caa a22 4500 605541515 CHVBK 20210128100916.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150101xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10071-014-0797-1 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10071-014-0797-1 Predators in training: operant conditioning of novel behavior in wild Burmese pythons ( Python molurus bivitattus ) [Elektronische Daten] [Sherri Emer, Cordula Mora, Mark Harvey, Michael Grace] 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. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2014 Python nationallicence Snake nationallicence Reptile nationallicence Predator nationallicence Behavior nationallicence Shaping nationallicence Operant conditioning nationallicence Emer Sherri Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., 32901, Melbourne, FL, USA aut Mora Cordula Department of Psychology, J.P. Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA aut Harvey Mark Department of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA aut Grace Michael Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., 32901, Melbourne, FL, USA aut Animal Cognition Springer Berlin Heidelberg 18/1(2015-01-01), 269-278 1435-9448 18:1<269 2015 18 10071 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-014-0797-1 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-014-0797-1 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Emer Sherri Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., 32901, Melbourne, FL, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Mora Cordula Department of Psychology, J.P. Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Harvey Mark Department of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Grace Michael Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., 32901, Melbourne, FL, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Animal Cognition Springer Berlin Heidelberg 18/1(2015-01-01), 269-278 1435-9448 18:1<269 2015 18 10071