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Monocultures of the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) 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 wit...
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Introdução: Animais peçonhentos são todos aqueles que possuem veneno e causa efeitos colaterais ao organismo do ser humano. Objetivo - Analisar incidência de casos de acidentes de animais peçonhentos (serpentes, aranhas e escorpião) notificados em Ariquemes – RO no período de 2010 a 2018. Metodologia - estudo documental, transversal, descritiva com...
We present predation events, supported by photographs, for five colubrid and one viperid species; and we discussed on the reported die for each snake: viperidae: Bothrops asper; Colubridae: Dendrophidion dendrophis, Erythrolamprus epinephelus albiventris, Erythrolamprus miliaris crysostomus, Leptodeira annulata, Pseudalsophis sp., Bothrops asper.
Purpose : The density and distribution of neurons in retinas of vertebrates are associated with speci c behaviors and species ecology. The visual system of snakes has adaptations to the species' habitats, circadian rhythm, and foraging strategies. A previous study revealed a ventral area centralis in a terrestrial snake and a visual streak in a clo...
La liste taxinomique est établie pour les Serpents des Petites Antilles. Elle tient compte des publications les plus récentes. A côté du nom scientifique zoologique, un nom scientifique français est joint à chaque taxon. La présence passée des Boa et des Clelia dans les Petites Antilles est clarifiée et discutée. Il n'y a pas eu de Bothrops dans le...
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... The distribution of H. danieli has also been misunderstood, appearing only in Colombian species lists (Daniel 1949), and regional inventories (e.g., Medina-Rangel 2013;Ruíz 2014;Angarita-M. et al. 2015;Lynch 2015), with a dubious cis-Andean record in Vaupés, Colombia (Yuki and Castaño 1998). Despite the taxonomic studies developed by Yuki (1994) and Rossman (2002a), the diagnosis of H. danieli is still in its initial stages, especially considering the advances made in the taxonomic gaps and geographical ranges of the genus in the last 10 years (thus reducing the Linnean and Wallace shortfalls for South American watersnakes) (Kawashita-Ribeiro et al. 2013;Costa et al. 2016;Moraes-da-Silva et al. 2019. ...
The extensive lack of knowledge on the morphological aspects of South American watersnakes includes a poor understanding of phenotypic parameters, intraspecific variation, and conservation of the trans-Andean Helicops species, Daniel’s Keelback (Helicops danieli Amaral, 1937). For the first time, we provide a multidisciplinary view using key features (e.g., morphology and niche modeling) to improve the taxonomic recognition of this species, as well as describing ontogenetic color changes, allometry, sexual dimorphism, and the conservation status of this poorly studied snake. First, we emended the morphological diagnosis of H. danieli with 23 characters and detected that juvenile tail length is positively related to allometric growth, and that juveniles differ from adults through the presence of the white nuchal collar. Females are larger than males for snout–vent length, whereas males showed proportionally longer tails and smaller head length growth. Suitable areas for H. danieli are restricted to the trans-Andean regions from the Magdalena drainage to the Caribbean coast, which also showed high values of anthropic impacts. Our multidisciplinary approach provided new insights into this South American watersnake’s morphology, intraspecific variation, and distribution.
... En el ámbito regional este proceso es bastante similar. Así, por ejemplo, en Colombia buena parte de los cultivos suplantaron plantaciones de arroz, pastizales o bosques secundarios (Lynch, 2015). ...
The objective was to analyze a decree that limits the expansion of the oil palm cultivation in the South of Lake Maracaibo from the environmental, legal and socioeconomic points of view. Indicators of ecological sustainability were estimated for a representative crop and compared with a plantain (Musa AAB Simmonds) crop. No statistically significant differences were found (p> 0.05) between the two cultures. No scientific studies were found to support the alleged pest proliferation, nor it was evidenced the displacement of "strategic items" on which the decree is based. The resolution does not comply with the public consultation stipulated in the environmental regulations and because both crops impact negatively the environment, the expansion of plantain cultivation should also be limited; otherwise, it should be modified or annulated. The low biodiversity recorded in oil palm cultures is due to its management as a monoculture but the loss of native biodiversity attributed by the critics is manifested when the natural forest is eliminated for its establishment, which is not the case of the study area where the crop is established in lands previously dedicated to livestock, so the application of this argument as legal support is incorrect.
... It ranges from Western Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago (Angarita-Sierra, 2009, 2014Ingrasci, 2011;McCranie & Wilson, 1995;Medina-Rangel, 2015;Mesa-Joya, 2015;Rivas et al., 2012). Despite its broad distribution and high abundance in disturbed or transformed habitats, its reproductive biology has been largely ignored (Angarita-Sierra, 2015;Lynch, 2015). Currently, details on clutch size and birth-size in northern South American populations have only been reported as anecdotal observations (Lancini, 1979;Natera-Mumaw et al., 2015;Roze, 1966). ...
... We used the height (cm) of the palm leaf piles and epiphytic cushions as surrogate estimators of microhabitat quality. This is because greater habitat height likely provided better refuge for the snakes due to lower microclimate variability, larger number of prey, and greater security against predators (Angarita-Sierra, 2015; Angarita-Sierra & Lozano-Daza, 2019; Lynch, 2015;Weatherhead & Madsen, 2006). ...
Based on histological analyses and field studies, this research describes the reproductive ecology of a population of
Ninia atrata snakes inhabiting an oil palm plantation. Furthermore, through a multivariate approach, we explored the main drivers of reproductive output in
N. atrata. Results showed that prey abundance and food intake were crucial variables contributing to reproductive output. Multiple linear regression models showed that neonates had high sensitivity (
R2=55.29%) to extreme changes in climate, which was strongly related to slug and snail abundance variability and microhabitat quality. Reproductive cycles were markedly different between the sexes, being continuous in males and cyclical in females. Despite this variation, reproductive cycles at the population level were seasonal semi-synchronous. Constant recruitment of neonates all year, multiple clutches, high mating frequency, and continuous sperm production characterized the reproductive phenology of
N. atrata. In addition, a significant number of previtellogenic females presented oviductal sperm as well as uterine scars, suggesting a high precocity in the species. The main drivers of reproductive output also differed between the sexes. In females, clutch size and secondary follicle variability were highly related to stomach bolus volume, fat body area, and body mass. In males, height of piles of palm leaves and body mass, rather than intrinsic reproductive traits, were the main drivers of sperm production. Nevertheless, in both cases, the relationship between body mass, prey abundance, and food intake suggests that
N. atrata follows the income breeding strategy to compensate for reproductive costs and to maximize fitness.
... Compared to other vertebrates, snakes are still relatively unknown in many aspects of natural history, and consequently in their status of conservation (Greene 1997;Cundall and Greene 2000;Campbell and Lamar 2004;de Fraga et al. 2013). Some tropical ecosystems, such as rainforests, can support a high snake's diversity with some species reaching high local abundances (Martins and Oliveira 1998;Guimarães et al. 2014;Lynch 2015); however, an important proportion of species of the tropical snake's assemblages are considered rare species because they are barely observed and therefore poorly represented in scientific collections and literature (Lynch et al. 2016). ...
Dendrophidion boshelli is a poorly known and endemic snake species from the Middle Magdalena river valley in Colombia. It was described in 1944 based on a single specimen from the municipality of Caparrapí, department of Cundinamarca. Since the original description, only three additional specimens have been established. As part of the results of a herpetological monitoring in the Miel I Hydroelectric project, department of Caldas-Colombia, three additional specimens of D. boshelli were found in 2014–2015. The specimens represent the second known population of the species. We presented morphological data and pholidosis; description of the coloration in life, and a description of the habitat. Recently, D. boshelli was included as a Critically Endangered (CR) species in the Red Book of Reptiles of Colombia, and the IUCN Redlist. For this reason, to promote the local conservation of this and other endemic and threatened species in the Miel I area, we suggested some actions at the local level, such as establishing a conservation area with legal status in the Middle Manso River basin, which is a tributary of the Miel I Hydroelectric project.
... Compared to other vertebrates, snakes are still relatively unknown in many aspects of natural history, and consequently in their status of conservation (Greene 1997;Cundall and Greene 2000;Campbell and Lamar 2004;de Fraga et al. 2013). Some tropical ecosystems, such as rainforests, can support a high snake's diversity with some species reaching high local abundances (Martins and Oliveira 1998;Guimarães et al. 2014;Lynch 2015); however, an important proportion of species of the tropical snake's assemblages are considered rare species because they are barely observed and therefore poorly represented in scientific collections and literature (Lynch et al. 2016). ...
Dendrophidion boshelli is a poorly known and endemic snake species from the Middle Magdalena river valley in Colombia. It was described in 1944 based on a single specimen from the municipality of Caparrapí, department of Cundinamarca. Since the original description, only three additional specimens have been established. As part of the results of a herpetological monitoring in the Miel I Hydroelectric project, department of Caldas-Colombia, three additional specimens of D. boshelli were found in 2014-2015. The specimens represent the second known population of the species. We presented morphological data and pholidosis; description of the coloration in life, and a description of the habitat. Reptiles of Colombia, and the IUCN Redlist. For this reason, to promote the local conservation of this and other endemic and threatened species in the Miel I area, we suggested some actions at the local level, such as establishing a conservation area with legal status in the Middle Manso River basin, which is a tributary of the Miel I Hydroelectric project.
... Ninia atrata abundance variation observed was strongly explained by snail's abundance more than any other dietary items. This result agrees with prey preference seen and disagrees with the reported by Cadle and Greene (1993), Savage (2002), Lynch (2015) and Rojas-Morales et al. (2017) who indicates that Ninia atrata is an earthworm-eating snake. In fact, earthworms represent only 26.92% of its diet and ranking third among the Figure 4. Patterns of food intake, fat storage, and body size between sexes. ...
Prey-predator interactions are considered one of the primary drivers of the ecology and evolution of several vertebrate taxa, but particularly, it has played a significant role in the evolutionary biology of snakes. However, feeding ecology of semifossorial tropical snakes has been poorly studied. We employed a multivariate approach to explore the effects of sexual dimorphism, prey-predator interaction, and climatic variability due to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the abundance and feeding ecology of the semifossorial snake Ninia atrata. Climatic variability analysis revealed conspicuous temporal variation in the prey availability at microhabitat, as well as in the snake abundance and food intake. Multivariate approach provided strong support for links between Ninia atrata abundance, microhabitat quality and snails abundance (more than other prey). Conspicuous intersexual dietary divergence was observed supporting the hypothesis of the sex-specific targets for maximum food intake. ENSO phenomenon promoted a notable decline in Ninia atrata abundances and its food intake, which was related to prey availability and abundance, as well as a strong variability on their body condition index (BCI). Finally, given the high sensitivity of Ninia atrata to the environmental variability, it could consider an indicator species of the environmental changes in the Neotropical oil palm agroecosystems.
... Snake skin traders in Sumatra, Indonesia, report that Blood Pythons Python brongersmai are far more common now than before the expansion of oil palm 20 to 30 years ago(Fig. 3 in 151).This same phenomenon is true in other parts of the world, where densities of some snakes are higher in oil palm plantations than nearby forested areas, e.g., Africa(152) andSouth America(153). ...
Oil palm Biodiversity Agriculture Environment Governance Impact assessment
... Snake skin traders in Sumatra, Indonesia, report that Blood Pythons Python brongersmai are far more common now than before the expansion of oil palm 20 to 30 years ago(Fig. 3 in 151).This same phenomenon is true in other parts of the world, where densities of some snakes are higher in oil palm plantations than nearby forested areas, e.g., Africa(152) andSouth America(153). ...
he situation analysis primarily focuses on oil palm in the context of biodiversity conservation based on literature published before 31 January 2018, and aims to provide a constructive pathway to addressing sustainability challenges in the palm oil industry. This report does not assess the social and economic implications of palm oil production and expansion but will refer to these when they are likely to have an impact on biodiversity conservation. Through identification of key knowledge gaps, the situation analysis will also provide direction to the Oil Palm Task Force in terms of seeking to address these knowledge gaps in the remainder of the 2017-2020 Quadrennium.
... This phenomenon has three main causes: (1) the logistic difficulties to access remote areas of the Amazon and Llanos; (2) security problems in certain areas; and (3) availability of many other attractive areas for field inventories of snakes in other regions of the country. Only in recent times have massive collections of snakes from cis-Andean lowlands of Colombia been gathered regularly through a standardized methodology (see Lynch 2015). However, based on its chorology and the aforementioned obstacles for collecting in some lowland regions of the country, we suspect that A. punctiventris may be restricted to the Andean piedmont in the region located between the highland sub-Andean forest and Llanos (Fig. 4). ...
We redescribe Atractus punctiventris based on the examination of its holotype, two topotypes, and two additional specimens recently collected. We describe two new species of Atractus with 15 dorsal scale rows, previously confused with Atractus insipidus, from the eastern and western portions of Brazilian Amazonia, respectively. The new species are recognized on the basis of unique combinations of morphological characters. We compare Atractus punctiventris and the two new species with all congeners from most lowland provinces of cis-Andean South America. We discuss potential affinities of the three species, mainly by sharing exclusive hemipenial traits with congeners placed in different phenetic groups, and allocate them to distinct species groups of Atractus.
