Leptodeira Annulata

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Leptodeira Annulata Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 1193-1195 (2019) (published online on 08 December 2019) Note on an event of double predation: Leptodeira annulata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) being predated by Drymarchon corais Boie, 1827 (Serpentes: Colubridae), being predated in turn by Bothrops atrox (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Viperidae) Sóstenes José Souza Pelegrini¹,*, Nathocley Mendes Venâncio², and Adriana Akemi Kuniy¹ Ophiophagy, or the habit of feeding on snakes, is a in the neotropics, and has a generalist diet, feeding behavior known for various animals in different parts of on anurans, lizards, snakes, bird eggs and mammals the world (Nogueira et al., 2003; Jackson, 2004; Martínez- (Duellman, 1990; Stevenson et al., 2009; Bernarde and Freiria et al., 2006; Dorward, 2014). In the Neotropical Abe, 2010; Prudente et al., 2014). It is worth mentioning region, well-known ophiophagous snakes belong to the that one of the prey items recorded for D. corais is a genera Boiruna Zaher, 1996; Clelia Fitzinger, 1826; Bothrops snake (Prudente et al., 2014), the speckled Erythrolamprus Boie, 1826; Micrurus Wagler, 1824; forest pit-viper Bothrops taeniatus Wagler, 1824. and Phalotris Cope, 1861 (Abalos and Nader, 1968; Greene, 1983; Lema et al., 1983; Mushinsky, 1987; Results and Discussion Pinto and Lema, 2002). However, ophiophagy has also This note reports an unprecedented event of double been recorded for the common lancehead, Bothrops predation involving snakes. The event was recorded athrox (Gonçalves, 2016), and the yellow-tail cribo, by chance in a road near an area cleared for livestock Drymarchon corais (Duellman, 1990; Stevenson et al., farming and native forest fragments in the rural area 2009; Bernarde and Abe, 2010). Bothrops atrox is a snake of the municipality of Novo Repartimento, in the state from the family Viperidae. Assessments in the wild of of Pará, Brazil (coordinates -4.5010° S, -50.7663° W, the activity period of species within the genus Bothrops DATUM WGS 84, 167 m elev.). On the 23rd of January (sensu lato) indicate a tendency toward nocturnal and 2018, at approximately 23:30h, we observed in the crepuscular patterns widespread throughout the Amazon field an event of predation of a Drymarchon corais by (Hartmann et al., 2003). Studies on its feeding behavior a Bothrops atrox (Fig. 1A). The recorded individual of indicate ontogenetic differences, with smaller, younger B. atrox had already started the process of ingesting its individuals feeding on ectothermic prey, while larger, prey but, soon after we met it, it started regurgitating. adult individuals indicates a tendency for endotherms After the individual of D. corais was fully expelled, we prey (Gonçalves, 2016). The species’ diet includes observed that it had also started the ingestion of another amphibians, marsupials, rodents and lizards, besides snake (Fig. 1B), having probably been interrupted by other snakes (Silva et al., 2010). Drymarchon corais is the B. atrox attack. The snake predated by the D. corais a diurnal and terrestrial Colubridae snake widespread specimen was a banded cat-eyed snake, Leptodeira annulata (Fig. 1C–F) The publication of notes like the present one is important to help mitigate the current lack of field studies on snake ecology. These studies are hard to 1 JGP Consultoria e Participações Ltda., R. Américo Brasiliense perform due to the relatively scarcity of field records 615, Alto da Boa Vista, São Paulo, São Paulo 04715-000, of these animals, in large part as a result of their cryptic Brazil. 2 Faculdade Meta (FAMETA), Estrada Alberto Torres 947, Rio coloration, the nocturnal behaviour of many species, Branco, Acre 69919-230, Brazil. and their low displacement capacity (Fraga et al., 2013). * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] This note is also relevant because, while ophiophagy 1194 Sóstenes José Souza Pelegrini et al. Figure 1. (A) Bothrops atrox swallowing an Drymarchon corais. (B) Moment when the Drymarchon corais was fully regurgitated. (C) Leptodeira annulata predated by the registered Drymarchon corais. (D) Detail showing the venter of the Leptodeira annulata predated by Drymarchon corais. (E) Detail showing the dorsum of the Leptodeira annulata predated by Drymarchon corais. (F) Leptodeira annulata after full removal from the digestive tract of the Drymarchon corais. is known for smaller, younger individuals of B. atrox, MZUSP 22843 and Leptodeira annulata: MZUSP the specimen recorded predating an specimen of D. 22844). The B. atrox specimen was released near the corais was an adult, measuring approximately 76 cm. site where the snakes were sighted. It is important to Although B. atrox is considered a generalist feeder, mention that the head of the individual of Drymarchon its diet, and especially its ophiophagous behaviour, corais shows a snout-vent length (SVL) measurement are poorly studied (Gonçalves, 2016). This is, in fact, of 627 mm and the TL of 134 mm, since Leptodeira the first record of D. corais predation by B. atrox. As annulata shows the SVL of 481 mm and the TL of 174 mentioned above, D. corais is also known to display mm, but the tail was fragmented, which makes those ophiophagous behaviour. However, this is also the first inaccurate measures. record of the species predating L. annulata. Acknowledgments. We thank BMTE (Belo Monte Transmissora The individuals of D. corais and L. annulata were de Energia) and JGP Consultoria e Participações for supporting collected and deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da and organizing field logistics. We also thank IBAMA (Instituto Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), as they were Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis already dead when registered (Drymarchon corais: – “Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Note on an event of double predation 1195 Resources”) for issuing the necessary collection and capture Lema, T., Araujo, M.L., Azevedo, A.C.P. (1983): Contribuição ao permit (IBAMA 651/2015). conhecimento da alimentação e do modo alimentar de serpentes do Brasil. Comunicação do Museu de Ciências da PUCRS, References Série Zoologia 26: 41–121. Martínez-Freiria, F., Brito, J.C., Lizana Avia, M. (2006): Abalos, J., Nader, R. (1968): Los habitos de Pseudoboa cloelia y Ophiophagy and cannibalism in Vipera latastei Bosca, 1878 Pseudoboa maculata. Revista da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (Reptilia, Viperidae). Herpetological Bulletin 96: 26–28. da Universidade Nacional de Córdoba 60: 5–12. Mushinsky, H.R. (1987): Foraging ecology. In: Snakes: Ecology Bernarde, P.S., Abe, A.S. (2010): Hábitos alimentares de serpentes and Evolutionary Biology, pp. 302–334. Seigel, R.A., Collins, em Espigão do Oeste, Rondônia, Brasil. Biota Neotropica 10 J.T., Novak, S.S., Eds., New York, USA, McMillan Press. (1): 167–173. Nogueira, C., Sawaya, R.J., Martins, M. (2003): Ecology of the Dorward, L. (2014): Predation of Elaphe dione (Pallas, 1773) by pitviper, Bothrops moojeni, in the Brazilian Cerrado. Journal of Dolichophis caspius (Gmelin, 1789) (Squamata: Colubridae). Herpetology 37: 653–659. Herpetology Notes 7: 165–166. Pinto, C.C., Lema, T. (2002): Comportamento alimentar e dieta de Duellman, W.E. (1990): Herpetofaunas in neotropical rainforests: serpentes, gêneros Boiruna e Clelia (Serpentes, Colubridae). comparative composition, history, and resource use. In: Four Iheringia Série Zoologia 92: 9–19. Neotropical Rainforest, pp. 455–487. Gentry, A.H., Ed., Prudente, A.L.C., Menks, A.C., Silva, F.M., Maschio, G.F. (2014): Connecticut, USA, Yale University Press. Diet and reproduction of the Western Indigo Snake Drymarchon Fraga, R., Lima, A.P., Prudente, A.L., Magnusson, W.E. (2013): corais (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Brazilian Amazon. Guia de cobras da região de Manaus – Amazônia Central. Herpetology Notes 7: 99–108. Manaus, Brazil, INPA. Silva, M.V., Souza, M.B., Bernarde, P.S. (2010): Riqueza e dieta Greene, H.W. (1983): Dietary correlates of the origin and radiation de serpentes do Estado do Acre, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de of snakes. American Zoologist 23: 431–442. Zoociências 12: 165–176. Gonçalves, P.F.B. (2016): Biologia reprodutiva e alimentar de Stevenson, D.J., Enge, K.M., Carlile, L.D., Dyer, K.J., Norton, Bothrops atrox (Serpentes, Viperidae) nas regiões central T.M., Hyslop, N.L., Kiltie, R.A. (2009): An Eastern Indigo Snake e sudoeste da Amazônia. Unpublished MSc dissertation, (Drymarchon couperi) mark-recapture study in southeastern Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Amazonas, Brazil.. Georgia. Herpetological Conservation Biology 4: 30–42. Hartmann, P.A., Teresinha, M, Olímpio, L, Giasson, M. (2003). Uso do habitat e alimentação em juvenis de Bothrops jararaca (Serpentes: Viperidae) na Mata Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil. Phyllomedusa 2: 35–41. Jackson, K., Kley, N.J., Brainerd, E.L. (2004): How snakes eat snakes: the biomechanical challenges of ophiophagy for the California kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula californiae (Serpentes: Colubridae). Zoology 107: 191–200. Accepted by Clarissa Canedo.
Recommended publications
  • Ophiophagy and Egg-Eating in Mannophryne Cf. Trinitatis
    ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 18 (1/2) Wien, 30. Juni 2005 SHORT NOTE 69 Ophiophagy and egg-eating in Predator specimens of the egg-eating case Mannophryne cf. trinitatis were deposited in the herpetological collec- tion of the "Laboratorio de Biogeografìa, (GARMAN, 1888) Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezu- Amphibians are considered to be feed- ela (ULABG). Digital photos were taken ing opportunists with their diets reflecting with a Sony Mavica® camera. Poor resolu- the availability of food of appropriate size tion pictures for printing were used to make which seems to be a basic constraint in ink-draw pictures at scale, and original pho- amphibian diet (DUELLMAN & TRUEB 1986). tographic documentation was deposited in As to cases of snake-eating (ophiophagy), the "Museo del Intituto de Zoologia Agrico- Leptodactylus pentadactylus (LAURENTI, la" (MIZA), "Universidad Central de Vene- 1768) has been reported to predate on adult zuela". Technical equipment for measure- Imantodes cenchoa (LINNAEUS, 1758), Rana ments: GPS Garmin® 12, Texas Instruments® catesbeiana SHAW, 1802 on Micrurus, Pyxi- digital thermohygrometer, Casio® digital alti- cephalus adspersus TSCHUDI, 1838 on He- meter, Mitutoyo® digital caliper for lengths machatus and some Malaysian toads of the < 30 mm, and a calibrated ruler for lengths genus Bufo commonly feed on Flowerpot > 30 mm. Blind Snakes, Rhamphotyphlops braminus On May 7th, 2002, between 10:15 and (DAUDIN, 1803) (GREEN 1997). Dendro- 12:35 after heavy rainfall, we watched M. batid diet has been studied for some species cf. trinitatis at a stream located at 10°43'N; (e.g., PRADERIO 1985; PINERO & DURANT 62°48'W, at an elevation of 186 m a.s.l., 1993; PINERO & LA MARCA 1995), however, approximately 4.2 km airline from San Juan to our knowledge, no case of ophiophagy de Las Galdonas (Muncipio Arismendi) on has been reported for members of the fami- the road to Aroa, in Sucre State, Venezuela.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Restoration Habitats on Snake Species of Dghoumes National Park (Tunisia)
    Biodiversity Journal , 2019, 10 (3): 213–220 https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.3.213.220 Effects of restoration habitats on snake species of Dghoumes National Park (Tunisia) Ernesto Filippi Via Aurelia 18, 00040 Ariccia (Rome) Italy; e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Dghoumes National Park (DNP) is an important protected area located in South Tunisia. This region is characterized by desertification and habitat degradation, mainly caused by climate changes and overgrazing by domestic and semi-domestic livestock. Habitat regeneration, pro - tection of native wildlife and reintroduction of some animal species are at the centre of the activity of this protected area. This article summarizes the results of the first study carried out on the snakes inhabiting this National Park. The study aimed at working out the first checklist of the species and at making a preliminary analysis of the consequences of habitat restoration on the snake species inside the National Park. KEY WORDS Desertification; habitat alteration; habitat restoration; Snakes; Tunisia. Received 19.05.2019; accepted 02.07.2019; published online 20.08.2019. INTRODUCTION close to Tozeur (Fig. 1), in a territory affected by desertification and habitat degradation, mainly Desertification, the process of semiarid ecosys - caused by climate changes and overgrazing by do - tem deterioration, including drought, soil degrada - mestic and semi-domestic livestock (goats, sheep tion and vegetation loss in arid environments, and dromedaries in a semi-wild state) (Woodfine et covers a wide variety of interactive phenomena, al., 2009). DNP protects a small (7,000 ha), but re - both natural and anthropogenic (Hillel & Rosen - markably diverse, remnant of sub-desertic continen - zweig, 2002).
    [Show full text]
  • Snake Communities Worldwide
    Web Ecology 6: 44–58. Testing hypotheses on the ecological patterns of rarity using a novel model of study: snake communities worldwide L. Luiselli Luiselli, L. 2006. Testing hypotheses on the ecological patterns of rarity using a novel model of study: snake communities worldwide. – Web Ecol. 6: 44–58. The theoretical and empirical causes and consequences of rarity are of central impor- tance for both ecological theory and conservation. It is not surprising that studies of the biology of rarity have grown tremendously during the past two decades, with particular emphasis on patterns observed in insects, birds, mammals, and plants. I analyse the patterns of the biology of rarity by using a novel model system: snake communities worldwide. I also test some of the main hypotheses that have been proposed to explain and predict rarity in species. I use two operational definitions for rarity in snakes: Rare species (RAR) are those that accounted for 1% to 2% of the total number of individuals captured within a given community; Very rare species (VER) account for ≤ 1% of individuals captured. I analyse each community by sample size, species richness, conti- nent, climatic region, habitat and ecological characteristics of the RAR and VER spe- cies. Positive correlations between total species number and the fraction of RAR and VER species and between sample size and rare species in general were found. As shown in previous insect studies, there is a clear trend for the percentage of RAR and VER snake species to increase in species-rich, tropical African and South American commu- nities. This study also shows that rare species are particularly common in the tropics, although habitat type did not influence the frequency of RAR and VER species.
    [Show full text]
  • Ophiophagy in Coronella Austriaca:� ���� �� �� ��������� �� Hierophis Viridiflavus and First Direct Observations of Predation on Vipera Aspis
    Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 1107-1110 (2020) (published online on 28 December 2020) Ophiophagy in Coronella austriaca:� �i�� a� o� p��aion on Hierophis viridiflavus an� �i�� �i�� ob��vaion� o� p��aion on Vipera aspis Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola1,*, Lilli Zecchin2, Maurizio D’Amico3, and Francesco Paolo Faraone4 The smooth snake Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768 preyed on only by adults (Brown et al., 2013; Reading is a medium/small-sized colubrid snake (total length and Jofré, 2013). usually up to 70 cm, rarely up to 80 cm [Geniez, 2018]) Coronella austriaca can directly swallow smaller prey with a Euro-Siberian (with Caucasian and Anatolian alive, while killing larger prey by constriction (Bruno extensions) chorotype (Sindaco et al., 2013). It is and Maugeri, 1990; Speybroeck et al., 2016; Geniez, distributed across most of Europe (except for Ireland, 2018). Northern England and Central-Northern Scandinavia) Ophiophagy represents only a small part of the C. and eastwards reaching western Kazakhstan, the austriaca diet (Rugiero et al., 1995; Luiselli et al., 1996; Caucasus, northern Anatolia and northern Iran. The Drobenkov, 2000; Reading and Jofré, 2013; Drobenkov, species is polytypic and two subspecies are currently 2014), but it has been directly observed or detected recognised: C. a. austriaca Laurenti, 1768 and C. a. by stomach and faecal contents on several occasions acutirostris Malkmus, 1995 (Sindaco et al., 2013; (including various episodes of cannibalism). The main Speybroeck et al., 2016; Di Nicola et al., 2019). ophiophagy records available in the literature for the The trophic spectrum is a widely studied aspect in smooth snake are summarised in Table 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Quiz Five Science and Nature 1. Which Incident Gave Fruit to a Theory in Late Summer 1666? 2. Johannes Kepler (1571?1630) Was A
    Quiz Five Science and Nature 1. Which incident gave fruit to a theory in late summer 1666? 2. Johannes Kepler (1571?1630) was a German mathematician and astronomer that introduced Kepler's laws. What did these laws describe? 3. Which is the only type of animal that if each and every one of them were eliminated from the face of the earth, sometime maybe months later they would exist again? 4. An atom of oxygen linked to an atom of hydrogen is the compulsory combination included in the formulae of which compounds? 5. What purpose do the following (human features) have in common: Skin, Tears, Sweat, Stomach Acids, Mucous Membranes and Inflammation of the skin? 6. What name is given to the physical disintegration of a nuclear reactor's core? 7.Animals can be classified by food type. E.g. Insectivores eat insects. In each of the following cases, indicate what the animal eats: a: Folivore, b: Granivore, c: Omnivore, d: Ophiophagy, e: Lepidophagy, f: Detritivore, g: Oophagy 8. The following are all examples of what: Nereid, Charon, Dione, Rhea, Mimas, Dactyl, Phobos and Deimos? 9. What type of bird is a Harlequin? 10. Periodic table: An element denoted by the symbol Hg was originally called hydrargyrum. How do we refer to this element now? 11. Brown Boobies, Bushtits, Ruddy Ducks, Bristle-thighed Curlews and Dark-rumped Petrels are all birds native to which continent? 12. Back to school: What colour would litmus paper turn if you rubbed it on damp washing powder? 13. Which popular bird was named after what was wrongly thought to be its country of origin? 14.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three Plant Extracts Against Venoms of Five Snake Species in Northern Nigeria
    EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF THREE PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST VENOMS OF FIVE SNAKE SPECIES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA BY YUNUSA YAHAYA DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA MARCH 2017 EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF THREE PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST VENOMS OF FIVE SNAKE SPECIES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA BY YUNUSA Yahaya P15VTPH9009 BSc, (1997), MSc (2006) (ABU, ZARIA) A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA March, 2017 i DECLARATION I declare that the work in this thesis entitled “Evaluation of the efficacy of three plant extracts against venoms of five snake species in Northern Nigeria” has been performed by me in the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The information derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the text and list of references provided. No part of this dissertation was previously presented for another degree or diploma at this or any other Institution. _____________________ ___________________ ______________ YUNUSA Yahaya Signature Date ii CERTIFICATION The thesis entitled “Evaluation of the efficacy of three plant extracts against venoms of five snake species in Northern Nigeria” by YUNUSA Yahaya meets the regulations governing the award of Doctor of philosophy degree in Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and is approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Survey on Predators of Snakes in Japan
    Current Herpetology 19(2): 97-111., Dec. 2000 (C) 2000 by The Herpetological Society of Japan Literature Survey on Predators of Snakes in Japan KOJI TANAKA* AND AKIRA MORI Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, JAPAN Abstract: Characteristic defensive behaviors of snakes and their ecological and morphological correlates have been well documented. Biological inter- pretations of these characteristics, however, often suffer from a paucity of in- formation on actual predators of snakes. Concerning natural predators of Japanese snakes, neither quantitative data nor a systematic review are availa- ble. Here, we review and synthesize the published accounts of predators of snakes in Japan. We confirmed 59 species/subspecies of predators and 21 species of prey snakes. We hope that this review will stimulate biologists and naturalists to record further predatory events on snakes and help clarify the defensive mechanisms of snakes. Key words: Snake; Predator; Prey; Review; Japan biological interpretations of their defensive INTRODUCTION mechanisms often suffer from a paucity of Prey-predator interaction is one of the information on actual predators of snakes. most important aspects of evolutionary bi- In Japan, 38 species of snakes (excluding ology, because this interaction can affect the sea snakes) are currently recognized (Hikida evolution of phenotypic features, such as and Sengoku, 2000). For several species of morphology and behavior, of both prey and them, food habits are well documented, and predators (Feder and Lauder, 1986). Mori and Moriguchi (1988) reviewed the Snakes, typical carnivorous animals, have published data on natural diets of Japanese been well-studied as "predators".
    [Show full text]
  • As Prey of Psammophis Schokari from Chitwan Who Provided Snake Specimens and Orskål Locality Information
    __All_Short_Notes_SHORT_NOTE.qxd 12.02.2016 10:29 Seite 18 184 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 28 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2016 SHORT NOTE hours of the day (20:28 h; 21:17 h; 22:30 h; blogspot.de/2013/08/rare-indian-snake-species-coral- all Jalpaiguri specimens in December, June red.html > [last accessed 19 July, 2014]. SUTRADHAR , S. & N ATH , A. (2013): An account on poorly known and July) which indicates that this species Corral Red Snake Oligodon kheriensis ACHARJI et RAy , can be active both by day and night. 1936 from Assam, India.- Russian Journal of According to the authors’ data, O. khe - Herpetology, Moskva; 20: 247-252. riensis is a globally endangered, EN B2ab KEy WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Colubri - (iii, iv) species based on IUCN Categories dae; Oligodon kheriensis ; ecology, conservation, and Criteria (Version 3.1.). This is caused threat, rare species; Nepal, India by the small size of the known extent of SUBMITTED: August 27, 2014 occurrence of just 48.000 km 2 and area of AUTHORS: Deb Prasad PANDEy 1) ; Bishnu 2 LAMA 2) ; Dipendra DHUNGEL 3) ; Aniket MODAK 4) & occupancy of just 28 km . At present, the Dušan JELIć (Correspond ing author < jelic.dusan@ population must be considered small and gmail.com > ) 5) severely fragmented as in total only 18 indi - 1) Department of Biological Sciences, Johann viduals were ever observed. Due to habitat Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, degradation (urbanization and agriculture) Germany, Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre and intentional killing ( PANDEy et al., un - (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, < [email protected] >.
    [Show full text]
  • Aspects of the Trophic Ecology of an Invertivorous Snake Community
    Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 2014 Aspects of the Trophic Ecology of an Invertivorous Snake Community Meagan Amanda Thomas Eastern Illinois University This research is a product of the graduate program in Biological Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Thomas, Meagan Amanda, "Aspects of the Trophic Ecology of an Invertivorous Snake Community" (2014). Masters Theses. 1358. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1358 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Graduate School~ ~ ILUNOIS UNIVERSITY. Thesis Maintenance and Reproduction Certificate FOR: Graduate Candidates Completing Theses in Partial Fulfillment of the Degree Graduate Faculty Advisors Directing the Theses RE: Preservation, Reproduction, and Distribution of Thesis Research Preserving, reproducing, and distributing thesis research is an important part of Booth Library's responsibility to provide access to scholarship. In order to further this goal, Booth Library makes all graduate theses completed as part of a degree program at Eastern Illinois University available for personal study, research, and other not-for-profit educational purposes. Under 17 U.S.C. § 108, the library may reproduce and distribute a copy without infringing on copyright; however, professional courtesy dictates that permission be requested from the author before doing so. Your signatures affirm the following: • The graduate candidate is the author of this thesis. • The graduate candidate retains the copyright and intellectual property rights associated with the original research, creative activity, and intellectual or artistic content of the thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • 58 Our Nowledge
    JAYAKUMARI T R NOWLEDGE 1. All snakes are 16. Snakes lack which among the following? K a. Carnivorous b. InsecƟ vorous a. External ears b. Eyelids c. Omnivorous d. Herbivorous c. Legs d. All of these 17. The longest non venomous snake is OUR 2. Snakes hear through their a. ReƟ culated python b. Anaconda Y a. External ears b. Skin c. Tongue d. Tail c. Rat snake d. Python 3. Jacobson’s organs are located in the 18. Land snakes are not found in EST a. Tip of tongue b. Tip of tail a. Australia b. New Zealand c. Sri Lanka d. Africa T c. Roof of mouth d. Under the skin 4. The skin of snakes is made of 19. The smallest snake species known a. KeraƟ n b. Globulin a. Water snake b. Barbados thread snake c. Collagen d. Myosin c. Corn snake d. Milk snake 5. Mol ng or shedding of skin occurs approximately once in 20. What is true about snakes? a. A week b. A fortnight a. Can’t chew food c. A month d. A year b. Sleep with eyes open c. Can swallow a prey larger than its head 6. The natural habitat of Anaconda is d. All of these a. Trees b. Marshes c. Water d. Land 21. The most venomous land snake is a. Inland taipan b. King cobra 7. The heaviest snake species in the world is c. Krait d. Cobra a. Anaconda b. Python c. ReƟ culated python d. King Cobra 22. Snake venom is a mixture of a.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet of Salvator Merianae (Squamata: Teiidae): New Prey Item and Review of Predation Records
    Use the following type of citation: North-western Journal of Zoology 2021: e217504 *Handling editor: Yurii Kornilev *Manuscript Domain: Herpetology of the Americas *Manuscript code: NwJZ_20_HA_07 *Submission date: 19_04_ 2020 *Revised: 14_06_2021 *Accepted / Rejected: 01_08_2021 *No. of words (without abstract, acknowledgement, references, tables, captions): 1460 Title of the paper: Diet of Salvator merianae (Squamata: Teiidae): New prey item and review of predation records Running head: New prey item and a diet review of Salvator merianae Authors (First LAST - without institution name!): Heithor Simão DINIZ;Zoology Renato Neves FEIO; Clodoaldo of Lopes DE ASSIS; Jhonny José Magalhães GUEDES proofing Key Words (at least five keywords): Atlantic Forest, Dipsas, feeding behavior, prey-predator Journal interaction, Tegu lizard until No. of Tables: 1 No. of Figures: 0 paper No. of Files (landscape tables should be in separate file): 1 North-western Accepted Use the following type of citation: North-western Journal of Zoology 2021: e217504 1 Diet of Salvator merianae (Squamata: Teiidae): New prey 2 item and review of predation records 3 Heithor Simão DINIZ1,*, Renato Neves FEIO1, Clodoaldo Lopes DE ASSIS1 and Jhonny José 4 Magalhães GUEDES2 5 1. Departamento de Biologia Animal, Museu de Zoologia João Moojen, Universidade Federal 6 de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil. 7 2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Departamento de Ecologia, Campus 8 Samambaia – Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, 74001-970, Brazil. 9 *Corresponding author, H. S. Diniz, E-mail: [email protected] 10 Running title: Zoology 11 Abstract of 12 The Tegu lizard Salvator merianae is a large species proofingwith a wide geographic distribution 13 in South America.
    [Show full text]
  • Snakes, the Ecosystem, and Us: It’S Time We Change
    Snakes, the ecosystem, and us: it’s time we change Deepti Beri1, Soumyadeep Bhaumik1, 2* 1. The George Institute for Global Health, India 2. The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia *Correspondence to : [email protected] Executive Summary: Snakes are often killed at sight, even if not venomous. Social and cultural connotations, some more negative than others, and fear of snakebite shape our attitudes towards snakes and lead to human snake conflict. But snakes play an important role in our ecosystem and provides us economic and therapeutic benefits. It is high time we now start valuing the importance of snakes in biodiversity to make our societies healthier. Snakes, as serpent deities are revered in various cultures - as a symbol of fertility, rebirth, afterlife, medicine, healing and prosperity.[1-4] Paradoxically, in communities, they are also considered as a threat to life and livelihood. Ophidiophobia, the fear of the snakes, is one of the most common phobias of animals (affecting 2-3% human population).[5, 6] Snakes are often killed on sight, for fear of snakebite. Globally, up to 138,000 people die due to snakebite every year with nearly 2.7 million people suffering serious injuries and permanent disabilities.[7] However, about 85-90% of snakes species worldwide are non-venomous.[8] Most snakes are not aggressive in nature, and often bite in defence, or when threatened or provoked.[9] Killing snakes for fear of snakebites is problematic – as decreased snake population is detrimental not only for the environment but also for humans.
    [Show full text]