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1
Ootawa, Tomoki, Siyuan Wu, Ryoya Sekio, et al. "Characterization of Vasoreactivity in a Semi-Arboreal Snake, the Tokara Habu (Protobothrops tokarensis)." Animals 13, no. 23 (2023): 3629. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13233629.
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Vasoreactivity is relatively well documented in terrestrial snakes but has previously been investigated in only one semi-arboreal snake species. Consequently, the extent to which vasoreactivity is common across snake taxa or varies by habitat is unclear. The Tokara habu (Protobothrops tokarensis) is a semi-arboreal snake endemic to only two small adjacent Japanese islands, and hence a useful species for further investigation of vasoreactivity. We evaluated responses to known vasoactive substances in thoracic aortas isolated from Tokara habu. Under resting tension, noradrenaline and angiotensin II induced concentration-dependent contraction, but acetylcholine, serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine; 5-HT), and isoproterenol induced relaxation followed by contraction. Histamine and rattlesnake bradykinin had no effect. Experiments with receptor-specific antagonists suggest that M1 and M3 receptors are involved in the acetylcholine-induced response; 5-HT1, 5-HT2, and 5-HT7 receptors in the serotonin-induced response; and β1 and β2 adrenoceptors in isoproterenol-induced relaxation. This is the first report on such response patterns in snakes (including serotonin- and isoproterenol-induced relaxation). Nitric oxide may be involved in acetylcholine-induced relaxation but not in the responses to serotonin or isoproterenol. In contrast to the uniform vasoreactivity observed in terrestrial snakes, the vasoreactivity of semi-arboreal snakes may be governed by diverse regulatory mechanisms.
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Shelton, Michael B., Ross L. Goldingay, and Stephen S. Phillips. "Population ecology of a cryptic arboreal snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)." Australian Journal of Zoology 65, no. 6 (2017): 383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo18009.
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Biologists have traditionally been reluctant to study arboreal snakes due to low rates of capture. Overlooking such taxa can mislead interpretations of population trends for data-deficient species. We used regularly spaced transect searches and standard capture–mark–recapture techniques to describe population structure, growth rates, survival and capture probability in a population of the pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) in southern Queensland. We obtained data from 194 captures of 113 individual snakes between 2009 and 2015. Using the Cormack–Jolly–Seber method, we estimated apparent annual survival in subadult snakes at 0.23 ± 0.01 (s.e.) and 0.81 ± 0.08 for adults. Capture probability was estimated at 0.16 ± 0.14 per session in subadult snakes and 0.33 ± 0.06 for adults. Within the red gum forests of our study site, we estimate pale-headed snake density at ~13 ± 7 ha–1. Using von Bertalanffy growth modelling, we predict that snakes reach sexual maturity after about four years and may live for up to 20. Our results suggest that the species is a ‘k’ strategist, characterised by slow maturation and low fecundity. These traits suggest that populations will recover slowly following decline, exacerbating the risk of local extinction.
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Rodda, Gordon H., O. Eugene Maughan, Thomas H. Fritts, and Renee J. Rondeau. "Trapping the arboreal snake Boiga irregularis." Amphibia-Reptilia 13, no. 1 (1992): 47–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853892x00229.
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AbstractThe snake Boiga irregularis, an exotic on Guam, has eliminated the majority of the native vertebrates there. We tested traps designed to control this arboreal snake during three periods of 20-41 days in 1988 and 1989. The relative trapping successes with different baits and trap configurations indicated that this snake will not readily push through a visually obstructed entrance. However, under some conditions, 80% of the snakes escaped from traps lacking a physical blockage at the entrance. Live bait was more successful than odoriferous bait alone, and odoriferous guide ropes that led to trap entrances did not enhance capture rates. These findings corroborate laboratory experiments indicating an unusually strong dependence on visual cues in this highly successful nocturnal predator.
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Byrnes, Greg, and Bruce C. Jayne. "Gripping during climbing of arboreal snakes may be safe but not economical." Biology Letters 10, no. 8 (2014): 20140434. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0434.
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On the steep surfaces that are common in arboreal environments, many types of animals without claws or adhesive structures must use muscular force to generate sufficient normal force to prevent slipping and climb successfully. Unlike many limbed arboreal animals that have discrete gripping regions on the feet, the elongate bodies of snakes allow for considerable modulation of both the size and orientation of the gripping region. We quantified the gripping forces of snakes climbing a vertical cylinder to determine the extent to which their force production favoured economy or safety. Our sample included four boid species and one colubrid. Nearly all of the gripping forces that we observed for each snake exceeded our estimate of the minimum required, and snakes commonly produced more than three times the normal force required to support their body weight. This suggests that a large safety factor to avoid slipping and falling is more important than locomotor economy.
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Mullin, Stephen J., Robert J. Cooper, and William HN Gutzke. "The foraging ecology of the gray rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides). III. Searching for different prey types in structurally varied habitats." Canadian Journal of Zoology 76, no. 3 (1998): 548–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z97-228.
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Dietary generalists foraging for prey inhabiting different microhabitats may encounter different levels of structural complexity. We examined the effect of variation in prey type on the predation success and behaviors of the semi-arboreal gray rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) foraging in structurally varied habitats. Individual snakes searched for contents of arboreal birds' nests or for small rodents in enclosures that simulated a bottomland hardwood forest habitat with one of five levels of vegetation density. Latency to prey capture was lower when the snakes were searching for small rodents than when they were searching for birds' nests, and lower for male snakes than for females. Generally, snakes were most successful when searching for prey in enclosures with low levels of structural complexity, and experienced decreased predation success in barren or highly complex habitats. Habitats with low levels of structural complexity may offer the snakes concealment from predation while not obscuring their perception or pursuit of prey. Of behavior durations measured in the trials, over 95% concerned 6 of the 20 behaviors described, and 3 of these occurred more often than the others, regardless of variation in the structural complexity of the habitat. Foraging gray rat snakes exhibited behaviors characteristic of active and ambush foraging strategies that increased their predation success on different prey types in the varied environments.
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Boyer, Donal M. "PVC Perches for Arboreal Snakes." Bulletin of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians 5, no. 2 (1995): 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.5818/1076-3139-5.2.5b.
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Guyer, Craig, and Maureen A. Donnelly. "Length-mass relationships among an assemblage of tropical snakes in Costa Rica." Journal of Tropical Ecology 6, no. 1 (1990): 65–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467400004041.
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ABSTRACTLength-mass relationships within an assemblage of tropical snakes are used to describe morphological groups. We report patterns of body size based on length and mass measurements of 603 individual snakes of 27 species captured at La Selva, Costa Rica from March 1982 through August 1984. This assemblage of snakes is composed of at least four morphological groups each of which consists of species with similar habitat preferences. These groups are heavy-bodied terrestrial forms, light-bodied arboreal forms, long-tailed leaf-litter forms, and forms of unextreme relative mass and tail length. This tropical snake assemblage is more diverse in species richness and morphological diversity than a temperate assemblage.
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Putri, Valerie Brilianda, Setiawan Koesdarto, Aditya Yudhana, et al. "First Report of Blood Protozoa Infection in Wild-Caught Asian Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina)." Journal of Basic Medical Veterinary 14, no. 1 (2025): 104–10. https://doi.org/10.20473/jbmv.v14i1.69671.
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The Asian vine snake (Ahaetulla prasina) is an arboreal snake that can inhabit various types of trees in both lowland and highland areas. Based on its habitat, the Asian vine snake has a high potential to be infected by parasites. One of the parasitic diseases that can infect snakes is blood protozoa, which have the potential to be zoonotic. It can be transmitted between animals and humans through food contamination due to environmental pollution by snake feces which contain infective stage of protozoa. Clinical symptoms of this infection include lethargy, dehydration, and anorexia, which are common signs of parasitism. Case reports related to blood protozoa in snakes in the Indonesia are still very limited and have never been reported in Asian vine snake, even though many people keep Asian vine snake as exotic pets.
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Mora, José Manuel, and Elián Villalobos Alvarado. "PREDATION OF THE CLOUDY SNAIL-EATER, Sibon nebulatus, BY THE GREAT KISKADEE, Pitangus sulphuratus, IN THE NORTHERN LOWLANDS OF COSTA RICA." Revista Latinoamericana de Herpetología 7, no. 3 (2024): 48–52. https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.3.1000.
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Several snakes are adapted to an arboreal lifestyle, including some that consume mollusks, such as those belonging to the genus Sibon. In Costa Rica, there are seven species of Sibon, and one of the most common is the Cloudy Snail-eater (Sibon nebulatus), a nocturnal snake with primarily arboreal habits but also sometimes found on the ground. Based on a photographically documented observation in the northern lowlands of Costa Rica, we report the predation of the Cloudy Snail-eater by the Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulfuratus). This record contributes to the knowledge of the trophic interactions of both species.
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Janani, S., and S. R. Ganesh. "Urban college campuses as safer refuge for wildlife perceived as dangerous: A case study on snakes in Madras Christian College, Chennai, India." Journal of Fauna Biodiversity 1, no. 2 (2024): 86–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.70206/jfb.v1i2.10635.
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We surveyed for snakes in a historic, old, educational institution having a large and well-vegetated campus. From a three-year survey (2016-18), spanning 288 field days, covering 1152 hours of fieldwork, a total of 132 snake sightings representing 23 species were obtained. This also includes medically important venomous snakes (Naja, Bungarus, Daboia, Echis), as well as snakes that are very rarely if ever encountered or reported from the Greater Chennai and its environs (Dryocalamus, Coelognathus, Platyceps, Eryx, Calliophis). A total of 12 kinds of microhabitats including terrestrial, semi-fossorial, arboreal and aquatic settings within three habitat types including green-spaces/vegetation, farmlands and built-up areas were found to be occupied by snakes. The fact that this study reports the highest species richness of snakes from any study in Chennai (23, vs. 19 in literature) highlights the constant long-term stability of green-spaces that enable the continued survival of snakes in this campus, surrounded by an inhospitable urban sprawl.
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Tsai, Tein-Shun, How-Jing Lee, and Ming-Chung Tu. "Specific dynamic action, apparent assimilation efficiency, and digestive rate in an arboreal pitviper, Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri." Canadian Journal of Zoology 86, no. 10 (2008): 1139–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-090.
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The major aims of this study were to assess the effects of temperature (15–35 °C) and meal size (less than 30% snake mass) on the metabolism and digestive physiology of Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 and to compare the results with those of terrestrial snakes. Specific dynamic action (SDA), peak Vo2, and scope of peak Vo2 increased with meal size. Temperature had little effect on SDA. With regression analysis, we found that baseline metabolic rates of T. s. stejnegeri were generally smaller than that for frequent feeders and larger than that for infrequent feeders. We generalized three types of SDA profiles among T. s. stejnegeri and terrestrial snakes (including frequent and infrequent feeders). Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri had a more shallow and extended profile of postprandial metabolism, which did not support our hypothesis that the pace of digestive metabolism of arboreal snakes is faster than that of terrestrial snakes. The apparent assimilation efficiency (range 0.698–0.884) was significantly lower at 15 °C. At the preferred temperature (26.5–28.8 °C) for a postprandial 50 g snake, the simulated ratios of four parameters (time to peak Vo2, first defecation time, gastric digestion time, and final defecation time) to SDA duration approximated 0.2, 0.5–0.7, 0.7, and 1.1, respectively.
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POKHILYUK, NIKITA, and IRINA MASLOVA. "Body-bending behaviour in three snake species in the Russian Far East." Herpetological Bulletin, no. 171 (March 1, 2025): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.33256/hb171.15.
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Body-bending behaviour or kinking is a cryptic form of immobility, believed to be used by snakes to avoid predation. Originally, this defensive strategy was thought to be used only by arboreal species in the Neotropics but recent reports suggest that it may be more widespread than previously thought. For the first time, data is presented on this type of behaviour for three snake species of east Asia - Elaphe dione, Elaphe schrenckii and Gloydius ussuriensis.
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Boyer, Donal M. "Providing Adequate Hydration in Neonate Arboreal Snakes." Bulletin of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians 5, no. 2 (1995): 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.5818/1076-3139-5.2.5a.
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Shelton, Michael B., and Ross L. Goldingay. "Comparative survey techniques for a cryptic Australian snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)." Australian Journal of Zoology 68, no. 2 (2020): 68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo20062.
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Ecologists endeavour to develop survey techniques that are cost-effective for the species they target and robust enough for statistical analysis. Using time as a measure of effort, we compared visual encounter surveys with artificial cover objects (strapped to trees), targeting an arboreal elapid, the pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) and its potential prey (geckos). Within a red gum forest vegetation community with relatively high snake density, capture rates were 0.6 ± 0.1 (s.e.) snakes/person-hour using visual encounter surveys, compared with only 0.1 ± 0.1 snakes/person-hour using cover objects. The probability of detection of pale-headed snakes was estimated from occupancy modelling at 0.70 ± 0.06 in visual encounter surveys and 0.19 ± 0.09 in cover object surveys. Gecko capture rates (among all vegetation communities) were significantly greater (P < 0.001) using cover objects. The probability of detection of geckos was estimated from occupancy modelling at 0.77 ± 0.05 in visual encounter surveys and 0.97 ± 0.02 in cover object surveys. Geckos favoured (P < 0.001) cover objects facing south during all seasons except winter. Artificial cover objects may provide some value in detecting pale-headed snakes in vegetation communities where habitat resources are limited; however, where resources are plentiful, visual encounter surveys are likely to remain the most cost-effective survey option.
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Plummer, Michael V. "Thermal Ecology of Arboreal Green Snakes (Opheodrys aestivus)." Journal of Herpetology 27, no. 3 (1993): 254. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1565144.
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Kaczmarski, Mikolaj. "Arboreal foraging and ambush by grass snakes Natrix natrix on European treefrogs Hyla arborea." Herpetological Bulletin, no. 154, Winter 2020 (December 31, 2020): 39–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.33256/hb154.3940.
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Olambe, Mr. Amit S. "Study on Biodiversity of Snakes in Pandharkawada Region Yavatmal District, Maharashtra." International Journal of Advance and Applied Research 4, no. 43 (2023): 37–41. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10549123.
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Abstract :- The present paper provides the information about the biodiversity of Venomous, Semi-venomous & Non-venomous snakes species in Pandharkawada region of Yavatmal District, Maharashtra. Snakes belong to the reptiles class, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 3,000 known species of snakes, and they come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and behaviors. Snakes are extremely well- adapted to their habitats namely aquatic, fossorial, arboreal and other terrestrial forms observed in this region. Snakes are very important creatures in the nature because as predators they feed on many harmful bugs and insects those may cause damage to us. snakes play an important role in the natural environment & Ecological food chains in the ecosystem. A total number of 15 different species of snakes reported from Pandharkawada region of Yavatmal District, out of 15 species 04 species were venomous, 02 species were semi-venomous & 09 species were Non-venomous.
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Zhang, Shuyi, and Lixin Wang. "Following of Brown Capuchin Monkeys by White Hawks in French Guiana." Condor 102, no. 1 (2000): 198–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.1.198.
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Abstract One group of brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) was observed for 19 months in French Guiana. White Hawks (Leucopternis albicollis) were seen in association with these monkeys throughout the year. Our study revealed that: (1) hawks mainly followed capuchins in open forest types, and in this vegetation they mainly flew at the height of 10–20 m from the ground where horizontal visibility is better than in other strata of the forest, (2) hawks usually landed preceding the monkey troop spreading into an area, and they followed the capuchin troop when the monkeys were traveling, and (3) no predation of any capuchins by hawks occurred at any time during our study, and seven times it was observed that hawks captured arboreal snakes disturbed by the movement of capuchins. We propose that White Hawks followed brown capuchins in this Amazonian forest primarily for capturing arboreal snakes disturbed by monkey troop movements.
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Winstel, R. Allan, Richard A. Sajdak, and Robert W. Henderson. "Habitat utilization by the arboreal boa Corallus grenadensis in two ecologically disparate habitats on Grenada." Amphibia-Reptilia 19, no. 2 (1998): 203–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853898x00485.
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AbstractHabitat utilization by the arboreal boid Corallus grenadensis was studied at two ecologically disparate sites on the West Indian island of Grenada: one devoted largely to agriculture, the other largely devoid of agricultural activity. Small snakes (< 600 mm SVL) were most often encountered in uncultivated scrub woodland at both sites; large snakes (>1100 mm SVL) were encountered most often in fruit trees at one site and in mangroves at the other. Snakes of medium size (600-1100 mm SVL) occurred in both kinds of habitat. These size classes correspond to an ontogenetic shift in diet (lizards to mammals), and this is associated with a corresponding shift in habitat utilization.
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Naulleau, Guy, and Xavier Bonnet. "Reproductive ecology, body fat reserves and foraging mode in females of two contrasted snake species: Vipera aspis (terrestrial, viviparous) and Elaphe longissima (semi-arboreal, oviparous)." Amphibia-Reptilia 16, no. 1 (1995): 37–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853895x00172.
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AbstractThe reproductive ecology of two snakes, female Vipera aspis (terrestrial) and Elaphe longissima (semi-arboreal), was compared. Mean clutch sizes were close in the two species; 6.17 ± 2.50 (n = 69) in the asp viper, and 6.59 ± 1.38 (n = 29) in the Aesculapian snake. When controlled for body size, body condition (hence amounts of body reserves), measured at the beginning of vitellogenesis, correlated positively with litter size in the asp viper but with clutch size in the Aesculapian snake. As in most species, maternal body length positively influenced clutch or litter size. Thus, the trade-off between maternal reserves and growth may favour reserves in the asp viper, and growth in the Aesculapian snake. The asp viper is a bi- or triennial breeder (33% of reproductive-females each year), the Ausculapian snake is an annual breeder (77% of reproductive females each year). These differences may be related to their contrasting foraging ecology. The asp viper is a terrestrial ambush predator with a specialized diet (98% Microtus) based on un-predictable prey availability. This species moves slowly (9.07 ± 8.40 m/day during the active season), and has a small home range (3,024 m2); an increasing body mass (large body reserves) should not affect its activity abilities. The Aesculapian snake is a semi-arboreal predator, which feeds on a large range of prey including birds and eggs, and which is often active (118, 11 ± 134,55 m/day during the active season). This species has a large home range (11,400 m2); an increasing body mass (large body reserves) should be a handicap during arboreal displacements. Vitellogenesis depends on body reserves in the asp viper, while it depends on foraging success in the Aesculapian snake.
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Busschau, Theo, and Stephane Boissinot. "Habitat determines convergent evolution of cephalic horns in vipers." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 135, no. 4 (2022): 652–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blac008.
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Abstract Phenotypic convergence of traits in similar environments can provide insights into the evolutionary processes shaping trait evolution. Among squamate reptiles, horn-like cephalic appendages have evolved under various selective pressures, including selection for defence, crypsis or sexual selection. Yet, among snakes, particularly vipers, the functional and evolutionary significance of horns are unknown. We used a comparative phylogenetic approach with habitat and diet data on 263 viper taxa to shed light on the selective pressures underlying horn evolution in vipers. We detected significant correlations with habitat but not diet. The relative positions of horns are ecologically divergent in that supranasal horns are positively correlated with terrestrial forest habitats while supraocular horns are negatively correlated with terrestrial forest habitats and are instead associated with arboreal or sparsely vegetated habitats. Multiple independent origins of supranasal or supraocular horns in similar habitats provide evidence of adaptive convergence. Comparisons with other snake lineages suggest that cephalic appendages may have evolved under selection for crypsis in ambush foraging snakes.
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Cooper, Robert, and Stephen Mullin. "The foraging ecology of the gray rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides). II. Influence of habitat structural complexity when searching for arboreal avian prey." Amphibia-Reptilia 21, no. 2 (2000): 211–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853800507381.
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AbstractA predator's behavior and success when foraging can be compromised by a variety of environmental factors. We examined the effect of variation in habitat structural complexity on the predatory success of the semiarboreal gray rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) foraging for arboreal bird nest contents. Individual snakes searched for nests in enclosures containing one of five levels of vegetation density that reflected the range of structural complexity measured at a field site where predator and prey species are common. Subjects were most proficient at locating prey in enclosures having low levels of structural complexity, and experienced decreased predatory success in barren or highly-complex habitats. Ten behaviors comprised over 95% of the trial durations, and four of these occurred more often than the other six regardless of variation in structural complexity within the enclosure. We suggest that low levels of structural complexity offer snakes concealment from predation while not obscuring their view of provisioning activity at the nest.
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Mansfield, Rachel H., and Bruce C. Jayne. "Arboreal habitat structure affects route choice by rat snakes." Journal of Comparative Physiology A 197, no. 1 (2010): 119–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-010-0593-6.
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FERNANDES, Igor Yuri, Audrey DAHAN, and Benoît FIOT. "First record of leucism in the polychromatic Amazon tree boa, Corallus hortulana (Serpentes, Boidae) of South America." Acta Amazonica 52, no. 1 (2022): 42–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-4392202102173.
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ABSTRACT Snakes have a wide variety of color patterns that can be related to specific ecological and physiological functions. However, genetic mutations can lead to the appearance of anomalous color patterns, which can directly interfere with the fitness of individuals. Leucism is a chromatic anomaly characterized by the almost total absence of epidermal and dermal chromatophores that produce the color. Corallus hortulana is an arboreal snake with nocturnal habits, widely distributed throughout South America, with a wide range of color patterns, known as polychromatism. Here we report the first case of leucism in Corallus hortulana and discuss the potential ecological implications of this anomaly in this species.
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França, Rafaela C., Mayara Morais, Frederico G. R. França, Dennis Rödder, and Mirco Solé. "Snakes of the Pernambuco Endemism Center, Brazil: diversity, natural history and conservation." ZooKeys 1002 (December 10, 2020): 115–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1002.50997.
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The Atlantic Forest is one of the largest and richest tropical rainforests on the planet, being one of the 25 world priorities for conservation. The Atlantic Forest portion located north of the São Francisco River corresponds to the Pernambuco Endemism Center (PEC). We describe the snake composition of the PEC, providing information about the diversity, natural history and geographical distribution of the species, based on records from five scientific collections and additional information from the literature. A total of 78 species of snakes distributed in eight families was registered in the Pernambuco Endemism Center. The Caatinga is the Brazilian biome that most shares species with the PEC, followed by Cerrado. On the other hand, seven species are considered endemic of this region. Most of the snake species in the PEC have been registered in forest (94.8%), followed by “Brejos Nordestinos” (46.1%), Tabuleiros (43.5%), Restingas (14.1%) and Mangroves (5.1%). The PEC snake fauna includes mainly terrestrial species (60.2%) and cryptozoic and/or fossorial species (21.7%), but also presents a high richness of semi-arboreal and arboreal species (29.5%). Vertebrates are the main food item consumed by the species (78% of species), among the main prey are mammals, lizards, and amphibians. Most species show a strictly nocturnal activity period (50%), followed by strictly diurnal (38%). The PEC is the most degraded and least known region of the Atlantic Forest, yet it has revealed a high richness of snake species, including seven endemic species. It is emphasized that regional conservation efforts need to be intensified, because few forests in the region are formally protected, and the majority consist of small and poorly protected fragments, which means that many species in the region may be in risk of extinction.
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França, Rafaela C., Mayara Morais, Frederico G. R. França, Dennis Rödder, and Mirco Solé. "Snakes of the Pernambuco Endemism Center, Brazil: diversity, natural history and conservation." ZooKeys 1002 (December 10, 2020): 115–58. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1002.50997.
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The Atlantic Forest is one of the largest and richest tropical rainforests on the planet, being one of the 25 world priorities for conservation. The Atlantic Forest portion located north of the São Francisco River corresponds to the Pernambuco Endemism Center (PEC). We describe the snake composition of the PEC, providing information about the diversity, natural history and geographical distribution of the species, based on records from five scientific collections and additional information from the literature. A total of 78 species of snakes distributed in eight families was registered in the Pernambuco Endemism Center. The Caatinga is the Brazilian biome that most shares species with the PEC, followed by Cerrado. On the other hand, seven species are considered endemic of this region. Most of the snake species in the PEC have been registered in forest (94.8%), followed by "Brejos Nordestinos" (46.1%), Tabuleiros (43.5%), Restingas (14.1%) and Mangroves (5.1%). The PEC snake fauna includes mainly terrestrial species (60.2%) and cryptozoic and/or fossorial species (21.7%), but also presents a high richness of semi-arboreal and arboreal species (29.5%). Vertebrates are the main food item consumed by the species (78% of species), among the main prey are mammals, lizards, and amphibians. Most species show a strictly nocturnal activity period (50%), followed by strictly diurnal (38%). The PEC is the most degraded and least known region of the Atlantic Forest, yet it has revealed a high richness of snake species, including seven endemic species. It is emphasized that regional conservation efforts need to be intensified, because few forests in the region are formally protected, and the majority consist of small and poorly protected fragments, which means that many species in the region may be in risk of extinction.
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Chandrasekara, Uthpala, Marco Mancuso, Lorenzo Seneci, et al. "A Russian Doll of Resistance: Nested Gains and Losses of Venom Immunity in Varanid Lizards." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25, no. 5 (2024): 2628. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052628.
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The interplay between predator and prey has catalyzed the evolution of venom systems, with predators honing their venoms in response to the evolving resistance of prey. A previous study showed that the African varanid species Varanus exanthematicus has heightened resistance to snake venoms compared to the Australian species V. giganteus, V. komodoensis, and V. mertensi, likely due to increased predation by sympatric venomous snakes on V. exanthematicus. To understand venom resistance among varanid lizards, we analyzed the receptor site targeted by venoms in 27 varanid lizards, including 25 Australian varanids. The results indicate an active evolutionary arms race between Australian varanid lizards and sympatric neurotoxic elapid snakes. Large species preying on venomous snakes exhibit inherited neurotoxin resistance, a trait potentially linked to their predatory habits. Consistent with the ‘use it or lose it’ aspect of venom resistance, this trait was secondarily reduced in two lineages that had convergently evolved gigantism (V. giganteus and the V. komodoensis/V. varius clade), suggestive of increased predatory success accompanying extreme size and also increased mechanical protection against envenomation due to larger scale osteoderms. Resistance was completely lost in the mangrove monitor V. indicus, consistent with venomous snakes not being common in their arboreal and aquatic niche. Conversely, dwarf varanids demonstrate a secondary loss at the base of the clade, with resistance subsequently re-evolving in the burrowing V. acanthurus/V. storri clade, suggesting an ongoing battle with neurotoxic predators. Intriguingly, within the V. acanthurus/V. storri clade, resistance was lost again in V. kingorum, which is morphologically and ecologically distinct from other members of this clade. Resistance was also re-evolved in V. glebopalma which is terrestrial in contrast to the arboreal/cliff dwelling niches occupied by the other members of its clade (V. glebopalma, V. mitchelli, V. scalaris, V. tristis). This ‘Russian doll’ pattern of venom resistance underscores the dynamic interaction between dwarf varanids and Australian neurotoxic elapid snakes. Our research, which included testing Acanthophis (death adder) venoms against varanid receptors as models for alpha-neurotoxic interactions, uncovered a fascinating instance of the Red Queen Hypothesis: some death adders have developed more potent toxins specifically targeting resistant varanids, a clear sign of the relentless predator–prey arms race. These results offer new insight into the complex dynamics of venom resistance and highlight the intricate ecological interactions that shape the natural world.
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Luiselli, L. "Broad geographic, taxonomic and ecological patterns of interpopulation variation in the dietary habits of snakes." Web Ecology 6, no. 1 (2006): 2–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/we-6-2-2006.
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Abstract. Because of their unique morphological and ecological characteristics (i.e. being obligate carnivorous, solitary, and ingesting their prey whole), snakes are expected to show unusual dietary patterns compared to other ectothermic vertebrates, and the best way to explore this is to analyse the snake dietary patterns globally. Here I review and analyse the peer-reviewed snake diet literature available in order to explore whether there are broad patterns in the interpopulation variability of diet composition in these unique ectothermic predators. I collated data for 181 independent populations belonging to 58 species of snakes from some of the main families (1 Boidae, 2 Pythonidae, 27 Colubridae, 10 Elapidae, and 18 Viperidae) and from all the continents (4 from South and Central America, 13 from North America, 12 from Europe, 18 from Africa, 4 from Asia, and 7 from Australia). All these populations satisfied some precise criteria of inclusion, and were therefore re-analysed in a comparative perspective. I classified each literature entry according to 1) snake species, 2) snake family, 3) geographic position (continent) of the study areas, 4) climatic region (temperate versus tropical), 5) guild (if the species is aquatic, terrestrial, or arboreal), 6) hunting strategy (sit-and-wait versus active forager), and 7) venom (if the species is venomous or not). All these seven factors were analysed by GLM procedures to evaluate their effects on the interpopulation diet variation within snake species, that was assessed by using a univariate similarity index. The various taxonomical categories of snake prey were grouped according to two different levels of taxonomic affinity: a) general affinity, e.g. frogs and toads, salamanders, lizards, birds, etc., and b) close affinity, by grouping prey types belonging to a same genus. My study revealed that, within-species snake populations showed a very low variability in terms of diet composition. As for the general affinity criterion, there was no single factor that produced a significant effect on the interpopulation diet variation but, with regard to the interaction terms between factors, significant effects were determined by 1) continent × climatic region (with Asian, African and South-American tropical populations having significantly lesser similarity values), 2) continent × hunting strategy (diets being less diverse in ambush predators in Africa, Asia and South America), and 3) climatic region × guild (with arboreal tropical snakes showing less interpopulation similarity). As for the close affinity criterion, there was also no effect of single factors on interpopulation diet variability, but the interaction term hunting strategy × venom was significant, with sit-and-wait venomous species being less variable in their diet composition. Snake family was completely un-influent in determining any effect on snake interpopulation diet variation. The broad reasons that may explain these generalized patterns are discussed.
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Lillywhite, H. B., R. E. Ballard, and A. R. Hargens. "Cardiovascular responses of semi-arboreal snakes to chronic, intermittent hypergravity." Journal of Comparative Physiology B 166, no. 4 (1996): 241–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf00262868.
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KOENIG, SUSAN E., JOSEPH M. WUNDERLE, JR, and ERNESTO C. ENKERLIN-HOEFLICH. "Vines and canopy contact: a route for snake predation on parrot nests." Bird Conservation International 17, no. 1 (2007): 79–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095927090600061x.
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Ornithologists have hypothesized that some tropical forest birds avoid snake predation by nesting in isolated trees that do not have vines and canopy contact with neighbouring trees. Here we review two complementary studies that support this hypothesis by demonstrating (1) that an abundance of vines and an interlocking canopy characterized Jamaican Black-billed Parrot Amazona agilis nest-trees that failed due to chick loss, presumably to snakes, and (2) that such trees were used preferentially by an arboreal snake congeneric to the snake implicated in the parrot losses. Evidence strongly suggested that losses of nestling Black-billed Parrots were due in substantial part to predation by the Jamaican (yellow) Boa Epicrates subflavus (Boidae). Studies of the closely related Epicrates inornatus on Puerto Rico revealed that trees used by boas had more vine cover and more crown or canopy contact with neighbouring trees than did randomly selected trees. Moreover, the boas had relatively large home ranges and were most active during March to July, which corresponds with the breeding season of parrots as well as other bird species. We suggest that nest failure due to snakes may be reduced in endangered bird species through isolating the nest-tree by eliminating vines and canopy contact with neighbouring trees and shrubs and by placing barriers on the nest-tree trunk.
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Slip, DJ, and R. Shine. "Habitat Use, Movements and Activity Patterns of Free-Ranging Diamond Pythons, Morelia-Spilota-Spilota (Serpentes, Boidae) - a Radiotelemetric Study." Wildlife Research 15, no. 5 (1988): 515. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9880515.
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Miniature radio transmitters were surgically implanted in 15 adult diamond pythons from two areas near Sydney, N.S.W., in south-eastern Australia, and the snakes monitored for intervals of 4-32 months. We document patterns of habitat use and movements, and interpret these in terms of the feeding habits and reproductive biology of the pythons. These snakes were usually sedentary in summer and autumn, with occasional long movements to new sites. During spring (the mating season), males moved long distances, often daily. Telemetered pythons were generally diurnal and terrestrial rather than arboreal. Snakes were most commonly recorded coiled under vegetation which provided filtering cover (34% of locations). The relative use of different habitats by diamond pythons changed with season. In summer and autumn, snakes were most frequently in disturbed habitats (such as areas around houses), where prey are relatively common. In winter the snakes used rocky habitats, especially sandstone crevices. No winter aggregations were observed. The radio-tracked snakes had large (up to 124 ha), well-defined but overlapping home ranges, and these varied significantly between sexes and among seasons. Detailed analysis of python movements shows that at least two assumptions of many home-range analyses (normally distributed data and adequacy of small sample sizes) are invalid for our study.
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Esbérard, Carlos E. L., and Davor Vrcibradic. "Snakes preying on bats: new records from Brazil and a review of recorded cases in the Neotropical Region." Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 24, no. 3 (2007): 848–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0101-81752007000300036.
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Predation on bats by snakes is relatively infrequently reported in the literature, though it may actually not be an uncommon phenomenon, since bat colonies represent a potential concentration of food for many medium-sized or large snakes. Herein we describe four events of bat predation by snakes and present a review of predation records of snakes on bats in the Neotropics compiled from the literature. A total of 20 species of snakes have been recorded so far as predators of bats in the New World tropics, with boiids being represented by the greatest number of cases. Due to the semi-arboreal habits of most of its species, their large size and their usual preference for mammalian prey, the Boiidae are probably the main reptilian predators of bats in the Neotropics, though predation by colubrids may also be relatively frequent. Two types of predatory events can be pointed out: (1) on active bats outside refuges or exiting them, and (2) on animals (active or inactive) inside refuges. The former strategy is apparently used mainly by boiids, whereas the latter strategy appears to be the one most used by large colubrids.
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Esbérard, Carlos E. L., and Davor Vrcibradic. "Snakes preying on bats: new records from Brazil and a review of recorded cases in the Neotropical Region." Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 24, no. 3 (2007): 848–53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13486578.
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(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Predation on bats by snakes is relatively infrequently reported in the literature, though it may actually not be an uncommon phenomenon, since bat colonies represent a potential concentration of food for many medium-sized or large snakes. Herein we describe four events of bat predation by snakes and present a review of predation records of snakes on bats in the Neotropics compiled from the literature. A total of 20 species of snakes have been recorded so far as predators of bats in the New World tropics, with boiids being represented by the greatest number of cases. Due to the semi-arboreal habits of most of its species, their large size and their usual preference for mammalian prey, the Boiidae are probably the main reptilian predators of bats in the Neotropics, though predation by colubrids may also be relatively frequent. Two types of predatory events can be pointed out: (1) on active bats outside refuges or exiting them, and (2) on animals (active or inactive) inside refuges. The former strategy is apparently used mainly by boiids, whereas the latter strategy appears to be the one most used by large colubrids.
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Esbérard, Carlos E. L., and Davor Vrcibradic. "Snakes preying on bats: new records from Brazil and a review of recorded cases in the Neotropical Region." Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 24, no. 3 (2007): 848–53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13486578.
Full textAbstract:
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Predation on bats by snakes is relatively infrequently reported in the literature, though it may actually not be an uncommon phenomenon, since bat colonies represent a potential concentration of food for many medium-sized or large snakes. Herein we describe four events of bat predation by snakes and present a review of predation records of snakes on bats in the Neotropics compiled from the literature. A total of 20 species of snakes have been recorded so far as predators of bats in the New World tropics, with boiids being represented by the greatest number of cases. Due to the semi-arboreal habits of most of its species, their large size and their usual preference for mammalian prey, the Boiidae are probably the main reptilian predators of bats in the Neotropics, though predation by colubrids may also be relatively frequent. Two types of predatory events can be pointed out: (1) on active bats outside refuges or exiting them, and (2) on animals (active or inactive) inside refuges. The former strategy is apparently used mainly by boiids, whereas the latter strategy appears to be the one most used by large colubrids.
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Jayne, Bruce C. "What Defines Different Modes of Snake Locomotion?" Integrative and Comparative Biology 60, no. 1 (2020): 156–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaa017.
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Synopsis Animals move in diverse ways, as indicated in part by the wide variety of gaits and modes that have been described for vertebrate locomotion. Much variation in the gaits of limbed animals is associated with changing speed, whereas different modes of snake locomotion are often associated with moving on different surfaces. For several decades different types of snake locomotion have been categorized as one of four major modes: rectilinear, lateral undulation, sidewinding, and concertina. Recent empirical work shows that the scheme of four modes of snake locomotion is overly conservative. For example, during aquatic lateral undulation, the timing between muscle activity and lateral bending changes along the length of the snake, which is unlike terrestrial lateral undulation. The motor pattern used to prevent sagging while bridging gaps also suggests that arboreal lateral undulation on narrow surfaces or with a few discrete points of support has a different motor pattern than terrestrial lateral undulation when the entire length of the snake is supported. In all types of concertina locomotion, the distance from the head to the tail changes substantially as snakes alternately flex and then extend different portions of their body. However, snakes climbing cylinders with concertina exert forces medially to attain a purchase on the branch, whereas tunnels require pushing laterally to form an anchoring region. Furthermore, different motor patterns are used for these two types of concertina movement. Some snakes climb vertical cylinders with helical wrapping completely around the cylinder, whereas all other forms of concertina bend regions of the body alternately to the left and right. Current data support rectilinear locomotion and sidewinding as being distinct modes, whereas lateral undulation and concertina are best used for defining categories of gaits with some unifying similarities. Partly as a result of different motor patterns, I propose recognizing five and four distinct types of lateral undulation and concertina, respectively, resulting in a total of 11 distinct gaits previously recognized as only four.
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Allen, Kaitlin E., Eli Greenbaum, Paul M. Hime, et al. "Rivers, not refugia, drove diversification in arboreal, sub‐Saharan African snakes." Ecology and Evolution 11, no. 11 (2021): 6133–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7429.
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Coupe, Brad, Nancy Anderson, Thomas Hetherington, Gad Perry, and Joseph Williams. "Diurnal refuge-site selection by Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam." Amphibia-Reptilia 29, no. 2 (2008): 284–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853808784124956.
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Abstract Diurnal refuge-site selection was studied in eleven free-ranging brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) in tropical forest on the island of Guam. These nocturnal and mostly arboreal snakes were tracked using implanted radio-transmitters. A vegetation survey of the study site was performed to determine if brown treesnakes non-randomly select certain plants for refuge-sites, and thermal profiles of representative refuge sites were obtained with Hobo data loggers. Brown treesnakes preferentially used Pandanus crowns for refuge-sites. Although Pandanus represents a small proportion (3.6%) of the forest, most snakes used Pandanus most of the time for refuge. The thermal characteristics of Pandanus were comparable to those of other refuge-sites. We speculate that features of Pandanus that provide basking opportunities and moist microhabitats may be important for brown treesnakes. As Pandanus is widely distributed throughout the natural range of the brown treesnake, this genus may represent an important refuge-site for this species.
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Augusto Vuolo Marques, Otavio, Ronaldo Fernandes, and Roberta Richard Pinto. "Morphology and diet of two sympatric colubrid snakes, Chironius flavolineatus and Chironius quadricarinatus (Serpentes: Colubridae)." Amphibia-Reptilia 29, no. 2 (2008): 149–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853808784125027.
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Abstract The morphometry and diet of two sympatric species of Chironius (C. flavolineatus and C. quadricarinatus) from Brazilian Cerrado are described. The two snake species differ in external morphology, as Chironius flavolineatus was the largest species (body, tail and eyes) whereas C. quadricarinatus the heaviest. Each species also showed marked sexual size dimorphism. In terms of dietary ecology, both species feed exclusively on frogs with a heavy preference for hylids and may have tendency to eat small items, as noticed in other colubrine species. These two snake species showed a brownish colour pattern and exhibited no ontogenetic variation, suggesting that juveniles and adults use similar substrates. Chironius flavolineatus and C. quadricarinatus present a semi-arboreal habit, with active foraging behaviour, feeding in the ground most of time. Chironius flavolineatus uses higher vegetation for resting and, based on morphological results, seems to be more arboreal than C. quadricarinatus.
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Astley, Henry C. "The Biomechanics of Multi-articular Muscle–Tendon Systems in Snakes." Integrative and Comparative Biology 60, no. 1 (2020): 140–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaa012.
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Synopsis The geometry of the musculoskeletal system, such as moment arms and linkages, determines the link between muscular functions and external mechanical results, but as the geometry becomes more complex, this link becomes less clear. The musculoskeletal system of snakes is extremely complex, with several muscles that span dozens of vertebrae, ranging from 10 to 45 vertebrae in the snake semispinalis-spinalis muscle (a dorsiflexor). Furthermore, this span correlates with habitat in Caenophidians, with burrowing and aquatic species showing shorter spans while arboreal species show longer spans. Similar multi-articular spans are present in the prehensile tails of primates, the necks of birds, and our own digits. However, no previous analysis has adequately explained the mechanical consequences of these multi-articular spans. This paper uses techniques from the analysis of static systems in engineering to analyze the consequences of multiarticular muscle configurations in cantilevered gap bridging and compares these outcomes to a hypothetical mono-articular system. Multi-articular muscle spans dramatically reduce the forces needed in each muscle, but the consequent partitioning of muscle cross-sectional area between numerous muscles results in a small net performance loss. However, when a substantial fraction of this span is tendinous, performance increases dramatically. Similarly, metabolic cost is increased for purely muscular multi-articular spans, but decreases rapidly with increasing tendon ratio. However, highly tendinous spans require increased muscle strain to achieve the same motion, while purely muscular systems are unaffected. These results correspond well with comparative data from snakes and offer the potential to dramatically improve the mechanics of biomimetic snake robots.
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Jayne, Bruce C., Jeffrey P. Olberding, Dilip Athreya, and Michael A. Riley. "Surface shape affects the three-dimensional exploratory movements of nocturnal arboreal snakes." Journal of Comparative Physiology A 198, no. 12 (2012): 905–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-012-0761-y.
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Sushil, Kumar Dutta. "First locality record of Chrysopelea ornata Shaw,1802 Golden Tree or Gliding Snake from Kanger Valley National Park, District-Bastar, Chhattisgarh." Biolife 3, no. 4 (2022): 851–53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7306607.
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<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> This study makes first precise locality record of a rare and Near Threatened species of reptile, the Golden Tree or Gliding Snake or Ornate Flying Snake <em>Chrysopelea Ornata </em>Shaw, 1802 from the Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) of Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. This medium-sized slender and active arboreal snake is very handsome. It is one of the most spectacular snakes because of its ability to glide through the air. It is essentially an arboreal species which shows a marked preference for large trees and thick forests. <strong>Key words:</strong> Snake;<em>Chrysopelea ornata, </em>rare species, Bastar Plateau, Chhattisgarh; KVNP <strong>REFERENCES</strong> Agrawal, H.P. 1981. On a collection of reptiles from Madhya Pradesh, India. <em>The India Journal of Zootomy </em>22(3): 203-206 Ahmed, MF., A. Das and SK. Dutta 2009 Amphibians and Reptiles of Northeast India- A Photographic Guide, Aranyak, Guwahati, India : i-xiv, l-169pp. Chandra, K. & P.U. Gajbe 2005. An Inventory of Herpetofauna of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. <em>Zoos’ Print Journal </em>20(3): 1812-1819 Chandra, K., Dutta SK., Gupta RP., & Raha, A. 2015. Diversity and conservational status of avifauna in Bastar plateau of Chhattisgarh, India. <em>Ambient Science, </em>02(1): 31-43. Daniel, J.C. 2002: Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press, Mumbai:i-viii, 1-238 pp. Dutta, SK. 2015a. First report of Rufous-bellied Eagle, Hieraaetus kienerii (E. Geoffroy, 1835) from Chhattisgarh, India. Biolife, 3(2), pp 561-563. doi:10.17812/blj2015.32.31 Dutta, SK. 2015 b. First report of<em> Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus </em>(Das and Chanda, 1997) sacred grove bush frog from Chhattisgarh, India. <em>Biolife</em>, 3(3), pp735-738.doi:10.17812/blj.2015.33.26 Ingle, M. 2010. First locality record of <em>Chrysopelea ornata</em> Shaw (1802) from Kheonae Wildlife Sanctuary, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. Reptile Rap (10): 5-6. Murthy, T.S.N. 1986. <em>The Snake Book of India. </em>International Book Distributor, Dehradun, 29pp. Murthy, T.S.N. 1990. <em>Illustrated guide to the Snakes of Western Ghats, India. </em>Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 36pp. Whitaker, R. & A. Captain 2008. <em>Snakes of India, The Field Guide</em>. Draco Books, Tamilnadu, 160-161pp.
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Caldas, Francis Luiz Santos, Taís Borges Costa, Daniel Orsi Laranjeiras, Daniel Oliveira Mesquita, and Adrian Antonio Garda. "Herpetofauna of protected areas in the Caatinga V: Seridó Ecological Station (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)." Check List 12, no. 4 (2016): 1929. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/12.4.1929.
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We provide a list of lizards, snakes, chelonians, and amphibians collected during a 30-day expedition to the Seridó Ecological Station (ESEC Seridó), Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. We sampled species using thirty-seven pitfall trap stations composed of four buckets each, along with glue traps and active searches. We recorded 13 species of lizards, eight snakes, 19 amphibians, and one chelonian. Rarefaction curves suggest local biodiversity is still underestimated. Sampling during rainy season was crucial to stabilize rarefaction curve for amphibians. Comparisons of our results with data from literature show we did not capture some arboreal and semifossorial lizards known for the area. Seridó Ecological Station fauna is characterized mainly by generalist species common to lowland Caatinga sites. Still, several Caatinga endemics species are found, which underscore the importance of this small but representative protected area.
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Caldas, Francis, Taís Costa, Daniel Laranjeiras, Daniel Mesquita, and Adrian Garda. "Herpetofauna of protected areas in the Caatinga V: Seridó Ecological Station (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)." Check List 12, no. (4) (2016): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.15560/12.4.1929.
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We provide a list of lizards, snakes, chelonians, and amphibians collected during a 30-day expedition to the Seridó Ecological Station (ESEC Seridó), Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. We sampled species using thirty-seven pitfall trap stations composed of four buckets each, along with glue traps and active searches. We recorded 13 species of lizards, eight snakes, 19 amphibians, and one chelonian. Rarefaction curves suggest local biodiversity is still underestimated. Sampling during rainy season was crucial to stabilize rarefaction curve for amphibians. Comparisons of our results with data from literature show we did not capture some arboreal and semifossorial lizards known for the area. Seridó Ecological Station fauna is characterized mainly by generalist species common to lowland Caatinga sites. Still, several Caatinga endemics species are found, which underscore the importance of this small but representative protected area.
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Rocha-Barbosa, O., and RB Moraes e Silva. "Analysis of the microstructure of Xenodontinae snake scales associated with different habitat occupation strategies." Brazilian Journal of Biology 69, no. 3 (2009): 919–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842009000400021.
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The morphology of many organisms seems to be related to the environment they live in. Nonetheless, many snakes are so similar in their morphological patterns that it becomes quite difficult to distinguish any adaptive divergence that may exist. Many authors suggest that the microornamentations on the scales of reptiles have important functional value. Here, we examined variations on the micromorphology of the exposed oberhautchen surface of dorsal, lateral, and ventral scales from the mid-body region of Xenodontinae snakes: Sibynomorphus mikani (terricolous), Imantodes cenchoa (arboreal), Helicops modestus (aquatic) and Atractus pantostictus (fossorial). They were metallized and analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. All species displayed similar microstructures, such as small pits and spinules, which are often directed to the scale caudal region. On the other hand, there were some singular differences in scale shape and in the microstructural pattern of each species. S. mikani and I. cenchoa have larger spinules arranged in a row which overlap the following layers on the scale surface. Species with large serrate borders are expected to have more frictional resistance from the caudal-cranial direction. This can favor life in environments which require more friction, facilitating locomotion. In H. modestus, the spinules are smaller and farther away from the posterior rows, which should help reduce water resistance during swimming. The shallower small pits found in this species can retain impermeable substances, as in aquatic Colubridae snakes. The spinules adhering to the caudal scales of A. pantostictus seem to form a more regular surface, which probably aid their fossorial locomotion, reducing scale-ground friction. Our data appear to support the importance of functional microstructure, contributing to the idea of snake species adaptation to their preferential microhabitats.
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Rahman, Shahriar Caesar, S. M. A. Rashid, Kanai Das, and Luca Luiselli. "Composition and structure of a snake assemblage in an altered tropical forest-plantation mosaic in Bangladesh." Amphibia-Reptilia 34, no. 1 (2013): 41–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00002867.
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Despite the growing trends in quantitative field studies on tropical snake assemblages around the world, Asian tropical snake assemblages have remained less profoundly studied. A snake assemblage in an altered tropical forest-plantation mosaic in Bangladesh was studied for six months. Data were collected on the species composition and their relative frequency of occurrence. On the basis of these data, some major patterns highlighted by earlier studies on tropical snake ecology were tested. More specifically, we tested, the existence of: (1) non-random habitat niche partitioning, (2) the energetic equivalence rule, and (3) different mean body sizes among snake guilds, with distinctly smaller body sizes being expected among the subterranean species. A total of 374 specimens belonging to 34 different species were collected. High mean habitat niche overlap among species was observed, and there was no apparent non-random niche partitioning by snakes either considering all species together or dividing them by guild. The ‘energetic equivalence rule’ was verified, with larger species being less abundant than smaller species. Body sizes differed significantly across species’ habits, with subterranean species being not only significantly smaller but also revealing the least interspecific variation, and terrestrial/arboreal species showing the greatest interspecific variation. Overall, tropical Asian snake assemblages seem to be similar to tropical African snake assemblages in terms of their general organization.
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Fitzgerald, M., R. Shine, and F. Lemckert. "Spatial ecology of arboreal snakes (Hoplocephalus stephensii, Elapidae) in an eastern Australian forest." Austral Ecology 27, no. 5 (2002): 537–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-9993.2002.01214.x.
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Jorgensen, Ryan M., and Bruce C. Jayne. "Three-dimensional trajectories affect the epaxial muscle activity of arboreal snakes crossing gaps." Journal of Experimental Biology 220, no. 19 (2017): 3545–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.164640.
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Pizzatto, Lígia, Otavio Marques, and Kátia Facure. "Food habits of Brazilian boid snakes: overview and new data, with special reference to Corallus hortulanus." Amphibia-Reptilia 30, no. 4 (2009): 533–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853809789647121.
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AbstractThis study examines the diet of eight boid snakes: Boa c. constrictor, Boa c. amarali, Corallus caninus, C. hortulanus, Epicrates cenchria, E. crassus, E. assisi and Eunectes murinus mainly by analyzing the gut contents of preserved museum specimens, and includes a literature review to present an overview of the diet of Brazilian boids. Mammals constitute the primary prey consumed by the majority of the species. Birds are also frequently consumed by C. hortulanus and Boa contrictor, and are the most important prey for B. c. amarali. Ectotherms (mostly lizards) were only consumed by immature snakes. Such prey is rarely consumed by B. c. amarali and not recorded for Epicrates and Eunectes species in our dissections. C. caninus is likely a mammal specialist and Epicrates prey on birds more opportunistically. The niche overlap index varied from 0.27-0.52 for species occurring in the same bioma and geographic range but it is possible this overlap is lower as most sympatric species explore different macrohabitat. C. hortulanus exhibited a significant relationship between prey size and predator head size; this relationship did not differ among mature and immature snakes. In comparison to immature individuals heavier adult snakes fed on heavier prey items however, the ratio between prey/predator mass decreased with increase in predator mass (or size). Most boids exploit diurnal and nocturnal preys, probably using both sit-and-wait and active tactics. They feed on the ground but boas and C. hortulanus and possibly E. cenchria also exploit arboreal prey.
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Deng, Zeshuai, Xiangyun Ding, Bing Zhang, et al. "Behavior and Activity Patterns of the Critically Endangered Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) Determined Using Remote Monitoring." Animals 14, no. 15 (2024): 2247. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani14152247.
Full textAbstract:
This study focuses on understanding the behavior and activity patterns of the critically endangered Protobothrops mangshanensis in China in order to better provide scientific data for upcoming artificial breeding and propagation efforts. We conducted a long-term observation of 15 Mangshan pit vipers at different sites in Hunan Province during the summer and autumn of 2021. Our methods involved analyzing the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and light condition on the snakes’ day and night activity and behaviors. The results revealed that the wild behaviors of Protobothrops mangshanensis include resting, sunbathing, crawling, and exploring, with distinct rhythms in their diel behavior. The snakes’ diel activity exhibits three peak periods which may be related to food activity and sunbathing. This study also highlights the complex interplay of environmental factors on the activity of Protobothrops mangshanensis. Relative humidity was identified as a critical factor accounting for the difference in activity between observation groups. There was little inter-individual variation among the 15 Protobothrops mangshanensis, even though these snakes used terrestrial and arboreal habitats under different environmental conditions. These findings enhance our understanding of Protobothrops mangshanensis behavior and provide a basis for effective conservation measures for this rare and critically endangered species.
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de Alencar, Laura Rodrigues Vieira, Marcio Martins, Gustavo Burin, and Tiago Bosisio Quental. "Arboreality constrains morphological evolution but not species diversification in vipers." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 284, no. 1869 (2017): 20171775. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.1775.
Full textAbstract:
An increase in ecological opportunities, either through changes in the environment or acquisition of new traits, is frequently associated with an increase in species and morphological diversification. However, it is possible that certain ecological settings might prevent lineages from diversifying. Arboreality evolved multiple times in vipers, making them ideal organisms for exploring how potentially new ecological opportunities affect their morphology and speciation regimes. Arboreal snakes are frequently suggested to have a very specialized morphology, and being too large, too small, too heavy, or having short tails might be challenging for them. Using trait-evolution models, we show that arboreal vipers are evolving towards intermediate body sizes, with longer tails and more slender bodies than terrestrial vipers. Arboreality strongly constrains body size and circumference evolution in vipers, while terrestrial lineages are evolving towards a broader range of morphological variants. Trait-dependent diversification models, however, suggest similar speciation rates between microhabitats. Thus, we show that arboreality might constrain morphological evolution but not necessarily affect the rates at which lineages generate new species.