image: The robotic rattlesnake and experimental set-up. (A) Diagram of the 3D-printed robot rattlesnake. (B-D) Behavioral responses of a collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) during each of the three trial types. In all trials, a food reward was placed in the enclosure to encourage approach. (B) The test individual was released in the enclosure after the food reward was placed in the enclosure. (C) The robot rattlesnake was placed in the vicinity of the food reward, but the rattle was not triggered when the animal approached the food or the model. (D) The robot rattlesnake was placed in the vicinity of the food reward and the rattle was triggered with the remote control when the animal approached the food or the model.
Credit: Da Cunha et al., 2026, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
3D-printed robotic rattlesnake triggers an avoidance response in zoo animals, especially species which share their distribution with rattlers in nature
Article URL: https://plos.io/4bdJMhx
Article title: The multimodal display of rattlesnakes is a deterring signal that works best with sympatric species
Author countries: U.S.
Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.
Journal
PLOS One
Article Title
The multimodal display of rattlesnakes is a deterring signal that works best with sympatric species
Article Publication Date
11-Mar-2026
COI Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.