Whiptail lizards (Aspidoscelis exsanguis) recognize invertebrate prey via cuticular hydrocarbons
Jay Goldberg, Genevieve Pintel, Jake A Pruett & Stacey L Weiss
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) present on the surface of arthropods are important mediators of both intraspecific and interspecific interactions. They are known to be important chemical cues that help predatory arthropods locate prey, yet less is known about if and how vertebrate insectivores use these nearly ubiquitous chemical cues. We examined behavioral responses of insectivorous lizards (Aspidoscelis exsanguis) to the CHCs of three different species of arthropod prey (crickets, ants, and spiders). We presented cotton swabs...