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First Observation of Mating of the Calico Snake (Oxyrhopus Petolarius) in the Wild

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First Observation of Mating of the Calico Snake (Oxyrhopus Petolarius) in the Wild Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 767-769 (2014) (published online on 21 December 2014) First observation of mating of the Calico snake (Oxyrhopus petolarius) in the wild Cord Blake Eversole1*, Randy Powell2, John Leonard1, Dennis Lizarro3 and Reinaldo Cholima Bravo3 The Calico Snake (Oxyrhopus petolarius (Linnaeus, The two individuals were observed actively mating 1758), Colubridae: Dipsadinae) (name following (i.e., intertwined with the male’s hemipenis inserted Savage, 2011) is a widespread colubrid snake found into the female). As we approached there was no throughout Central and South America; however, very attempt to escape and subsequent to capture the two little is known about the life history of this species. individuals were carefully separated in order to assess Zacariotti and del Rio do Valle (2010) were the first to morphological characteristics (i.e., total length, snout to observe breeding behavior and mating of O. petolarius. vent length, etc.). After observation of this behavior the The two specimens from their account were captured authors captured the two individuals for deposition into separately but placed together in a holding container. the herpetology collection of Centro de Investigación Subsequently, the two individuals began to exhibit de Recursos Acuáticos in Trinidad, Bolivia (female: courtship behavior (e.g., head and chin movements over CIRA 132; male: CIRA 133; Fig. 1) and measurements the female’s body), which was followed by mating. and scale counts were taken (Table 1). Oxyrhopus Although this is a valuable observation of the mating petolarius has been found in a variety of habitat types behavior of O. petolarius, it should not be considered across the area of its distribution, e.g., gallery forests, an observation of a natural mating event but rather a savannahs, Atlantic forests, and Amazon rainforests human mediated occurrence. (Bernarde and Machado, 2000; Vaz-Silva et al., 2007; On 24 June 2014 (21:30), during a herpetofaunal Santana et al., 2008; Zacariotti and del Rio do Valle, survey of the Reserva de Biósfera Estación Biológica 2010). The individuals described in this account were del Beni (Departmento del Beni, Provincia de Yacuma, captured alongside a logging road that extended through Bolivia), two adult O. petolarius (Fig. 1) were observed a large expanse of primary rainforest. at a height of 2.25 m in a Cari Cari tree (Acacia This observation represents a mating-behavior event bonariensis), approximately 10 km southeast of the during the winter months which is different than the mid- community of Totaizal (14.96292 S; 66.28728 W). spring observation of O. petolarius in disturbed forest fragments along Rio Sapucai Mirim in Southeastern Brazil by Zacariotti and del Rio do Valle (2010). Our observation also does not coincide with the account of Lynch (2009), who observed eggs of O. petolarius in Colombia on a palm plantation during early spring; or 1 Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M that of Test et al. (1966) from the cloud forest zone of University- Kingsville, 1150 Engineering Ave., MSC 218, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA Venezuela, who observed egg laying during the late fall. 2 Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Texas A&M As stated by Zacariotti and del Rio do Valle (2010), the University- Kingsville, 700 University Ave., MSC 158, irregularity among these observations of mating and egg Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA laying may be the result of geographic differences along 3 Centro de Investigación de Recursos Acuáticos (C.I.R.A.), the wide distribution of O. petolarius. However, it is Universidad Autónoma del Beni “José Ballivián”, Trinidad, also possible that due to the distribution of O. petolarius Bolivia * Corresponding author email: throughout the Neotropics, this species is able to breed [email protected] year round. 768 Cord Blake Eversole et al. Figure 1. Male and female calico snakes (Oxyrhopus petolarius) collected after being observed mating in the wild on 24 June 2014 (21:30), during a herpetofaunal survey of the Reserva de Biósfera Estación Biológica del Beni (Departmento del Beni, Provincia de Yacuma, Bolivia): (A) dorsal view of female (CIRA 132); (B) ventral view of female; (C) dorsal view of male (CIRA 133); (D) ventral view of male. 1 Table 1. Length measurements (mm) and scale counts for O. petolarius specimens collected after being observed mating in the wild. 1 Table 1. Length measurements (mm) and scale counts for O. petolarius specimens collected after being observed mating in the wild. Length Measurements Scale Counts Snout-Vent Tail Total Tail proportion of Mid- Upper Lower Pre- Post- Specimen Ventral Sub Caudal Temporal Length Length Length total length (%) body Labial Labial Ocular Ocular CIRA 132 (Ƃ) 798 213 1011 21 19 203 91 8 10 2 + 3 1 2 CIRA 133 (ƃ) 610 194 804 24 19 195 unavailable 8 10 2 + 3 1 2 2 Acknowledgements. We thank El Museo Icticola, Centro de providing specimen photos. We also thank Servicio Nacional de Investigación de Recursos Acuáticos, and Universidad Autónoma Áreas Protegidas and Reserva de la Biósfera Estación Biológica del Beni “Jośe Ballivián” for logistical support and A. Terry for del Beni for access to our study area. First observation of mating of the Calico snake in the wild 769 References Bernarde, P.S., Machado, R.A. (2000): Oxyrhopus petola digitalis (NCN). Prey. Herpetological Review 31: 247-248. Lynch, J.D. (2009): Snakes of the genus Oxyrhopus (Colubridae: Squamata) in Columbia: taxonomy and geographic variation. Papéis Avulsos Zoologia. 49: 319-337. Santana, G.G., Vieira, W.L.S., Pereira-Filho, G.A., Delfim, F.R., Lima, Y.C.C., Viera, K.S. (2008): Herpetofauna em um fragmento de Floresta Atlantica no Estado da Paraiba, Regiao Nordeste do Brasil. Biotemas 21: 75-84. Savage, J.M. (2011): The correct species-group name for an Oxyrhopus (Squamata: Dipsadidae) variously called Coluber petalarius, C. pethola, C. petola, or C. petolarius by early authors. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 124: 223-225. Test, F.H., Sexton, O.J., Heatwole, H. (1966): Reptiles of Rancho Grande and vicinity, Estado Aragua, Venezuela. Miscellaneous Publications. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 128: 1-63. Vaz-Silva, W., Guedes, A.G., Azevedo-Silva, P.L., Gontijo, F.F., Barbosa, R.S., Aloisio, G.R., Olveira, F.C.G. (2007): Herpetofauna, Espora Hydroelectric Power Plant, State of Goias, Brazil. Check List 3: 338-345. Zacariotti, R. L., del Rio do Valle, R. (2010): Observation of mating in the calico snake Oxyrhopus petola Linnaeus, 1758. Herpetology Notes 3: 139-140. Accepted by Vaclav Gvozdik.
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