DOCSLIB.ORG

UN CASO CLÍNICO DE ENVENENAMIENTO POR LA SERPIENTE Coniophanes Piceivittis COPE, EN HONDURAS Leonel Marineros¹ Y Edgardo Marineros-Banegas²

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
UN CASO CLÍNICO DE ENVENENAMIENTO POR LA SERPIENTE Coniophanes Piceivittis COPE, EN HONDURAS Leonel Marineros¹ Y Edgardo Marineros-Banegas² Marineros, L. y E. Marineros-Banegas, 2019 UN CASO CLÍNICO DE ENVENENAMIENTO POR LA SERPIENTE Coniophanes piceivittis COPE, EN HONDURAS Leonel Marineros¹ y Edgardo Marineros-Banegas² ¹ Biólogo especialista en Vida Silvestre, investigador asociado al INCEBIO ² Facultad de Medicina, UNAH causing mild poisoning, characterized by Recibido: 23 de septiembre del 2019 inflammation and burning that can confuse Aceptado: 20 de diciembre del 2019 medical emergency care personnel; as if it Publicado: 31 de diciembre del 2019 were a bite by a vipérid. In this note, there Autor de correspondencia: Leonel Marineros: [email protected] is an official accident caused by the bite of Cita: Marineros, L. y E. Marineros- the snake Coniophanes piceivittis, known Banegas. 2019. Un caso clínico de as "guardacaninos black" happened on the envenenamiento por la serpiente periphery of Tegucigalpa. It is estimated as Coniophanes piceivittis Cope, En a moderate degree, the effects and clinical Honduras. Scientia hondurensis:2(2):29-33 care provided until the end of the symptoms are described. RESUMEN KEY WORDS: Colubrid, opistoglifa, Muchos colúbridos, conocidos como no toxic saliva, snake management venenosos, presentan saliva tóxica, aunque no mortal, sus componentes son capaces Los accidentes ofídicos representan un de causar un envenenamiento leve, serio problema de salud pública a nivel caracterizado por inflamación y ardor que mundial. Se estima que en Honduras puede confundir al personal de atención de ocurren más de 100 casos anuales, muchos emergencias médicas; como si se tratase de los cuales llegan a ser fatales; sin de una mordedura por un vipérido. En esta embargo, esta estadística no corresponde a nota, se presenta un accidente ofídico la realidad, ya que muchos de estos ocasionado por la mordedura de la accidentes no son registrados en las serpiente Coniophanes piceivittis, estadísticas hospitalarias (Marineros et al., conocida como “guardacaminos negra” 2012). sucedido en la periferia de Tegucigalpa. Se Las serpientes de dentición opistoglífos; estima como grado moderado, se es decir, aquellas que presentan colmillos describen los efectos y la atención clínica venenosos en el fondo de la arcada dental brindada hasta el fin de los síntomas. superior, representan una buena cantidad de la diversidad de especies presentes en PALABRAS CLAVES: colúbrido, Honduras. Estas serpientes presentan opistoglifa, saliva toxica, manejo de dificultad para inyectar su veneno, serpientes precisamente por ese detalle de la ubicación de sus los colmillos. ABSTRACT En los trabajos documentados por Many colubrid, known as non- Marineros 2000 y Marineros et al. 2012, se poisonous, have toxic saliva, although not presenta una lista de serpientes con saliva fatal, its components are capable of 29 Scientia hondurensis 2(2), Año 2019 tóxica capaces de ocasionar inflamación y minutos y luego cada hora el primer día; al ardor. Estos trabajos también presentaron mismo tiempo que se documentó material fotográfico para brindar el fotográficamente el desarrollo del evento. reconociendo rápido en caso de emergencia. Es fácilmente identificada por su coloración dorsal de líneas negras gruesas brillantes con dos líneas amarillentas delgadas y por la presencia de 23 a 25 hileras de escamas dorsales (McCranie 2011). En la revisión bibliográfica, no se lograron encontrar casos clínicos registrados para la mayoría de las especies registradas como opistoglifas en Honduras. El objetivo de esta nota es Figura 2. Inserción de los dientes opistoflifos. La presentar la documentación de un caso de serpiente estuvo prendida por unos 30 segundos. accidente ofídico ocasionado por la serpiente opistoglífa Coniophanes El 27 de junio 2019 un ejemplar cautivo piceivittis. de Coniophanes piceivittis fue liberado El ejemplar de C. piceivittis fue exactamente a las 10:00 am cerca de encontrada en el dormitorio de una casa de Tegucigalpa; antes de soltarla, la serpiente habitación en un barrio periférico de mordió al primer autor logrando introducir Tegucigalpa (Altos de la Centroamérica), ambos colmillos opistoglífos e inocular a 1160 m de elevación, en una región veneno en la porción proximal de la cara cercana a zacatales en los alrededores y posterior del segundo dedo de la mano entregada al primer autor (Figura 1). izquierda (Figura 2). La inserción de los dientes causó un dolor inmediato (Figura 2 y Figura 3). La serpiente quedó prendida por cerca de 30 segundos y logró introducir los dientes opistoglífos ubicados en el fondo de su cavidad bucal, con ello logró inyectar la toxina de sus glándulas de Duvernoy. Figura 1. Manipulación del espécimen en referencia de C. piceivittis El paciente conducía solitario un automóvil de camino entre Tegucigalpa y el pueblo de Aramecina (departamento de Valle), y trató de documentar el desenvolvimiento del evento con su teléfono celular. Se hicieron grabaciones Figura 3. Marca de los dos colmillos opistoglífos que pueden confundir al equipo médico con la descriptivas de video al principio cada 10 marca dejada por una víbora. 30 Marineros, L. y E. Marineros-Banegas, 2019 se negó a recibir antinflamatorios ni La figura 1 muestra la especie y su analgésicos. tamaño comparativo con la mano del paciente. Se trata de una “guardacaminos negra”, conocida así para diferenciarla de la “guardacaminos blanca” o Conophis lineatus, otra especie de colúbrido también opistoglífa perteneciente a la misma familia Dipsadidae. La figura 2 muestra el momento de la mordedura, en este caso se le permitió a la culebra introducir sus colmillos traseros que son de mayor tamaño que los dientes sujetadores y aglifos. Figura 4. Inflamación comparativa al segundo día. La figura 3 muestra la marca dejada posterior a la mordedura, se aprecia las Día 2: Los cambios inflamatorios marcas dejadas por los colmillos persisten hasta el tercio distal del inoculadores, los dientes aglifos dejaron antebrazo izquierdo. El paciente describe una marca poco visible. dolor leve de tipo punzante y se mantiene La fotografía 3 muestra la inflamación es la imposibilidad para realizar un puño y evidente que se comenzó a los pocos dificultad al movimiento de dedos. minutos posteriores al incidente y que se Día 5: La inflamación persistió, pero en incrementó en las horas próximas, siendo menor grado, y se limitó al dorso de la plena al segundo día. mano izquierda. El resto de las A continuación, se describen las manifestaciones persistieron igual. manifestaciones clínicas presentadas por Día 8: La inflamación ya era casi el paciente hasta la resolución total del imperceptible, pero se mantuvo levemente cuadro. en el dorso de la mano. El dolor solo estaba Día 1: En los primeros 5 minutos, el presente al realizar un puño o realizar paciente manifestó haber sentido dolor de presión sobre el dedo afectado, y se ha tipo urente en el sitio de la mordedura, que recobrado la movilidad completa de los en un inicio describe como muy intenso, dedos, exceptuando el 2do. pero este fue aumentando con el paso de Día 12: La inflamación estaba localizada pocos minutos acompañándose de al dorso del 2do dedo de la mano izquierda nauseas, arcadas, e hiperalgesia en el dorso y aún se encontró dificultad a la de la misma mano (Figura 4). movilización de este dedo. Dolor leve al Adicionalmente se desarrollaron cambios realizar presión sobre el dedo. inflamatorios progresivos, llegando el Día 14: Paciente manifestó leve dolor en edema hasta el tercio distal del antebrazo el dedo afectado al tratar de realizar un al cabo de pocas horas. Esto le impedía puño, pero la inflamación ha desaparecido. realizar un puño y dificultaba la movilidad Día 15: Resolución total del cuadro. de sus dedos. Paciente ya era capaz de realizar un puño El paciente fue atendido en una clínica sin dificultad ni dolor aparente, los privada del pueblo de Aramecina, donde se movimientos se encontraron normales y la realizó su respectiva evaluación médica, inflamación cedió. asepsia y antisepsia de la herida, además se colocó profilaxis antitetánica. El paciente 31 Scientia hondurensis 2(2), Año 2019 Día 32: El paciente manifestó sentir leve prolongado para lograr morder ardor detectable en el dorso de la mano eficientemente e introducir los colmillos afectada solamente al apretar fuertemente de veneno a sus presas, como todas las que el puño. pertenecen a la familia Dipsadidae. Angarita-Sierra et al. (2019), menciona Jorge Porras (comunicación personal) algunos casos de accidentes ofídicos con nos mencionó un caso parecido en el colúbridos de América tropical, y zoológico de El Salvador y presenció un comentan que, de las más de 780 especies caso clínico con la serpiente Coniophanes de colúbridos, menos del 5% fissidens que mordió a un empleado del (aproximadamente 35 especies) se han lugar. documentado casos de envenenamiento, En Honduras, McCranie (2011), describe entre otras mencionada a los géneros y que esta serpiente se ha encontrado en la especies Chironius, Clelia, Coniophanes mitad occidental del país, en los imperialis, Conophis lineatus, departamentos de Cortés, Copán, Crissantophis nevermanni, Cubophis Comayagua, Francisco Morazán y Valle. cantherigerus, Erythrolamprus, Este mismo autor comenta que la especie Leptophis ahaetulla, Leptodeira annulata, se alimenta de lagartijas y anfibios L septemtrionalis, Mastigodryas spp, ocupando ecosistemas que van desde las Oxybelis aneus , Urotheca y Xenodon. formaciones secas (como las llanuras del Los envenenamientos por colúbridos en pacifico de Honduras), hasta los bosques Honduras son poco conocidos,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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]
  • Aquiloeurycea Scandens (Walker, 1955). the Tamaulipan False Brook Salamander Is Endemic to Mexico
    Aquiloeurycea scandens (Walker, 1955). The Tamaulipan False Brook Salamander is endemic to Mexico. Originally described from caves in the Reserva de la Biósfera El Cielo in southwestern Tamaulipas, this species later was reported from a locality in San Luis Potosí (Johnson et al., 1978) and another in Coahuila (Lemos-Espinal and Smith, 2007). Frost (2015) noted, however, that specimens from areas remote from the type locality might be unnamed species. This individual was found in an ecotone of cloud forest and pine-oak forest near Ejido La Gloria, in the municipality of Gómez Farías. Wilson et al. (2013b) determined its EVS as 17, placing it in the middle portion of the high vulnerability category. Its conservation status has been assessed as Vulnerable by IUCN, and as a species of special protection by SEMARNAT. ' © Elí García-Padilla 42 www.mesoamericanherpetology.com www.eaglemountainpublishing.com The herpetofauna of Tamaulipas, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation status SERGIO A. TERÁN-JUÁREZ1, ELÍ GARCÍA-PADILLA2, VICENTE Mata-SILva3, JERRY D. JOHNSON3, AND LARRY DavID WILSON4 1División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria, Boulevard Emilio Portes Gil No. 1301 Pte. Apartado postal 175, 87010, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Email: [email protected] 2Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Código Postal 68023, Mexico. E-mail: [email protected] 3Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-0500, United States. E-mails: [email protected] and [email protected] 4Centro Zamorano de Biodiversidad, Escuela Agrícola Panamericana Zamorano, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: The herpetofauna of Tamaulipas, the northeasternmost state in Mexico, is comprised of 184 species, including 31 anurans, 13 salamanders, one crocodylian, 124 squamates, and 15 turtles.
    [Show full text]
  • Squamate Reptiles Challenge Paradigms of Genomic Repeat Element Evolution Set by Birds and Mammals
    ARTICLE DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05279-1 OPEN Squamate reptiles challenge paradigms of genomic repeat element evolution set by birds and mammals Giulia I.M. Pasquesi1, Richard H. Adams1, Daren C. Card 1, Drew R. Schield1, Andrew B. Corbin1, Blair W. Perry1, Jacobo Reyes-Velasco1,2, Robert P. Ruggiero2, Michael W. Vandewege3, Jonathan A. Shortt4 & Todd A. Castoe1 1234567890():,; Broad paradigms of vertebrate genomic repeat element evolution have been largely shaped by analyses of mammalian and avian genomes. Here, based on analyses of genomes sequenced from over 60 squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes), we show that patterns of genomic repeat landscape evolution in squamates challenge such paradigms. Despite low variance in genome size, squamate genomes exhibit surprisingly high variation among spe- cies in abundance (ca. 25–73% of the genome) and composition of identifiable repeat ele- ments. We also demonstrate that snake genomes have experienced microsatellite seeding by transposable elements at a scale unparalleled among eukaryotes, leading to some snake genomes containing the highest microsatellite content of any known eukaryote. Our analyses of transposable element evolution across squamates also suggest that lineage-specific var- iation in mechanisms of transposable element activity and silencing, rather than variation in species-specific demography, may play a dominant role in driving variation in repeat element landscapes across squamate phylogeny. 1 Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, 501S. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019, USA. 2 Department of Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, United Arab Emirates. 3 Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
    [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]
  • Iii^Erican%Mllseltm
    iii^ericanovxtates%Mllseltm PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK 24, N.Y. NUMBER 1726 MAY 11, 1955 Notes on Three Texas Reptiles, Including an Addition to the Fauna of the State BY ROGER CONANT1 During the acquisition of material with which to illustrate the forth- coming "Field guide to the reptiles and amphibians," a number of inter- esting specimens and data have accrued. Some of these seem worthy of publication, especially the following remarks on Texas herpetology. Most of the information has been supplied by the Texans whose names are mentioned below and to whom I am indebted in various ways. Credit is given to each of them in the appropriate places. My role has been largely that of compiler. Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus Linnaeus There is now definite proof that this gecko.occurs in Texas, for thriv- ing colonies have been discovered in and near Brownsville. Hence this species, although obviously introduced, may be added to the fauna of the state. Brown (1950, p. 82) suggested that Hemidactylus would make its appearance eventually in one or more of the Gulf ports. Texas previously had been mentioned as a part of the range of this lizard, but no, definite locality or specimens were mentioned. The reference is in Flower (1933, p. 765) in a long paper on the herpetology of Egypt. In giving the range, Flower stated that it had been "distributed by unintentional human agency, east to India and west to Florida and Texas." Texas may have been included in error; in any event, this scarcely can be interpreted as a 1 Research Associate, Department of Amphibians and Reptiles, the American Museum of Natural History; Curator of Reptiles, Philadelphia Zoological Garden.
    [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. Amphib. Reptile Conserv. | http://redlist-ARC.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]
  • Reptiles and Amphibians of Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Belize
    Reptiles and Amphibians of the Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Orange Walk District, Belize Ryan L. Lynch, Mike Rochford, Laura A. Brandt and Frank J. Mazzotti University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center; 3205 College Avenue; Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314 All pictures taken by RLL: [email protected] and MR: [email protected] Vaillant’s Frog Rio Grande Leopard Frog Common Mexican Treefrog Rana vaillanti Rana berlandieri Smilisca baudinii Veined Treefrog Red Eyed Treefrog Stauffer’s Treefrog Phrynohyas venulosa Agalychnis callidryas Scinax staufferi White-lipped Frog Fringe-toed Foam Frog Fringe-toed Foam Frog Leptodactylus labialis Leptodactylus melanonotus Leptodactylus melanonotus 1 Reptiles and Amphibians of the Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Orange Walk District, Belize Ryan L. Lynch, Mike Rochford, Laura A. Brandt and Frank J. Mazzotti University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center; 3205 College Avenue; Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314 All pictures taken by RLL: [email protected] and MR: [email protected] Tungara Frog Marine Toad Gulf Coast Toad Physalaemus pustulosus Bufo marinus Bufo valliceps Sheep Toad House Gecko Dwarf Bark Gecko Hypopachus variolosus Hemidactylus frenatus Shaerodactylus millepunctatus Turnip-tailed Gecko Yucatan Banded Gecko Yucatan Banded Gecko Thecadactylus rapicaudus Coleonyx elegans Coleonyx elegans 2 Reptiles and Amphibians of the Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Orange Walk District, Belize Ryan L. Lynch, Mike Rochford, Laura A. Brandt and Frank J. Mazzotti University
    [Show full text]
  • Reptile & Amphibian Monitoring At
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Reptile & Amphibian Monitoring at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Data Summary, Monitoring Year 2013 Natural Resource Data Series NPS/GULN/NRDS—2014/649 ON THE COVER The Coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum, on PAAL, 2012 Photograph by: Rolando Garza, Palo Alto National Historical Park Reptile & Amphibian Monitoring at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Data Summary, Monitoring Year 2013 Natural Resource Data Series NPS/GULN/NRDS—2014/649 Robert L. Woodman National Park Service Gulf Coast I&M Network 646 Cajundome Blvd Lafayette, LA 70506 April 2014 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Data Series is intended for the timely release of basic data sets and data summaries. Care has been taken to assure accuracy of raw data values, but a thorough analysis and interpretation of the data has not been completed. Consequently, the initial analyses of data in this report are provisional and subject to change. Data in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established, peer-reviewed protocols and were analyzed and interpreted within the guidelines of the protocols. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S.
    [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]
  • Deliberate Tail Loss in Dolichophis Caspius and Natrix Tessellata (Serpentes: Colubridae) with a Brief Review of Pseudoautotomy in Contemporary Snake Families
    NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 12 (2): 367-372 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2016 Article No.: e162503 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.html Deliberate tail loss in Dolichophis caspius and Natrix tessellata (Serpentes: Colubridae) with a brief review of pseudoautotomy in contemporary snake families Jelka CRNOBRNJA-ISAILOVIĆ1,2,*, Jelena ĆOROVIĆ2 and Balint HALPERN3 1. Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia. 2. Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. 3. MME BirdLife Hungary, Költő u. 21, 1121 Budapest, Hungary. * Corresponding author, J. Crnobrnja-Isailović, E-mail: [email protected] Received: 22. April 2015 / Accepted: 16. July 2015 / Available online: 29. July 2015 / Printed: December 2016 Abstract. Deliberate tail loss was recorded for the first time in three large whip snakes (Dolichophis caspius) and one dice snake (Natrix tessellata). Observations were made in different years and in different locations. In all cases the tail breakage happened while snakes were being handled by researchers. Pseudoautotomy was confirmed in one large whip snake by an X-Ray photo of a broken piece of the tail, where intervertebral breakage was observed. This evidence and literature data suggest that many colubrid species share the ability for deliberate tail loss. However, without direct observation or experiment it is not possible to prove a species’ ability for pseudoautotomy, as a broken tail could also be evidence of an unsuccessful predator attack, resulting in a forcefully broken distal part of the tail. Key words: deliberate tail loss, pseudoautotomy, Colubridae, Dolichophis caspius, Natrix tessellate.
    [Show full text]
  • Conant 1965 Misc Not
    1 4hieiicanJizseum 1\ox4tates PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK 24, N.Y. NUMBER 2205 JANUARY 29, I 965 Miscellaneous Notes and Comments on Toads, Lizards, and Snakes from Mexico BY ROGER CONANT' INTRODUCTION Despite the surge of interest during recent years in the amphibians and reptiles of Mexico, great gaps still exist in our knowledge of what has proved to be one of the richest herpetofaunas in the world. We lack knowledge especially of the more secretive species that are active above ground only for short periods after heavy rains. Every herpetologist who works extensively in Mexico soon accumulates a series of specimens that represent range extensions, exhibit noteworthy variations in scutellation, coloration, or pattern, or contribute in other ways to our general store of information. Our expeditions to Mexico during the summers of 1959 to 1962, inclusive, yielded similar by-products to our main interest in snakes of the genus Natrix, and notes and comments on several of the more important of these are presented herewith. The present paper also includes photographs of live animals of several species almost all of which have not previously been illustrated or have been depicted only by draw- ings or by photographs of preserved, often distorted, specimens. Virtually all our material, except samples sent to Mexico in compliance with collecting permit requirements, has been deposited in the American 1 Research Associate, Department of Herpetology, the American Museum of Natural History; Curator of Reptiles, Philadelphia Zoological Garden. 2 AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES NO. 2205 Museum of Natural History.
    [Show full text]
  • Epictia-1.Pdf
    The Leptotyphlopidae, descriptively called threadsnakes or wormsnakes, is one of five families comprising the most ancient but highly specialized clade of snakes, the Scolecophidia, which dates back to the Jurassic Period (ca. 155 mya). Scolecophidians are the least studied and poorest known group of snakes, both biologically and taxonomically. Due to their subterranean habitat, nocturnal lifestyle, small size, and drab coloration, these snake are extremely difficult to find and seldom are observed or collected. Epictia is one of six genera found in the New World, with a distribution extending throughout Latin America. Whereas most Epictia are uniform brown or black, some species are brightly colored. Epictia tenella, the most wide-ranging member of the genus, occurs throughout much of northern South America. Pictured here is an individual from Trinidad that exhibits several distinctive features, including yellow zigzag stripes, relatively large bulging eyes, contact of the supraocular and anterior supralabial shields, and the presence of numerous sensory pits on the anterior head shields. ' © John C. Murphy 215 www.mesoamericanherpetology.com www.eaglemountainpublishing.com ISSN 2373-0951 Version of record:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A6B8D5BF-2E06-485A-BD7F-712D8D57CDE4 Morphological review and taxonomic status of the Epictia phenops species group of Mesoamerica, with description of six new species and discussion of South American Epictia albifrons, E. goudotii, and E. tenella (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae: Epictinae) VAN WALLACH 4 Potter Park, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States. E–mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: I examined the “Epictia phenops species group” of Mesoamerica, and recognize 11 species as valid (E. ater, E. bakewelli, E. columbi, E.
    [Show full text]