Survival strategies of the salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus: interaction of predator-avoidance and anti-predator mechanisms

• Published in: Animal behaviour Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Hileman, Kendra S., Brodie, Edmund D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1994; Elsevier; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Ltd
• Subjects: Amphibia and reptilia; Animal behavior; Animal ethology; Biological and medical sciences; Desmognathus ochrophaeus; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gyrinophilus porphyriticus; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Reptiles & amphibians; Vertebrata; Predator prey relation; Laboratory study; Caudata; Defensive behavior; Amphibia; Survival; Vertebrata; Escape behavior; Body size; Desmognathus ochrophaeus; Strategy; Antipredator behavior; Avoidance
• ISSN: 0003-3472; 1095-8282
• DOI: 10.1006/anbe.1994.1001

The anti-predator responses of the mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus, to the larger predatory salamanders, Dunn's spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, and black-bellied salamander, D. quadramaculatus were examined in two types of experiments. In both experiments the prey species, especially those corresponding to the largest size subject to predation by these predators, fled from G. porphyriticus but not D. quadramaculatus when seasonal predator avoidance was low. Fleeing from G. porphyriticus was low when seasonal predator avoidance was high. The high fleeing response to G. porphyriticus corresponded to low post-attack anti-predator efficacy against G. porphyriticus. The low fleeing response to D. quadramaculatus corresponded to high post-attack anti-predator efficacy against D. quadramaculatus.