1983/12/01 by Pierre Joly, Louis Cuillère
Environmental Science · #Amphibian and Reptile Biology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.1983.tb00798.x
crossref issued 1983/12/01 · crossref published 1983/12/01 · crossref published-print 1983/12/01 · openalex publication_date 1983/12/01 · crossref published-online 2010/04/22 · crossref created 2010/04/22 · crossref deposited 2023/10/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Abstract In urodele amphibians, the olfactory input is important in the triggering and controlling of sexual and feeding behaviours. In an aquatic environment, a water sample is drawn through the nostrils to the olfactory organs. This sampling consists of the following acts: the buccal floor is pressed down by the action of the tongue muscles and skeleton, the consequence of which is the transmission of a depression to the olfactory chambers via the choanas; water is then aspirated and flows over the sensory areas of the olfactory mucosa before entering the buccal cavity via the choanas; water is finally expelled in front of the animal, the opening of the jaws being synchronous to a fast upward movement of the buccal floor. A thermistor telemetry technique enabled us to show a relationship between smelling behaviour and feeding behaviour, particularly variations in intensity and frequency of smelling behaviour related to the chemical qualities of the surroundings.