RELEASING STIMULI FOR ANTIPREDATOR BEHAVIOR IN THE COMMON TOAD BUFO-BUFO (L)

The behavior of the common toad B. bufo (L.) was studied in response to potential natural predators. Appropriate enemy key stimuli in dummy experiments were examined. Potential predators of common toads live on the ground (hedgehogs, giant ants, ringsnakes), in the air (owls, buzzards, fly Lucilia bufonivora) and in the water (leeches). During confrontations between toads and potential predators, the key stimulus enemy for the toad is not a unique pattern. Key features of predators consist of a variety of stimulus parameters, such as movement velocity, direction of movement, direction of stimulus background contrast, stimulus area and configuration of a moving stimulus. Particular configurational parameters of a moving visual stimulus play a dominant role in the prey-predator relation of toad and ringsnake. The characteristics of the natural moving snake, releasing stiff-legged avoidance posture in the toad, can be represented by a relatively simple dummy.