Schmidt, D. F., W. K. Hayes, and F. E. Hayes. 1993. Influence of prey movement on the aim of
predatory strikes of the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Great Basin Naturalist 53:203-206.
Abstract.--The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) aims its predatory strike at the head/thorax region of mice primarily on the basis of cues related to direction of prey movement. We hypothesized that when rattlesnakes strike at anesthetized, backward-moving mice, most strikes would be aimed at the forward-most-moving region, i.e., the posterior (abdomen/tail) region of prey. However, most mice were struck in the anterior (head/thorax) region, implying that the visual-infrared image of mice, rather than directional movement, guides the aim of predatory strikes. |
