Melina Simoncini

• Dra
• Investigadora Independiente at CICYTTP (CONICET-Prov. ER-UADER)

Reptiles are mainly exploited for the high value of their skins, as well as their meat is a potential source of protein. In different parts of the world, snake fat or oil is used for ethnomedicinal purposes, and scientific studies have supported their antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory effects. In this study, we describe the characteristics of the...

Tools to discriminate products from captive and wild sources will improve wildlife sustainability, and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen can be potentially useful for this. In this study, we evaluated δ ¹⁵ N and δ ¹³ C in Caiman latirostris skins from captive individuals (from Argentina and Brazil), wild individuals (from Argentina), and leath...

Phallic malformations directly impact crocodilian copulatory function and thus could impact reproductive success in individual animals. This case series characterizes malformations observed and the implied reproductive consequences. We assessed a range of phallic malformations observed in saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Nile crocodile (Cr...

Considering the escalating consumer preference for health‐conscious commodities, reptile species' meat can be presented as an alternative animal protein source because of its notable nutritional characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical parameters (pH, tenderness, cooking loss, colour and fatty acid profile) and sen...

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a South-American canid of which conservation guidelines have been implemented due to its population vulnerability. Its trophic ecology demonstrates an omnivorous and opportunistic diet, and even flexibility in response to anthropogenic disturbances. Among the food items identified, the consumption of reptil...

Simple Summary Using size and weight data from wild-caught adult broad-snouted caiman females, we calculated and compared two body condition indices (K-Fulton and SMI) with the objective of distinguishing reproductive from non-reproductive females. To achieve this, we looked for a threshold (size-dependent) that separated the body condition of fema...

Dinosaurs are oviparous reptiles that belong to Archosauria and whose closest modern relatives are crocodiles and birds. This is why, to shed light on the study of dinosaur reproduction, we conducted a test with the species Caiman latirostris (Crocodylia), a living archosaur. This paper focuses on the study of the embryos’ effect on the eggshells o...

Studies on crocodilians indicate that energy investment in reproduction is conditioned by prey availability, which is in turn affected by rainfall. Therefore, environmental variables may affect individual body condition (BC) and physiological condition (PC). We evaluated the influence of climatic factors on the BC and PC of wild reproductive femal...

Temperature sex determination (TSD) in reptiles has been studied in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which temperature is transformed into a biological signal that determines the sex of the embryo. Temperature is thought to trigger signals that alter gene expression and hormone metabolism, that will determine the development of female or male g...

Non-conventional protein sources, such as game meat from conservation and sustainable use programs, are a valuable alternative for hunters to use themselves, as well as having great marketing potential. The aim of this study is to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of a non-traditional meat of yellow anaconda (Eunectes n...

Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) products (meat, fat and oil) are currently beginning to be valued as a food of special interest due to its high content of n-3 fatty acids. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize the fats of caiman fed with diets enriched with flaxseeds (Linus usitatissimun) rich in n-3 fatty acids, lignans a...

The sustainable use of wildlife is considered a tool for conservation in addition to generating benefits for the local population. Commercial reptile hunting targets skins, generating other by-products such as meat and fat. Meat from hunted reptiles is widely available in localities where management plans are in place and is evaluated as easily acc...

We created a matrix model structured by stages (divided into 5 stages) to evaluate the populationdynamics of Caiman latirostris and the population behavior at different management intensities throughranching and hunting of adult individuals. We generated 5000 matrices by sampling the mean andvariance values of survivals (pi) and hatching for each s...

A geometric morphometry technique allows, through analysis of dorsal images of cephalic region, a reliable sexing of the hatchlings, without having to sacrifice the animals for the internal gonads inspection or waiting for the growth of the individuals.

Communal egg-laying is not frequently observed in crocodilians that exhibit nest attendance. However, it has been reported for both wild and captive Caiman latirostris . To understand the proximate causes of communal nesting, we aim to describe the nesting behavior of caimans during communal egg-laying in a captive population. Video cameras were pl...

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has increased infectivity and immune escape compared with previous variants, and caused the surge of massive COVID-19 waves globally. Despite a vast majority (~90%) of the population of Santa Fe city, Argentina had been vaccinated and/or had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 when Omicron emerged, the epidemic wave that foll...

Understanding the relationship between species and the environment is crucial to predicting their responses to human-induced global changes, i.e., habitat conversion, biological invasions, and global warming. Precipitation and river level are relevant factors that regulate the populations of aquatic organisms. We used long-term data to assess the e...

The definition of priority areas for conservation and integrated management actions are essential for the effective maintenance and recovery of natural populations, especially for species overexploited by humans. Amazonian chelonians are a food resource historically used by people, resulting in the decline of species populations and worsening the r...

The first life stage of crocodilians is considered the most critical in terms of survival, particularly in regions that have well-defined cold seasons. To estimate this parameter for hatchling broad-snouted caimans, Class I (CI = snout-vent length < 25 cm), we released 36 caimans (18 in 2018, and 18 in 2019) born in captivity that were equipped with...

The SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron has increased infectivity and immune escape compared with previous variants. Despite a vast majority (∼90%) of the population of Santa Fe city (Argentina) had been vaccinated and/or had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 prior to the arrival of Omicron, the epidemic wave caused by this variant was by far the large...

En este libro se presentan los primeros seis protocolos donde se discuten metodologías concretas, como el uso de cámaras trampa, un sistema participativo de colecta biológica, el uso de drones para el monitoreo de fauna silvestre y metodologías para el estudio fisicoquímico y organoléptico de carne y subproductos de reptiles. Además, se incluyen do...

Reptile meats and fats are used for their medicinal properties and nutritional values perceived through the culture of native peoples, though often with no scientific basis. Providing scientific information about potential medicinal and nutritional use of reptile fats would be a strategy for the full use of wild animals, supporting the sustainable us...

Increasing polyunsaturated or long-chain fatty acids in meat for human consumption improves both nutritional quality and consumer perception. The increase could occur through the addition of rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids (such as flaxseed or flaxseed oil) to the animal diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplem...

Trinta e sete espécies de Testudines são encontradas no Brasil, das quais seis são consideradas endêmicas do país. Na Amazônia brasileira, das 18 espécies de quelônios de água doce encontradas naquela região, três encontram-se na categoria de quase ameaçadas à extinção no Brasil. Os quelônios de água doce da Amazônia, principalmente da família Podo...

Trinta e sete espécies de Testudines são encontradas no Brasil, das quais seis são consideradas endêmicas do país. Na Amazônia brasileira, das 18 espécies de quelônios de água doce encontradas naquela região, três encontram-se na categoria de quase ameaçadas à extinção no Brasil. Os quelônios de água doce da Amazônia, principalmente da família Podo...

Purpose The aim of the paper is to compare consumer acceptance, sensory analysis and volatile compounds of caiman meat with regard to surubí fish and chicken meat. Design/methodology/approach Caiman tail, chicken thigh and surubí meats' cuts were cooked in a pan with little oil and salt. The affective tests of acceptance (9-points hedonic scale) a...

En este informe se presentan los resultados finales de la Identificación de vacíos ecorregiones, cuyo objetivo fue identificar áreas prioritarias para la conservación de la biodiversidad y vacíos de conservación de las ecorregiones Altos Andes, Puna, Monte de Sierras y Bolsones, Espinal, Pampa, Delta e Islas del Paraná, Campos y Malezales, Esteros...

Increasing polyunsaturated or long-chain fatty acids in meat for human consumption improves both nutritional quality and consumer perception. The increase could occur through the addition of rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids (such as flaxseed or flaxseed oil) to the animal diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplem...

The broad snouted caiman is a crocodylian native to South America that is subject to extensive conservation management in both wild and farming environments. Although reproductive behaviors like egg laying and clutch care have been examined in this species, little else is known about their copulatory system. We examined the anatomy of male and fema...

The leather of Caiman latirostris is highly appreciated in the fashion industry and the meat is valued as an important food but its fat are usually discarded because it has no commercial value. However it is an alternative source of essential fatty acids and could be used for human consumption. The aim was to optimize the oil extraction from Caiman...

In recent decades, eggshells of eggs from large-bodied reptiles have been studied by many researchers, to describe the eggshell, to compare them to extinct lineages that once inhabited our planet and also to understand how the egg provides the embryo specific conditions during incubation. In previous studies we described and characterized normal an...

The applications of genetic tools for crocodilians’ management and governance can be done at two levels: intra- and interspecific. The following intraspecific processes can be investigated by the use of genetic tools: mating system, parental care, and dispersal pattern, potentially useful for biological conservation; identification of “problem” ind...

Sexual identification of crocodilians is important in population studies and provides useful information for conservation and management plans and monitoring populations over time. It is possible to distinguish between male and female Caiman latirostris by cloacal palpation or eversion of the penis in individuals larger than 75 cm total length, but...

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, transmitted by wild and domestic animals. Rodents play a fundamental role in the transmission cycle of this zoonosis but the function of reptiles is unknown. For example, crocodilians could play an important role in the transmission of this disease by living in ide...

The scientific community has made considerable efforts to improve the production of protein from traditional sources. Currently it has also been focused on non-conventional protein sources, such as those produced in conservation and sustainable use programs, which would contribute to the improvement of local and national economies. In Argentina, th...

Temperature is crucial for reptiles, also during embryonic development, particularly for species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Under natural conditions, Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) eggs are influenced by thermal changes in the interior of the nest related to the external environmental temperature. As nests are subject...

The Brazilian forests - Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes -, and their transition areas are rapidly changing their landscapes, due to the human activities that affect the whole biota. In this review, we emphasized the current problems of the biodiversity crisis on the reptiles from the Brazilian forests, as well as, the importance of a bet...

Here we describe the embryonic development of Salvator merianae external morphologic features, as based on observation of 28 embryos across different days of incubation at 31 ± 0.5°C. Observed developmental stages were grouped and classified into early, middle, and late periods. The early period (stages 3 to 11) is distinguished by the origin of th...

In oviparous species, physico-chemical characteristics of eggs are an indicator of maternal physiological traits and environmental conditions of the site where the females develop. In this study, we aim to (a) determine the physico-chemical characteristics of eggs from wild Caiman latirostris populations; (b) evaluate if fertile and infertile eggs...

Sexual identification of crocodilians is important in population studies. This information is also useful when preparing or proposing conservation and management plans, as well as monitoring these populations over time. In nature, it is possible to differentiate males and females of Caiman latirostris, by cloacal palpation or eversion of the penis...

The southern distribution of the Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802) in Argentina occurs in Santa Fe Province, where its population has been under management by “Proyecto Yacaré” since 1990. From 1997 to 2016, we captured 77 nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans in Santa Fe Province. Our results suggest that previously defined size...

Egg inundation often results in poor hatching success in crocodylians. However, how tolerant eggs are to submergence, and/or how eggshell ultrastructure may affect embryo survival when inundated, are not well understood. In this study, our objective was to determine if embryo survival in Caiman latirostris is affected by eggshell surface roughness,...

Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) occurs in all three families of the Crocodylia. This study explored the sex ratio of hatchlings under incubation temperatures not previously tested in Caiman latirostris to delineate the transitional range of temperature (TRT) between male- and female-producing temperatures. We also estimated the pivota...

Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) occurs in all three families of the Crocodylia. This study explored the sex ratio of hatchlings under incubation temperatures not previously tested in Caiman latirostris to delineate the transitional range of temperature (TRT) between male-and female-producing temperatures. We also estimated the pivotal...

Predation is a major cause of crocodilian egg loss. However, at present, the mechanisms by which predators detect nests is unknown. Previous studies have reported that predators are able to detect prey using both visual and olfactory cues. This study aims to determine the natural predation rate on Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) nests in...

Evaluation of factors associated with predation on Caiman latirostris nests (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae). Predation is a major cause of crocodilian egg loss. However, at the moment it is unknown which signs predators follow to detect the nests. It was reported that predators have the ability to detect prey from visual and olfactory signs. This study...

Predation is a major cause of crocodilian egg loss. It is reported that predators have the ability to detect preyfrom visual and olfactorysigns. This study aimed to determine the natural predation rate on C. latirostris nests on a normal year (no presence of extreme climatic events), to assess whether olfactory or visual evidences attract predators...

Caiman latirostris has temperature-dependent sex determination and is potentially susceptible to environmental temperature fluctuations and, thus, to the global climate change phenomena. Considering the potential consequences of increasing temperatures for Ca. latirostris offspring, we examined the effects of climatic conditions on sex ratios produ...

Resumen. El éxito reproductivo de Caiman latirostris puede estar afectado por las modificaciones que se producen en las cáscaras durante el periodo de incubación de los huevos. Resulta importante conocer las estructuras que conforman la cáscara y los cambios que en ella ocurren. En este estudio se presentan descripciones de la estructura -forma y t...

reproductive biology of Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) may be affected by climatic variables. however, it remains unknown which are the specific climatic variables that affect the onset of oviposition, as well as its duration. in this study, we use a series of climatic data corresponding to the preceding four weeks to oviposition to know...

We describe irregularly calcified egg and eggshell morphologies for the first time in nests of the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris. Research is based on detailed descriptions of 270 eggs from a total sample of 46,800 collected between 2005 and 2011 in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, and encompasses animals from both natural habitats and held...

Abstract. In the past, caiman populations were utilized without a solid foundation of knowledge on the biology or status of the populations. Fortunately, this situation has changed, and today, detailed studies are conducted to provide data to underpin sustainable use programs. In Argentina, it is a requirement for ranching programs that monitoring...

Maria Virginia Parachu Marco, Carlos Ignacio Pina, Melina Simoncini, and Larriera Alejandro (2010) Effects of incubation and rearing temperatures on Caiman latirostris growth. Zoological Studies 49(3): 367-373. Different studies found that incubation temperature has an influence on the size of Caiman latirostris hatchlings and determines their gona...

The distribution of the Broad-Snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) ranges from 5 degrees S to 32 degrees S. Thus, caiman populations are exposed to different climatic conditions, and this latitudinal gradient could affect aspects of their reproduction. In this study we present evidence that there is a positive relationship between clutch size and la...

SEX RATIO OF Caiman latirostris HATCHLINGS (CROCODYLIA: ALLIGATORIDAE) INCUBATED IN THE WILD Caiman latirostris presents temperature dependent sex-determination. Under artificial incubation, eggs incubated at 29ºC or 31ºC produce 100% females, meanwhile at 33ºC 100% males are produced and incubation at higher temperature (34.5ºC) induces both sexes...

In crocodilian ranching operations wild eggs are collected from the field, and delays between collection and transportation to incubators are usually minimized in the hope of maximizing embryo survival. In the ranching program for Caiman latirostris in Santa Fe, Argentina, gauchos do not collect eggs on the day nests are found, but rather on the da...

Since 1990, Proyecto Yacaré (Min. Prod./MUPCN) is developing new technologies and improving/adapting old ones to reduce the production costs for the ranching programs in South America. Previous work evaluated growth rates of Caiman latirostris, the effect of time of collection on hatching success, depredation and temperature effects on incubation,...