PREY SELECTION BY TOADS (BUFO-BUFO L) IN RESPONSE TO CONFIGURATIONAL STIMULI MOVED IN THE VISUAL-FIELD Z,Y-COORDINATES

Recognition of prey-like stimuli by the Common Toad depends on both the shape of the stimulus and its direction of motion. To evoke preycapture the direction of motion must be parallel to the long axis of the stimulus. We show here that the same relation between shape and direction of motion applies to stimuli which moved towards or away from the toad, and that retreating stimuli are more powerful releasers than approaching ones. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.