No evidence for proteolytic venom resistance in southern African ground squirrels

作者：Phillips Molly A; Waterman Jane M^*; Du Plessis Pg; Smit Martin; Bennett Nigel C

来源：Toxicon, 2012, 60(5): 760-763.

DOI：10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.06.004

• Xerus inauris
• Bitis arietans
• Naja annulifera
• Venom
• Venom resistance
• Predator-prey

Many mammalian species that interact with venomous snakes show resistances to venoms. The family Sciuridae has several North American members that harass venomous snakes and show proteolytic resistances in their sera. We examined sera collected from an African ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) against two sympatric venomous snakes (Bitis arietans and Naja annulifera) and found no support for proteolytic resistance. Our results add to our understanding of the risks in predator defense within the family Sciuridae.

• 出版日期2012-10