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Autonomic control of heart rate in Spilotes pullatus (Colubridae) as determinant of fear responses

This study investigated electrocardiographic changes in Spilotes pullatus using four snakes weighing 0.5±0.06kg. Two minutes after that electrocardiogram apparatus had been fixed in Spilotes pullatus, snakes were immobile and there was a significant reduction of the heart rate and an increase in PQ, QRS, RR, and RT intervals (P<0.05). Results suggest that the presence of fear symptoms may represent a risk to the health of snakes.

snake; caninana; bradycardia; electrocardiogram; fear


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