180 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 26 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2014 SHORT NOTE females) analyzed in this previous study. KEY WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes: Reanalysis of the data set of MESquiTA et al. Dipsadidae, Philodryas nattereri , snakes, sexual di - morphis m, clutch, hatchlings, juveniles, Caatinga, (2011), com bined with the data used in this northeastern Brazil study, provide results consistent with those SuBMiTTED: January 31, 2013 found here solely for neonates and juveniles AuTHORS: Daniel Cunha PASSOS a, c (Corre - (ANCOVA slopes – F1,86 = 7.83; P < 0.01; sponding author <
[email protected] > ); Figure 2). in this way, although the dimor - Paulo Cesar Mattos Dourado de MESquiTA b, c ; Amau - rício lopes Rocha BRANDãO c, d ; Diva Maria BORGES - phism is really more pronounced in adults c as showed by MESquiTA et al. (2011), it is NOJOSA a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e present even in hatchlings and immature life Evolução, instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara stages. Gomes, universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Our findings expand the conclusions Pavilhão Haroldo lisboa da Cunha, Sala 224, Rua São of MESquiTA et al. (2011) indicating that sex Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, 20.550-013, Rio de Janeiro – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. differences in tail measurements develop at b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversi - early ontogenetic stages of P. nattereri , and dade Animal, universidade Federal de Santa Maria. support the hypothesis of FOWlER & Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97.105-900, Santa Maria – Rio SAlOMãO (1994) that this dimorphism is a Grande do Sul, Brasil. c Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da universidade plesiomorphic character in Philodryas .