Reproductive and feeding biology of the common lancehead Bothrops atrox (Serpentes, Viperidae) from central and southwestern Brazilian Amazonia
Acta amaz
; 49(2): 105-113, abr. - jun. 2019.
Artigo
em Inglês
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1119151
Biblioteca responsável:
BR6.1
ABSTRACT
The pitviper Bothrops atrox is a widely distributed and medically important snake in Amazonia. Given that the reproductive and feeding biology of snakes varies geographically, we aimed to characterize the natural history of individuals from the central and southwestern portions of the biome. We analyzed museum-preserved specimens collected in the region between the metropolitan areas of the Brazilian cities of Manaus and Porto Velho. We took morphometric measurements and performed the analysis of gonads and digestive tracts of 109 individuals. Females attain sexual maturity with larger body sizes. Adults of the species show pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size, with females being larger. The reproductive cycle, especially in males, appears to be synchronized with regional rainfall, which markedly differed across the biome. The pitvipers had a generalist diet, consuming a wide range of prey such as centipedes, frogs, lizards, snakes and mammals. We provide the first record of predation of the snake Imantodes cenchoa (Dipsadidae) by B. atrox. There was an ontogenetic shift in the diet smaller individuals fed mainly on ectothermic prey (centipedes, frogs, lizards and snakes), while adults tended to incorporate endothermic prey (mammals) to their food repertoire. (AU)
Texto completo:
Disponível
Coleções:
Bases de dados internacionais
Base de dados:
LILACS
Assunto principal:
Reprodução
/
Bothrops
/
História Natural
/
Dieta
País/Região como assunto:
América do Sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Acta amaz
Assunto da revista:
Ciência
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
País de afiliação:
Brasil
Instituição/País de afiliação:
Universidade Federal do Amazonas/BR