The Herpetological Journal
The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
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pdf 04. The effects of phototaxis and thigmotaxis on microhabitat selection by a caecilian amphibian (genus Ichthyophis)
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Open Access
pp. 19-23
Authors: Burger, R. Michael; Boylan, Jeanette & Aucone, Brian M.
Abstract: In the field, ichthyophiid caecilians are found in soil and epigeic microhabitats – conditions that provide both the phototactic cue of darkness and the thigmotactic cue of tactile contact. In laboratory experiments, we investigated the use of phototaxis and thigmotaxis on refuge selection in a caecilian of the genus Ichthyophis. Refuges that provided light with tactile cues, darkness with tactile cues, or darkness without tactile cues were sufficient in satisfying refuge-seeking behaviour in this species. Tactile stimuli, however, proved to be more preferred than darkness in refuge-seeking behaviour. Our results are consistent with field observations of Ichthyophis species. Thigmotactic cues may be preferred because they are more biologically significant for a burrowing vertebrate that has reduced vision.
Keywords: REFUGE SELECTION, AMPHIBIA, ICHTHYOPHIIDAE, DARKNESS CUES, GYMNOPHIONA, TACTILE CUES
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