Ambystoma maculatum toe-tapping

K

kate

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My spotted has taken to a strange pre-feeding ritual; before he strikes at food, he wiggles the toes on his hind limbs (in the same way an impatient person will drum their fingers on a desk). Has anyone else ever seen this?
 
yeah, many do it, toads are really known to do it a lot too, some will even do fast tapping with their tails-as a feeding response, i have seen similar shaking in mice and snakes but in their case its agitation induced
 
Cool! I'm glad my salamander isn't just screwy.

Does anyone know why this occurs? I can't fathom how it helps them catch food.
 
I forget the exact results, but Ed Smith of the National Zoo did an informal study on toe tapping in Dendrobatids (dart frogs). I think one sex did it more than another and some morphs of them did it more than others. If somone is really interested, I could probably have him send me his results again.
j
 
I've always assumed that toe tapping was a lure to attract prey within striking distance.
 
They just get so happy they want to break out some dance moves.
 
Mark, I think you are right---I have read that the toe-tapping is a way to make the prey think the movement itself is prey for IT, thus making it venture closer to the newt/toad/salamander....
 
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