Envenomation by Micrurus coral snakes in the Brazilian Amazon region: report of two cases

Two cases of proven coral snake bites were reported in Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The first case was a severe one caused by Micrurus surinamensis. The patient required mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure. The second case showed just mild signs of envenomation caused by Micrurus filiformis. Both patients received specific Micrurus antivenom and were discharged without further complications. Coral snake bites are scarcely reported in the Amazon region and there is a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, varying from extremely mild to those which may rapidly lead to death if the patient is not treated as soon as possible.Dois acidentes por coral verdadeira são descritos em Belém, Pará. O primeiro caso foi decorrente de envenenamento por Micrurus surinamensis, no qual a vítima necessitou ventilação mecânica por insuficiência respiratória. O segundo, causado por Micrurus filiformis, apresentou apenas manifestações leves. Ambos os pacientes receberam soro antielapídico específico e evoluíram sem complicações. Acidentes por coral verdadeira na região Amazônica são raramente descritos e podem cursar com um largo espectro de alterações, que variam desde quadros de envenenamento muito leves até manifestações com risco de óbito

Envenomation by Micrurus coral snakes in the Brazilian Amazon region: report of two cases

Two cases of proven coral snake bites were reported in Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The first case was a severe one caused by Micrurus surinamensis. The patient required mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure. The second case showed just mild signs of envenomation caused by Micrurus filiformis. Both patients received specific Micrurus antivenom and were discharged without further complications. Coral snake bites are scarcely reported in the Amazon region and there is a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, varying from extremely mild to those which may rapidly lead to death if the patient is not treated as soon as possible

Morfologia hemipeniana de 11 espécies do gênero Micrurus Wagler, 1824 na Amazônia Brasileira, com redescrição de Micrurus filiformis (Günther, 1859) e Micrurus paraensis Cunha & Nascimento, 1973 (Serpentes, Elapidae)

Micrurus includes snakes of semi-fossorial, terrestrial and semi-aquatic habits, distributed from the southern United States to southern Argentina. From the 66 currently valid species, 25 are registered on the Brazilian Amazonia. In order to improve the knowledge on this group Brazilian Amazonia Micrurus, data about pholidosis, hemipenis and geographic distribution of 542 individuals of 11 species were collected. The present work contains two chapters. The first one is a comparative description of hemipenis from 11 Micrurus species. Diagnosis, coloration pattern, hemipenis description, geographic distribution are presented for each taxon. The hemipenis of M. hemprichii ortonii and M. paraensis are described for the first times. The second chapter presents more thorough a description of two species, M. filiformis and M. paraensis, based on the external hemipênis.O gênero Micrurus reúne serpentes de hábitos semi-fossoriais, terrestres e semiaquáticos, distribuídas desde o Sul dos Estados Unidos até o Sul da Argentina. Entre as cerca de 66 espécies atualmente válidas, 25 são registradas para a Amazônia brasileira. Com o objetivo de ampliar o conhecimento das serpentes do gênero Micrurus na Amazônia brasileira, foram levantados neste trabalho dados de lepidose, hemipênis e distribuição geográfica de 544 exemplares de 11 espécies. O presente trabalho compreende dois capítulos. O primeiro capítulo apresenta uma descrição comparativa dos hemipênis de 11 espécies de Micrurus. Baseado nos resultados obtidos nas análises dos exemplares foi elaborada diagnose, padrão de desenho e coloração, descrição e representação do hemipênis e mapa de distribuição geográfica para cada táxon. Neste capítulo são apresentadas descrições inéditas dos hemipênis de M. hemprichii ortoni e M. paraensis além de variações morfológicas até então não descritas da morfologia hemipeniana das espécies. O segundo capítulo apresenta uma descrição mais detalhada de duas espécies, M. filiformis e M. paraensis, com base na morfologia externa e do hemipênis

AVALIAÃ?Ã?O DOS ACIDENTES CAUSADOS POR COBRAS CORAIS NO BRASIL

Resumo: foram utilizadas as informações disponíveis no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação no período de 2007 a 2010. A diversidade das espécies foi representada por meio de mapas por região, elaborados de acordo com a literatura. Na região Norte ocorrem 74% das espécies brasileira, e não se conhece o veneno de 65% das espécies brasileiras. Palavras-chave: Micrurus. Acidente elapídico. Diversidade

Retrospective study in scorpionism Goias State (2003-2012)

This study was descriptive and retrospective in order to get an overview of cases of scorpion envenomation in the State of Goiás between 2003 and 2012, with the possible variables that influenced the accident. Data were collected in data collection in the notification forms of the Toxicological Information Center of Goiás (CIT). We analyzed 6,046 cases of scorpion envenomation to the state in this time frame. Where these 71.65% of the cases occurred in urban areas and 51.88% in males. The sting of the region prevailed in hands, feet and fingers, totaling 72.83%. The time between the accident and medical care was mostly less than three hours. According to the clinical picture, 72.42% were classified as mild and 81.17% of the cases had healing as prognosis. As for treatment with antivenom, 37% made use of serum, 38% did not use and 25% was not informed. 2,237 ampoules serum used including antiescorpiônico, antiarachnid and antivenom for treatment. Correlating SINAN data and collected in CIT chips, there was a discrepancy between the two regarding the amount every year. The antivenom revealed problems as the lack of classification of cases and the excessive use of SAE. Assessing the genders and cases hit area sees highly suggestive that the scorpion’s relationship to the process of domestication. The difference in data between SINAN and CIT suggests that there is a failure in communication between the two systems. Estudo retrospectivo do escorpionismo no Estado de Goiás (2003-2012) Este estudo teve caráter descritivo e retrospectivo com o objetivo de obter um panorama dos casos de escorpionismo no Estado de Goiás entre 2003 e 2012, apresentando as possíveis variáveis que influenciaram nos acidentes. Os dados foram obtidos em coleta de dados nas fichas de notificação do Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Goiás (CIT). Foram analisados 6.046 casos de escorpionismo para o estado neste recorte temporal. Onde, destes 71,65 % dos casos ocorreram em áreas urbanas e 51,88% com o sexo masculino. A região da picada prevaleceu em mãos, pés e dedos, totalizando 72,83%. O tempo entre o acidente e a assistência médica em sua maioria foi inferior a três horas. De acordo com o quadro clínico, 72,42% foram classificados como leves e 81,17% dos casos tiveram a cura como prognóstico. Quanto ao tratamento com soroterapia, 37% fizeram uso do soro, 38% não utilizaram e em 25% não foi informado. Utilizaram 2.237 ampolas de soro incluindo antiescorpiônico, antiaracnídico e antibotrópico para o tratamento. Ao correlacionar dados do SINAN e os coletados nas fichas do CIT, houve uma discrepância entre os dois em relação à quantidade em todos os anos. A soroterapia revelou problemas quanto à falta de classificação dos casos e ao do uso excessivo de SAE. Avaliando os gêneros e área de ocorrência dos casos vê-se que altamente sugestiva a relação do escorpionismo com o processo de domiciliação. A diferença de dados entre SINAN e CIT sugere que existe uma falha na comunicação entre os dois sistemas

Snakes of the Urucu Petrol Basin, Municipality of Coari, Amazonas, Brasil.

Um inventário estruturado de serpentes foi realizado na Base Operacional Geólogo Pedro de Moura (BOGPM), localizada na Bacia Petrolífera de Urucu, Município de Coari, Amazonas, nos anos de 2003, 2004 e 2007. Nas quatro expedições realizadas (51 dias de coleta) foram registradas 47 espécies de serpentes, pertencentes a sete famílias e 33 gêneros. Foram utilizados quatro métodos complementares de amostragem de serpentes: armadilha de interceptação e queda, encontros ocasionais, procura limitada por tempo a pé e procura limitada por tempo de carro. Das 47 espécies coletadas, Liophis reginae (n= 14), Philodryas viridissima (n= 9), Philodryas boulengeri (n= 7) e Oxybelis fulgidus (n= 7) foram as mais abundantes em toda região. O maior número de espécies e espécimes foi registrado pela procura limitada por tempo de carro (52,8%). Estudos anteriores indicam que as localidades ao sul do Rio Amazonas (como região Leste do Pará, Usina Hidrelétrica de Tucuruí, Estado do Pará, e de Samuel, Estado de Rondônia) apresentam maior riqueza quando comparadas às regiões ao norte do Amazonas (como Município de Manaus, Reserva do INPA-WWF e Usina Hidrelétrica de Balbina, Estado do Amazonas). Desta forma, é possível inferir que o levantamento das serpentes da região de Urucu ainda não esteja completo, sendo necessário um maior esforço de coleta para que novos registros sejam adicionados para a área

Micrurus

Key to species of the triadal group of Micrurus from northeastern Brazil 1 a. Black snout; gular region with a black horseshoe shaped coloration over the infralabials and first genials; 23 to 39 subcaudal scales in males and 24 to 38 in females.................................................................... 2 1 b. White snout with or without black markings; white gular region, sometimes with black markings on the genials; 17 to 33 subcaudal scales in males and 14 to 36 in females............................................................... 3 2 a. Parietals entirely black; eyes wider than the half of their distance from the border of the mouth; head broader than neck; middle black rings shorter or of the same length as the external black rings.............................. Micrurus potyguara 2 b. Posterior 1 / 3 to ½ of the parietals red; eyes smaller than half of their distance from the border of the mouth; head width indistinct from neck; middle black rings equal or longer than the external black rings................ M. lemniscatus carvalhoi 3 a. White snout, preocular transversal white band; gular region with black markings on the genials; white rings equal or slightly shorter than the external black rings............................................................. M. ibiboboca 3 b. White snout with varying degree of black on scales; white gular region; white rings longer than the external black rings.............................................................................................. M. brasiliensisPublished as part of Pires, Matheus Godoy, Jr, Nelson Jorge Da Silva, Feitosa, Darlan Tavares, Prudente, Ana Lúcia Da Costa, Filho, Gentil Alves Pereira & Zaher, Hussam, 2014, A new species of triadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus Wagler, 1824 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from northeastern Brazil, pp. 569-584 in Zootaxa 3811 (4) on page 579, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3811.4.8, http://zenodo.org/record/22938

Micrurus potyguara Pires, Jr, Feitosa, Prudente, Filho & Zaher, 2014, sp. nov.

Micrurus potyguara sp. nov. Micrurus lemniscatus carvalhoi Roze, 1967: 33 (partim). Holotype. Adult male, UFPB 4359, collected by Gentil Alves Pereira Filho on August 22, 2006 at Mata do Buraquinho (7 ° 8 ' 42.08"S, 34 ° 51 '42.40"W), municipality of João Pessoa, state of Paraíba. Paratypes. Five specimens: adult female (Figure 1), UFPB 4355, collected on April 11, 2006; adult male, UFPB 4358, collected by Gentil Alves Pereira Filho on August 21, 2006; adult female, UFPB 4361 collected by Gentil Alves Pereira Filho on September 6, 2006 from Mata do Buraquinho, João Pessoa. NRM 1685, immature male, donated by N. E. Forssell to the museum in 1847 from municipality of Recife (8 ° 3 'S, 34 ° 53 'W), state of Pernambuco; and adult female, CAS 49297, collected by H. Heath on November 30, 1910 from Lagoa de Paparí (6 ° 7 '38.13"S, 35 ° 9 '54.64"W), municipality of Nísia Floresta, state of Rio Grande do Norte. Diagnosis. Micrurus potyguara is distinguished from all other triadal species of Micrurus by combination of the following characters: a) parietals entirely black; b) head conspicuously broader than neck; c) posterior nasal scale black; d) frontal shield longer than distance from its anterior margin to the tip of the snout; e) infralabials mostly black; f) middle black rings of triads shorter or as long as the outer ones; g) gular region red with small disperse black blotches on posterior region of scales; h) tip of snout entirely black (rostral, internasals and nasals); d) black rings with similar length or central black ring slightly shorter than the anterior and posterior black rings of the triads. Comparisons between species of the triadal group of coral snakes from northeastern Brazil. Three triadal coral snakes species are known to be sympatric or, at least, to approach the distribution of Micrurus potyguara. These are: M. lemniscatus carvalhoi, M. ibiboboca and M. brasiliensis. Differences between these species and M. potyguara are given below and summarized in Table 1 (character states in M. potyguara are shown in parenthesis). M. potyguara (n= 6) M. ibiboboca (N= 536) M. l. carvalhoi (N= 129) M. brasiliensis (N= 31) Range SD Range SD Range SD Range SD VE ♂ 231–237 234.7 3.2 198–247 222.5 9.1 224–263 237.6 8.3 210–243 226.5 7.8 ♀ 253–263 257.3 5.1 188–254 226.0 10.1 222–267 253.4 9.3 219–237 226.9 5.9 SC ♂ 34–38 36.0 2.0 17– 33 23.7 2.6 25 – 39 31.7 3.0 17– 28 22.5 2.7 ♀ 29–35 33.0 3.5 16 – 34 22.7 2.7 26 – 38 30.1 2.9 14 – 36 23.3 5.7 TriB ♂ 9–11 10 1. 0 7– 13 9.1 1.1 10 – 15 12.7 1.3 10 – 16 11.6 1.7 ♀ 11– 12 11.7 0.6 7– 12 9.1 1.1 9– 16 12.5 1.6 9– 13 10.8 1.1 TriT ♂ 1 2 / 3 * * 2 / 3 – 2 * * 1 1 / 3 – 2 * * 1 – 1 2 / 3 * * ♀ 1 1 / 3 – 1 2 / 3 * * 2 / 3 – 1 2 / 3 * * 1 1 / 3 – 2 * * 1 – 1 2 / 3 * * Micrurus lemniscatus carvalhoi (Figures 2 b, 3 i, 4 b) shows a broad color and meristic variability along its widespread distribution in central and eastern regions of Brazil. However, when compared with M. potyguara (Figures 2 a, 3 a–f, 4 a), M. l. carvalhoi has a black head cap that does not extend over all the surface of the parietal shields (vs. extended over all the parietal surface), the head is indistinct from the neck (vs. head distinct from neck), and the median black rings are never shorter than the anterior and posterior black rings on the same triad (median black rings longer than outer black rings); the hemipenis has a straight sulcus spermaticus (vs. curved), with longitudinal rows of spines along its margin (vs. lacking longitudinal rows of spines along the sulcus spermaticus), a capitular region longer than half of the total length of the organ and ornamented with very long, straight spines (capitular region shorter than half of the organ's length and ornamented with comparatively stouter, shorter spines), the base of the organ is ornamented proximally with longitudinal rows of slender spinules, retains a long spineornamented region on the hemipenial body, and a long basal naked pocket (vs. base of the organ with irregularly arranged spinules proximally, with a shorter spine-ornamented region, and a shorter basal pocket). Micrurus brasiliensis (Figures 2 c, 3g, 4 c) can be easily distinguished from M. potyguara by its red parietals and white snout and genial regions (vs. black parietals, snout and anterior genial region), the absence of the preocular white band (vs. preocular white band), triads with white rings significantly larger than the black rings (vs. white rings smaller than black rings), a smaller number of ventral and subcaudal scales (see Table 1), and a hemipenis with a sulcus spermaticus bifurcating below the level of the crotch of the lobes (bifurcates at the level of the crotch), with a capitular region that corresponds to two-third of the length of the organ that is ornamented with irregularly arranged and stouter spines and delimited by a shallower, less evident capitular groove (capitular region about half of the length of the organ, ornamented with slender spines, evident capitular groove). Micrurus ibiboboca (Figures 2 d, 3 h, 4 d) can be distinguished from M. potyguara by a lower number of ventral and subcaudal scales (Table 1), white triadal rings as long as or longer than the black ones (vs. white rings shorter than black ones), snout scales often marked with white, a genial black blotch restricted to mental region (vs. region of the snout anterior to white preocular band is completely black and extensive black horseshoe shaped blotch over infralabials), a stouter hemipenis, with a capitular region longer than half of the total length of the organ and ornamented irregularly with small, less densely arranged spines (capitular region shorter than half of the organ's length and more densely ornamented with larger spines), lobes very short, with less than one-fifth of the total length of the organ (vs. about ¼ of the total length of the organ), and a basal region ornamented with small irregularly distributed spines (vs. spines arranged into longitudinal rows). Description of the holotype. UFPB 4359, adult male, TTL 934.5 mm, HL 18.5 mm HL, SVL 840 mm, TL 76 mm, TL/SVL ratio 0.0 9. Dorsal scales 15 – 15 – 15, VE 237, SC 36 (pairs), anal plate divided, TriB 9, TriT 1 2 / 3, AB and PB rings ~ 5 scales long, MB ~ 4 scales long, AW and PW ~ 3 scales long, red rings slightly longer or as long as AB and PB rings. Head broader than neck, body wider than high (Figure 5). Rostral wider than high; prefrontals slightly longer than internasals; frontal 1.5 times longer than its distance from snout; parietals twice as long as wide, as long as their distance from snout; frontal hexagonal, 1.5 times longer than wide. Temporals 1 + 1, Supralabials 7 (3 rd & 4 th bordering the eye), infralabials 7, preocular 1, postoculars 2. Snout black [rostral; nasals; internasals; prefrontals (anterior margins); supralabials 1 and 2 (dorsal half)]. White transversal prefrontal band [anterior ¼ of the frontal, prefrontals, preoculars (anterior ⅓), supralabials 2 (posterior half), 3 and 4 (anterior ⅓) at the left side and 2, 3, 4 and 5 (anterior margin) at the right side of head]. Black cephalic cap [frontal; supraoculars; parietals; preoculars (posterior tip); left supralabials 3 (posterodorsal corner), 4 (dorsal half), 5 and 6 (anterodorsal corner); right supralabial 5 (posterior half)]. Nuchal surface of the head red with black-tipped scales (Figure 6). AB ring of anterior TriB separated from black cephalic cap by 3 red scales at middorsum. Genial and gular regions mainly red with horseshoe-shaped black perioral mark [mental, infralabials 1, 2, 3 and 4 (anterior part), anterior genials (anteriot half), posterior genials (lateral margins at the contact with infralabials 4]. Preventrals 1,2 and 3 and adjacent scales mottled with small irregular black blotches (posterior margins). AB ring of 1 st TriB at the level of posterior margin of 1 st VE. Hemipenis of the holotype. Everted and expanded hemipenis (Figure 4 a) is bilobed, short and semicapitate (see discussion). Sulcus spermaticus curved, deep and bordered by small spines, bifurcated at the base of the lobes with diverging branches oriented medially and reaching the apexes. Capitular groove evident but not deep, transversely oriented on the asulcate surface, encircling the organ and bending bilaterally towards the base adjacent to the sulcus spermaticus at the sulcate surface. Lobes short (less than half of the capitular region length). Capitular region uniformly ornamented with oblique rows of stout, curved spines, decreasing in size towards the apexes of the lobes except in the lobular crotch, ornamented with smaller and less densely arranged spines. Basal region ornamented proximally with sparse and irregularly arranged spinules and small spines (smaller than the capitular ones) distally. Basal pocket deep, with a naked bottom and bordered with spinules. ♂ ♀ UFPB 4359 NRM 1685 UFPB 4358 CAS 49297 UFPB 4361 UFPB 4355 Variation (Table 2). Largest specimen 916 mm TTL; largest female 751 mm TTL. Tail longer in males (~ 8.63% of TTL) than in females (~ 7.20% of TTL). Ventral scales 253–263 ( = 257.33; SD = 5.13) in females, 231–237 (? = 234.67; SD = 3.21) in males; subcaudal scales 34–38 (? = 36; SD = 2) in males, 29–35 (? = 33; SD = 3.46) in females. Males with 9–11 body triads and 1 2 / 3 tail triads; females with 11–12 body triads and 1 1 / 3 – 1 2 / 3 triads on the tail. Black irregular blotches over preventrals and adjacent scales of gular region. Anterior black ring of the first body triad separated from parietals by 2–3 red vertebral scales. Anterior and posterior black rings slightly longer or same length of middle black ring. White rings about half the length of middle black ring (Figure 3). Anterior and posterior red rings of same length or longer than black rings. Black-tipped scales on Red and White rings rendering a finely reticulated aspect. Irregularly distributed black dots can be scattered on red rings. Remaining characteristics similar to holotype. Geographic distribution and habitat. Micrurus potyguara is only known from tropical ombrophilous lowland coastal forests (tabuleiros) of the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, (Figure 7). The Brazilian coastal rainforests (tabuleiros) occurs throughout northeastern region, extending from Rio Grande do Norte south as far as Espírito Santo and presents a compound of typical Atlantic Coastal Forests species (Barbosa & Thomas 2008). The arboreal strata can reach 35 meters in altitude in forested and 10 meters in savanna areas. These savannas are located within forested areas and exhibits a sandy soil covered by grassy fields with scattered small trees and are locally called as tabuleiros (Figure 8). The coastal forests of the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte fall under this classification according to Barbosa (2008) and Silva & Rodal (2008). Etymology. The specific epithet “ potyguara ” is a Tupi indigenous name, here employed as a noun in apposition (poty = shrimp; `war = eaters) (Gregório 1980). This name refers to the denomination of a native people that occupied historically the northeastern coast of Brazil, for which the shrimp fishing is one of the most traditional economic activities. Statistical analysis. The PCA performed for separate sexes rendered two separate groups, M. brasiliensis + M. ibiboboca and M. l. carvalhoi + M. potyguara sp. nov. (Figure 9). The most important data contributing for this distribution are presented at the Table 3. The DFA also supported the same group formation (Figure 10). Wilks’ Lambda, F e p values for the characters of DFA are presented at the Table 4. The poor specific-level definition obtained by means of statistical analysis within the genus Micrurus is a well-known phenomenon, already demonstrated e.g. by Silva Jr. & Sites (1999), Di-Bernardo et al. (2007), Feitosa et al. (2007), is generated by the conservative nature and overlapping of the meristic and morphometric characters within the genus and reinforces the need to rely on qualitative characters over extensive samples to achieve most accurate taxonomic resolution.Published as part of Pires, Matheus Godoy, Jr, Nelson Jorge Da Silva, Feitosa, Darlan Tavares, Prudente, Ana Lúcia Da Costa, Filho, Gentil Alves Pereira & Zaher, Hussam, 2014, A new species of triadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus Wagler, 1824 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from northeastern Brazil, pp. 569-584 in Zootaxa 3811 (4) on pages 571-578, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3811.4.8, http://zenodo.org/record/22938