Predators in training: operant conditioning of novel behavior in wild Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivitattus)

Large pythons and boas comprise a group of animals whose anatomy and physiology are very different from traditional mammalian, avian and other reptilian models typically used in operant conditioning. In the current study, investigators used a modified shaping procedure involving successive approxima...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal cognition 2015-01, Vol.18 (1), p.269-278
Main Authors: Emer, Sherri A., Mora, Cordula V., Harvey, Mark T., Grace, Michael S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animals
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Boa
Boidae
Conditioning, Operant
Discrimination Learning
Female
Food
Life Sciences
Male
Original Paper
Predators
Predatory Behavior
Psychology Research
Python molurus
Reward
Snakes
Zoology
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Summary:Large pythons and boas comprise a group of animals whose anatomy and physiology are very different from traditional mammalian, avian and other reptilian models typically used in operant conditioning. In the current study, investigators used a modified shaping procedure involving successive approximations to train wild Burmese pythons ( Python molurus bivitattus ) to approach and depress an illuminated push button in order to gain access to a food reward. Results show that these large, wild snakes can be trained to accept extremely small food items, associate a stimulus with such rewards via operant conditioning and perform a contingent operant response to gain access to a food reward. The shaping procedure produced robust responses and provides a mechanism for investigating complex behavioral phenomena in massive snakes that are rarely studied in learning research.
ISSN:1435-9448
1435-9456
DOI:10.1007/s10071-014-0797-1