Dietary sequestration of defensive steroids in nuchal glands of the Asian snake Rhabdophis tigrinus.

ABSTRACT: The Asian snake Rhabdophis tigrinus possesses specialized defensive glands on its neck that contain steroidal toxins known as bufadienolides. We hypothesized that R. tigrinus does not synthesize these defensive steroids but instead sequesters the toxins from toads it consumes as prey. To test this hypothesis, we conducted chemical analyses on the glandular fluid from snakes collected in toad-free and toad-present localities. We also performed feeding experiments in which hatchling R. tigrinus were reared on controlled diets that either included or lacked toads. We demonstrate that the cardiotonic steroids in the nuchal glands of R. tigrinus are obtained from dietary toads. We further show that mothers containing high levels of bufadienolides can provision their offspring with toxins. Hatch

SUBMITTER: Hutchinson DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1892995 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature