Responses to conspecific chemical stimuli in the treatment snail Achatina fulica (Pulmonata: Sigmurethra).
Abstract
The giant African snail, Achatina fulica, followed trails made with the mucus of A.
fulica, but did not follow those consisting of mucus from Otala vermiculata. In olfactometer
experiments, A. fulica and Helix aperta oriented preferentially toward the odor of
their own species when both odors were presented simultaneously. Species specificity
was less pronounced when the odor of O. vermiculata was paired with either of the
other two snail odors. Sexually mature A. fulica that had been housed individually
for 30 days prior to testing followed mucus trails better than did similar snails
housed collectively. Immature A. fulica did not follow trails better after isolation,
but showed a facilitative effect of isolation on conspecific orientation in the olfactometer.
Three-week-old snails, maintained in individual containers from the time of hatching,
also oriented preferentially toward conspecific odors. © 1978 Academic Press, Inc.
Type
Journal articleSubject
MucusAnimals
Snails
Helix (Snails)
Pheromones
Orientation
Social Isolation
Discrimination (Psychology)
Species Specificity
Sexual Maturation
Social Environment
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21840Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1016/s0091-6773(78)92366-0Publication Info
Chase, R; Pryer, K; Baker, R; & Madison, D (1978). Responses to conspecific chemical stimuli in the treatment snail Achatina fulica (Pulmonata:
Sigmurethra). Behavioral biology, 22(3). pp. 302-315. 10.1016/s0091-6773(78)92366-0. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21840.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Kathleen M. Pryer
Professor of Biology

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