Chemical crypsis of an ambushing snake

What is it about?

Chemical crypsis has been previously argued as an impossible achievement for any metabolising animal. Yet here we show that the ambushing Puff Adder is chemically cryptic to two of its known predator species. This is the first demonstration of chemical crypsis within any terrestrial vertebrate species.

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Why is it important?

Although our findings are the first demonstration of chemical crypsis within a terrestrial vertebrate, the prevalence of this phenomenon in ecological systems is however likely to be widespread and common, given that the high selective pressures associated with predator-prey arms races are likely to act on many modalities, including olfaction. We demonstrate that chemical crypsis can be investigated within an ecological framework with relatively simple approaches. Our work should therefore promote research efforts focused on chemical crypsis and its associated effects in many systems.