Records of predation on Ophiodes striatus (Spix, 1824) (Squamata: Diploglossidae) by Oxyrhopus petolarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Dipsadidae) in the northern Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Information on basic aspects of the natural history of many snake species based on naturalistic observations is still scarce. Here we report Oxyrhopus petolarius, a medium-sized false coral snake with terrestrial habits, feeding on Ophiodes striatus, a medium-sized lizard with cylindrical and elongated body, with vestigial posterior limbs and absence of anterior ones. The snake was registered ingesting an individual of O. striatus and upon inspecting of its stomach contents, the presence of two other individuals of O. striatus in different stages of digestion was found.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Oxyrhopus petolarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes, Dipsadidae): distribution extension and new departmental record for Paraguay

We present the first record of Oxyrhopus petolarius for Departamento Itapúa, Paraguay. This record extends the species known distribution in approximately 166 km southwest from Puerto Bertoni in Departamento Alto Paraná, representing the southernmost record for the species and highlights the importance of protecting the remaining Atlantic Forest patches in Paraguay

THE ROLE OF PLANTATIONS OF THE AFRICAN PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS) IN THE CONSERVATION OF SNAKES IN COLOMBIA

Monocultures of the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) were studied between 2006 and 2013 so as to determine which species of snakes frequented them and to estimate the abundances of each species encountered. Thirty five species of snakes (three boas, one coral, 27 colubrids, one tropidophid, one typhlopid, and two vipers) were captured within palmeras. Palm plantations are revealed to (1) augment the densities of ten species of snakes well beyond the densities found by collectors in natural and/or relatively transformed habitats and (2) to not offer benefits to at least 75% of the snake community found in the vicinities of palm plantations. The majority of snake species (60%) found in palmeras are nocturnal species. The most common species (defined by having 15 or more captures) were Atractus univittatus, Bothrops asper, B. atrox, Epicrates maurus, Leptodeira annulata, Liophis melanotus, Ninia atrata, Oxyrhopus petolarius, Pseudoboa neuwiedii, and Tantilla melanocephala. Palm plantations permit substantial local population sizes for a fraction ( 25%) of the local snake community. Internal practices of such plantations could be modified so as to protect a larger share of the fauna by means of two practices: (1) construction and maintenance of paleras as well as (2) creating a mosaic of palm plantations enclosing “islands” of secondary forests

Colección de reptiles no aves (Reptilia), Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad de Caldas, Colombia

The knowledge of reptiles in Colombia is still incomplete, although the country harbors a high diversity of this group. In recent years, regional collections have helped to fill information gaps on the biogeography, intra- and interspecific variation, and systematics of several groups. Here we present the information of 613 voucher records deposited in the Reptile Collection of the Museo de Historia Natural of the Universidad de Caldas. Most of the records (527) come from the Department of Caldas, but there are records for 15 additional departments. The best represented order is Squamata (603 records). The collection houses 108 specimens that have been referenced in 20 national and foreign publications.El conocimiento de los reptiles en Colombia es aún incompleto, aunque el país alberga una alta diversidad de este grupo. En los últimos años, las colecciones regionales han contribuido a llenar vacíos de información sobre la biogeografía, la variación intra e interespecífica y la sistemática de diversos grupos. Presentamos aquí la información de 613 registros depositados en la Colección de Reptiles del Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad de Caldas. La mayoría de los registros (527) proceden del departamento de Caldas, pero se cuenta con registros de 15 departamentos más. El orden más representativo es Squamata (603 registros). La colección alberga 108 especímenes que han sido referenciados en 20 publicaciones nacionales y extranjeras

Taxocenose de serpentes em ambientes aquáticos de áreas de altitude em Roraima (squamata: serpentes)

In studies on faunal distribution it is coherent to adopt naturally delimited regions, because allow us to interpret the results with better biogeographic accuracy, and generate more secure data on biological differentiation. In all Roraima region such studies can, depending on the question, to insert their geographic units of work into the Guiana Shield, an old geologic formation comprising part of Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana and North Amazonia – Roraima is inserted in the central area of the Shield. In this study on snakes distribution, in regional and general scale comprising various vegetal formations, the geographic unit refers to the headwaters of the rivers Samã and Miang, both located in altitudinal areas of the Guiana Shield in Roraima (04º25', 61º08'W), region that makes the transition between the Brasilian Boa Vista Basin, region of lavrado, and the Venezuelan Gran Sabana, region of the tepuyes. The operational hypothesis is that as the geographic unit of the study is inserted into Guiana Shield, its ofiofauna is endemic to this formation – most of the species, more than 50%, will have restricted occurrence to that geologic formation. It was registered in the geographic unit of the study 42 species of snakes, included in 6 families: Leptotyphlopidae 1 genera and 1 species, Boidae 2 genera and 2 species, Colubridae 8 genera and 12 species, Dipsadidae 11 genera and 20 species, Elapidae 1 genera and 3 species and Viperidae 3 genera and 4 species. In the Guiana Shield region occur 149 species of snakes, 17 are said to be endemic to the geological formation. At least 10 species registered at BV-8 in Roraima are restricted to the Amazonian domain and North of South America: Trilepida macrolepis, Chironius multiventris, Phrynonax poecilonotus, Dipsas pavonina, Dipsas variegata, Erythrolamprus breviceps, Pseudoboa neuwiedii, Xenodon severus, Micrurus hemprichii and Bothrops atrox. Two species, Dipsas copei and Erythrolamprus trebbaui have localized distribution, occurring only in some Amazon regions; 29 species have wide distribution and only Micrurus pacaraimae can be considered endemic to the study are, so far. Although the 42 registered species occur in Shield area, the distribution is wider, therefore it can be concluded that there is no such endemic Guiana Shield ofiofauna in the geographic unit of this study. With respect to the natural history, four guilds of snakes are present into the geographic unit of study, prevailing batracophagy and saurivory, followed by those that predate birds and mammals. In respect to the reproduction most species have some link to the rain season, some with more than one reproductive cycle, most of them are oviparous. The most frequent species in this study and with more specimens collected was Bothrops bilineata, which is not common in herpetological reports. Most of the species leaving in the headwaters of the rivers Samã and Miang use forested areas to survive, showing the importance of the microhabitats associated to the headwaters of these rivers.Nos estudos sobre distribuições faunísticas é coerente adotarmos regiões naturalmente delimitadas, porque nos permite interpretar os resultados com mais acurácia biogeográfica, além de gerar dados mais seguros sobre diferenciações biológicas. Em toda a região de Roraima estudos desta natureza podem, a depender da pergunta da pesquisa, inserir as respectivas unidades geográficas do trabalho no Escudo da Guiana, uma formação geológica antiga que ocupa parte da Colômbia, Venezuela, Guiana Francesa e norte da Amazônia – Roraima está inserido na parte central do Escudo. Neste estudo sobre distribuição de serpentes, em escala regional e geral abrangendo várias formações vegetais, a unidade geográfica de trabalho refere-se às nascentes dos rios Samã e Miang, ambos situados em áreas de altitude do Escudo da Guiana em Roraima (04º25', 61º08'W), região que faz a transição entre a brasileira Bacia de Boa Vista, região do lavrado, e a Gran Sabana venezuelana, região dos tepuyes. A hipótese de trabalho é que como a unidade geográfica do estudo está inserida no Escudo da Guiana, a sua ofiofauna é endêmica a esta formação – a maioria das espécies, mais de 50%, terá ocorrência restrita a esta formação geológica. Foram registradas na unidade geográfica de trabalho 42 espécies de serpentes incluídas em 6 famílias: Leptotyphlopidae 1 gênero e 1 espécie, Boidae 2 gêneros e 2 espécies, Colubridae 8 gêneros e 12 espécies, Dipsadidae 11 gêneros e 20 espécies, Elapidae 1 gênero e 3 espécies e Viperidae 3 gêneros e 4 espécies. Na região do Escudo da Guiana ocorrem 149 espécies de serpentes, 17 são ditas endêmicas a esta formação geológica. Ao menos 10 espécies registradas no BV-8 em Roraima estão restritas ao domínio da Amazônia e norte da América do Sul: Trilepida macrolepis, Chironius multiventris, Phrynonax poecilonotus, Dipsas pavonina, Dipsas variegata, Erythrolamprus breviceps, Pseudoboa neuwiedii, Xenodon severus, Micrurus hemprichii e Bothrops atrox. Duas espécies, Dipsas copei e Erythrolamprus trebbaui têm distribuição localizada, ocorrem em apenas algumas regiões amazônicas; 29 espécies têm ampla distribuição e apenas Micrurus pacaraimae pode ser considerada endêmica na região estudada, até o momento. Embora as 42 espécies registradas ocorram na área do Escudo, a distribuição é mais ampla, portanto conclui-se que não há uma ofiofauna endêmica do Escudo da Guiana na unidade geográfica deste estudo. Com relação à história natural, quatro guildas de cobras estão presentes na unidade geográfica do estudo, com predominância de espécies batracófagas e saurívoras, seguidas pelas que predam aves e mamíferos. Com relação à reprodução a maioria das espécies tem algum vínculo com o período chuvoso, algumas com mais de um ciclo reprodutivo, a maioria ovípara. A espécie mais frequente neste estudo e com o maior número de exemplares coletados foi Bothrops bilineata, o que não é frequente nos relatos herpetológicos. A maioria das espécies que vivem nas cabeceiras dos rios Samã e Miang utilizam as áreas de mata para sobreviverem, evidenciando a importância dos microhábitats associados às cabeceiras destes rios

The herpetofauna of the Serra do Urubu mountain range: a key biodiversity area for conservation in the brazilian atlantic forest

The Serra do Urubu mountain range is considered a key biodiversity area. It is situated in the Pernambuco Endemism Center, one of the most threatened regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. However, despite the high importance of this area little research on its herpetofauna has been performed. The present study presents an inventory of the herpetofauna of the region, through bibliographic review, searches in museum collections and field expeditions to the RPPNs Frei Caneca and Pedra D’Antas, in the municipalities of Jaqueira and Lagoa dos Gatos. The conservation status of the amphibians of the region is discussed. Five expeditions, between 2012 and 2013 were made. The methods employed were visual transect surveys, acoustic census and pitfall traps. We recorded a total of 46 amphibian species, belonging to nine families: Craugastoridae (3 spp.), Bufonidae (3 spp.), Ranidae (1 sp.), Hylidae (25 spp.), Leptodactylidae (8 spp.), Odontophrynidae (1 sp.), Hemiphractidae (2 spp.), Phyllomedusidae (2 spp.) and Microhylidae (1 sp.). We recorded 42 species of squamates: 16 species of lizards families Phyllodactylidae (1 sp.), Gekkonidae (1 sp.), Gymnophthalmidae (1 sp.), Polychrotidae (1 sp.), Leiosauridae (1 sp.), Tropiduridae (3 spp.), Dactyloidae (2 spp.), Diploglossidae (2 spp.), Teiidae (2 spp.), Scincidae (1 sp.), and Iguanidae (1 sp.); and 24 species of snakes: Boidae (3 spp.), Colubridae (2 spp.), Dipsadidae (13 spp.), Elapidae (2 spp.), Typhlopidae (1 sp.), and Viperidae (3 spp.). The occurrence of rare and/or threatened species such as the snakes Dipsas sazimai, Lachesis muta and Sibynomorphus sp. and the amphibians Hylomantis granulosa, Chiasmocleis alagoana, Boana freicanecae and Phyllodytes gyrinaethes reinforces the need for conservation measures at this highly threatened region of the Atlantic Forest

Fist record of ophiophagy in the false coral snake Oxyrhopus trigeminus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854

The false coral Oxyrhopus trigeminus is a very common snake in Northeastern Brazil. The diet of O. trigeminus includes mainly lizards, although the consumption of small mammals and birds has been recorded in other studies. Ophiophagy had previously not been reported for the false coral snake. This event occured during a wildlife rescue operation. Upon capture and translocation of an adult individual of this species, the snake regurgitated an individual of the vine snake Oxybelis aeneus.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin