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Somaweera R, Udyawer V, Amarasinghe AAT, de Fresnes J, Catherall J, Molchanova G. Apparent coordinated and communal hunting behaviours by Erabu sea krait Laticauda semifactiata. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21471. [PMID: 38052831 PMCID: PMC10698163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48684-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic observations of Erabu sea kraits (Laticauda semifaciata) provide evidence that this species undertake a novel foraging tactic; coordinated communal hunting. Erabu sea kraits prey on cryptic fish species in highly complex reef habitats. Intra- and interspecific cooperative hunting strategies may increase chances for all members of the hunting party to encounter and capture prey in these complex habitats. Here, we observed 52 instances of communal hunting by Erabu sea kraits with conspecifics and other predatory fishes at recreational dive sites in Southern Lombok, Indonesia. These observations highlight the potential higher cognitive capacity of sea kraits to coordinate activities around communal hunting events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchira Somaweera
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
- Stantec Australia, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia.
| | - Vinay Udyawer
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - A A Thasun Amarasinghe
- Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN; Government of Indonesia), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | | | - Jay Catherall
- Wild Scuba Indonesia, Belongas Bay, Lombok, Indonesia
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Udyawer V, Somaweera R, Nitschke C, d’Anastasi B, Sanders K, Webber BL, Hourston M, Heupel MR. Prioritising search effort to locate previously unknown populations of endangered marine reptiles. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Guillon M, Guiller G, DeNardo DF, Lourdais O. Microclimate preferences correlate with contrasted evaporative water loss in parapatric vipers at their contact zone. CAN J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial ectotherms predominantly use behavioural means to thermoregulate and thereby optimize performances. However, thermoregulation can impart physiological challenges to other critical processes such as water balance by increasing evaporative water loss (EWL). Like thermoregulation, water balance is influenced by both external factors (e.g., microhabitat and environmental constraints) and endogenous traits (e.g., evaporative water loss rates, dehydration tolerance). Although thermoregulation and water balance are tightly linked, the role of water balance is often overlooked when evaluating species climatic adaptation and response to global warming. We studied two congeneric viperid species (the Aspic Viper, Vipera aspis (L., 1758), and the Common Viper, Vipera berus (L., 1758)) with contrasted climatic affinities (south European versus boreal, respectively). These parapatric species are syntopic in narrow contact zones where microhabitat partitioning has been reported. We compared total EWL and cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL) of the two species and monitored the thermal and hydric conditions of the microhabitats used in syntopic populations. We found that the boreal V. berus has greater EWL, both total and cutaneous. Accordingly, this species selected more humid microhabitats throughout the year. Humidity appears to be an important determinant of habitat selection, and therefore, V. berus is likely vulnerable to changing precipitation at the southern limit of its distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Guillon
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UPR 1934 CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers, France
| | - Gaëtan Guiller
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UPR 1934 CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Le Grand Momesson, 44130 Bouvron, France
| | - Dale F. DeNardo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
| | - Olivier Lourdais
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UPR 1934 CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
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Cheng YC, Tu MC, Tsai JR, Lin HC, Lin LY. Comparison of the osmoregulatory capabilities among three amphibious sea snakes (Laticauda spp.) in Taiwan. Zool Stud 2013. [DOI: 10.1186/1810-522x-52-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The three species of amphibious sea snakes (Laticauda semifasciata, L. laticaudata, and L. colubrina) in Taiwan were described as having different habitat affinities from terrestrial to marine. In this study, the osmoregulatory capabilities of three species were compared to test if their capabilities were associated with different habitat affinities.
Results
The sea snakes were transferred from a terrestrial environment to freshwater (FW) or seawater (SW) for 1 week, and then, Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activities of the salt gland (sublingual glands) and kidneys, the water content of the muscles, the body fluid osmolality, and Na+, Cl−, and K+ concentrations were measured. Results showed that the body fluid osmolality, Na+ and Cl− levels, and muscle water content of most marine species, L. semifasciata, remained relatively constant, and the NKA activity of its salt gland was approximately threefold higher than those of L. laticaudata and L. colubrina. In both L. semifasciata and L. laticaudata, NKA activities of the salt glands were higher in SW than in FW; however, no significant change was found in L. colubrina (the most terrestrial species).
Conclusions
This study suggests that the NKA activity of the sublingual gland is associated with salt excretion, and the three species possess different osmoregulatory strategies which are associated with their habitat affinities.
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Comparison of freshwater discrimination ability in three species of sea kraits (Laticauda semifasciata, L. laticaudata and L. colubrina). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2012; 199:191-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-012-0782-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2012] [Revised: 11/24/2012] [Accepted: 11/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Heatwole H, Grech A, Monahan JF, King S, Marsh H. Thermal Biology of Sea Snakes and Sea Kraits1. Integr Comp Biol 2012; 52:257-73. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/ics080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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