体进行检测，我们能够确认使用正己烷可以提取 kairomones。事实上，蜥蜴对洗涤后仍然存在于蝰蛇皮肤中的化学线索没有反应，这表明 kairomones 确实具有很强的正己烷溶解性。因此，我们在破译欧洲加法器和欧洲普通蜥蜴之间捕食者-猎物相互作用的化学性质方面迈出了下一步。我们希望我们的结果有助于进一步研究蛇及其猎物的化学生态。我们在破译欧洲加法器和欧洲普通蜥蜴之间捕食者-猎物相互作用的化学性质方面迈出了下一步。我们希望我们的结果有助于进一步研究蛇及其猎物的化学生态。我们在破译欧洲加法器和欧洲普通蜥蜴之间捕食者-猎物相互作用的化学性质方面迈出了下一步。我们希望我们的结果有助于进一步研究蛇及其猎物的化学生态。