DOCSLIB.ORG

Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Coralzus Enydris

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Coralzus Enydris 576.1 REPTII& SQUAMATA SERPENTES: BOIDAE CORAILUS ENYDRIS Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. hourglass shapes or round-cornered rhomboid-like shapes (Henderson, 1991: Pig. 1, paern 3). The venter is usually heavily Henderson, RW. 1993. Comllus enydh patterned with dark brown. (2) Grenada Bank: Maximum SVL is at least 1625 mm. On Grenada the dorsal ground color is extremely CoralZus enydris (Linnaeus) variable, including shades of yellow, orange, red, gray, taupe, brown (to nearly black), and olive. For snakes in which the dorsal ground Boa Envd* Linnaeus. 1758:215. Tvw-localitv. uAmerica." Hole color is vellowish. the dorsum mav be comoletelv devoid of att tern. ty&, ~aturhistorika~iksmusee( ~tockhoi&(~ndersson, 1899), lightly patterned aith flecks of brown that &cupy less than singld mssiblv uncatalonued, collector and date of collection un- scale. or have a Danern of dark flecks ~rovidin~the indication of an known[sex unknok, sVL 1020 mm (not examined by author). hourglass shape: Snakes that have a dorsal gro"und color other than Comllus en$&: Forcan, 1951:197. yellow exhibit tremendous variability in pattern shape (anteroposteriorlyelongated,dorsoventrally broadenedrhomb, hour- Conten+ Two subspecies are recognized, C. e. enydris and glass, spade; Henderson, 1991: Fig. 1, patterns 16). Dingy yellow is C. e. cooki. the predominant ventral ground color, but occasionally the venter is cream or white. The ventral pattern may be almost immaculate, Defhitlon MaximumSVLisat least 1870 mm(fromTrinidad). marked with flecks and spots, large blotches, or nearly covered with The general habitus is with a large chunky head, long anterior dark brown. Theventral panern usually becomesdenser posteriorly. maxillary teeth, slender neck, strongly laterally compressed body, On the islands of the Grenadines, yellow snakes have been collected and prehensile tail. CwaUus arydris exhibits virtually no sexual on Bequia and Union. Elsewhere dorsal ground color is gray, taupe, dimdrphism in pertinent scale chkcters. ~an~esin meritic features some shade of brown, or bright red-range (Mayreau only). The are as follows: dorsal scale rows at midbodv 37-63: ventrals 250-294: dorsal pattern is variable, but usually consists of some rhomboid subcaudals 94-133; ventrals + subcaudals 351-436;iupralabials (with derivative, spade, or hourglass shape (Henderson, 1991: Fig 1). 0) well-developed labial pits) 8-14; infralabials (with well-developed Costa Ria, Panad (and associated islands), and nonhern Colombia labial pits) 11-17; scales between supraorbitals 3-14; loreals 1-4; (north of the Cordillera Oriental): Maximum SVL is at least 1665 mm. subloreals 0-9; loreals + subloreals 1-11; circumorbital series 9-17; Dorsal ground color is yellowish, taupe, gray or some shade of brown nasals usually in contact with 4-14 scales bordering nasals. (browns predominate). The dorsal pattern is usually a series of lame Few snake species show greater color panern variation than C. rhombs benderson 1991: Fig. 1,- pattern 5). snakes from tks enydtis. Following are color pattern descriptions and notations of geographic area show more consistencythan elsewhere in the shape size from fwe geographic areas (some very broad) that describesome of the main dorsal element. The ventral ground color usually is dingy ofthe variability in this species- (1) St. Vincent: Maximum SVL is at yellow, and may be nearly immaculate to heavily patterned (if least 1374 mm. Dorsal ground color is gray, taupe, or brown; always patterned, more so on the posterior portion of the body). (4) with a conspicuous dorsal (- lateral because of strong lateral com- Trinidad, Tobago, lsla Margarita, and nonhern Venezuela: Snakes pression) pattern, the main elements of which are gray or brown from this area tend to be very large (especially fromTrinidad and the Map. Distribution of Comllus enydris. The type-localities of both subspecies are too imprecise to plot. Solid circles mark known locality records. Subspecies of specimens from areas indicated by cross-hatching are undetermined. Orinoco Delta) and maximum SVL is at least 1870 mm. The dorsal principal nerves innervating the heat sensitive scales in Bullock and ground color is yellow, yellow-brown, khaki-brown, or copper Barren (1968). brown. Adistina dorsal panern may be absent, faint or conspicuous rhombs may be present, or the free edges of the dorsal scales may be Distribution. Corallus enydris has an extensive distribution dark brown. The venter may be whitish, cream, dingy yellow, or in the Neotropics, occurring from southwestern Costa Rica (south of bright yellow, and may be immaculate to heavily marked with dark 10°N) through Panad(including Isla del Rey, Isla Contadora, Isla de brown to black (becoming more predominant posteriorly). (5) Cebaco, Isla Suscantupu) into South America, where the species may Amazonia (including Atlantic coastal forest) and Guianan South be found in Colombia (east of the Andes, although Perez-Santos and America: Maximum SVL is at least 1640 mm. Dorsal ground color is Moreno [I9881 note specimens from west of the Andes). Venezuela yellow, some shade of brown or gray, but taupe is the predominant (including Isla ~arg&ta)andthrou~h~u~ana,Surinamejand~rench color. A dorsal pattern may be absent (if the dorsal ground color is Guiana into Amazonian Ecuador. Peru. Bolivia, and Brasil. In Brasil. yellow), but usually consists of a dorsovenmlly elongated rhomboi- C. enydris is encountered south of the-~ro~icbf~a~ricorn to 24043' dal shape (Henderson, 1991: Fig. 1, pattern 2), distinct or not, gray, in the state of SoPaulo, and also on Ilha Grande off the southeastern taupe, or brown in color. The venter may be white, cream, or coast. Insular distribution includes Trinidad and Tobago, and in the (predominantly) dingy yellow; immaculate, with a few flecks, scat- West Indies the species is known from St. Vincent, many of the tered spots and blotches, or nearly completely covered with dark Grenadines (Bequia, Ile Quane, Baliceaux, Mustique, Canouan, brown. The ventral pattern becomes heavier posteriorly. Mayreau, Union, Carriacou, Petit Maninique), and Grenada. Altitudi- The hemipenis in a C. e. enydris (from Venezuela south of the nal distribution is from sea level to about 1000 m, although Perez- KO Orinoco) is 19 mm long and undivided, the arms are reduced to Santos and Moreno (1988) note a specimen collected at 1900 m in terminal lateral bulges; the sulcus divides 10 mm from the base and Colombia. the forks run centrifugally to the tips of the lateral bulges; sulcal folds The distribution of C. e. enydris is largely coincident with the are large, slightly raised and unadorned; ornamentation is flounced; distributionof lowland tropical rainforest. These snakes are virtually the proximal third of the organ is nude, followed distally by three absent fromcaatinga in eastern Brasil, and, in general, fromareas that shallow, transverse flounces that fuse with the sulcal folds and receive <I500 mm of precipitation annually. Comlluse.enydris does encircle the organ; two rows of coarse papillae (derived from papil- occur in Atlantic coastal forest in southern Brasil. ComlIus e. cooki late flounces) encircle the organ, and the distal quaner of the organ occurs in a wider range of habitats (from cactus and thorn scrub to is covered with scattered, shallow, rounded papillae (Branch, 1981). rainforest) and rainfall regimes, including areas that receive <I000 In comparison (only differences, not similarities, are noted), in C. e. mm of precipitation annually. cook (from Panad), the hemipenis is 34 mm long and shallowly forked (crotch at 32 mm); the sulcus divides 20 mm from the base; the Fossil Record. None. sulcal folds are not raised; the basal quarter of the organ is nude, distally encircled by five welldeveloped wavy flounces (fused wlh Pertinent Literature. A comprehensive account of the the sulcal fold and occurring proximad to the sulcal furcation), biology of CoralIus enydris is not available. Many aspects of the chevron-shapedwith apices directed dorsally on the asulcal surface; biologyof C. enydris are discussed in a scattered literature, including the most proximal flounce is extended into a small basal papilla on chromosomes (Beqak, 1965; Gorman and Cress, 1970), bile acids the asulcal surface; the remainder of organ is covered by many (Haslewood and Woonon, 1951; Haslewood, l%n, scent gland scanered, rounded papillae which are smaller on the arms; small lipids (Tolson, 1987), cranial osteology (Frauetta, 1959, 1975; scanered papillae also occur between prominent basal flounces McDowell, 1979, Kluge, 19911, internal anatomy (Beddard, 1908; (particularly on the asulcate surface) (Branch, 1981). Underwood, 1967), radiant heat reception (~ullockand Barrett, 1968; Barren. 1970: Maderson. 1970: Meszler.1970). hemioenis(McDowell. LMqno~ls.ComlIus enydris usually has nasals in contact 1979; Branch, 1981), reprodLction (oxtoby, 198j; Winstel, 1989; (usually not in contact in C. annulatus and C. caninus). CoraIIus 1992; Ross and Marzec, 190), habitat (Sexton and Heatwole, 1965; enydris has 9-13subcaudals compared to 79-87 in C. annulatus. Roze, 1970; Cunha and Nascimento, 1978; Duellman, 1978, 1989, 65-74 in C. caninus, and 40in C. cropanii. Juvenile (yellow) C. 1m; Rivero-Blanco and Dixon, 1979; Henderson et al., 1979; caninus bear a superficial resemblance to yellow phase C. enydris, Hoogrnoed, 1979, Fugler, 1986, Henderson, 1988; Perez-Santos and but scale characters easily distinguish the two taxa. Moreno, 1988,1991;Henderson,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Social Assessment January 2014
    Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (RDVRP) Social Assessment Report January 2014 Central Planning Division, Ministry of Finance and Economic Plann ing 1st Floor, Administrative Centre, Bay Street, Kingstown, St.V incent and the Grenadines Tel.: 784-457-1746 ● Fax: 784-456-2430 E-mail: [email protected] St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2 Social Assessment Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................................... 5 Social Indicators ..................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 8 Objective of the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project ....................................................... 9 Socio-economic profile of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ............................................ 10 Country Description ................................................................................................................ 10 Weather and Climate .............................................................................................................. 10 Population Demographic Factors ..........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mixed-Species Bird Flocks Mob an Amazon Treeboa (Corallus Hortulanus) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Boidae) in the Southwest Brazilian Amazon
    Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 1011-1014 (2019) (published online on 17 October 2019) Mixed-species bird flocks mob an Amazon treeboa (Corallus hortulanus) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Boidae) in the Southwest Brazilian Amazon Odair Diogo da Silva1, Thatiane Martins da Costa2, Eder Correa Fermiano1, Almério Câmara Gusmão3, Dionei José da Silva1, and Paulo Sérgio Bernarde4,* Snakes in Brazilian Amazon communities prey on Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, in the Amazon, several groups of animals (amphibians, lizards, rodents, Cerrado, Caatinga and Atlantic Rainforest biomes, birds, other snakes, fish, mollusks, earthworms, with its southern limit located in the state of São Paulo centipedes, among others), and birds may represent the (Hernderson, 1997; Bérnils et al., 2007). This species fourth most consumed item in some areas (Martins and exhibits nocturnal and arboreal habits, preying on small Oliveira, 1998; Bernarde and Abe, 2006). Colubridae mammals (rodents, marsupials and bats), birds, lizards, (such as Oxybelis fulgidus, Phrynonax polylepis and anuran amphibians and monkeys (Martins and Oliveira, Spilotes pullatus) and Boidae (such as Boa constrictor, 1998; Crasto-Astor et al., 1998; Pizzatto et al., 2009; Corallus hortulanus and Epicrates cenchria) are among Bernarde and Abe, 2010; Gonzalez et al., 2016; Ribeiro- the main families that include birds in their diets (Martins Júnior et al., 2016). During hunting, it use the hunting and Oliveira, 1998; Pizzatto et al., 2009; Scartozzoni et tactics of waiting or actively seeking prey on vegetation al., 2009; Bernarde and Abe, 2010). up to 25 m in height (Martins and Oliveira, 1998; Costa- The Amazon tree boa or garden tree boa, Corallus Silva and Henderson, 2012, 2013, 2014; Costa-Silva et hortulanus (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most widespread al., 2012).
    [Show full text]
  • Boidae, Boinae): a Rare Snake from the Vale Do Ribeira, State of São Paulo, Brazil
    SALAMANDRA 47(2) 112–115 20 May 2011 ISSNCorrespondence 0036–3375 Correspondence New record of Corallus cropanii (Boidae, Boinae): a rare snake from the Vale do Ribeira, State of São Paulo, Brazil Paulo R. Machado-Filho 1, Marcelo R. Duarte 1, Leandro F. do Carmo 2 & Francisco L. Franco 1 1) Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05503-900, Brazil 2) Departamento de Agroindústria, Alimentos e Nutrição. Escola Superior de Agronomia “Luiz de Queiroz” – ESALQ/USP, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 C.P.: 9, Piracicaba, SP, CEP: 13418-900, Brazil Correspondig author: Francisco L. Franco, e-mail: [email protected] Manuscript received: 9 December 2010 The boid genusCorallus Daudin, 1803 is comprised of nine Until recently, only four specimens (including the above Neotropical species (Henderson et al. 2009): Corallus an­ mentioned holotype) of C. cropanii were deposited in her- nulatus (Cope, 1876), Corallus batesii (Gray, 1860), Co­ petological collections: three in the Coleção Herpetológica rallus blombergi (Rendahl & Vestergren, 1941), Coral­ “Alphonse Richard Hoge”, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, lus caninus (Linnaeus, 1758), Corallus cookii Gray, 1842, Corallus cropanii (Hoge, 1954), Corallus grenadensis (Bar- bour, 1914), Corallus hortulanus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Corallus ruschenbergerii (Cope, 1876). The most conspic- uous morphological attributes of representatives of these species are the laterally compressed body, robust head, slim neck, and the presence of deep pits in some of the la- bial scales (Henderson 1993a, 1997). Species of Corallus are distributed from northern Central American to south- ern Brazil, including Trinidad and Tobago and islands of the south Caribbean. Four species occur in Brazil: Corallus batesii, C.
    [Show full text]
  • Cfreptiles & Amphibians
    WWW.IRCF.ORG/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSJOURNALTABLE OF CONTENTS IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS IRCF REPTILES • VOL15, &NO AMPHIBIANS 4 • DEC 2008 189 • 23(1):34–39 • APR 2016 IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE ARTICLES . Chasing Bullsnakes (PituophisThorny catenifer sayi) in Wisconsin: Situations: On the Road to Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer 190 . The Shared History of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada: A HypotheticalReptiles Excursion ............................................................................................................................ on the GrenadinesRobert W. Henderson 198 RESEARCH ARTICLESRichard A. Sajdak1, Craig S. Berg2, and Robert W. Henderson3 . The Texas Horned Lizard in Central and Western Texas ....................... Emily Henry, Jason Brewer, Krista Mougey, and Gad Perry 204 1Pittsford, New York 14534, USA . The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida 2 .............................................MilwaukeeBrian J. Camposano, County Kenneth Zoo, Milwaukee,L. Krysko, Kevin Wisconsin M. Enge, Ellen 53226, M. Donlan, USA and Michael Granatosky 212 3Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA CONSERVATION ALERT . World’s Mammals in Crisis ............................................................................................................................................................. 220 . More Than Mammals .....................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Predation by Corallus Annulatus (Boidae) on Rhynchonycteris Naso
    Cuad. herpetol., 2323 (2):(2): 9393–96,–96, 20092009 93 N OTA loured juvenile female C. annulatus (270 mm TL / 180 mm SVL) was dis- PREDATION BY CORALLUS covered in the roofing rafters at Caño ANNULATUS (BOIDAE) ON Palma’s boat dock (Fig. 1.0). Rhyncho- RHYNCHONYCTERIS NASO nycteris naso were regularly observed (EMBALLONURIDAE) IN A roosting beneath the dock in groups of LOWLAND TROPICAL WET between three and eight individuals (Fig FOREST, COSTA RICA 1.1) several nights before we found the snake. We discovered, without the need for regurgitation by palpation, typical TODD R. LEWIS shapes of bat morphology and deduced Westfield, 4 Worgret Road, Wareham, Dorset, that it was possible that the snake had BH20 4PJ, United Kingdom. eaten a R. naso. On the second occa- [email protected] sion we observed an orange / taupe co- loured adult male C. annulatus (584 DARRYN J. NASH mm TL / 512 mm SVL) swallowing a 60 West Road, Spondon, Derby DE21 7AB. Unit- R. naso in the crown of a Manicaria ed Kingdom. saccifera palm, approximately 200 m [email protected] along a riparian section of the Biologi- cal Station’s forest. Rhynchonycteris PAUL B. C. GRANT naso are an abundant insectivorous bat 4901 Cherry Tree Bend, Victoria, British Colom- found throughout most tropical lowlands bia, V8Y 1S1, Canada. from southern Mexico through to the northern half of South America (Sorin, Corallus annulatus (Northern Annu- 1999). They are a small bat ranging lated Tree-boa) is a little-studied tropical from 35 to 41 mm in forearm length Boid occurring disjunctively throughout and typically weigh around 4 g.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines Provides a Plan for the Tax Reduction/Exemption Energy Sector in the Country That Addresses Sustainability Issues
    Islands Energy Snapshot St Vincent and the Grenadines St Vincent and This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape the Grenadines of St Vincent and the Grenadines—islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. St Vincent’s utility residential rates start at $0.26 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is below the Caribbean regional average of $0.33/kWh. St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Renewable Energy Goal: 4 Like many island nations, St Vincent and the Grenadines 60% by 2020 is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels, leaving it vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations that directly Government and Utility Overview impact the cost of electricity. Ministry: Energy Unit, Ministry of National Security, Air and Government Sea Port Development5 Population1 102,918 Authority Key Figure: Leonard Deane7 Total Area1 389 sq. km Designated Energy Unit, Ministry of National Security, Institution for $1.198 billion U.S. Air and Sea Port Development5 Gross Domestic Product (GDP)1 Renewable Energy Dollars (USD) Regulator No domestic regulatory agency8 Share of GDP Spent on Electricity – 5.2%2 Fuel and Imports Total – 10.0%3 Name: St Vincent State-owned, Utilities Electricity vertically GDP Per Capita1 $11,640 USD Services Ltd.8 integrated utility8 Urban Population Share1 50.2% available capacity is reduced to just 2 MW during the dry season.10 The existing diesel generators are aging, providing an opportunity to increase renewable energy and the effi- Electricity Sector Data ciency of fossil-fired units.4 The total annual consumption in St Vincent Electricity Services Ltd.
    [Show full text]
  • Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
    Saint Vincent & the Grenadines – Our Experience With Energy Statitics Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a multi-island state with St. Vincent being the main state and a chain of 32 small islands and cays, which receives almost 95% of the overall energy through imported oil products. Energy Policy The Government´s National Energy Policy: Published in March 2009, Stabilize and possibly reduce the provides the main guiding principles for energy consumption per capita in the the National Energy Policy for St. medium and long term; Vincent and the Grenadines. Strengthen the national economy by Guarantee a clean, reliable and reducing the dependence on import of affordable energy supply to customers; fossil fuels; Energy MATRIX The state-owned utility company VINLEC ELECTRICITY GENERATION operates mainly with internal combustion diesel engines and has an installed generation capacity of 58.3 megawatts (MW), of which 5.6 MW comes from three hydropower plants, (Cumberland 3.7 MW, Richmond 1.1 MW, and South Rivers 0.9 MW). with the remainder Name Location Year of Commissioning provided by diesel generators of which 42.41 MW are operated on the main island of St. Vincent with two diesel generating facilities, Cane Hall Power Plant Cane Hall 1975 Cane Hall (19.29 MW) and Lowman’s Bay (17.42 MW). Lowman's Bay Power Plant Lowman's Bay 2006 South Rivers Hydro Plant South Rivers 1952 HYDRO 22% Richmond Hydro plant Richmond 1962 Cumberland Hydro Plant Cumberland 1987 Bequia Power Plant Bequia 1990 PETROLEUM 78% Canouan Power Canouan 1994 Plant Union Island Power Plant Union Island 1993 Mayreau Power Mayreau 2003 Petroleum Hydro Plant Electricity consumption in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by sector The Government of St.
    [Show full text]
  • Grenadines Seabird Conservation Management Plan
    Grenadines Seabird Conservation Management Plan Community-based Conservation Management Plan for the Seabirds of the Transboundary Grenadines Archipelago Juliana Coffey and Natalia Collier 2 About EPIC: Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is an independent non-profit founded in 2000 with the mission of protecting the Caribbean environment through research, restoration, education and advocacy. EPIC is a results-driven organization that works on challenging, under-addressed issues through holistic programs resulting in strategic community-based actions. By recognizing the connections between ecological health, economic vitality, and the quality of life for Caribbean residents, EPIC’s work supports the vision of Caribbean communities leading the way towards a more resilient and sustainable future for everyone. To learn more about EPIC and its Caribbean initiatives visit our website at epicislands.org or find EPIC islands on social media. Contact EPIC: 411 Walnut Street #6749 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 USA https://epicislands.org [email protected] Recommended citation: Coffey, J. and N. Collier. 2020. Community-based Conservation Management Plan for the Seabirds of the Transboundary Grenadines Archipelago. Environmental Protection in the Caribbean, 67 pp Cover image: Red-footed boobies on Diamond Rock, Grenada (Juliana Coffey) . 3 Acknowledgements Environmental Protection in the Caribbean would like to thank all stakeholders consulted during this process for providing their input and expertise. Over one hundred stakeholders representing various departments, agencies and sectors were consulted in this process of developing a representative community-based conservation management plan, and therefor all cannot be listed individually. We would especially like to thank Fitzgerald Providence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Forestry Department, Anthony Jeremiah of Grenada’s Forestry Department and the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, the Tobago Cays Marine Park and Sandy Island Oyster Bed Marine Protected Area management and staff.
    [Show full text]
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
    Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean – St Vincent and the Grenadines ■ ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES LAND AREA 389 km2 ALTITUDE 0–1,234 m HUMAN POPULATION 102,250 CAPITAL Kingstown IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS 15, totalling 179 km2 IMPORTANT BIRD AREA PROTECTION 31% BIRD SPECIES 152 THREATENED BIRDS 6 RESTRICTED-RANGE BIRDS 14 LYSTRA CULZAC-WILSON (AVIANEYES) Ashton Lagoon IBA on Union Island in the southern Grenadines. (PHOTO: GREGG MOORE) INTRODUCTION Brisbane, 932 m) lies to the south of La Soufriere, and then Grand Bonhomme (970 m), Petit Bonhomme (756 m) and St Vincent and the Grenadines is a multi-island nation in the Mount St Andrew (736 m) are south of this. A large number Windward Islands of the Lesser Antillean chain. St Vincent is of very steep lateral ridges emanate from the central massif the main island (c.29 km long and 18 km wide, making up culminating in high, rugged and almost vertical cliffs on the c.88% of the nation’s land area) and lies furthest north, c.35 (eastern) leeward coast, while the windward coast is more km south-south-west of St Lucia. The chain of Grenadine gently sloping, with wider, flatter valleys. In contrast to St islands (comprising numerous islands, islets, rocks and reefs) Vincent, the Grenadines have a much gentler relief, with the extends south for 75 km towards the island of Grenada, with mountain peaks on these islands rising to150–300 m. There Union Island being the most southerly. Other major islands are no perennial streams in the Grenadines (although there is of the (St Vincent) Grenadines are Bequia (which is the a spring on Bequia), and unlike much of the mainland, these largest), Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Palm (Prune) Island islands are surrounded by fringing reefs and white sand and Petit St Vincent.
    [Show full text]
  • Grenadines Seabirds: Preserving a Caribbean Treasure
    Grenadines Seabirds: Preserving a Caribbean Treasure The Grenadine Islands form an archipelago of dozens of islands, many of which harbor regionally and globally important breeding colonies of seabirds. The extensive habitat and relatively remote location of many of these islands make them an ideal place for seabirds to nest. However, the islands are not immune to human impacts. Development, introduced predators, litter, and harvest by people are problems throughout the region which have a negative impact on seabirds. Research by Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) has indicated that this key seabird nesting area faces a significant threat in the form of harvesting of seabirds and their eggs and chicks. In addition, it is not known what introduced predators, such as rats, are present on many of the islands. Introduced Species The impact of introduced species has become a major conservation issue. Once one has witnessed the devastation caused by species such as rats to a once-prolific seabird colony, it is topic difficult to ignore. Seabirds lay their eggs during the dry season when there is often less forage available for animals like rats. These predators then rely on seabird eggs and chicks to survive, with the result that far fewer birds are able to successfully reproduce. Over the years, this has meant a continuous decline in seabird populations where introduced predators are present. Seabird Harvest Seabird harvest is an issue throughout the West Indies but one that has not received as much attention despite its potential for significant impacts. The relationship between fishers and seabirds is likely as deep-rooted as fishing itself.
    [Show full text]
  • G Iant Snakes
    Copyrighted Material Some pages are omitted from this book preview. Giant Snakes Giant Giant Snakes A Natural History John C. Murphy & Tom Crutchfield Snakes, particularly venomous snakes and exceptionally large constricting snakes, have haunted the human brain for a millennium. They appear to be responsible for our excellent vision, as well as the John C. Murphy & Tom Crutchfield & Tom C. Murphy John anxiety we feel. Despite the dangers we faced in prehistory, snakes now hold clues to solving some of humankind’s most debilitating diseases. Pythons and boas are capable of eating prey that is equal to more than their body weight, and their adaptations for this are providing insight into diabetes. Fascination with snakes has also drawn many to keep them as pets, including the largest species. Their popularity in the pet trade has led to these large constrictors inhabiting southern Florida. This book explores what we know about the largest snakes, how they are kept in captivity, and how they have managed to traverse ocean barriers with our help. Copyrighted Material Some pages are omitted from this book preview. Copyrighted Material Some pages are omitted from this book preview. Giant Snakes A Natural History John C. Murphy & Tom Crutchfield Copyrighted Material Some pages are omitted from this book preview. Giant Snakes Copyright © 2019 by John C. Murphy & Tom Cructhfield All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First Printing March 2019 ISBN 978-1-64516-232-2 Paperback ISBN 978-1-64516-233-9 Hardcover Published by: Book Services www.BookServices.us ii Copyrighted Material Some pages are omitted from this book preview.
    [Show full text]
  • Corallus Annulatus) from a Costa Rican Lowland Tropical Wet Forest Todd R
    AnnUlAted TreeboA IRCF ReptIles & AmphIbians • Vol 18, No 4 • DeC 2011 203 ecological notes on the annulated Treeboa (Corallus annulatus) from a costa Rican lowland Tropical Wet forest todd R. Lewis1, Paul B.C. Grant2, Robert W. Henderson3, Alex Figueroa4, and Mike D. Dunn5 1Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4pJ United Kingdom ([email protected]) 24901 Cherry Tree Bend, Victoria, British Colombia, V8Y 1s1 Canada 3milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233-1478, UsA ([email protected]) 4Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70122, UsA 557 Ponderosa Drive, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Y1A 5e4 Canada he Annulated Treeboa (Corallus annulatus; Figs. 1–4) is one of nine tcurrently recognized species in the boid genus Corallus (henderson et al. 2009). Its disjunct range extends from eastern Guatemala into northern honduras, southeastern Nicaragua, northeastern Costa Rica, and south- western Panama to northern Colombia west of the Andes (henderson et al. 2001, McCranie 2010). It is the only species of Corallus found on the Caribbean versant of Costa Rica, where it occurs at elevations to at least 650 m and perhaps as high as 1,000 m (solórzano 2004). Corallus annulatus occurs mostly in primary and secondary lowland tropical wet and moist rainforest (holdridge 1967) and it appears to be genuinely rare (henderson et al. 2001). Besides C. cropanii and C. blombergi (the latter closely related to C. annulatus), it is the rarest member of the genus. Aside from informa- tion on habitat and activity, little is known regarding its natural history. In November 2001, a herpetological investigation at Caño Palma biological Station, Tortuguero, in northeastern Costa Rica (Figs.
    [Show full text]