Short communication: Problems of classifying predator-induced prey immobility – an unexpected case of post-contact freezing

Ulate Gómez, Teresita N.; Welch, Antonia E.; Peters, Winfried S.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/we-24-35-2024

Articles | Volume 24, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/we-24-35-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/we-24-35-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 24, issue 1

Short communication

|

19 Mar 2024

Short communication |

| 19 Mar 2024

Short communication: Problems of classifying predator-induced prey immobility – an unexpected case of post-contact freezing

Teresita N. Ulate Gómez, Antonia E. Welch, and Winfried S. Peters

Data sets

Supplementary Data and Videos for "Problems of classifying predator-induced prey immobility: an unexpected case of post-contact freezing" Teresita N. Ulate Gomez, Antonia E. Welch, and Winfried S. Peters https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10050551

Video supplement

Supplementary Data and Videos for "Problems of classifying predator-induced prey immobility: an unexpected case of post-contact freezing" Teresita N. Ulate Gomez, Antonia E. Welch, and Winfried S. Peters https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10050551

Short summary

Prey noticing a predator may freeze (turn immobile) to avoid detection. Freezing is generally thought to precede predator–prey contact, but this may not hold for species of limited sensory abilities. The snail Agaronia detects its prey Pachyoliva, another snail, only when it is right before the predator, while Pachyoliva bumping into Agaronia's side avoids detection by freezing. This post-contact freezing reminds us to consider sensory capabilities when interpreting predator–prey interactions.