DOCSLIB.ORG

Ecology of Neotropical Arboreal Snakes and Behavior of New World Mollusk-Eating Snakes Julie M

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ecology of Neotropical Arboreal Snakes and Behavior of New World Mollusk-Eating Snakes Julie M Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations Biological Sciences Winter 2009 Ecology of Neotropical Arboreal Snakes and Behavior of New World Mollusk-Eating Snakes Julie M. Ray Old Dominion University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, and the Environmental Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Ray, Julie M.. "Ecology of Neotropical Arboreal Snakes and Behavior of New World Mollusk-Eating Snakes" (2009). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), dissertation, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/ysd1-2855 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/84 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ECOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKES AND BEHAVIOR OF NEW WORLD MOLLUSK-EATING SNAKES by Julie M. Ray M.S. May 2004, Northern Illinois University B.S. May 2000, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY December 2009 Approved by: Alan H. SavTtzky^Director) Christopher A. Bincklej (Member) ABSTRACT ECOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKES AND BEHAVIOR OF NEW WORLD MOLLUSK-EATING SNAKES Julie M. Ray Old Dominion University, 2009 Director: Dr. Alan H. Savitzky The Neotropics is a biologically diverse region that provides many opportunities for ecological and behavioral studies. I utilized the speciose ophidian fauna of central Panama to explore the general ecology of arboreal snakes, the defensive behaviors of the snake community, and the diet of mollusk-eating snakes. I studied arboreal species to understand interspecific relationships in several morphometric characters and to examine preferences in habitat. There were significant morphometric differences in relative length of jaw, mass, tail length, and size at midbody. The arboreal realm was partitioned among species by distance to ground, distance to water, and diameter of the perch. Correlations were found in some species between body mass or length and distance to the ground and leaf length. Additionally, many arboreal species have been documented to bridge gaps in vegetation, but few studies have investigated this behavior systematically. I tested average bridging ability of five Neotropical arboreal snakes and investigated morphological elements underlying differences in relative cantilevering ability. I found significant interspecific differences in average and maximum distances bridged. Species with the relative heaviest mass had the lowest cantilever ratios. Defensive behaviors, which are employed for protection from predators, also were evaluated. I document interspecific differences in these behaviors at the community level. With knowledge gained from the ophidian community in Panama, I further documented on the defensive behaviors of other New World mollusk-eating snakes. Finally, I studied the diet of selected mollusk-eating snakes. I evaluated fecal samples of Dipsas and Sibon and found that their diet is broader than mollusks alone. In fact, a majority of Dipsas in central Panama were feeding on oligochaetes. Some species of Sibon were feeding on mollusks, whereas others fed primarily on amphibian eggs and oligochaetes. The discovery of a broader diet in these taxa may have conservation implications as populations of amphibians and terrestrial mollusks decline worldwide. The expansion of our knowledge of the natural history, ecology, and behavior of Neotropical snakes has provided information that will be important for future studies of community- and ecosystem-level interactions and for the conservation of the biota of central Panama. iv This dissertation is dedicated to Pablo Santana, Alexander Santana, and Aurelio Gonzalez and to my parents, John and Joanne Ray. V ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As with many projects of this magnitude, especially those performed in extreme locations including lands where the language and culture are foreign, many persons deserve acknowledgement. First, thank you to my committee and the people who helped me get to Panama: Alan Savitzky, Frank Day, Christopher Binckley, Roberto "Figa" Brenes, Karen Lips, Chad Montgomery, and Matt Whiles. Thank you to the part-time field help: Santana Arcia, Sarah Becker, Elicia Cano, Clint and Tammy Otto, Sandra Galeano, Scott Goetz, Edgardo Griffith, Andrew Hein, Melissa Miller, Heidi Ross, Amanda Rugenski, and Doug Woodhams. Thank you to the park staff: Jose Perez (director of the park), Natalio Vargas, Jose Carmen, and Andres Gonzalez. A very special thanks to Aurelio Gonzalez, Alexander Santana, and Pablo Santana for extensive help in the field. Thank you for assistance with collections, analyses, or logistics to Mike Lane, Andy Mahon, Heidi Mahon, Greg Pauly, Richard B. King, Jace Robinson, Bud Rodi, and Jeremy Weisz. Thank you to all funding sources: American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Chicago Herpetological Society, National Science Fund, North Carolina Herpetological Society, Sigma Xi, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Sophie Danforth Conservation Fund, and Wisconsin Division for Vocational Rehabilitation. Thank you to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and ANAM, the Panamanian Environmental Authority, for logistical support while in Panama. Finally, to Lucy, mi chico, and Brett for making me believe. VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES xii Chapter I: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1 STUDY SITES 1 PARQUE NACIONAL GENERAL DE DIVISION OMAR TORRIJOS HERRERA, COCLE PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA 2 ALTOS DEL MARIA, PANAMA PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA 4 CENTRAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 4 LAKE ERIE ISLANDS, OTTAWA AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO 5 POTAWATOMI WOODS FOREST PRESERVE AND KISHWAUKEE RIVER STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AREA, KIRKLAND, ILLINOIS 6 BEAVER ISLAND, MICHIGAN 6 STUDY ORGANISMS 6 NEOTROPICAL SNAKE COMMUNITIES 6 NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKES 7 MOLLUSK-EATING SNAKES 8 TROPICAL STUDY SPECIES 9 TEMPERATE STUDY SPECIES 12 GENERAL METHODS 13 METHODS FOR TROPICAL RESEARCH 13 METHODS FOR TEMPERATE RESEARCH 15 II: MORPHOMETRICS AND NICHE PARTITIONING OF A NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKE ASSEMBLAGE 16 INTRODUCTION 16 MATERIALS AND METHODS 18 MORPHOMETRIC DATA COLLECTION 18 ENVIRONMENTAL DATA COLLECTION 19 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SNAKE ASSEMBLAGE 20 STATISTIC - MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSES 20 STATISTICS - ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES 22 vii RESULTS 23 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SNAKE ASSEMBLAGE 23 MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSES 23 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES 29 DISCUSSION 38 III: BRIDGING THE GAB: INTERSPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN CANTILEVERING ABILITY IN A NEOTROPICAL ARBOREAL SNAKE ASSEMBLAGE 44 INTRODUCTION 44 MATERIALS AND METHODS 45 STUDY SITE AND SPECIES 45 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN 46 FIELD OBSERVATIONS 47 STATISTICS 48 RESULTS 48 DISCUSSION 53 IV: DEFENSIVE BEHAVIORS OF A NEOTROPICAL SNAKE COMMUNITY 56 INTRODUCTION 56 MATERIALS AND METHODS 60 STUDY SITES 60 STUDY SPECIES 61 BEHAVIORAL TRIALS AND ANALYSES 61 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF DEFENSIVE BEHAVIORS 61 PHYLOGENETIC BASIS OF BEHAVIORS 63 ANALYSIS OF SCARS 64 POTENTIAL OPHIDIAN PREDATORS 64 RESULTS 65 BEHAVIORAL DIVERSITY 65 QUANTITATIVE DATA 65 PHYLOGENETIC BASIS OF BEHAVIORS 71 ANALYSIS OF SCARS 78 POTENTIAL PREDATORS OF SNAKES 81 DISCUSSION 83 V: DEFENSIVE BEHAVIORS OF NEW WORLD MOLLUSK-EATING SNAKES 88 INTRODUCTION 88 STORERIA 88 CONTIA TENUIS 89 D1PSAS 90 SIBON. 91 viii NINIA 92 TOMODON 92 SIBYNOMORPHUS 93 MATERIALS AND METHODS 93 STUDY SPECIES AND SITES 93 DOCUMENTATION OF DEFENSIVE BEHAVIORS 93 PHYLOGENETIC BASIS OF BEHAVIORS 95 RESULTS 96 DEFENSIVE BEHAVIORS 96 CONTIA TENUIS 97 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSES OF CONTIA TENUIS 97 STORERIA OCCIPITOMACULATA 99 STORERIA DEKAYI 100 DIPSAS CATESBYI. 100 DIPSAS SP 100 DIPSAS NICHOLSI 101 SIBON ARGUS 102 SIBON LONGIFRENIS 102 SIBON NEBULATUS 103 SIBON ANNULATUS 104 NINIA SP 104 NINIA CELATA 104 NINIA MACULATA 104 PHYLOGENETIC BASIS OF BEHAVIORS 104 DISCUSSION 105 VI: DIET OF THE NEOTROPICAL SNAKE GENERA DIPSAS AND SIBON 116 INTRODUCTION 116 OPHIDIAN ADAPTATIONS FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF MOLLUSKS 117 REVIEW OF DIPSAS AND SIBON DIET 119 MATERIALS AND METHODS 121 STATISTICS 123 RESULTS 123 DISCUSSION 131 CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO DIET 134 RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN DIPSADINAE 135 FUTURE DIRECTIONS 136 VII: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 137 REFERENCES 139 VITA 154 IX LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1.1. Study transects in Parque Nacional G. D. Omar Torrijos Herrera (PNGDOTH) 2 1.2. Study transects in Altos del Maria 5 1.3. Species documented in Parque Nacional G. D. Omar Torrijos Herrera (PNGDOTH) and in Altos del Maria (ADM) ! 10 1.4. Data collected for snakes captured in Parque Nacional G. D. Omar Torrijos Herrera, 2006 - 2007 14 2.1. Relative abundance and general natural history information for arboreal snakes captured in 2006-2007 PNGDOTH 24 2.2. Results of the ANCOVA testing for intraspecific differences in mass (corrected for SVL) for arboreal snakes in PNGDOTH 28 2.3. Results of a Student-Newman-Kuels post-hoc analysis for interspecific differences in size at midbody (log-transformed) among arboreal snakes 29 2.4. Paired comparisons of between group centroids of unique morphometric measurements for eight arboreal
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CAT Vertebradosgt CDC CECON USAC 2019
    Catálogo de Autoridades Taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala CDC-CECON-USAC 2019 Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Este documento fue elaborado por el Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) del Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Guatemala, 2019 Textos y edición: Manolo J. García. Zoólogo CDC Primera edición, 2019 Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ISBN: 978-9929-570-19-1 Cita sugerida: Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon]. (2019). Catálogo de autoridades taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala (Documento técnico). Guatemala: Centro de Datos para la Conservación [CDC], Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon], Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala [Usac]. Índice 1. Presentación ............................................................................................ 4 2. Directrices generales para uso del CAT .............................................. 5 2.1 El grupo objetivo ..................................................................... 5 2.2 Categorías taxonómicas ......................................................... 5 2.3 Nombre de autoridades .......................................................... 5 2.4 Estatus taxonómico
    [Show full text]
  • Xenosaurus Tzacualtipantecus. the Zacualtipán Knob-Scaled Lizard Is Endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Eastern Mexico
    Xenosaurus tzacualtipantecus. The Zacualtipán knob-scaled lizard is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of eastern Mexico. This medium-large lizard (female holotype measures 188 mm in total length) is known only from the vicinity of the type locality in eastern Hidalgo, at an elevation of 1,900 m in pine-oak forest, and a nearby locality at 2,000 m in northern Veracruz (Woolrich- Piña and Smith 2012). Xenosaurus tzacualtipantecus is thought to belong to the northern clade of the genus, which also contains X. newmanorum and X. platyceps (Bhullar 2011). As with its congeners, X. tzacualtipantecus is an inhabitant of crevices in limestone rocks. This species consumes beetles and lepidopteran larvae and gives birth to living young. The habitat of this lizard in the vicinity of the type locality is being deforested, and people in nearby towns have created an open garbage dump in this area. We determined its EVS as 17, in the middle of the high vulnerability category (see text for explanation), and its status by the IUCN and SEMAR- NAT presently are undetermined. This newly described endemic species is one of nine known species in the monogeneric family Xenosauridae, which is endemic to northern Mesoamerica (Mexico from Tamaulipas to Chiapas and into the montane portions of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala). All but one of these nine species is endemic to Mexico. Photo by Christian Berriozabal-Islas. amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 01 June 2013 | Volume 7 | Number 1 | e61 Copyright: © 2013 Wilson et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Com- mons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted use for non-com- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 7(1): 1–47.
    [Show full text]
  • Multi-National Conservation of Alligator Lizards
    MULTI-NATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ALLIGATOR LIZARDS: APPLIED SOCIOECOLOGICAL LESSONS FROM A FLAGSHIP GROUP by ADAM G. CLAUSE (Under the Direction of John Maerz) ABSTRACT The Anthropocene is defined by unprecedented human influence on the biosphere. Integrative conservation recognizes this inextricable coupling of human and natural systems, and mobilizes multiple epistemologies to seek equitable, enduring solutions to complex socioecological issues. Although a central motivation of global conservation practice is to protect at-risk species, such organisms may be the subject of competing social perspectives that can impede robust interventions. Furthermore, imperiled species are often chronically understudied, which prevents the immediate application of data-driven quantitative modeling approaches in conservation decision making. Instead, real-world management goals are regularly prioritized on the basis of expert opinion. Here, I explore how an organismal natural history perspective, when grounded in a critique of established human judgements, can help resolve socioecological conflicts and contextualize perceived threats related to threatened species conservation and policy development. To achieve this, I leverage a multi-national system anchored by a diverse, enigmatic, and often endangered New World clade: alligator lizards. Using a threat analysis and status assessment, I show that one recent petition to list a California alligator lizard, Elgaria panamintina, under the US Endangered Species Act often contradicts the best available science.
    [Show full text]
  • Controlled Animals
    Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Fish and Wildlife Policy Division Controlled Animals Wildlife Regulation, Schedule 5, Part 1-4: Controlled Animals Subject to the Wildlife Act, a person must not be in possession of a wildlife or controlled animal unless authorized by a permit to do so, the animal was lawfully acquired, was lawfully exported from a jurisdiction outside of Alberta and was lawfully imported into Alberta. NOTES: 1 Animals listed in this Schedule, as a general rule, are described in the left hand column by reference to common or descriptive names and in the right hand column by reference to scientific names. But, in the event of any conflict as to the kind of animals that are listed, a scientific name in the right hand column prevails over the corresponding common or descriptive name in the left hand column. 2 Also included in this Schedule is any animal that is the hybrid offspring resulting from the crossing, whether before or after the commencement of this Schedule, of 2 animals at least one of which is or was an animal of a kind that is a controlled animal by virtue of this Schedule. 3 This Schedule excludes all wildlife animals, and therefore if a wildlife animal would, but for this Note, be included in this Schedule, it is hereby excluded from being a controlled animal. Part 1 Mammals (Class Mammalia) 1. AMERICAN OPOSSUMS (Family Didelphidae) Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana 2. SHREWS (Family Soricidae) Long-tailed Shrews Genus Sorex Arboreal Brown-toothed Shrew Episoriculus macrurus North American Least Shrew Cryptotis parva Old World Water Shrews Genus Neomys Ussuri White-toothed Shrew Crocidura lasiura Greater White-toothed Shrew Crocidura russula Siberian Shrew Crocidura sibirica Piebald Shrew Diplomesodon pulchellum 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Stephen D. Busack
    BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF STEPHEN D. BUSACK Stephen D. Busack Rochester, New York SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE NO. 154 2018 . SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE The first number of the SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE series appeared in 1968. SHIS number 1 was a list of herpetological publications arising from within or through the Smithsonian Institution and its collections entity, the United States National Museum (USNM). The latter exists now as little more than the occasional title for the registration activities of the National Museum of Natural History. No. 1 was prepared and printed by J. A. Peters, then Curator-in-Charge of the Division of Amphibians & Reptiles. The availability of a NASA translation service and assorted indices encouraged him to continue the series and distribute these items on an irregular schedule. The series continues under that tradition. Specifically, the SHIS series distributes translations, bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged useful to individuals interested in the biology of amphibians and reptiles, and unlikely to be published in the normal technical journals. We wish to encourage individuals to share their bibliographies, translations, etc. with other herpetologists through the SHIS series. If you have such an item, please contact George Zug [zugg @ si.edu] for its consideration for distribution through the SHIS series. Our increasingly digital world is changing the manner of our access to research literature and that is now true for SHIS publications. They are distributed now as pdf documents through two Smithsonian outlets: BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE LIBRARY. www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/15728 All numbers from 1 to 131 [1968-2001] available in BHL.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations on the Behavioral Ecology of Three Species of Imantodes (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae) Author(S): Robert W
    Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Observations on the Behavioral Ecology of Three Species of Imantodes (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae) Author(s): Robert W. Henderson and Max A. Nickerson Source: Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jul. 26, 1976), pp. 205-210 Published by: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1562981 . Accessed: 27/08/2013 10:35 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Herpetology. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 128.227.244.12 on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 10:35:27 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 1976 JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 10(3):205-210 Observations on the Behavioral Ecology of Three Species of Imantodes (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae) Robert W. Henderson and Max A. Nickerson Vertebrate Division, Milwaukee Public Museum Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA ABSTRACT-Aspects of the behavioral ecology of Imantodes cenchoa, I. gemmistratus and /. lentiferus were studied in large glass enclosures and in a greenhouse. Imantodes is crepuscular and nocturnal and 90% of all daylight hours were spent coiled in bromeliads.
    [Show full text]
  • (Serpentes: Dipsadidae, Dipsadinae) São Paulo, Junho
    Paola María Sánchez Martínez Revisão Taxonômica da Tribo Dipsadini (Serpentes: Dipsadidae, Dipsadinae) São Paulo, Junho de 2016 Paola María Sánchez Martínez Revisão Taxonômica da Tribo Dipsadini (Serpentes: Dipsadidae, Dipsadinae) Tese apresentada ao Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo para obtenção do título de Doutor em Ciências Biológicas Orientador: Dr. Hussam Zaher São Paulo, Junho de 2016 RESUMO A tribo Dipsadini é constituída pelos gêneros Dipsas, Plesiodipsas, Sibon, Sibynomorphus e Tropidodipsas, com 71 espécies válidas que se distribuem desde o México até o norte da Argentina. Os gêneros desta tribo de serpentes Neotropicais apresentam uma extensa variação nos padrões de coloração e na folidose, caracteres que são a base da sistemática deste grupo. Embora tenham sido publicados estudos taxonômicos recentes sobre algumas espécies e grupos de espécies dentro dos gêneros, a taxonomia desses tem se mostrado instável devido ao amplo uso de caracteres morfológicos que apresentam diversas formas intermediárias entre os padrões definidos e, que por sua vez,não são claros. Nesta revisão foram examinados cerca de 1600 exemplares, abrangendo a maioria das espécies da tribo e da sua distribução geográfica. A taxonomia de cinquenta dessas espécies foi avaliada, usando o padrão de coloração, morfologia hemipeniana e caracteres merísticos e morfométricos. As listas sinonímicas de todas as espécies da tribo foram elaboradas, clarificando o status taxonômico atual de cada uma, o que permitiu uma melhor definição taxonômica da tribo. Através desta análise foram reconhecidas 66 espécies válidas, um lectótipo foi designado, seis novas sinonímias foram propostas, cinco espécies foram revalidadas, e quatro espécies foram excluídas da tribo, justificando portanto a necessidade da descrição de dois genêros novos para posicioná-las.
    [Show full text]
  • Snakes, Centipedes, Snakepedes, and Centiserpents: Conflation of Liminal Species in Maya Iconography and Ethnozoology
    f No. 9, 2004 WAYEB NOTES ISSN 1379-8286 SNAKES, CENTIPEDES, SNAKEPEDES, AND CENTISERPENTS: CONFLATION OF LIMINAL SPECIES IN MAYA ICONOGRAPHY AND ETHNOZOOLOGY. (Workshop Closing Paper Presented at the XXIVth Linda Schele Forum on Maya Hieroglyphic Writing at the University of Texas at Austin, March 2000) Harri Kettunen1 and Bon V. Davis II2 1 University of Helsinki 2 University of Texas at Austin Abstract Since the identification of centipedes in the Maya hieroglyphic corpus and iconography in 1994 by Nikolai Grube and Werner Nahm (Grube & Nahm 1994: 702), epigraphers and iconographers alike have debated whether the serpentine creatures in Maya iconography depict imaginative snakes or centipedes. In this paper we argue that most serpentine creatures with unrealistically depicted heads are neither snakes nor centipedes, but a conflation of both, and even have characteristics of other animals, such as sharks and crocodiles. Thus these creatures should more aptly be designated as zoomorphs, monsters, centiserpents, or dragons. In the present article the topic will be examined using iconographic, epigraphic, zoological, and ethozoological data. Acknowledgements We would like to express our thanks to Justin Kerr for directing the Workshop on Maya ceramics at the XXIVth Maya Meeting in Austin. We would also like to thank Justin for making available hundreds of roll-out photographs of Maya ceramics and for offering us his insights on Maya iconography. Furthermore, we would like to thank Nancy Elder, the head librarian of the Biological Sciences Library at the University of Texas at Austin for providing us numerous articles relating to our topic and for directing us to relevant sources during our research on centipedes.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Correlates to Amphibian and Reptile
    ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES TO AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE DIVERSITY IN COSTA RICA A Thesis by DAVID EDELMAN LAURENCIO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May 2007 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES TO AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE DIVERSITY IN COSTA RICA A Thesis by DAVID EDELMAN LAURENCIO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved by: Chair of Committee, Lee A. Fitzgerald Committee Members, James R. Dixon Robert A. Wharton Head of Department, Thomas E. Lacher Jr. May 2007 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences iii ABSTRACT Environmental Correlates to Amphibian and Reptile Diversity in Costa Rica. (May 2007) David Edelman Laurencio, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Lee A. Fitzgerald The study of species diversity patterns and their causes remains a central theme of ecology. Work conducted over the last few decades has shown that both historical and ecological factors are important in determining species diversity patterns. Additionally, different causal mechanisms are important at different spatial and temporal scales. At the regional scale, species diversity patterns can best be studied in terms of three diversity components (alpha, beta and gamma). This study used the amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica to examine these species diversity components at the regional scale. To accomplish this, existing species lists were compiled from the literature. Additionally, three herpetofaunal surveys were conducted at under surveyed sites to fill knowledge gaps.
    [Show full text]
  • The Density and Distribution of Ateles Geoffroyi in a Mosaic Landscape at El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica Stacy M
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2006 The density and distribution of Ateles geoffroyi in a mosaic landscape at El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica Stacy M. Lindshield Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Lindshield, Stacy M., "The density and distribution of Ateles geoffroyi in a mosaic landscape at El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica " (2006). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 887. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/887 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The density and distribution of Ateles geoffroyi in a mosaic landscape at El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica by Stacy M. Lindshield A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Major: Anthropology Program of Study Committee: Jill D. Pruetz (Major Professor) Nancy Coinman Brent Danielson Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2006 Copyright © Stacy M Lindshield, 2006. All rights reserved. UMI Number: 1439919 UMI ® UMI Microform 1439919 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
    [Show full text]
  • (Squamata: Colubroidea: Dipsadidae) from the Cordillera Central of Western Panama, with Comments on Other Species of the Genus in the Area
    Zootaxa 3485: 26–40 (2012) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2012 · Magnolia Press Article ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DF69ABFD-AEAA-4890-899A-176A79C3ABA5 A new species of Sibon (Squamata: Colubroidea: Dipsadidae) from the Cordillera Central of western Panama, with comments on other species of the genus in the area SEBASTIAN LOTZKAT1,2,3, ANDREAS HERTZ1,2 & GUNTHER KÖHLER1 1Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 2Goethe-University, Institute for Ecology, Evolution & Diversity, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, Biologicum, Building C, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 3Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract We describe Sibon noalamina sp. nov. from the Caribbean versant of the Cordillera Central, in the Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé and the province of Veraguas of western Panama. Due to its coral snake-like, bicolored pattern, the new species superfi- cially resembles Sibon anthracops, Dipsas articulata, D. bicolor, D. temporalis, and D. viguieri. It differs from these spe- cies, and from all its congeners, by having only five supralabials, by the unique shape of the posterior supralabial, and by a slight keeling on some dorsal rows in adults. We discuss its conservation perspectives, and provide new distributional records for S. annulatus and S. longifrenis, as well as an updated key to the Lower Central American species of Sibon. Key words: snail-eater, Dipsas, Chiriquí, Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé, Bocas del Toro, Veraguas, conservation, distribution extension, morphology Resumen Describimos Sibon noalamina sp. nov. de la vertiente Caribe de la Cordillera Central, Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé y provincia de Veraguas, en el occidente de Panamá.
    [Show full text]
  • Hypomelanism in Dipsas Turgida Cope, 1868 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Rio Grande Do Sul State, Brazil
    Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 357-359 (2021) (published online on 14 February 2021) Hypomelanism in Dipsas turgida Cope, 1868 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil Márcio Tavares Costa1,*, Luis Roberval Bortoluzzi Castro2, Andrielli Vilanova de Carvalho2, and Edward Frederico Castro Pessano1 Snake species present different colouration patterns due (Kornilios, 2014). Consequently, leucism may generate to selective pressures, among them camouflage, mimicry, a negative effect on locomotion and digestion in these warning, and thermoregulation (Bechtel, 1978; Krecsák, animals (Stevenson et al., 1985), it impairs their ability 2008). However, a variety of chromatic anomalies to camouflage, and it may decrease their survival rate are also known in nature, the most common of which (Krecsák, 2008). are melanism, hypomelanism, albinism, and leucism For the genus Dipsas only albinism or partial (Krecsák, 2008; Castella et al., 2013). Melanism is albinism have been reported to date, for D. neuwiedii characteristic of individuals that are totally or practically (Lopes et al., 2019) and D. ventrimaculata (Abegg et black (Zuffi, 2008), whereas hypomelanism is a reduction al., 2014), respectively. We here report the first case of melanin pigment, and albinism is characterized by total of hypomelanism in the genus, for an individual of or extensive absence of melanin. Both hypomelanism and D. turgida Cope, 1868 (Fig. 1), a species for which albinism are caused by homozygous recessive alleles xanthism has also been reported (Amaral, 1934). (Bechtel, 1995; Campbell et al., 2010). Albino snakes On 1 October 2020 at 14:00 h we found a hypomelanistic have red eyes and yellowish or pinkish colouring due to D.
    [Show full text]