Scorpion predation in Cuba: new cases and a review

The ecology of Cuban scorpions is very insufficiently studied and the scarce existing information on their natural enemies is dispersed in the literature. However, scorpions in general are well known to play an important role both as predators and prey in natural ecosystems. Herein we present new instances of predation on different species of scorpions in Cuba, and a review on the topi

Amphibians and reptiles as prey of \u3cem\u3eHeteroctenus junceus\u3c/em\u3e (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with a summary of vertebrate predation by scorpions in the West Indies

Vertebrate predation by scorpions has been scarcely documented in the literature. Contrary to large scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Hadrurus, Opistophthalmus, and Pandinurus from North America and Africa, which are capable of subduing even small rodents and bats, West Indian scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Heteroctenus, and Tityus seem to limit their prey to amphibians and reptiles. Herein we present new cases of a frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis; Hylidae) and three lizards (Anolis allisoni, A. ophiolepis, and A. sagrei; Dactyloidae) preyed upon by Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800), at the time we summarize all cases of vertebrate predation by scorpions in the region

Trophic Ecology of the Cuban Boa, Chilabothrus angulifer (Boidae)

The Cuban Boa (Chilabothrus angulifer) is a top terrestrial predator in Cuba. References to prey species consumed by this boa date to when the first Europeans arrived in the region more than 500 years ago. However, long-term studies on its trophic ecology do not exist. The scarce and scattered records on its feeding habits indicate that this boa preys on a variety of native and domestic animals. Based on dietary information collected in the field and from the literature, we characterized the diet of this snake and tested four different hypotheses: (1) The Cuban Boa is a generalist predator; (2) the diets of boas in natural and anthropogenic habitats differ; (3) an ontogenetic shift in diet occurs; and (4) foraging strategies used in natural and anthropogenic habitats differ. We identified 49 prey species from 351 prey items obtained from 218 snakes, including 71 items (31 snakes) from the literature. Mammals represented 55% of total prey items consumed, followed by birds (41%) and ectotherms (4%). Chilabothrus angulifer exhibited a narrow niche breadth. However, rather than a trophic specialist, we consider this boa an opportunistic generalist predator, capable of adjusting its diet and foraging behavior according to prey availability and abundance. The diet of Ch. angulifer changed dramatically from mostly native mammals and birds in natural habitats to mostly livestock, pets, and human com­mensals in human-altered habitats. Also, mammals were consumed more frequently in natural habitats, whereas birds dominated the diet of boas associated with anthropogenic habitats. Few ectotherms were consumed in either type of habitat. We observed an ontogenetic shift in diet, but this primarily reflected a trend of consuming larger prey rather than a shift from ectotherms to endotherms as reported for some other boids. In natural habitats, Ch. angulifer used both ambush and active-foraging modes by day and night, whereas in anthropogenic situations, most boas used an active-foraging strategy at night. The frequent consumption of domestic animals by Cuban Boas might be the principal reason for the historical human-wildlife conflict involving this species in rural areas of Cuba

Notes on Reproduction of the Cuban Lesser Racer, Caraiba andreae (Squamata: Dipsadidae)

The reproductive biology of the Cuban Lesser Racer (Caraiba andreae) is very poorly known, despite the species being among the most common and widely distributed snakes in Cuba. Herein we provide data obtained mostly in captivity on eggs and hatchlings, incubation time, hatching behavior, and courtship behavior

Maturidade sexual de Chilabothrus angulifer (Serpentes: Boidae) em estado selvagem

El majá de Santa María (C. angulifer) es el único boido en Cuba. Es el mayor miembro del género, así como el mayor ofidio del Caribe Insular (> 400 cm de longitud hocico-cloaca), esto la convierte en una especie icónica de la herpetofauna cubana. A pesar de que su historia natural se conoce muy poco, varios estudios describen aspectos de su biología reproductiva en cautiverio. Aquí documentamos las edades y tallas con que ambos sexos alcanzan la madurez sexual en la naturaleza y mostramos que el majá de Santa María alcanza la adultez con una talla mucho más pequeña de lo que previamente se ha reportado para especímenes de cautiverio. Basados en la escasa información sobre la tasa de crecimiento de C. angulifer en la naturaleza, los machos deben alcanzar la talla adulta después de los 3 años y las hembras después de los 5 añosA jiboia-cubana, Chilabothrus angulifer, é o único boídeo de Cuba. É a maior serpente do gênero e também das Índias Ocidentais (comprimento rostro-cloacal > 400 cm); por essa razão, trata-se de uma espécie icônica da herpetofauna cubana. Apesar de sua história natural ser pouco-conhecida, diversos estudos descrevem aspectos de sua biologia reprodutiva em cativeiro. Documentamos aqui o tamanho e a idade em que ambos os sexos atingem a maturidade sexual na natureza e mostramos que essa serpente atinge a idade adulta com um tamanho muito menor do que previamente relatado para indivíduos cativos. Com base na informação limitada sobre a taxa de crescimento de C. angulifer na natureza, os machos atingem o tamanho reprodutivo após 3 anos, e as fêmeas, após 5 anosThe Cuban Boa (C. angulifer) is the only boid snake in Cuba. It is the largest member of the genus, as well as the largest snake in the West Indies (> 400 cm in snout-vent length); as such, it is an iconic species of the Cuban herpetofauna. Although the snake’s natural history is poorly known, several studies describe aspects of its reproductive biology in captivity. Herein we document the sizes and ages at which both sexes reach sexual maturity in nature, and show that the Cuban Boa reaches adulthood at a much smaller size than previously reported for captive snakes. Based on the limited information on the growth rate of C. angulifer in nature, males must reach breeding size after 3 years and females after 5 year