Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)

Personality traits have been shown to be influenced by environmental and internal factors, hunger being one of the most important. The resulting behavior fluctuates greatly depending on the feeding ecology of the different species and intraspecific individual variation. In this study, we used eig...

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Main Authors: Octavian CRAIOVEANU, Elisabeth SPATARO, Cristina CRAIOVEANU
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cluj University Press 2025-06-01
Series:Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai. Biologia
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Online Access:https://studiabiologia.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/studiabio/article/view/228
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author Octavian CRAIOVEANU
Elisabeth SPATARO
Cristina CRAIOVEANU
author_facet Octavian CRAIOVEANU
Elisabeth SPATARO
Cristina CRAIOVEANU
author_sort Octavian CRAIOVEANU
collection DOAJ
description Personality traits have been shown to be influenced by environmental and internal factors, hunger being one of the most important. The resulting behavior fluctuates greatly depending on the feeding ecology of the different species and intraspecific individual variation. In this study, we used eight captive-born juvenile ball pythons to examine the relationship between personality traits, namely shyness and exploratory tendencies, and the chronological postprandial-induced psychobiological effects on a seven-day interval that concluded with the installation of hunger. We found a strong correlation between shyness and hunger. Regarding exploratory predispositions, we found high individual variation at the beginning and middle of the postprandial cycle that evened out as hunger's influence started to be perceived. Notably, this study's outcomes have the potential to enhance our understanding of captive animal management techniques and contribute to improving zoo animal welfare. Article history: Received 13 January 2025; Revised 25 March 2025; Accepted 03 April 2025; Available online 25 June 2025
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institution Kabale University
issn 2065-9512
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Cluj University Press
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series Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai. Biologia
spelling doaj-art-283388ef2a6d46f4aee2fe0a07bb7d0b2025-08-20T03:30:24ZengCluj University PressStudia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai. Biologia2065-95122025-06-0123124410.24193/subbbiol.2025.1.11228Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)Octavian CRAIOVEANU0Elisabeth SPATARO1Cristina CRAIOVEANU2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3683-2015Academic Cultural Heritage Department – Vivarium, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty for Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty for Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Babeş-Bolyai University, Centre 3B, Sociobiology and Insect Ecology Lab, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ✉Corresponding author, E-mail: cristina.craioveanu@ubbcluj.roPersonality traits have been shown to be influenced by environmental and internal factors, hunger being one of the most important. The resulting behavior fluctuates greatly depending on the feeding ecology of the different species and intraspecific individual variation. In this study, we used eight captive-born juvenile ball pythons to examine the relationship between personality traits, namely shyness and exploratory tendencies, and the chronological postprandial-induced psychobiological effects on a seven-day interval that concluded with the installation of hunger. We found a strong correlation between shyness and hunger. Regarding exploratory predispositions, we found high individual variation at the beginning and middle of the postprandial cycle that evened out as hunger's influence started to be perceived. Notably, this study's outcomes have the potential to enhance our understanding of captive animal management techniques and contribute to improving zoo animal welfare. Article history: Received 13 January 2025; Revised 25 March 2025; Accepted 03 April 2025; Available online 25 June 2025https://studiabiologia.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/studiabio/article/view/228juvenile ball pythonsbehavior experimentreptile welfarefeeding strategy
spellingShingle Octavian CRAIOVEANU
Elisabeth SPATARO
Cristina CRAIOVEANU
Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)
Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai. Biologia
juvenile ball pythons
behavior experiment
reptile welfare
feeding strategy
title Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)
title_full Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)
title_fullStr Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)
title_full_unstemmed Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)
title_short Hunger-induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush-predatory behavior in ball pythons (Python regius, Shaw 1802)
title_sort hunger induced convergence of personality traits towards ambush predatory behavior in ball pythons python regius shaw 1802
topic juvenile ball pythons
behavior experiment
reptile welfare
feeding strategy
url https://studiabiologia.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/studiabio/article/view/228
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AT elisabethspataro hungerinducedconvergenceofpersonalitytraitstowardsambushpredatorybehaviorinballpythonspythonregiusshaw1802
AT cristinacraioveanu hungerinducedconvergenceofpersonalitytraitstowardsambushpredatorybehaviorinballpythonspythonregiusshaw1802