Investigating Chemical Crypsis of the Puff Adder (Bitis arietans), an Ambushing Snake Species
Abstract
Puff adders (Bitis arietans) are widespread, highly venomous snakes that can lie in wait for extended periods for passing prey. To avoid detection by their visual and scent-orientated predators during this vulnerable time, puff adders employ crypsis in two modalities by being both visually and chemically camouflaged. Visual crypsis is a well-documented trait common to many taxa, however examples of chemical crypsis, or "scentlessness", among species and other taxa are poorly documented, with the puff adder being the first scientifically-demonstrated example among terrestrial vertebrates. Though poorly documented, chemical crypsis is likely to be pervasive among taxa as a result of selection pressures acting on easily chemically-detectable organisms. The mechanism of being scentless as a living organism is unknown however, because metabolic byproducts are typically odorous. My work is focused on two important aspects of chemical crypsis in puff adders: the extent to which this crypsis is maintained, and its underlying mechanism. By using Snouted cobras (Naja annulifera) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana) as two additional biosensor species, we will be able to assess whether this crypsis extends to the puff adder s most significant wild predator (the Snouted Cobra) and whether this crypsis is potentially threshold-bound (African elephants have the highest number of olfactory receptor genes (-2000) of any animal tested to date, suggesting strongly that they may have the keenest olfactory ability in the world). We will elucidate the mechanism underlying this crypsis by assessing the species metabolic byproducts, associated microbiota-load and the role played by micro-ornamentation on the scales. Understanding how a living (metabolizing) animal is able to remain chemically cryptic will not only contribute greatly towards our understanding of ecological processes that involve predator-prey arms races, but also reveal novel applications to areas such as product development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610327
Entities
People
- Ashadee Miller
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of the Witwatersrand