ABSTRACT
Erythrolamprus frenatus belongs to the Family Dipsadidae, is distributed mainly within Cerrado areas of southeastern South America and it is poorly known in your diet and use of the substrate. Information on substrate use and diet was obtained from unpublished data provided by other researchers and specimens deposited in the herpetological collections, respectively. Five specimens were observed in the water, while two others were found on the ground, but close to bodies of water. Four prey items were recorded, and all of them being swamp eels of the family Synbranchidae. Our results providing important information on substrate use and diet of this species, and suggests that E. frenatus is a fish-eatinger snake, which seems to have specialized on elongated fishes. The presence of brightly colored belly in E. frenatus, suggests that this pattern may be a defensive tactic against aquatic predators.
ABSTRACT
A tribo Hydropsini compreende três gêneros de serpentes. Dados alimentares são escassos, mas indicam que as espécies consomem principalmente peixes e secundariamente anfíbios anuros. Os Hydropsini são ovíparos ou vivíparos e o polimorfismo é sugerido para algumas espécies. Entretanto, outros aspectos reprodutivos são desconhecidos para a maioria dessas serpentes. Por outro lado, as relações filogenéticas entre os Hydropsini estão estabelecidas....
The tribe Hydropsini comrpises three genera of snakes. information om food habits is scarce. However previous data indicate that species feed mainly upon fishes but also eat anurans. The Hydropsini are oviparous or viviparous and the polymorphism is suggested for some species. Other reproductive thraits are unknown for most species. On the other hand, thephylogenetic relationships of Hydropsini are established...
Subject(s)
Animals , Diet , Species Specificity , Natural History , Reproduction/physiology , Snakes/growth & development , Reptiles/classification , Reptiles/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Descreve-se aqui o comportamento alimentar de Boa constrictor, Epicrates cenchria e Corallus hortulanus, comparando-o com registros discordantes existentes na literatura. O comportamento, descrito a partir dos métodos 'todas as ocorrências' e 'amostragem de seqüências', foi subdividido em quatro fases: (i) localização, aproximação e bote; (ii) constrição; (iii) inspeção; e (iv) ingestão. Na primeira fase, o dardejar de língua era evidente e os botes desferidos preferencialmente na cabeça dos camundongos. Durante a constrição, não se evidenciou, nas três espécies estudadas, existência de lado dominante do corpo em contato com a presa. Todas as serpentes apresentaram padrão ventral de constrição, sendo um o número de espiras utilizado por B. constrictor e E. cenchria e dois por C. hortulanus. Na fase de inspeção, a serpente tocava a presa com o focinho e dardejava a língua. A ingestão geralmente se iniciou pela cabeça da presa(AU)
The feeding behavior of Boa constrictor, Epicrates cenchria, and Corallus hortulanus (Snakes, Boidae) is here described and compared with discrepant data from the literature. Records were obtained according to the 'all occurrence' and 'sequence sampling' methods. Behavior was divided into four phases: (i) orientation towards prey, approach and strike; (ii) constriction; (iii) inspection; and (iv) swallowing. In the first phase, tongue flicking was evident and the strikes were directed preferentially on the head of mice. During constriction, no side dominance was evident, only a few specimens displayed a preference for the side of the body in contact with the prey. All snakes presented a ventral pattern of constriction and the number of coils utilized was one for B. constrictor and E. cenchria and two for C. hortulanus. The prey was inspected by tongue flicking and snout touching and usually was swallowed headfirst(AU)
