FEEDING RESPONSES IN YOUNG BOA CONSTRICTORS ARE MEDIATED BY THE VOMERONASAL SYSTEM

The vomeronasal system has been shown to mediate feeding responses in several species of snakes. Most studies, however, have been done on sn akes of the families Colubridae and Crotalidae. The role of the vomero nasal system in mediating feeding responses was examined in a member o f the Boidae, Boa constrictor imperator. Young boa constrictors were p resented with a mouse model that was either scented with mouse odours or unscented. In addition, the snakes underwent trials with their vome ronasal ducts plugged with glue (VNX) or with glue placed on one side of the mouth (Sham). Young boas responded to scented mouse models by t ongue-flicking and striking the model; they responded to the models on ly under the Sham condition. The VNX condition resulted in no strikes and virtually no tongue flicking, suggesting that boa constrictors sho w appropriate feeding responses to mouse chemicals presented on a mode l and only respond when the vomeronasal system is intact. (C) 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour