Prey Detection by Vomeronasal Chemoreception in a Plethodontid Salamander

Salamanders with impaired vomeronasal systems exhibited lower foraging efficiency on both motile and stationary prey.

• Impaired vomeronasal systems resulted in the longest latency to attack and the lowest rate of prey capture during foraging.
• Salamanders foraged less effectively in the absence of visual cues, particularly when their VNS was impaired.
• When tested with stationary prey, animals with impaired VNSs showed decreased foraging efficiency regardless of light conditions.
• Field studies indicated that VNS-impaired salamanders consumed fewer stationary prey compared to those with sham manipulations.
• The findings suggest that the vomeronasal system is crucial for the foraging behavior of the red-backed salamander.

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