Reproductive Mode and Defensive Behaviour of the South American Aquatic Snake Helicops Pastazae (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Reproductive Mode and Defensive Behaviour of the South American Aquatic Snake Helicops Pastazae (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 447-451 (2019) (published online on 01 May 2019) Reproductive mode and defensive behaviour of the South American aquatic snake Helicops pastazae (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) Daniela García-Cobos1,2 ,* and Diego A. Gómez-Sánchez1 Helicops (Wagler, 1830) is a genus of aquatic snakes it is only known from its original description (Shreve, restricted to South America, it occurs between northern 1943), a re-description (Rossman, 1976), one recently Colombia to northern Argentina (Uetz et al., 2018). published dietary study (Almendáriz et al., 2017), and This group is characterized by presenting keeled several checklists (Pérez-Santos and Moreno, 1988; dorsal scales, one internasal scale, as well as dorsally Rivas et al., 2012; Pedroza-Banda et al., 2014; Wallach positioned eyes and nostrils due to their aquatic habitat et al., 2014). Although both Feldman et al. (2015) and (Segall et al., 2016). This genus presents both oviparous Uetz et al. (2018) report this species as viviparous, (egg-laying) and viviparous (live-bearing) species none of them provide any source that corroborates this (Greer, 1966). Of the 17 known species of the genus, statement. In addition, a detailed literature revision did nine are viviparous [H. carinicaudus (Wied-Neuwied, not allow us to find any published conclusive studies nor 1825), H. danieli Amaral, 1938, H. infrataeniatus Jan, observations supporting either reproductive mode for 1865, H. leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837), H. modestus this species. Furthermore, other aspects of the natural Günther, 1861, H. nentur, Costa et al., 2016, H. polylepis history of H. pastazae such as the defensive behaviour Günther, 1861, H. scalaris Jan, 1865, and H. trivittatus when threaten remains unknown, although a variety of (Gray, 1849)], two are oviparous (H. gomesi Amaral, defensive displays are common within different species 1921 and H. hagmanni Roux, 1910), and one presents of snakes (Greene, 1979). Here, we report for the first both reproductive modes [H. angulatus (Linnaeus, time the reproductive mode of H. pastazae as well as its 1758)] (Braz et al., 2016; see also Costa et al., 2016). defensive behaviour based on observations made both No information regarding the reproductive mode is in the field and in captivity. available for the remaining five species (H. pastazae Observations on the reproductive mode and defensive Shreve, 1943, H. apiaka Kawashita-Ribeiro et al., 2012, behaviour of H. pastazae were carried out in the Batá H. petersi Rossman, 1976, H. tapajonicus Frota, 2005, River in the municipality of Santa María, Boyacá, and H. yacu, Rossman and Dixon, 1975) (Braz et al., Colombia (4.857694°N, 73.265389°W, 800 m a.s.l.). 2016). While surveying exposed riverbed rocks at the margin Helicops pastazae is distributed from Peru to Venezuela of the Batá River on 20 December 2016 (early dry along the eastern Andean foothills (Rossman, 1976). season), we found a clutch of 11 eggs. These eggs This is one of the least studied species within the genus; were buried under a substratum composed of sand, small rocks and decomposing material located under a large rock separated about two meters from the edge of the river (Fig. 1A). Of the 11 eggs found, two were immediately fixed in formaldehyde (10%), one was attacked by ants and therefore did not contain a viable 1 Museo de Historia Natural ANDES, Departamento de Ciencias embryo. The remaining eight eggs were transported to Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes. a residency in Bogotá in a plastic canister containing Apartado Aéreo 4976, Bogotá, Colombia. the same substratum in which they were found. Once 2 Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos, Alexander von Humboldt, Colecciones Biológicas, Villa de Leyva, in Bogotá, the eight eggs were relocated to a constantly Boyacá, Colombia. humid and ventilated terrarium under a heat lamp that * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] maintained the mean temperature of about 20°C. 448 Daniela García-Cobos & Diego A. Gómez-Sánchez Figure 1. (A) A clutch of 11 eggs of H. pastazae found in the field at the margin of the Batá River, Boyacá, Colombia under a large rock partly buried under sand and decomposing material. (B) New-born peaking its snout out through a small incision opened during the hatching. We checked the eggs daily until the first hatching, found the individual around 10:00 a.m. in a resting which occurred during the night of 4 February 2017, 46 position under rocks at the edge of the Batá River. We days after the eggs were collected. Twenty-four hours manually relocated the individual from its shelter to later, the second and third individual began hatching approximately one meter apart from the river border, at night. However, the individuals did not completely and as we prevented the initial behaviour of the adult emerge from the eggs. Instead, the hatchlings continued female to escape to the river, it displayed an aggressive moving inside the egg constantly peeking out their behaviour by opening its mouth, expanding the head snout through a small incision for 19 hours, until they in a triangular shape, dorsally-ventrally flattening the emerged from the eggs. On 7 February 2017, three first third part of the body and by expelling a foul odour neonates slit the shells of their eggs and performed the from its cloacal glands (Fig. 2A, B). This display was same behaviour previously mentioned (Fig. 1B). This repeated three times during the encounter, each one behaviour was also exhibited by the seventh neonate lasting for about four seconds. During the entire time of that hatched on the night of 9 February, 2017. The the display, the snake raised and retracted back and forth remaining egg did not hatch and was probably infertile, as its interior was found desiccated, lacking any organic material. All of the seven neonatesTable were 1. Sex,euthanized snout-vent length (SVL), tail length (TL), and total length of seven hatchlings immediately after hatching, and the snout-vent length Table 1. Sex, snout-vent length (SVL), tail length (TL), and total length of seven hatchlings of Helicops pastazae born in (SVL) and tail length (TL) were measuredof Helicops with pastazae a ruler. born in captivity. Measurements are in mm. captivity. Measurements are in mm. Individuals were sexed by making a ventral longitudinal incision throughout the tail to detect the presence of hemipenis. The SVL of the hatchlings varied from 109 Sex SVL TL Total Length to 135 mm (x = 123.8 ± 10.7 mm, n = 7), and the TL Female 135 22 157 varied between 22 and 60 mm (x = 45.4 ± 11.9 mm, Female 132 50 182 n = 7) (Table 1). The sex ratio of the hatchlings was 2:5 (male:female). All specimens were deposited in the Female 109 40 149 reptile collection (ANDES-R) of the Museo de Historia Female 134 51 185 Natural, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Female 120 45 165 Additionally, we report the defensive behaviour Male 111 50 161 exhibited in situ by an adult female of H. pastazae, Male 126 60 186 observed in the field on 26 September, 2016. We 1 Reproductive mode and defensive behaviour of Helicops pastazae 449 Figure 2. Defensive behaviour of Helicops pastazae. (A) Expansion of the head in a triangular shape while dorsally-ventrally flattening the first third part of the body. (B) Aggressive behaviour consisting in mouth opening and trying to strike the threat source. the first part of the body and never took off its vision 25, x =10.2; De Aguiar and Di-Bernardo, 2005), H. from the source of threat. modestus (24; Da Silva and Travaglia-Cardoso, 2015), Reproductive mode is a major life-history component and H. angulatus (4-20; Martins and Oliveira, 1998; that can shape reproductive ecology. It is necessary to Ford and Ford, 2002). On the other hand, hatchling evaluate morphological characteristics of the eggs/ SVL is similar to that of many other congeneric such embryos and behavioural observations of parturition of as H. leopardinus (106-139 mm; Ávila et al., 2006), H. neonates or oviposition of the eggs, either in the field or in infrataeniatus (106-151 mm, x =129.4 mm; De Aguiar captivity, in order to reliably determine the reproductive and Di-Bernardo, 2005), H. modestus (120-160 mm, x mode of a given species (Blackburn, 1993). Our finding = 146 mm; Da Silva and Travaglia-Cardoso, 2015), and of a clutch of eggs composed of thick and opaque H. angulatus (x =139 mm; Ford and Ford, 2002). eggshells and the hatching of young approximately two The defensive behaviour observed for the adult months after the encounter provide conclusive evidence female of H. pastazae has been previously reported for to classify this population of H. pastazae as oviparous several other snake species. Among the aquatic snakes, (Blackburn, 1993; Braz et al., 2016). Even so, we cannot H. angulatus, H. carinicaudus, H. danieli and some determine this species as completely oviparous by only species of the genus Nerodia (Linnaeus, 1758) present using this single observation as it has been reported that a similar defensive repertoire (Scudder and Burghardt, at least one species of Helicops (H. angulatus) presents 1983; Martins and Oliveira, 1998, Marques & Sazima, reproductive bimodality, meaning that it present both 2004). Additionally, more distantly related species of viviparous and oviparous populations (Ford and Ford, neotropical Dipsadidae snakes such as Ninia atrata 2002; Braz et al., 2018). However, neither oviparity or (Hallowell, 1845), Dipsas sanctijoannis (Boulenger, bimodality are commonly found in Helicops and our 1911), Xenodon dorbignyi (Bibron, 1854), and Xenodon observation is an important contribution to categorizing severus (Linnaeus, 1758), among other species, exhibit a the reproductive mode of H. pastazae, as well as for similar behaviour when threatened (Tozetti et al., 2009; understanding the evolution of viviparism within the Kahn, 2010; Morales and Lasso, 2010; Angarita-Sierra, genus and can be helpful in future studies concerning 2015).
Recommended publications
  • Other Contributions
    Other Contributions NATURE NOTES Amphibia: Caudata Ambystoma ordinarium. Predation by a Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis). The Michoacán Stream Salamander (Ambystoma ordinarium) is a facultatively paedomorphic ambystomatid species. Paedomorphic adults and larvae are found in montane streams, while metamorphic adults are terrestrial, remaining near natal streams (Ruiz-Martínez et al., 2014). Streams inhabited by this species are immersed in pine, pine-oak, and fir for- ests in the central part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Luna-Vega et al., 2007). All known localities where A. ordinarium has been recorded are situated between the vicinity of Lake Patzcuaro in the north-central portion of the state of Michoacan and Tianguistenco in the western part of the state of México (Ruiz-Martínez et al., 2014). This species is considered Endangered by the IUCN (IUCN, 2015), is protected by the government of Mexico, under the category Pr (special protection) (AmphibiaWeb; accessed 1April 2016), and Wilson et al. (2013) scored it at the upper end of the medium vulnerability level. Data available on the life history and biology of A. ordinarium is restricted to the species description (Taylor, 1940), distribution (Shaffer, 1984; Anderson and Worthington, 1971), diet composition (Alvarado-Díaz et al., 2002), phylogeny (Weisrock et al., 2006) and the effect of habitat quality on diet diversity (Ruiz-Martínez et al., 2014). We did not find predation records on this species in the literature, and in this note we present information on a predation attack on an adult neotenic A. ordinarium by a Thamnophis cyrtopsis. On 13 July 2010 at 1300 h, while conducting an ecological study of A.
    [Show full text]
  • Herpetological Journal SHORT NOTE
    Volume 28 (April 2018), 93-95 SHORT NOTE Herpetological Journal Published by the British Intersexuality in Helicops infrataeniatus Jan, 1865 Herpetological Society (Dipsadidae: Hydropsini) Ruth A. Regnet1, Fernando M. Quintela1, Wolfgang Böhme2 & Daniel Loebmann1 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Vertebrados. Av. Itália km 8, CEP: 96203-900, Vila Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 2Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum A. Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany Herein, we describe the first case of intersexuality in the are viviparous, and interestingly, H. angulatus exhibits Hydropsini tribe. After examination of 720 specimens both reproductive modes (Rossman, 1984; Aguiar & Di- of Helicops infrataeniatus Jan, 1865, we discovered Bernardo, 2005; Braz et al., 2016). Helicops infrataeniatus one individual that presented feminine and masculine has a wide distribution that encompasses south- reproductive features. The specimen was 619 mm long, southeastern Brazil, southern Paraguay, North-eastern with seven follicles in secondary stage, of different shapes Argentina and Uruguay (Deiques & Cechin, 1991; Giraudo, and sizes, and a hemipenis with 13.32 and 13.57 mm in 2001; Carreira & Maneyro, 2013). At the coastal zone of length. The general shape of this organ is similar to that southernmost Brazil, H. infrataeniatus is among the most observed in males, although it is smaller and does not abundant species in many types of limnic and estuarine present conspicuous spines along its body. Deformities environments (Quintela & Loebmann, 2009; Regnet found in feminine and masculine structures suggest that et al., 2017). In October 2015 at the Laranjal beach, this specimen might not be reproductively functional. municipality of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (31°46’S, 52°13’W), a remarkable aggregation of reptiles Key words: Follicles, hemipenis, hermaphroditism, water and caecilians occurred after a flood event associated to snake.
    [Show full text]
  • Herpetological Information Service No
    Type Descriptions and Type Publications OF HoBART M. Smith, 1933 through June 1999 Ernest A. Liner Houma, Louisiana smithsonian herpetological information service no. 127 2000 SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE The SHIS series publishes and distributes translations, bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged useful to individuals interested in the biology of amphibians and reptiles, but unlikely to be published in the normal technical journals. Single copies are distributed free to interested individuals. Libraries, herpetological associations, and research laboratories are invited to exchange their publications with the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles. We wish to encourage individuals to share their bibliographies, translations, etc. with other herpetologists through the SHIS series. If you have such items please contact George Zug for instructions on preparation and submission. Contributors receive 50 free copies. Please address all requests for copies and inquiries to George Zug, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC 20560 USA. Please include a self-addressed mailing label with requests. Introduction Hobart M. Smith is one of herpetology's most prolific autiiors. As of 30 June 1999, he authored or co-authored 1367 publications covering a range of scholarly and popular papers dealing with such diverse subjects as taxonomy, life history, geographical distribution, checklists, nomenclatural problems, bibliographies, herpetological coins, anatomy, comparative anatomy textbooks, pet books, book reviews, abstracts, encyclopedia entries, prefaces and forwords as well as updating volumes being repnnted. The checklists of the herpetofauna of Mexico authored with Dr. Edward H. Taylor are legendary as is the Synopsis of the Herpetofalhva of Mexico coauthored with his late wife, Rozella B.
    [Show full text]
  • A Natural History Database and R Package for Comparative Biology of Snake Feeding Habits
    Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e49943 doi: 10.3897/BDJ.8.e49943 R Package SquamataBase: a natural history database and R package for comparative biology of snake feeding habits Michael C. Grundler ‡ ‡ Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America Corresponding author: Michael C. Grundler ([email protected]) Academic editor: Scott Chamberlain Received: 07 Jan 2020 | Accepted: 20 Feb 2020 | Published: 27 Mar 2020 Citation: Grundler MC (2020) SquamataBase: a natural history database and R package for comparative biology of snake feeding habits. Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e49943. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e49943 Abstract Public databases in taxonomy, phylogenetics and geographic and fossil occurrence records are key research tools that provide raw materials, on which broad-scale analyses and synthesis in their respective fields are based. Comparable repositories for natural history observations are rare. Publicly available natural history data on traits like diet, habitat and reproduction are scattered across an extensive primary literature and remain relatively inaccessible to researchers interested in using these data for broad-scale analyses in macroecology and macroevolution. In this paper, I introduce SquamataBase, an open-source R package and database of predator-prey records involving the world’s snakes. SquamataBase facilitates the discovery of natural history observations for use in comparative analyses and synthesis and, in its current form, contains observations of at least 18,304 predator individuals comprising 1,227 snake species and at least 58,633 prey items comprising 3,231 prey taxa. To facilitate integration with comparative analysis workflows, the data are distributed inside an R package, which also provides basic functionality for common data manipulation and filtering operations.
    [Show full text]
  • De Los Reptiles Del Yasuní
    guía dinámica de los reptiles del yasuní omar torres coordinador editorial Lista de especies Número de especies: 113 Amphisbaenia Amphisbaenidae Amphisbaena bassleri, Culebras ciegas Squamata: Serpentes Boidae Boa constrictor, Boas matacaballo Corallus hortulanus, Boas de los jardines Epicrates cenchria, Boas arcoiris Eunectes murinus, Anacondas Colubridae: Dipsadinae Atractus major, Culebras tierreras cafés Atractus collaris, Culebras tierreras de collares Atractus elaps, Falsas corales tierreras Atractus occipitoalbus, Culebras tierreras grises Atractus snethlageae, Culebras tierreras Clelia clelia, Chontas Dipsas catesbyi, Culebras caracoleras de Catesby Dipsas indica, Culebras caracoleras neotropicales Drepanoides anomalus, Culebras hoz Erythrolamprus reginae, Culebras terrestres reales Erythrolamprus typhlus, Culebras terrestres ciegas Erythrolamprus guentheri, Falsas corales de nuca rosa Helicops angulatus, Culebras de agua anguladas Helicops pastazae, Culebras de agua de Pastaza Helicops leopardinus, Culebras de agua leopardo Helicops petersi, Culebras de agua de Peters Hydrops triangularis, Culebras de agua triángulo Hydrops martii, Culebras de agua amazónicas Imantodes lentiferus, Cordoncillos del Amazonas Imantodes cenchoa, Cordoncillos comunes Leptodeira annulata, Serpientes ojos de gato anilladas Oxyrhopus petolarius, Falsas corales amazónicas Oxyrhopus melanogenys, Falsas corales oscuras Oxyrhopus vanidicus, Falsas corales Philodryas argentea, Serpientes liana verdes de banda plateada Philodryas viridissima, Serpientes corredoras
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin of the Essex Institute
    THE NORTH AMERICAN REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. A LIST OF THE SPECIES OCCURRING NORTH OF THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC, WITH REFERENCES. BY SAMUEL GARMAN. The following list is presented in the shape in which it has proved most useful in my own work. As in other pub- lications, I have placed the date immediately after the au- thority, as one naturally thinks it. In order accurately to determine species, comparison should be made with the original description rather than with the opinion of a sub- sequent writer ; for this reason reference is made to the discoverer and not to one in whose opinion the species belonofs to a o^enus some other than that in which it was originally placed. Consequently, the references are under names unaffected by frequent changes from one genus to another. Heretofore, the faunal limit for North America has been patriotically placed at the Mexican boundary. The distribution of the reptiles and Batrachians proves this limit to be unscientific, and shows the nearest approach to a separation between the faunae of the Americas, North and South, at the southern extremity of the tableland of Mexico. Attempt is made in this list to include all the species known to occur north of that point. When several localities for a species are given, they are chosen to indicate the extent of its range as nearly as possible. With a slight modification, the binomial system is fol- lowed. For various reasons, as will be seen below, the tri- (3) 4 garman's list op or polynomiiils affected by different authors, can hardly be considered improvements.
    [Show full text]
  • Bibliography and Scientific Name Index to Amphibians
    lb BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SCIENTIFIC NAME INDEX TO AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON BULLETIN 1-8, 1918-1988 AND PROCEEDINGS 1-100, 1882-1987 fi pp ERNEST A. LINER Houma, Louisiana SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE NO. 92 1992 SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE The SHIS series publishes and distributes translations, bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged useful to individuals interested in the biology of amphibians and reptiles, but unlikely to be published in the normal technical journals. Single copies are distributed free to interested individuals. Libraries, herpetological associations, and research laboratories are invited to exchange their publications with the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles. We wish to encourage individuals to share their bibliographies, translations, etc. with other herpetologists through the SHIS series. If you have such items please contact George Zug for instructions on preparation and submission. Contributors receive 50 free copies. Please address all requests for copies and inquiries to George Zug, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC 20560 USA. Please include a self-addressed mailing label with requests. INTRODUCTION The present alphabetical listing by author (s) covers all papers bearing on herpetology that have appeared in Volume 1-100, 1882-1987, of the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington and the four numbers of the Bulletin series concerning reference to amphibians and reptiles. From Volume 1 through 82 (in part) , the articles were issued as separates with only the volume number, page numbers and year printed on each. Articles in Volume 82 (in part) through 89 were issued with volume number, article number, page numbers and year.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological Functions of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles: a Review
    Univ. Sci. 2015, Vol. 20 (2): 229-245 doi: 10.11144/Javeriana.SC20-2.efna Freely available on line REVIEW ARTICLE Ecological functions of neotropical amphibians and reptiles: a review Cortés-Gomez AM1, Ruiz-Agudelo CA2 , Valencia-Aguilar A3, Ladle RJ4 Abstract Amphibians and reptiles (herps) are the most abundant and diverse vertebrate taxa in tropical ecosystems. Nevertheless, little is known about their role in maintaining and regulating ecosystem functions and, by extension, their potential value for supporting ecosystem services. Here, we review research on the ecological functions of Neotropical herps, in different sources (the bibliographic databases, book chapters, etc.). A total of 167 Neotropical herpetology studies published over the last four decades (1970 to 2014) were reviewed, providing information on more than 100 species that contribute to at least five categories of ecological functions: i) nutrient cycling; ii) bioturbation; iii) pollination; iv) seed dispersal, and; v) energy flow through ecosystems. We emphasize the need to expand the knowledge about ecological functions in Neotropical ecosystems and the mechanisms behind these, through the study of functional traits and analysis of ecological processes. Many of these functions provide key ecosystem services, such as biological pest control, seed dispersal and water quality. By knowing and understanding the functions that perform the herps in ecosystems, management plans for cultural landscapes, restoration or recovery projects of landscapes that involve aquatic and terrestrial systems, development of comprehensive plans and detailed conservation of species and ecosystems may be structured in a more appropriate way. Besides information gaps identified in this review, this contribution explores these issues in terms of better understanding of key questions in the study of ecosystem services and biodiversity and, also, of how these services are generated.
    [Show full text]
  • Daily Activity Patterns Influence Retinal Morphology, Signatures of Selection, and Spectral Tuning of Opsin Genes in Colubrid Snakes E
    Hauzman et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2017) 17:249 DOI 10.1186/s12862-017-1110-0 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Daily activity patterns influence retinal morphology, signatures of selection, and spectral tuning of opsin genes in colubrid snakes E. Hauzman1,2* , D. M. O. Bonci1,2, E. Y. Suárez-Villota3,4, M. Neitz5 and D. F. Ventura1,2 Abstract Background: Morphological divergences of snake retinal structure point to complex evolutionary processes and adaptations. The Colubridae family has a remarkable variety of retinal structure that can range from all-cone and all-rod to duplex (cone/rod) retinas. To explore whether nocturnal versus diurnal activity is responsible for constraints on molecular evolution and plays a role in visual opsin spectral tuning of colubrids, we carried out molecular evolution analyses of the visual opsin genes LWS, RH1,andSWS1 from 17 species and performed morphological analyses. Results: Phylogenetic reconstructions of the RH1 and LWS recovered major clades characterized by primarily diurnal or primarily nocturnal activity patterns, in contrast with the topology for SWS1, which is very similar to the species tree. We found stronger signals of purifying selection along diurnal and nocturnal lineages for RH1 and SWS1, respectively. A blue-shift of the RH1 spectral peak is associated with diurnal habits. Spectral tuning of cone opsins did not differ among diurnal and nocturnal species. Retinas of nocturnal colubrids had many rows of photoreceptor nuclei, with large numbers of rods, labeled by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and two types of cones: large cones sensitive to long/medium wavelengths (L/M) and small cones sensitive to ultra-violet/violet wavelengths (UV/VS).
    [Show full text]
  • Short Communication Non-Venomous Snakebites in the Western Brazilian
    Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Journal of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine Vol.:52:e20190120: 2019 doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0120-2019 Short Communication Non-venomous snakebites in the Western Brazilian Amazon Ageane Mota da Silva[1],[2], Viviane Kici da Graça Mendes[3],[4], Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro[3],[4] and Paulo Sérgio Bernarde[5] [1]. Instituto Federal do Acre, Campus de Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul, AC, Brasil. [2]. Programa de Pós-Graduação Bionorte, Campus Universitário BR 364, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil. [3]. Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brasil. [4]. Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM, Brasil. [5]. Laboratório de Herpetologia, Centro Multidisciplinar, Campus Floresta, Universidade Federal do Acre, Cruzeiro do Sul, AC, Brasil. Abstract Introduction: In this study, we examined the clinical manifestations, laboratory evidence, and the circumstances of snakebites caused by non-venomous snakes, which were treated at the Regional Hospital of Juruá in Cruzeiro do Sul. Methods: Data were collected through patient interviews, identification of the species that were taken to the hospital, and the clinical manifestations. Results: Eight confirmed and four probable cases of non-venomous snakebites were recorded. Conclusions: The symptoms produced by the snakes Helicops angulatus and Philodryas viridissima, combined with their coloration can be confused with venomous snakes (Bothrops atrox and Bothrops bilineatus), thus resulting in incorrect bothropic snakebite diagnosis. Keywords: Serpentes. Dipsadidae. Snakes. Ophidism. Envenomation. Snakes from the families Colubridae and Dipsadidae incidence of cases is recorded (56.1 per 100,000 inhabitants)2. Of are traditionally classified as non-poisonous, despite having these, bites by non-venomous snakes are also computed (Boidae, the Duvernoy's gland and the capacity for producing toxic Colubridae, and Dipsadidae) which, depending on the region, secretions, which eventually cause envenomations1.
    [Show full text]
  • Edward Harrison Taylor: the Teacher by A
    HERP QL 31 .T37 E37 EDWARD H. TAYLOR: RECOLLECTIONS OF AN HERPETOLOGIST NOTE: The map depicting part of the Philip- pine region, reproduced on the cover, was used by Edward H. Taylor in the course of field work in 1912-1913. Edward H. Taylor EDWARD H. TAYLOR: RECOLLECTIONS OF AN HERPETOLOGIST EDWARD H. TAYLOR Professor and Curator Emeritus Department of Systematics and Ecology and Museum of Natural History The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66045 A. BYRON LEONARD Professor Emeritus Department of Systematics and Ecology The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66045 HOBART M. SMITH Professor Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado 80302 GEORGE R. PISANI Visiting Instructor Department of Biology The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66045 Monograph of THE Museum of Natural History, The University of Kansas Number 4 1975 University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History Editor: Richard F. Johnston Monograph Series, Publication No. 4 pp. 1-160; 6 figures; 1 plate Published December 15, 1975 WW 1 6 1999 Museum of Natural History The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66045 U.S.A. Copyright 1975, Museum of Natural History The University of Kansas Printed by University of Kansas Printing Service Lawrence, Kansas PREFACE The charge to anyone doing a volume like this is complex and best met by artists, not scientists. Professor E. H. Taylor is now 86 years old and has been busy for all that time. How, short of a full biography, can we recreate in our minds the sense of and feeling for this energetic, creative, sometimes irascible man who has had an extraordinary career as naturalist, explorer, teacher, friend (especially of children), scientist, spy, consort of royalty and "father" of modern herpetology? This book senses the man only fractionally and certainly less than we expect for average his full persons.
    [Show full text]
  • 0314 Farancia Abacura.Pdf
    314.1 REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE F ARANCIA ABACURA Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. • FOSSILRECORD. In part, because of osteological similari• ties and past and present sympatry between F. abacura and the V. RICKMcDANIELand JOHNP. KARGES. 1983. Faranciaaba• congeneric F. erytrogramma, fossil specimens are difficult to as• cura. sign to species. Pleistocene and/or Recent materials from archaic deposits in Florida are reported in Gilmore (1938), Brattstrom Faranda abacura (Holbrook) (1953), Holman (1959), and Auffenberg (1963). Mud snake • PERTINENTLITERATURE. Recent taxonomic reviews are provided by Smith (1938) and Karges and McDaniel (1982). Neill (1964) discussed evolution and subspeciation. Comprehensive Coluber abacurus Holbrook, 1836:119. Type-locality "South Car• natural history information is found in Wright and Wright (1957) olina," restricted to Charleston, South Carolina by Schmidt and Tinkle (1959). Reproductive information is summarized in (1953). Holotype, Acad. Natur. Sci. Philadelphia 5146, fe• Fitch (1970), and Riemer (1957) described natural nests. Neill male, collected in South Carolina, collector and date unknown (1951), Mount (1975), and Martof et al. (1980) described habitat (not examined by authors). preferences. Other important references include: food (Dabney, Homalopsis Reinwardtii Schlegel, 1837:173, 357-358. Type-lo• 1919; Buck, 1946; Tschambers, 1948; Sisk, 1963; Mount, 1975), cality restricted to the range of Farancia abacura reinwardti predators (Auffenberg, 1948; Rossman, 1959), aberrant individ• by Karges and McDaniel (1982). Lectotype, Museum Nation• uals (Heiser, 1931; Etheridge, 1950; Hellman and Telford, 1956; al D'Historie Naturelle, Paris 3399, adult female donated by Hensley, 1959; Neill, 1964), habits (Meade, 1935; Schmidt and Teinturier before 1837, collector, date and exact locality Davis, 1941; Davis, 1948; Smith, 1961; Anderson, 1965; Mount, unknown (not examined by authors).
    [Show full text]