Phyllomedusa 17(1):113–126, 2018 © 2018 Universidade de São Paulo - ESALQ ISSN 1519-1397 (print) / ISSN 2316-9079 (online) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316- 9079.v17i1p113-126 Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador Jorge H. Valencia1 and Katty Garzon-Tello1,2 1 Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés, Av. Amazonas 3008 y Rumipamba, Casilla 1703448, Quito, Ecuador. E-mail: [email protected]. 2 Vivarium de Quito, Av. Amazonas 3008 y Rumipamba, Casilla 1703448, Quito, Ecuador. E-mail: [email protected]. Abstract Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colu bridae) from Ecuador. The Birdsnake Spilotes sulphureus is a large-sized species that occurs from the Amazon region to the Atlantic forest of South America. Despite the wide distribution little is known about its natural history. Here we report, for the frst time, reproductive behavior displayed by this species observed in a pair of Ecuadorian specimens in captivity. A ritualized pre-copulatory behavior followed a colubrine pattern similar to the congeneric species Spilotes pullatus. The repertoire included chin-rubbing, continuous tongue ficking, head raising, body jerking, cloacal gaping, and partial mounting. Oviposition occurred 86–98 days after of the frst copulation. Females lay clutches of 7–14 eggs. Juvenile coloration is remarkably different from adults. Newborns have a dorsum with transverse brown or gray bands, and white or pale gray interspaces; young of 1–2 years have green bands and yellow-green interspaces; adults have dark green bands. Ontogenetic color changes are presumably associated with antipredator strategies, change in size, vulnerability or habitat and microhabitat selection. Keywords: behavior, clutch, development, neonate, reproduction, ontogeny. Resumen Comportamiento reproductivo y desarrollo en Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) de Ecuador. Spilotes sulphureus es una serpiente de gran tamaño que ocurren desde la región Amazónica hasta el bosques Atlántico de América del Sur. A pesar de su amplia distribución, poco se conoce sobre su historia natural. Nosotros reportamos por primera vez el comportamiento reproductivo presentado por especímenes de Ecuador en condiciones de cautiverio. Un ritual de comportamiento pre-copulatorio fue observado seguido por un modelo colúbrido similar a la especie congenérica como Spilotes pullatus. El repertorio incluye el roce mental, levantamiento de la cabeza, movimientos constantes de la lengua, sacudones del cuerpo, apertura cloacal y monta parcial. El parto ocurre entre 86–98 días después de la primera cópula. Las hembras ponen nidadas de entre 7–14 huevos. Individuos juveniles son notablemente diferentes a los adultos. Los neonatos tienen un dorso con bandas transversales café o grises e interespacios blancos o gris pálidos, individuos de 1–2 años tiene Received 05 February 2018 Accepted 25 May 2018 Distributed June 2018 Phyllomedusa - 17(1), June 2018 113 Valencia and Garzon-Tello bandas verdes e interespacios verde-amarillentos, mientras que los adultos tienen bandas verde oscuras. Cambios ontogénicos están presumiblemente asociados con estrategias anti-depredadoras, cambio de tamaño, vulnerabilidad o selección de hábitats o microhábitats. Palabras clave: comportamiento, nidadas, desarrollo, neonatos, reproducción, ontogenia. Resumo Comportamento reprodutivo e desenvolvimento em Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) do Equador. Spilotes sulphureus é uma serpente de grande porte que ocorre desde a região amazônica até as forestas atlânticas da América do Sul. Apesar de sua ampla distribuição, pouco se sabe sobre sua história natural. Relatamos aqui pela primeira vez o comportamento reprodutivo apresentado por indivíduos do Equador em condições de cativeiro. Um ritual de comportamento pré-copulatório foi observado seguido por um modelo colubrídeo similar ao de Spilotes pullatus. O repertório de comportamentos inclui o roçar da região do mento, o levantamento da cabeça, movimentos constantes da língua, vibrações do corpo, abertura cloacal e cobertura parcial da fêmea. A desova ocorre entre 86–98 dias após a primeira cópula. As fêmeas depositam ninhadas de 7–14 ovos. Os indivíduos juvenis são notavelmente diferentes dos adultos. Os neonatos possuem o dorso dotado de faixas transversais cor de café ou cinzentas e separadas por espaços brancos ou cinza-claros, os indivíduos de 1–2 anos têm faixas verdes separadas por espaços verde-amarelados e os adultos exibem faixas verde-escuras. Mudanças ontogenéticas estão presumivelmente associadas a estratégias de defesa contra predadores, mudanças de tamanho, vulnerabilidade ou seleção de hábitats ou micro-hábitats. Palavras-chave: corte, neonatos, ninhadas, ontogenia, reprodução, serpentes. Introduction microhabitats or prey species (e.g., Beebe 1946, Cunha and Nascimento 1978, Duellman 1978, The Neotropical Birdsnakes and Puffng Rivas and Kane 2003). Reproductive biology Snakes comprises large-sized snakes of the and behavior are also poorly known. genera Spilotes Wagler, 1830 and Phrynonax At Vivarium de Quito, Ecuador in 2009, a Cope, 1862, with fve recognized species: Phry- long-term study was initiated to study nonax polylepis (Peters, 1867), P. poecilonotus reproductive biology and behavior in Ecuadorian (Günther, 1858), P. shropshirei (Barbour and snakes. The aim is to determine behavior Amaral, 1924), Spilotes pullatus (Linnaeus, patterns, duration of copulation and pregnancy, 1758), and S. sulphureus (Wagler, 1824), and clutch size, parturition, hatching time, ontogeny, two apparently undescribed species from Central and development. Herein, techniques for America and Brazil (Jadin et al. 2013). Spilotes husbandry and reproduction are described, and sulphureus is widely distributed through northern behavior related to reproductive biology and South America and some Caribbean islands and development is reported for S. sulphureus. it is among the largest Neotropical colubrid snakes (Peters and Orejas-Miranda 1970, Material and Methods Duellman 1978, Dixon and Soini 1986, Pérez- Santos and Moreno 1991). In Ecuador, S. Animal and Site Ecological Data Collection sulphureus occurs in the provinces of Sucumbíos, Morona Santiago, Orellana, Napo, and Pastaza Adults of Spilotes sulphureus were collected (Pérez-Santos and Moreno 1991, Ortega- from two different localities. The female Andrade 2010). Knowledge of the natural history (FHGOv 2603) is 2340 mm in total length and of this species is limited to anecdotal notes on weighs 950 g. It was collected at 14:00 h on 26 Phyllomedusa - 17(1), June 2018 114 Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus from Ecuador April 2003 at Tipishca (00°12' S, 76°12' W; 242 rivers and lakes, “Cananguchal” forest fooded m a.s.l.), Cuyabeno Faunistic Reserve, province by white water from small rivers, a form of of Sucumbíos (Figure 1); a protected area of varzea seasonally fooded forest, and terra frme 655,781 ha, where four forest types are forest (Vitt and De la Torre 1996, Sierra 1999, found: “Igapo” forest fooded by black water Ministerio de Ambiente del Ecuador 2012). The Figure 1. Map of Ecuador showing the localities of Tipishca, province of Sucumbíos (black circle) and Paantim, province of Morona Santiago (white circle) where female and male were collected. Phyllomedusa - 17(1), June 2018 115 Valencia and Garzon-Tello male (FHGOv 2492) is 2320 mm in total length measured with thermometer and hygrometer and weighs 1800 g. It was collected on 02 July NatCare®. The breeding terrarium contained 2001 at Paantim (02°08'39'' S, 77°42'03'' W; 631 bromeliad plants (Guzmania Ruiz & Pav. or m a.s.l.), province of Morona Santiago (Figure Tillandsia L.), branches, stones, and a ceramic 1), a locality characterized by lowland rainforest cave (diameter 65 cm × 30 cm high) for shelter. and pre-montane rainforest near the lower part of Human access to the breeding terrarium was Cordillera del Cutucu (Borgtoft et al. 1998). limited to feeding and weekly cleaning. Following oviposition, eggs were removed Laboratory Maintenance from the breeding terrarium, and individually marked, weighed using a digital balance, and Both adults were housed at Vivarium de measured with digital caliper. Eggs were then Quito (FHGOv), under similar conditions. placed together in a plastic cage (30 cm × 20 cm Initially, adults were individually maintained in × 15 cm high), and covered with humid peat fberglass terrariums, under controlled environ- moss substrate for incubation purposes. The mental conditions (temperature 23–25°C, substrate was manually sprayed with chlorine- humidity 70–75%). The terraria were rectangular free water daily. cages (100 cm × 80 cm × 100 cm high), with Neonates were measured using a metal ruler, sliding glass door, and foor covered by rough weighed using a digital balance and maintained paper. individually in plastic cages (50 cm × 30 cm × The snakes were given chlorine-free water ad 25 cm high), with an artifcial perch, water bowl libitum and fed small chicks or quail once per and foor covered by rough paper. Eggs’ and week. They were exposed to ambient light neonates’ containers were maintained under cycles; the daily cycle was 12 hours (06:00– controlled conditions (stable humidity and 18:00 h). Additional humidity was provided by temperature), and monitored daily. Snout–vent manual irrigation by a 10-liter sprinkler in the length (SVL) and mass of neonates were terraria with chlorine-free water