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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

The role of the vomeronasal organ in rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis oreganus) predatory behavior.

During predatory behavior, rattlesnakes depend primarily upon thermal and visual cues to initially aim a strike. However, it has been hypothesized that prey-related odors sensed by the vomeronasal system act as releasing stimuli of the strike and that such vomodors are primary stimuli during poststrike trailing and swallowing of the envenomated rodent. To test this, northern Pacific rattlesnakes were rendered avomic by bilateral lesions of the vomeronasal nerves, and their vomic and avomic predatory behaviors were compared. Avomic rattlesnakes exhibited fewer strikes and complete elimination of trailing and swallowing behavior. These results support the hypothesis that vomodors sensed via the vomeronasal organ are capable of acting as releasing stimuli of selected rattlesnake predatory behaviors. Sensory input via the vomeronasal organ is important during prestrike/strike behavior, and it is a major route of sensory input during poststrike trailing and ingestion of envenomated prey.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Annual rhythm and hormonal control of predatory behavior in female ferrets.

The predatory behavior of female ferrets shows seasonal fluctuations which appear to be affected by estradiol. Under natural lighting conditions in the laboratory the annual rhythm of the behavior was observed during anestrus, estrus, pregnancy, pseudopregnancy and lactating period. Females in heat failed to show predatory behavior whereas females in anestrus killed their prey. Exposure of anestrous ferrets to a prolonged illumination (LD 16:8) during winter induced an estrus which inhibited predatory behavior. When estrus was terminated with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), predatory behavior did not further regress as it did in control runs. Thus, during the period of estrus, when estrogen levels are presumably high, predatory behavior was inhibited. To prove a possible interdependency of estrogen and predatory behavior, estradiol-17 beta-valerat was chronically administered. This treatment induced the estrous cycle one day after the first injection. Inhibition of predatory behavior occurred following a delay of 28 days. Thus, fluctuations of estradiol levels are a factor which may affect fluctuations of predatory behavior in female ferrets.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Predatory behavior in a necrophagous bee Trigona hypogea (Hymenoptera; Apidae, Meliponini).

Although most bees feed on nectar and pollen, several exceptions have been reported. The strangest of all is the habit found in some neotropical stingless bees, which have completely replaced pollen-eating by eating animal protein from corpses. For more than 20 years, it was believed that carrion was the only protein source for these bees. We report that these bees feed not only off dead animals, but on the living brood of social wasps and possibly other similar sources. Using well developed prey location and foraging behaviors, necrophagous bees discover recently abandoned wasps' nests and, within a few hours, prey upon all immatures found there.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Functional mapping of the prosencephalic systems involved in organizing predatory behavior in rats.

The study of the neural basis of predatory behavior has been largely neglected over the recent years. Using an ethologically based approach, we presently delineate the prosencephalic systems mobilized during predation by examining Fos immunoreactivity in rats performing insect hunting. These results were further compared with those obtained from animals killed after the early nocturnal surge of food ingestion. First, predatory behavior was associated with a distinct Fos up-regulation in the ventrolateral caudoputamen at intermediate rostro-caudal levels, suggesting a possible candidate to organize the stereotyped sequence of actions seen during insect hunting. Insect predation also presented conspicuous mobilization of a neural network formed by a distinct amygdalar circuit (i.e. the postpiriform-transition area, the anterior part of cortical nucleus, anterior part of basomedial nucleus, posterior part of basolateral nucleus, and medial part of central nucleus) and affiliated sites in the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (i.e. the rhomboid nucleus) and in the hypothalamus (i.e. the parasubthalamic nucleus). Accordingly, this network is likely to encode prey-related motivational values, such as prey's odor and taste, and to influence autonomic and motor control accompanying predatory eating. Notably, regular food intake was also associated with a relatively weak Fos up-regulation in this network. However, during regular surge of food intake, we observed a much larger mobilization in hypothalamic sites related to the homeostatic control of eating, namely, the arcuate nucleus and autonomic parts of the paraventricular nucleus. Overall, the present findings suggest potential neural systems involved in integrating prey-related motivational values and in organizing the stereotyped sequences of action seen during predation. Moreover, the comparison with regular food intake contrasts putative neural mechanisms controlling predatory related eating vs. regular food intake.

Amygdala↗
PubMed2002

Predatory behaviors of Neoseiulus californicus and Galendromus helveolus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) attacking Oligonychus perseae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Predatory behaviors of Neosieulus californicus (McGregor) and Galendromus helveolus (Chant) attacking Oligonychus perseae Tuttle, Baker and Abbatiello on avocado leaves were videotaped and analyzed. Behaviors were recorded for "fresh" predators that were used < or = 48 hr post receipt from a commercial insectary and "cold stored" predators that were maintained at 12 degrees C for approximately 14 days. Fresh and cold stored G. helveolus were observed to attack O. perseae only after invading webbed nests. Conversely. fresh and cold stored N. californicus employed three different modes of predatory attack: (1) intercepting and attacking migrant O. perseae outside of web nests: (2) attacking prey through nest webbing; or (3) invading and attacking O. perseae inside nests. Predatory efficacy of both N. californicus and G. helveolus was reduced following cold storage. as both species engaged in certain predatory behaviors less frequently in comparison to predators that were not stored at low temperatures. Our observed results for N. californicus and G. helveolus attacking O. perseae are interpreted in relation to the chaetotaxy hypothesis, which proposes that phytoseiid invasion efficiency and propensity of webbed nests is facilitated by dorsal setal lengths.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Stimulus speed and order of presentation effect the visually released predatory behaviors of the praying mantis Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.).

To assess the role of stimulus speed and order on the predatory behaviors of the praying mantis Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.), tethered adult females were presented with various flat black stimuli (lures) by means of a variable speed mechanical arm. Lure speed had a dramatic effect on mantis behavior: mantises emitted significantly more strikes to a 6 x 6 mm square and to 'worm' lures (i.e. length > width = 6 mm) moving at 34.3 cm/sec than they did to 'antiworm' lures (i.e. width > length = 6 mm), or to slower moving lures. These effects were consistent over lure directions (0-75 degrees relative to the mantis' long axis), and background patterns. On the other hand, mantises emitted significantly more approaching behavior to lures moving at 12 cm/sec than to lures moving at 36 cm/sec. This suggests that S. lineola extract distance information from retinal image velocity, as do other insects. Stimulus order also effected mantis predatory behavior: for instance, mantises were more likely to track a lure without striking at it on the first trial than on subsequent trials. However, after the first trial, they were also more likely to freeze (become immobile) when a lure was presented. Mantises were also less likely to strike at a preferred lure if it was preceded by one or two non-preferred lures. In a final experiment, intact, freely moving mantises were placed in an arena, presented with adult crickets, and video taped. The behaviors of the freely moving mantises were congruent with those of the tethered mantises in the previous experiments. This series of experiments demonstrates that the information processing capabilities of S. lineola are more complex than generally depicted, however, they can be explained by assuming a neural organization similar to that of other insects such as flies (Diptera) and dragonflies (Odonata).

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The effect of imipramine on predatory behavior and locomotor activity in cats.

The behavior toward mouse was studied under and after chronic imipramine treatment in two groups of cats - non-killers and killers. Imiprarnine facilitated predatory behavior in the non-killers but not in the killers, which is in contrast to results obtained on rats. Imipramine produced a marked decrease of locomotor activity of non-killers tested in open field. The inhibition of locomotion did not interfere with the occurrence of killing behavior. It was concluded that imipramine selectively facilitates the neurophysiological mechanism of predatory behavior, which in cats might be connected with the reward system.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of the effects of lateral and ventro-posterior hypothalamic damage on the predatory behavior of cats.

Two groups of seven cats estimated preoperatively as good mice-killers were subjected to the damage of either the lateral hypothalamus (LH) or the ventro-posterior hypothalamus (VPH). The LH damage produced global impairment of the predatory behavior, such as interest in, catching, killing, or consuming the mouse, whereas VPH damage left intact most components of the predatory act, except for mouse consumption. Changes in food preference, i.e. the choice between mice and meat, were found in both groups of cats. Instead of the preoperative preference of mouse over meat, postoperative preference of meat was found in both groups. Postoperative restoration of the predatory behavior, observed in both groups, proceeded faster in the VPH cats than in the LH cats, for which the impairment lasted for several months.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Predatory behavior of jumping spiders.

Salticids, the largest family of spiders, have unique eyes, acute vision, and elaborate vision-mediated predatory behavior, which is more pronounced than in any other spider group. Diverse predatory strategies have evolved, including araneophagy, aggressive mimicry, myrmicophagy, and prey-specific prey-catching behavior. Salticids are also distinctive for development of behavioral flexibility, including conditional predatory strategies, the use of trial-and-error to solve predatory problems, and the undertaking of detours to reach prey. Predatory behavior of araneophagic salticids has undergone local adaptation to local prey, and there is evidence of predator-prey coevolution. Trade-offs between mating and predatory strategies appear to be important in ant-mimicking and araneophagic species.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1976

Effects of p-chlorophenylalanine on the predatory behavior of Onychomys torridus.

Adult male and female grasshopper mice, Onychomys torridus, were treated over a 5 day period with p-chlorophenylalanine (50 mg/kg daily), a depletor of brain 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE (5-HT). These mice exhibited a significant decrease over the 5 day test interval in predation time and predation score in encounters with cricket prey, However, the basic pattern and frequency of attacks for drug-treated mice remained similar to saline controls. The relation between the various brain amine systems and predatory behavior is discussed and the utility of the grasshopper mouse as a laboratory model for the study of predatory behavior is emphasized.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Instinctive predatory behavior of the ferret (Putorius putorius furo L.) modified by chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (Librium).

The predatory behavior of ferrets (Putorius putorius furo L.) consists mainly of instinctive behavioral patterns that are elicited by simple external stimuli. For the ferret, the time needed to catch and kill rats depends on the size of the rats in relation to that of the ferret. Killing success decreases with a relative increase in prey size. Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride injections (1 mg/kg, i.m.) modified this behavior. Drugged ferrets needed less time and less bites to kill relatively large rats; killing success was also increased. Chlordiazepoxide seemed to disinhibit the ferrets when they were presented with large rats, which they normally attack more cautiously.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Instinctive predatory behavior of mustelids (Mustela putorius f. furo, Mustela vison f. dom.) modified by benzodiazepine derivatives.

The predatory behavior of the ferret and of the mink consists mainly of instinctive behavioral patterns that are elicited by simple external stimuli. An important stimulus is size of the prey; the time needed to catch and kill defensive prey depends on the size of the prey in relation to that of the predator. Benzodiazepine derivatives like chlordiazepoxide or lorazepam affect the prey catching of both species significantly. Drugged animals (2 mg/kg orally) need less time to overpower their prey. The experiments indicate that low concentrations of benzodiazepine derivatives disinhibit mustelids when hunting relatively large prey.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Effects of toxicosis on the predatory behavior of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects that toxicosis had on the hamster's predatory behavior and to compare these results with those found in previous studies with grasshopper mice. A 0.15 M LiCl injection caused hamsters to develop a greater aversion and to inhibit their feeding and attack responses more frequently toward a house cricket than did a similar injection of NaCl. The added presence of an almond coating on the cricket prolonged the number of days that a hamster exhibited an aversion toward the prey and an inhibition to attack. Essentially, the inhibitory effects from toxicosis in the hamster paralleled those found with the grasshopper mouse. The differences in these inhibitory effects are attributed to inherent differences in the attack responses of the two rodents.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effects of viscerosensory stimulation on hypothalamically elicited predatory behavior in cats.

Hypnogenic (HS) or arousing (AS) stimulations of the small intestine (INT), splanchnic (SPL), and vagal (VAG) nerves were used to modify the predatory behavior (PB) elicited by stimulating the lateral hypothalamus (LHS). HS induced EEG synchronization and sleep. AS aroused the cat from slow-wave sleep. LHS induced the cat to attack an anesthetized rat and bite its neck after an exploratory activity. The following parameters of PB were determined: biting latency (BL), the interval between the beginning of LHS and the touching the rat by the cat's muzzle; exploratory time (ET), which begins with an environmental search and culminates in orienting toward the rat; attack time (AT), in which the cat stalks and bites the rat. HS, delivered for 5, 10, 15 min to INT, SPL, and VAG prior to LHS, increased BL and ET and did not affect AT. AS, delivered for 10 s to INT or VAG prior to LHS, decreased BL by reducing ET. SPL AS shortened BL by decreasing both ET and AT. The viscerosensory effects on PB were decreased by increasing the intensity of LHS; a ferocious attack with BL less than 10 s was not influenced by either HS or AS. These results indicate that the viscerosensory influence can modify PB by inhibiting or facilitating the priming events of the attack.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2003

Stimulus control of predatory behavior by the Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanica, Sauria, Lacertidae): effects of familiarity with prey.

The authors examine the relative roles of vision and chemoreception and the influence of previous experience with prey on the predatory behavior of Iberian wall lizards (Podarcis hispanica). Experiment 1 compared the responses to visual, chemical, and a combination of visual and chemical cues of a familiar prey by 2 groups of lizards that had been kept in captivity for either 3 months or 21 days. Experiment 2 assessed the responses of lizards kept in the laboratory for more than 3 months to a novel prey species. The results reveal that feeding on a prey species affects the lizards' responses to chemical stimuli from that prey. The response to chemical cues of a novel prey requires a 1st-feeding experience with that prey. Lizards that have been fed the same prey species for several months cease responding to the chemical stimuli of that particular prey.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Effects of d-amphetamine, maprotiline, L-dopa, and haloperidol on the components of the predatory behavior of the ferret, Putorius furo L.

Ferret predation on rats was examined in an arena. One hour before the test one of the following drugs was administered. d-Amphetamine (0.8 and 1.4 mg/kg IM), MAPROTILINE (10 AND 40 Mg/kg orally), L-dopa (30 and 60 mg/kg orally), or haloperidol (0.14 and 0.6 mg/kg IM). Provided that capture was successful, the sequence of the behavioral components was not changed by these drugs. With the exceptions of paw movements and rolling over, which were not affected by the drugs, the components of predatory behavior were influenced differently. This leads to the assumption that a drug affects different mechanisms which control behavior. It is assumed that dopamine is involved in the control of capture elicitation as well as in the control of pursuit and biting. Capture elicitation was inhibited by d-amphetamine and L-dopa, but not by maprotiline, and was even facilitated by haloperidol. The orientation of pursuit movements and biting was impaired by L-dopa and improved by haloperidol, whereas maprotiline did not influence these components.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Postembryonic maturation of the vertical lobe complex and early development of predatory behavior in the cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis).

In two groups of newly hatched cuttlefish, from eggs incubated at different temperatures, the emergence of predatory pursuit was correlated with the development of some characteristics of the vertical lobe complex (namely, the development of the vertical and superior frontal lobes and the appearance of the vertical-subvertical lobe tracts) and with the state of resorption of the inner yolk sac. The temperature of egg incubation influences the appearance of postnatal pursuit behavior. Expression of this predatory behavioral characteristic is concomitant with the appearance of the vertical-subvertical lobe tracts. In contrast, the growth of the vertical and the superior frontal lobes relative to the growth of the supraesophageal mass and final yolk absorption are not correlated with the appearance of pursuit. To maintain a prey in the frontal visual field during predatory pursuit, short-term memory processes must be involved. Thus, the development of the vertical-subvertical lobe tracts, which is concomitant with the emergence of pursuit, appears essential in the maturation of these short-term memory processes.

Animals↗