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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Using Enclosed Y-Mazes to Assess Chemosensory Behavior in Reptiles

Using Enclosed Y-Mazes to Assess Chemosensory Behavior in Reptiles

Published on: April 7, 2021

Molecular basis for prey relocation in viperid snakes.

Anthony J Saviola¹, David Chiszar, Chardelle Busch

¹School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 501 20th St., CB 92, Greeley, CO 80639-0017 USA.

|March 5, 2013

Summary

Rattlesnakes use venom disintegrins to chemically tag prey, enabling them to relocate envenomated prey after a strike-and-release predatory strategy. This molecular mechanism enhances hunting efficiency and represents a novel predator-prey coevolutionary trend.

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Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles

Chemical Isolation, Quantification, and Separation of Skin Lipids from Reptiles

Published on: February 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Zoology
Biochemistry
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Vertebrate predators employ diverse strategies, with snakes utilizing mechanical or venom-based methods.
Vipers, such as rattlesnakes, use a strike-and-release envenomation strategy to minimize predation risk.
Relocating envenomated prey is challenging, especially with potential false trails, and the molecular basis remains unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify the molecular mechanism enabling rattlesnakes to relocate envenomated prey.
To investigate the role of venom components in prey discrimination and tracking.

Main Methods:

Behavioral discrimination trials using euthanized mice injected with size-fractionated venom from Crotalus atrox.
Assays to test for enzymatic activity of common snake venom components.
Mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing to identify responsible proteins.

Main Results:

Crotalus atrox exhibited vomeronasal responsiveness to a specific protein peak in venom.
Responsiveness was independent of common venom enzymatic activities.
Mass spectrometry identified crotatroxin 1 and 2, non-enzymatic disintegrins, as responsible for prey discrimination.

Conclusions:

Venom disintegrins (crotatroxin 1 and 2) are the molecular mechanism for prey relocation in vipers.
Free disintegrins in venom facilitated the evolution of the strike-and-release behavior in vipers.
This predator-prey chemical tagging system represents a novel coevolutionary adaptation.