Chemical cues may allow a fossorial amphisbaenian reptile to avoid extremely saline soils when selecting microhabitats

When selecting optimal habitats, animals should rely on detecting environmental cues that indicate the suitability of a given site. In fossorial animals, restrictions underground environment might limit opportunities for habitat selection. However, field observations some amphisbaenian reptiles microhabitat occupancy is not random. This simply result from low survival individuals in suboptimal but it may reflect active behavioral We suggest that, environment, chemical be very important actively or avoiding specific microhabitats. Here, we tested ability Trogonophis wiegmanni amphisbaenians to discriminate and select different types substrates by using alone. laboratory preference tests, selected soils with salinity levels (natural experimentally manipulated), mimicking selection patterns observed wild. Moreover, chemosensory tests measuring tongue-flick rates showed discriminated alone between soil according natural levels, also manipulated stimuli levels. These results microgeographic distribution these are due their use substrate avoid extremely saline soils.