"Smelling" the enemy triggers anti-predator behavior in Ananteris mauryi

 

Fear is a powerful agent both in humans and animals and has an impact on behavior. For scorpions, the fear of being eaten by a predator (e.g. another scorpion) should promote behavior to avoid this happening. Matheus Feitosa and co--workers have recently publish an study on Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Buthidae) abilities to detect chemical cues left by its predator Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) in the substrate when exploring new sites, and if this results in behavioral responses to avoid the risk of encounters and predation.

Their study confirms that Ananteris mauryi seems to be able to taste/smell its enemy Tityus pusillus because it tended to avoid substrates with chemical traces of T. pusillus. In addition, the taste/smell of its enemy also triggered anti-prdator behaviors like tail wagging.

Abstract:
Fear level and intraguild predation are factors that act together to directly influence animal behavior, population dynamics, and community structure. These factors trigger stress, which promotes behavioral, morphological, physiological, and demographic changes, especially in the prey. Some invertebrates, such as scorpions, are known to have a refined chemoreception system to perceive both prey and predators. Therefore, we investigated the ability of an intraguild prey, the scorpion Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982, to detect chemical traces of its predator, the scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893. Our goal was to verify whether A. mauryi exhibits antipredator behavior induced exclusively by chemical cues from its predator. Ananteris mauryi specimens were subjected to two experimental treatments: one with and one without traces of T. pusillus. The results showed that A. mauryi tended to avoid substrates with chemical traces of T. pusillus, confirming its capacity for chemical detection. As a result of this perception, changes in behavioral frequencies were triggered, generating an antipredator behavioral repertoire. These findings were supported by behavioral changes, such as tail wagging, which is performed exclusively by scorpions in the presence of a predator and at imminent risk of predation.

Reference:
Feitosa MLB, Dionisio-da-Silva W, Lira A, Teles-Pontes WJ. Fear as an enemy? Behavioral changes of Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) are triggered by chemical cues from an intraguild predator. Can J Zool. 2022;100:488-93 [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me his articles!