Antisnake behavior in two species of kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens and D. deserti): a comparative study
Boltas DK. 1999. Antisnake behavior in two species of kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens and D. deserti): a comparative study
This thesis discusses the behavior of two species of kangaroo rats in the presence of a snake. In this study, I compared the antisnake responses of two species of kangaroo rat from different habitats: the giant kangaroo rat, D. ingens, from grassland and the desert kangaroo rat, D. deserti, from sand dune. In response to a live, tethered gopher snake and a control of a decoy snake, D. ingens and D. deserti responded significantly more to the live snake than to the decoy. Both species footdrummed in the presence of the snake and inspected the predator. Dipodomys deserti also kicked sand at the snake. In conclusion, I found that solitary kangaroo rats confront snakes in a manner similar to social rodents. Confrontational behavior directed towards snakes may have evolved independently in an array of taxa because it successfully deters snakes, not only because it warns kin.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Boltas, Denise
- Date of Issue
- 1999-05
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Animal Behavior, Animal Studies, Dipodomys deserti, Dipodomys ingens, thesis