DOCSLIB.ORG

Autecology of the Copperhead BY

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Autecology of the Copperhead BY O 1^ .1960 University of Kansas Publications „,,,.. , Museum of Natural History Volume 13, No. 4, pp. 85-288, pis. 13-20, 26 figs, in text November 30, 1960 Autecology of the Copperhead BY HENRY S. FITCH University of Kansas Lawrence 1960 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain this series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in a particular field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. There is no provision for sale of this series by the University Library, which meets institutional requests, or by the Museum of Natural History, which meets the requests of individuals. However, when individuals request copies from the Museum, 25 cents should be included, for each separate number that is 100 pages or more in length, for the purpose of defraying the costs of wrapping and mailing. * An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply (not the Library's supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in this series, are as follows: Vol. 1. Nos. 1-26 and index. Pp. 1-638, 1946-1950. *Vol. 2. (Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 1-444, 140 figmes in text. April 9, 1948. Vol. 3. *1. The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution, and distribution. By Rol- lin H. Baker. Pp. 1-359, 16 figures in text. June 12, 1951. *2. A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of birds. By George H. Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361-472, 47 figures in text. June 29, 1951. 3. Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By M. Dale Arvey. Pp. 473- 530, 49 figures in text, 13 tables. October 10, 1951. 4. Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H. Lowery, Jr., and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531-649, 7 figures in text, 2 tables. October 10, 1951. Index. Pp. 651-681. *Vol. 4. (Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1-466, 41 plates, 31 figures in text. December 27, 1951. Vol. 5. Nos. 1-37 and index. Pp. 1-676, 1951-1953. *Vol. 6. (Complete) Mammals of Utah, taxonomy and distribution. By Stephen D. Durrant. Pp. 1-549, 91 figures in text, 30 tables. August 10. 1952. Vol. 7. *1. Mammals of Kansas. By E. Lendell Cocknmi. Pp. 1-303, 73 figures in text, 37 tables. August 25, 1952. 2. Ecology of the opossum on a natural area in northeastern Kansas. By Henry S. Fitch and Lewis L. Sandidge. Pp. 305-338, 5 figiu-es in text. August 24. 1953. 3. The silky pocket mice (Perognathus flavus) of Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 339-347, 1 figure in text. February 15, 1954. 4. North American jumping mice (Genus Zapus). By Phillip H. Krutzsch. Pp. 349-472, 47 figiu-es in text, 4 tables. April 21, 1954. 5. Mammals from Southeastern Alaska. By Rollin H. Baker and James S. Findley. Pp. 473-477. April 21, 1954. 6. Distribution of Some Nebraskan Mammals. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 479- 487. AprU 21, 1954. 7. Subspeciation in the montane meadow mouse, Microtus montanus, in Wyo- ming and Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 489-506, 2 figures in text. July 23, 1954. 8. A new subspecies of bat (Myotis velifer) from southeastern California and Arizona. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 507-512. July 23, 1954. 9. Mammals of the San Gabriel mountains of California. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 513-582, 1 figure in text, 12 tables. November 15, 1954. 10. A new bat ( Genus Pipistrellus ) from northeastern Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 583-586. November 15, 1954. 11. A new subspecies of pocket mouse from Kansas. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 587-590. November 15, 1954. 12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Cratogeomys castanops, in Coa- huila, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell and Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 591-608. March 15, 1955. 13. A new cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) from northeastern Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 609-612. AprU 8, 1955. 14. Taxonomy and distribution of some American shrews. By James S. Findley. Pp. 613-618. June 10, 1955. 15. The pigmy woodrat, Neotoma goldmani, its distribution and systematic posi- tion. By Dennis G. Rainey and RoUin H. Baker. Pp. 619-624, 2 figures in text. June 10, 1955. Index. Pp. 625-651. (Continued on inside of back cover) University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History Volume 13, No. 4, pp. 85-288, pis. 13-20, 26 figs, in text November 30, 1960 Autecology of the Copperhead BY HENRY S. FITCH University of Kansas Lawrence 1960 University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural Histort Editors: E, Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch, Robert W. Wilson in test Volume 13, No. 4, pp. 85-288, pis. 13-20, 26 Bgs. Published November 30, 1960 Mils. COlVir. iLyOl t DEC 2 7 1960 . University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas PRINTED IN THE STATE PRINTING PLANT TOPEKA. KANSAS 1960 28-4428 Autecology of the Copperhead BY HENRY S. FITCH CONTENTS PAGE Introduction 89 Acknowledgments 92 Methods 93 Description Lepidosis 99 Color and Pattern 102 Size 103 Bodily Proportions 106 Dentition 108 Hemipenis 112 Relationships 113 Habitat 116 Range and Geographic Variation 121 Behavior Crawling 124 Coiling 126 Swimming 128 Climbing 128 Disposition 129 Combat Dance 131 Shedding 134 Hibernation and the Effect of Temperature 137 Movements 147 Reproduction Courtship and Mating 157 Fecundity of Females 162 Development of Ova and Embryos 164 Aggregating of Gravid Females 166 Time of Birth 168 Number of Young per Litter 171 Birth of Young 176 Behavior of Females 17S Defects and MortaUty at Birth 178 The Egg Tooth 179 (87) 88 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist. FACE Size at Birth 181 Appearance of Young 182 Growth and Development Utilization of Stored Yolk, and Early Growth 183 Later Growtli 183 Cessation of Growth 192 Food Habits Methods of Obtaining Prey 193 Luring of Prey by Young 196 Statements of Food Preferences 198 Composition of the Diet 199 Kinds of Prey 201 Amount of Food Consumed 211 Defense, Escape and Mortality Factors Defense and Escape 219 Natural Enemies and Predation 221 EflFects of CHmatic Extremes 226 Parasites, Diseases and Injuries 228 Composition of the Population 230 Numbers 236 Relation to Man Attitudes of tlie Pubhc 245 Survival Under Modem Conditions 249 Control 250 The Venom and Bite Adaptations Correlated with the Venom 253 Properties of the Venom 255 Quantity of Venom Produced 256 Toxicity of tlie Venom 256 Susceptibilit)' of Snakes 259 Circumstances and Outcomes of Bites 261 Hypersensitivity to Venom 262 Case History of a Bite 263 Treatment of the Bite 265 Summary 269 Literature Cited 277 INTRODUCTION In 1948 when ecological studies were initiated on tlie newly created University of Kansas Natural History Reservation, the copperhead was one of the first species that attracted attention as meriting intensive investigation. As an abundant predator on small vertebrates, including both those that are primary consumers of the vegetation and those of higher trophic levels, it was recognized as a key animal in the local ecosystem. Despite persistent effort to study the copperhead, progress was slow, especially in the early stages of the investigation. Copper- heads were rarely seen engaged in their normal activities, and even when such individuals were found, observing them proved to be remarkably unrewarding. A copperhead found by chance usually lay motionless for long periods, either having "frozen" in the usual reaction to any alarm, or merely resting—the sluggish behavior that is characteristic of the species. Attempting to ob- serve such a snake severely tried the patience of the investigator. When the snake finally began to move, it might soon be irretrievably lost because of the perfection with which it blended with its back- ground, and the dense concealing vegetation and other cover in the situations frequented. In the summer of 1949 cylindrical wire funnel traps set for lizards at the edges of rock outcrops in the "Rat Ledge" area caught several copperheads, and many more of these snakes were trapped in similar situations in autumn of the same year. Thereafter, each autumn, trap lines were maintained in rock ledge habitat and cop- perheads were obtained in numbers at that time of year but not at other seasons. In 1957 trap lines were established in a variety of habitats not previously sampled, and tliis trapping was continued on a larger scale in 1958 and 1959. In tliese three years copper- heads were obtained in large numbers tluroughout the season of their activity. The present report is based primarily upon records obtained on the 590-acre University of Kansas Natural History Reservation, in the nortlieas tern corner of Douglas County, Kansas, and on the adjacent 160-acre Rockefeller Experimental Tract. Including a few miscellaneous records, such as tliose of snakes found dead on county roads, and of young bom dead in captivity, a total of 1532 (89) 90 University of Kansas Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist. individual copperheads obtained from the Reservation or imme- diately adjacent areas were recorded a total of 2018 times between July 1, 1948, and November 9, 1959. Supplemental information was obtained from numerous other copperheads collected or ob- served elsewhere in eastern Kansas, notably from large series taken near La Cygne by Vernon Mann, who kindly permitted me to examine the live snakes in his possession from time to time. Despite the rapid accumulation of data during the later years completion of the study was long delayed because of seeming in- adequacies or inconsistencies in the information obtained.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Herping Around
    The Member Magazine of The Orianne Society Issue 10 • Winter 2019 Indigomagazine HERPING AROUND Field Herping with Conservation in Mind Herping in the Heartland The Poconos Mountains: Sunrise in Early June Herping the Trans-Pecos Herping: A Slippery (and Scaly) Slope Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Indigomagazine staff Christopher Jenkins Chief Executive Officer Heidi Hall Development Director Houston Chandler Longleaf Savannas Initiative Director Brannon Knight Longleaf Savannas Initiative Stewardship Coordinator Ben Stegenga Field Herping with 4 Longleaf Savannas Initiative Research Associate Jacob Barrett Conservation in Mind Longleaf Savannas Initiative Field Operations Coordinator Kiley Briggs Great Northern Forests Initiative Turtle Conservation Coordinator William Rodriguez Conservation Communications Coordinator Charli Palmer Program Manager Patty Li 12 18 Accountant Herping in the Heartland The Poconos Mountains: Sunrise in Early June contributors Bob Ferguson Chad Harrison Noah Fields Peter Kleinhenz Houston Chandler issue Indigo Magazine Issue 10, Winter 2019 Indigo Magazine is the member magazine of 24 The Orianne Society and is produced, designed 30 and edited by the staff of The Orianne Society. Herping the Trans-Pecos Herping: A Slippery (and Scaly) Slope CONTACT The Orianne Society 11 Old Fruit Stand Lane, Tiger, GA 30576 706-224-1359 [email protected] www.OrianneSociety.org 38 40 Upcoming Events @OrianneSociety Member Photos 2 ORIANNESOCIETY.ORG WINTER ISSUE 2019 Indigomagazine Go into almost any town in America and ask people if they know what message a birder is. Many people may not understand why, but they know that from our there are groups of people who like to go out and look at birds through binoculars. If you told them you are CEO a field herper however, you are likely to get some very strange looks.
    [Show full text]
  • Slithering Locomotion
    SLITHERING LOCOMOTION DAVID L. HU() AND MICHAEL SHELLEY∗∗ Abstract. Limbless terrestrial animals propel themselves by sliding their bellies along the ground. Although the study of dry solid-solid friction is a classical subject, the mechanisms underlying friction-based limbless propulsion have received little attention. We review and expand upon our previous work on the locomotion of snakes, who are expert sliders. We show that snakes use two principal mechanisms to slither on flat surfaces. First, their bellies are covered with scales that catch upon ground asperities, providing frictional anisotropy. Second, they are able to lift parts of their body slightly off the ground when moving. This reduces undesired frictional drag and applies greater pressure to the parts of the belly that are pushing the snake forwards. We review a theoretical framework that may be adapted by future investigators to understand other kinds of limbless locomotion. Key words. Snakes, friction, locomotion AMS(MOS) subject classifications. Primary 76Zxx 1. Introduction. Animal locomotion is as diverse as animal form. Swimming, flying and walking have received much attention [1, 9]withthe latter being the most commonly studied means for moving on land (Fig. 1). Comparatively little attention has been paid to limbless locomotion on land, which necessarily relies upon sliding. Sliding is physically distinct from pushing against a fluid and understanding it as a form of locomotion presents new challenges, as we present in this review. Terrestrial limbless animals are rare. Those that are multicellular include worms, snails and snakes, and account for less than 2% of the 1.8 million named species (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mechanics of Slithering Locomotion
    The mechanics of slithering locomotion David L. Hua,b,1, Jasmine Nirodya, Terri Scotta, and Michael J. Shelleya aApplied Mathematics Laboratory, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10003; and bDepartments of Mechanical Engineering and Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 Edited by Charles S. Peskin, New York University, New York, NY, and approved April 22, 2009 (received for review December 12, 2008) In this experimental and theoretical study, we investigate the the sum of frictional forces per unit length, ffric, and internal slithering of snakes on flat surfaces. Previous studies of slithering forces, fint, generated by the snakes. That is, have rested on the assumption that snakes slither by pushing laterally against rocks and branches. In this study, we develop a ␯X¨ ϭ ffric ϩ fint , [1] theoretical model for slithering locomotion by observing snake ¨ motion kinematics and experimentally measuring the friction co- where X is the acceleration at each point along the snake’s body. efficients of snakeskin. Our predictions of body speed show good To avoid complex issues of muscle and tissue modeling, fint is agreement with observations, demonstrating that snake propul- determined to be that necessary for the model snake to produce sion on flat ground, and possibly in general, relies critically on the the observed shape kinematics. We use a sliding friction law in k frictional anisotropy of their scales. We have also highlighted the which the friction force per unit length is f ϭϪ␮k␯guˆ, where ␮ importance of weight distribution in lateral undulation, previously is the sliding friction coefficient, uˆ ϭ u/u is the velocity difficult to visualize and hence assumed uniform.
    [Show full text]
  • Freshwater Fishes
    WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE state oF BIODIVERSITY 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction 2 Chapter 2 Methods 17 Chapter 3 Freshwater fishes 18 Chapter 4 Amphibians 36 Chapter 5 Reptiles 55 Chapter 6 Mammals 75 Chapter 7 Avifauna 89 Chapter 8 Flora & Vegetation 112 Chapter 9 Land and Protected Areas 139 Chapter 10 Status of River Health 159 Cover page photographs by Andrew Turner (CapeNature), Roger Bills (SAIAB) & Wicus Leeuwner. ISBN 978-0-620-39289-1 SCIENTIFIC SERVICES 2 Western Cape Province State of Biodiversity 2007 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Andrew Turner [email protected] 1 “We live at a historic moment, a time in which the world’s biological diversity is being rapidly destroyed. The present geological period has more species than any other, yet the current rate of extinction of species is greater now than at any time in the past. Ecosystems and communities are being degraded and destroyed, and species are being driven to extinction. The species that persist are losing genetic variation as the number of individuals in populations shrinks, unique populations and subspecies are destroyed, and remaining populations become increasingly isolated from one another. The cause of this loss of biological diversity at all levels is the range of human activity that alters and destroys natural habitats to suit human needs.” (Primack, 2002). CapeNature launched its State of Biodiversity Programme (SoBP) to assess and monitor the state of biodiversity in the Western Cape in 1999. This programme delivered its first report in 2002 and these reports are updated every five years. The current report (2007) reports on the changes to the state of vertebrate biodiversity and land under conservation usage.
    [Show full text]
  • Missouri's Toads and Frogs Booklet
    TOADSMissouri’s andFROGS by Jeffrey T. Briggler and Tom R. Johnson, Herpetologists www.MissouriConservation.org © 1982, 2008 Missouri Conservation Commission Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Missouri Department of Conservation is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Questions should be directed to the Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, (573) 751-4115 (voice) or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA 22203. Cover photo: Eastern gray treefrog by Tom R. Johnson issouri toads and frogs are colorful, harmless, vocal and valuable. Our forests, prairies, rivers, swamps and marshes are Mhome to a multitude of toads and frogs, but few people know how many varieties we have, how to tell them apart, or much about their natural history. Studying these animals and sharing their stories with fellow Missourians is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding aspects of our work. Toads and frogs are amphibians—a class Like most of vertebrate animals that also includes amphibians, salamanders and the tropical caecilians, which are long, slender, wormlike and legless. frogs and Missouri has 26 species and subspecies (or toads have geographic races) of toads and frogs. Toads and frogs differ from salamanders by having an aquatic relatively short bodies and lacking tails at adulthood. Being an amphibian means that tadpole stage they live two lives: an aquatic larval or tadpole and a semi- stage and a semi-aquatic or terrestrial adult stage.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Ecology Provincial Resources
    MANITOBA ENVIROTHON WILDLIFE ECOLOGY PROVINCIAL RESOURCES !1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank: Olwyn Friesen (PhD Ecology) for compiling, writing, and editing this document. Subject Experts and Editors: Barbara Fuller (Project Editor, Chair of Test Writing and Education Committee) Lindsey Andronak (Soils, Research Technician, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) Jennifer Corvino (Wildlife Ecology, Senior Park Interpreter, Spruce Woods Provincial Park) Cary Hamel (Plant Ecology, Director of Conservation, Nature Conservancy Canada) Lee Hrenchuk (Aquatic Ecology, Biologist, IISD Experimental Lakes Area) Justin Reid (Integrated Watershed Management, Manager, La Salle Redboine Conservation District) Jacqueline Monteith (Climate Change in the North, Science Consultant, Frontier School Division) SPONSORS !2 Introduction to wildlife ...................................................................................7 Ecology ....................................................................................................................7 Habitat ...................................................................................................................................8 Carrying capacity.................................................................................................................... 9 Population dynamics ..............................................................................................................10 Basic groups of wildlife ................................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Control Number: 51737 Item Number: 2
    Control Number: 51737 Item Number: 2 Addendum StartPage: 0 r.. STANDARD 2021 FEB -!+ AM ID: I 3 APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OFi¢ONNKNIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR A PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINE DOCKET NO. 51737 Submit seven (7) copies of the application and aU attachments supporting the application. If the application is being Jiled pursuant to 16 Tex. Admin. Code §25.101(b)(3)(D) (TAC) or 16 TAC §25.174, include in the application aH direct testimony. The application and other necessary documents shall be submitted to: Public Utility Commission of Texas Attn: Filing Clerk 1701 N. Congress Ave. Austin, Texas 78711-3326 Standard Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for a Proposed Transmission Line and Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for a Proposed Transmission Line Pursuant To 16 TAC §25.174 Note: As used herein, the term "joint application" refers to an application for proposed transmission facilities for which ownership will be divided. All applications for such facilities should be filed jointly by the proposed owners ofthe facilities. 1. Applicant (Utility) Name: For joint applications, provide all information for each applicant. Applicant (Utility) Name: Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor" or "Company") Certificate Number: 30043 Street Address: 1616 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Dallas, Texas 75202 Mailing Address: 1616 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Dallas, Texas 75202-1234 2. Please identify all entities that will hold an ownership interest or an investment interest in the proposed project but which are not subject to the Commission's jurisdiction. Oncor will hold the sole ownership interest in the Kyle Ranch Substation - Quarry Field Switch 138 kV Transmission Line Project.
    [Show full text]
  • Check List 17 (1): 27–38
    17 1 ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES Check List 17 (1): 27–38 https://doi.org/10.15560/17.1.27 A herpetological survey of Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary Dillon Jones1, Bethany Foshee2, Lee Fitzgerald1 1 Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. 2 Houston Audubon, 440 Wilchester Blvd. Houston, TX 77079 USA. Corresponding author: Dillon Jones, [email protected] Abstract Urban herpetology deals with the interaction of amphibians and reptiles with each other and their environment in an ur- ban setting. As such, well-preserved natural areas within urban environments can be important tools for conservation. Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is an 18-acre wooded sanctuary located west of downtown Houston, Texas and is the headquarters to Houston Audubon Society. This study compared iNaturalist data with results from visual encounter surveys and aquatic funnel traps. Results from these two sources showed 24 species belonging to 12 families and 17 genera of herpetofauna inhabit the property. However, several species common in surrounding areas were absent. Combination of data from community science and traditional survey methods allowed us to better highlight herpe- tofauna present in the park besides also identifying species that may be of management concern for Edith L. Moore. Keywords Community science, iNaturalist, urban herpetology Academic editor: Luisa Diele-Viegas | Received 27 August 2020 | Accepted 16 November 2020 | Published 6 January 2021 Citation: Jones D, Foshee B, Fitzgerald L (2021) A herpetology survey of Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. Check List 17 (1): 27–28. https://doi.
    [Show full text]
  • Brigalow Belt Bioregion – a Biodiversity Jewel
    Brigalow Belt bioregion – a biodiversity jewel Brigalow habitat © Craig Eddie What is brigalow? including eucalypt and cypress pine forests and The term ‘brigalow’ is used simultaneously to refer to; woodlands, grasslands and other Acacia dominated the tree Acacia harpophylla; an ecological community ecosystems. dominated by this tree and often found in conjunction with other species such as belah, wilga and false Along the eastern boundary of the Brigalow Belt are sandalwood; and a broader region where this species scattered patches of semi-evergreen vine thickets with and ecological community are present. bright green canopy species that are highly visible among the more silvery brigalow communities. These The Brigalow Belt bioregion patches are a dry adapted form of rainforest, relics of a much wetter past. The Brigalow Belt bioregion is a large and complex area covering 36,400 000ha. The region is thus recognised What are the issues? by the Australian Government as a biodiversity hotspot. Nature conservation in the region has received increasing attention because of the rapid and extensive This hotspot contains some of the most threatened loss of habitat that has occurred. Since World War wildlife in the world, including populations of the II the Brigalow Belt bioregion has become a major endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby and the only agricultural and pastoral area. Broad-scale clearing for remaining wild population of the endangered northern agriculture and unsustainable grazing has fragmented hairy-nosed wombat. The area contains important the original vegetation in the past, particularly on habitat for rare and threatened species including the, lowland areas. glossy black-cockatoo, bulloak jewel butterfl y, brigalow scaly-foot, red goshawk, little pied bat, golden-tailed geckos and threatened community of semi evergreen Biodiversity hotspots are areas that support vine thickets.
    [Show full text]
  • 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]
  • Locomotion of Reptiles" Will Be of Interest to a Wide Range of Readers
    REVIEW A RTICLES Editorial note. We are trying to introduce a "new look" to the BHS Bulletin, and one of our plans is to commission articles by well-known zoologists summarising recent advances in their area of expertise, as they relate to herpetology. We are particularly pleased that Professor McNeill Alexander of Leeds University agreed to write the first of these. We hope that this masterly summary of "Locomotion of Reptiles" will be of interest to a wide range of readers. Roger Meek and Roger Avery, Co-Editors. Locomotion of Reptiles R. McNEILL ALEXANDER Institute for Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. [email protected] ABSTRACT – Reptiles run, crawl, climb, jump, glide and swim. Exceptional species run on the surface of water or “swim” through dry sand. This paper is a short summary of current knowledge of all these modes of reptilian locomotion. Most of the examples refer to lizards or snakes, but chelonians and crocodilians are discussed briefly. Extinct reptiles are omitted. References are given to scientific papers that provide more detailed information. INTRODUCTION the body and the leg joints much straighter, as in his review is an attempt to explain briefly elephants. The bigger an animal is, the harder it Tthe many different modes of locomotion that is for them to support the weight of the body in a reptiles use. Some of the information it gives lizard-like stance. Imagine two reptiles of exactly has been known for many years, but many of the the same shape, one twice as long as the other.
    [Show full text]
  • Arizona Distribution of Three Sonoran Desert Anurans: Bufo Retiformis, Gastrophryne Olivacea, and Pternohyla Fodiens
    Great Basin Naturalist Volume 56 Number 1 Article 5 1-31-1996 Arizona distribution of three Sonoran Desert anurans: Bufo retiformis, Gastrophryne olivacea, and Pternohyla fodiens Brian K. Sullivan Arizona State University West, Phoenix, Arizona Robert W. Bowker Glendale Community College, Glendale, Arizona Keith B. Malmos Arizona State University, Tempe Erik W. A. Gergus Arizona State University, Tempe Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation Sullivan, Brian K.; Bowker, Robert W.; Malmos, Keith B.; and Gergus, Erik W. A. (1996) "Arizona distribution of three Sonoran Desert anurans: Bufo retiformis, Gastrophryne olivacea, and Pternohyla fodiens," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 56 : No. 1 , Article 5. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol56/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Great Basin aturalist 56(1}, e 1996. pp. 38-47 ARIZONA DISTRIBUTION OF THREE SONORAN DESERT ANURANS, BUFO RETlFORMIS, GASTROPHRYNE OLIVACEA, AND PTERNOHYLA FOD/ENS Brian K. Sullivan1, Robert W Bowker2, Keith B. Malmos3, and Erik W A. Gergus3 ABSTRAGJ:-We surveyed historic collecting localities in south central Arizona during July; August, and September 1993-94 to determine the presence of 3 little-known Sonoran Desert anurans, Btifo retiformis, Gastrophryne oUvacea, and Ptemohyla fodiens. All 3 species were present at most historic localities visited under appropriate conditions (fol· lowing rainfall in July and August).
    [Show full text]