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Avaliação ultrassonográfica do aparelho reprodutor em serpentes vivíparas da família Boidae

March 2015
Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 35(3):311-318

DOI:10.1590/S0100-736X2015000300016

License
CC BY-NC 4.0

Authors:

Viviane Garcia

Instituto Butantan

Leandro Badiglian

Selma M Almeida-Santos

Instituto Butantan

A reprodução faz parte do ciclo de vida dos animais permitindo a perpetuação e a conservação das espécies. Em serpentes, existe uma escassez de informações técnicas a respeito do ciclo reprodutivo. Este estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar o aparelho reprodutivo por meio da ultrassonografia em serpentes vivíparas cativas da família Boidae, permitindo diagnosticar as diferentes fases reprodutivas. Foram avaliadas ultrassonograficamente onze serpentes adultas de quatro espécies da família Boidae: Eunectes murinus, Boa constrictor constrictor, Corallus hortulanus e Epicrates cenchria pertencentes ao acervo do Museu Biológico do Instituto Butantan, São Paulo Brasil. Para a avaliação ultrassonográfica, as serpentes foram contidas fisicamente com gancho herpetológico e depois manualmente por aproximadamente 15 minutos. A avaliação foi feita aplicando-se gel acústico sobre a pele e posicionando o transdutor na linha lateral-ventral direita e esquerda, em região medial do corpo em sentido crânio-caudal. O exame ultrassonográfico permitiu avaliar todo o ciclo reprodutivo nas serpentes. Nas avaliações ultrassonográficas das fêmeas pode-se definir as fases de desenvolvimento ovariano e ovidutal. Os folículos ovarianos durante a fase pré-vitelogênica foram visualizados como homogêneos e anecogênicos, em forma de "cacho de uva". Já na fase vitelogênica, os folículos estavam maiores e mais ecogênicos seguidos uns dos outros, como um "colar de pérolas". Quando não houve cópula, os folículos foram reabsorvidos dentro do ovário retornando a fase pré-vitelogênica. Na fase pós ovulatória foram visualizados três estágios bem definidos de desenvolvimento fetal dentro do oviduto: 1) logo após a ovulação (e fecundação), somente o vitelo foi visualizado; 2) o vitelo ocupava 60% e o feto 40% do ovo e 3) o feto estava formado e não havia vitelo. Nos machos, os testículos foram visualizados como uma imagem homogênea e hipoecogênica quando se encontravam em estágio reprodutivo. Quando não estavam reprodutivos não era possível visualizar a imagem do testículo devido ao seu tamanho. A avaliação ultrassonográfica do aparelho reprodutor em serpentes demonstrou ser uma técnica de diagnóstico segura, não invasiva e que permite o acompanhamento das principais fases reprodutivas

(A) Esquema de plano de imagem sagital, visualizando a vesícula biliar, folículos ovarianos e coluna vertebral em região medial; (B) Imagem ultrassonográfica do ovário de Epicrates cenchria, visualizando a vesícula biliar em região medial (seta branca) anecogênica e os folículos ovarianos homogêneos e anecogênicos.

…

(A) Esquema de plano de imagem sagital de folículos ovariano em pré-vitelogênese; (B) Imagem ultrassonográfica da serpente (Eunectes murinus), visualizando os folículos ovarianos em pré-vitelogênese, homogêneos e hipoecogênicos.

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(A) Esquema de plano de imagem sagital de folículos ovarianos em vitelogênese; (B) Imagem ultrassonográfica da serpente Eunectes murinus, visualizando os folículos ovarianos em vitelogênese, heterogêneos e hiperecogênicos.

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Desenho esquemático do plano de imagem sagital de desenvolvimento de feto dentro do oviduto (A-C). Imagem ultrassonográfica do processo gestacional dentro do oviduto da serpente Epicrates cenchria (D-F). (A) Ovo com vitelo; (B) Ovo com vitelo abundante e pequeno feto; (C) Ovo com feto formado sem vitelo; (D) Estrutura ovalada homogênea e hiperecogênica, medindo 4,10x2,20 cm com formação do tubo neural; (E) Estrutura ovalada, medindo 5,6x2,6cm, porção homogênea e porção hiperecogênica-vitelo e imagem de embrião envolto na bolsa aminiótica com região periférica hiperecogênica-feto; (F) Estrutura ovalada, medindo 8,40cm, ovo com feto bem calcificado-coluna vertebral. Desenho: Victor F. Czank.

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Imagem ultrassonográfica com Doppler Colorido do fluxo sanguíneo do feto da serpente Epicrates cenchria em final de gestação.

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Content uploaded by Selma M Almeida-Santos

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Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

311



1

Viviane C. Garcia2,3*, Mirian H. Vac4, Leandro Badiglian5 e Selma M. Almeida-Santos2,6

 Garcia V.C., Vac M.H., Badiglian L. & Almeida-Santos S.M. 2015. [Ultraso

         ]

         

Boidae. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 35(3):311-318. Programa de Pós-Graduação em

         

-

do Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brasil. E-mail:

viviane.garcia@butantan.gov.br

       -

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    





Eunectes murinus, Boa constrictor constrictor, Corallus hortula-

nus and Epicrates cenchria

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





-











1



2 -



Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brasil.

3    

 

viviane.garcia@butantan.gov.br

4

São Paulo, SP 05439-010. E-mail: mvac@ig.com.br

5       

Doutor Costa Júnior, 484, Água Branca, São Paulo, SP 05002-000. E-mail:



6         

Brazil 1500, Butantã, São Paulo, SP 05503-900. E-mail: selma.santos@

butantan.gov.br

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

312 Viviane C. Garcia et al.

         

-



   

   

      -

   -



       

Eunectes murinus, Boa constrictor constrictor, Corallus hor-

tulanus e Epicrates cenchria-





      -

      









 -



  -

-







       



   -





      -

    

-

    -



        

     

demonstrou ser uma técnica de diagnóstico segura, não

 



      -





-



     

      -







 -



        

-

      



       

        

        





-



    -

  

-

Eunec-

tes, Boa, Corallus e Epicrates

  Eunectes murinus   -

   

-

     







Boa constrictor constrictor





     





   Corallus hortulanus,

 

-



-



-

Epicrates

cenchria   -

   



-



    -



-





-

-

   





-

     



   

-



       

       -

      





Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

313

      

       -

-

-

  

     -

       

    

-











        

  D  -

-







-



-

-



 

       



-













     



   



Eunectes murinus ,

duas Boa constrictor constrictor   , 

Corallus hortulanus      e  Epicrates

cenchria      -

das eram adultas, com idade entre quatro a quinze anos e média

      +

+

     



-

-



-





-



      Eunectes murinus e Boa

constrictor constrictor      -

 Corallus hortu-

lanus e Epicrates cenchria transdutor linear.

-

 







    

    

Eunectes murinus    

    

    

Boa c. constrictor    

    

Corallus hortulanus    

    

    

Epicrates cenchria    

    

    



      -

        

Eunectes murinus-







   

   

   Eunectes murinus

 

   Boa c. constrictor,

   Corallus hortulanus

   Eunectes murinus,

   Boa c. constrictor

CA 431 1- 8 MHz Eunectes murinus,

 Boa c. constrictor

CA 123 4-8 MHz Eunectes murinus,

  Boa c. constrictor

LA332 3 -10 MHz Eunectes murinus,

  Boa c. constrictor,

Epicrates cenchria

   Boa c. constrictor,

C. hortulanus,

E. cenchria

   Boa c.constrictor



Linear 2L 5 -12MHz Corallus hortulanus



   Corallus hortulanus

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

314 Viviane C. Garcia et al.





        



-

  

-













    

-

      





      -

   -

 





-







    -

  





A-

-

Eunectes murinus



A-



Epicrates

cenchria,

     











   

    

     

1 2 3

Eunectes 0,90-2,10 2,60-5,70 0a 0a 0a 6,2 0a

murinus

Boa c. 0,60-1,60 2,00-2,40 0b 0b 8 8,7 7

constrictor

Corallus 1,00-2,50 2,50-4,00 2,6 5 8 0b 0a

hortulanus

Epicrates 0,40-1,37 1,60-2,00 4,2 5,65 8,43 6,1 4,4

cenchria

    a Sem visibilização, b  -

minado.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

315

-

      

-

 

  

  

      -



-

 

    

   -



  

   



    

   

   Corallus hortulanus), e

 Epicrates cenchria)     Corallus

hortulanus)   Epicrates cenchria)    

Boa c. constrictorCorallus hortulanus),

Epicrates cenchria)

Eunectes murinus

Boa c. constrictor

       -

      -

        

   -

   

     

   

Eunectes murinusBoa c. constric-

tor)   Epicrates cenchria. A Corallus hortulanus

 

      -

      Eunectes murinus

e Corallus hortulanus    Em Boa c.

constrictor mediu 7,00cm e em Epicrates cenchria mediu





     

        -



maiores Eunectes e Boa

-



   

-

res, menos robustas e mais esbeltas: Corallus e Epicrates



-





-

-

didades entre 8 e 12cm.

-

     

      

      

   



-



  

 

  -

A   -

rianos -

 Eunectes murinus    









  

Pré-vite- Média Desvio Vitelo- Média Desvio

      

    

Eunectes 0,9 2,1 1,5 0,848528137 2,6 5,7 4,15 2,192031022

murinus

Boa c. 0,6 1,6 1,1 0,5 2 2,4 2,2 0,2

constrictor

Corallus 1 2,5 1,75 0,75 2,5 4 3,25 0,75

hortulanus

Epicrates 0,4 1,37 0,885 0,485 1,6 2 1,8 0,2

cenchria



Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

316 Viviane C. Garcia et al.

      



  -



-

-

  

 -

     



   Epi-

crates cenchria. A



      



    

Epicrates cenchria 

gestação.



Epicrates cenchriaA





F



Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

317



ocorreu em Corallus hortulanus e a menor em Epicrates

cenchria. Para Boa c. constrictor   -

   -

cos da Eunectes murinus 



-



    -



desenvolvimento. As bolsas gestacionais estavam relativa-

-

  





-

        



        -



-

    



-



    

-



-



  -



Eunectes murinus e Corallus hortulanus.-









-

-





    

-



-

-



    

    



-



-

-

nal da gestação.

      -



imagens.

-





       



A -

  

   



Butantan.



    Eunec-

tes murinus      





Eunectes



   -

        Boa

constrictor ocidentalis

  

      Vipera aspis  

 

-

  Geochelone 

scanning.  

  



São Paulo.

 



          

  -

Tiliqua nigrolutea. Zoo Biol. 21:253-268.

 -

 

Biol. 210:1859-1867.

-

mico de Boa constrictor    



      -





Corallus hortulanus com-



      

   J. Am. Vet.



        

Boa constrictor Boa constrictor



  -

semination in Crotalus durissus terrificus Braz. J.



-

Ecol. Econ. 64:554-558.

Martin de Camilo J.E. & Asa C.S. 1999.  

BoaEpicrates cenchria cenchria-

Python regius 







Pesq. Vet. Bras. 35(3):311-318, março 2015

318 Viviane C. Garcia et al.

  

     



      -

    -

      Boa constrictor Pesq. Vet. Bras.



-



358.

 T.G., Mattoon J.S. &  -

 

   



      Epicrates cenchria 

    Epicrates 

-



 -

mata.  

          

        



      ed. Sarvier Editora de

Livros Médicos, São Paulo.

      -



 Acesso em 29

out. 2012.

-



-

ção de Bothrops -

nista. Vet. Zootec. 

        



Linnean Soc. 103:772-778.











Avaliação gestacional em Epicrates assisi (Machado, 1945) com auxílio da ultrassonografia: Gestational assessment in Epicrates assisi (Machado, 1945) with the aid of ultrasound

Article

Mar 2024

Os criadouros comerciais legalizados desestimulam o tráfico ilegal e impactam positivamente na população de serpentes, oferecendo o reforço populacional, além da oferta de animais saudáveis, dóceis, bem tratados com a devida legalização na qual apoia as ações do IBAMA (Instituto brasileiro do meio ambiente e dos recursos naturais). A ultrassonografia vem sendo utilizada para o diagnóstico gestacional e de alterações reprodutivas em diversas espécies, sendo uma ferramenta não invasiva. Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a avaliação reprodutiva em jiboias arco-íris da caatinga (Epicrates assisi) com o auxílio de ultrassonografia, para a classificação dos órgãos e aferição de medidas e determinação de parâmetros de normalidade. Foram utilizados 3 exemplares de jiboia arco-íris da caatinga (E. assisi) pertencentes ao criatório legalizado Pet’s Serpentes e Companhia. Das 3 fêmeas utilizadas no projeto, duas encontraram-se prenhas e uma com folículos primários. Na primeira Epicrates assisi, foi visualizado um possível ovo reabsorvido e 7 ovos viáveis, já na segunda fêmea foram contados 8 ovos viáveis. A última espécime apresentou em topografia ovariana, folículos primários em formas de esferas agrupadas em formato de ‘cacho de uva’, indicando estar apta para a cruza, mas com diagnóstico gestacional negativo. O exame ultrassonográfico é uma ferramenta de fácil diagnostico servindo com grande utilidade para avaliar e determinar o processo gestacional das serpentes E. assisis, sendo como uma grande aliada gerando informações acerca do período reprodutivo e o momento na qual gestação se encontra.

Comparação de métodos de sexagem em filhotes de serpentes da espécie Python brongersmai

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022

Manejo reprodutivo de jiboias e outros boídeos criados em cativeiro Captive reproductive management of Boa constrictor snake and other boidae

Conference Paper

Full-text available

May 2019

Resumo Atualmente o mercado de animais exóticos movimenta bilhões de dólares, seja com o comércio de animais vivos ou produtos para sua manutenção. O aumento da popularidade das serpentes como animal de estimação é evidente, entretanto, tal explosão de popularidade não foi simultânea à evolução científica do manejo reprodutivo em cativeiro desses animais. O manejo reprodutivo de jiboias possui diversas particularidades que podem ser aplicadas para otimizar o desempenho da espécie, sempre buscando um manejo condizente. Os mecanismos fisiológicos da reprodução das serpentes não são totalmente elucidados, porém diversas características conhecidas devem ser exploradas para uma reprodução eficiente. A utilização de um manejo reprodutivo adequado, resulta em animais com alto grau de bem-estar, aumento de produção, possibilita o atendimento à demanda de mercado com animais legais nascidos em cativeiro e, portanto, colabora para a redução do tráfico e comercialização ilegal de animais. Abstract Nowadays the exotic pet market represents a billionaire market worldwide, considering live animals sell and maintenance products. The increase in popularity of snakes as pets is evident, but this popularity increase was not simultaneous with scientific data production regarding husbandry of these species in captivity. The reproductive management of boas presents many particularities that must be considered for an adequate husbandry to optimize their reproductive performance. The reproductive physiological pathways of snakes are not completely elucidated; however the known characteristics may be explored for an efficient reproduction. The use of adequate techniques results in animals with improved welfare, increase in offspring production, and supply the demand for legal animals, therefore contributing against animal traffic and illegal commercialization.

Ultrasonographic characterization of the organs in the middle third and caudal coelomic cavity of snakes in the Boidae Family

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2021
PESQUISA VET BRASIL

The aim of this study was the ultrasonographic evaluation of the organs in the middle third and caudal coelomic cavity of healthy snakes in the Boidae family. For such, 15 adult snakes from five species were evaluated: Boa constrictor amarali, Boa constrictor constrictor, Eunectes murinus, Epicrates assisi and Epicrates crassus. The animals were physically restrained for examination. After the application of acoustic gel over the scales the transducer was positioned in the frontal plane of the coelomic cavity. Microconvex and linear transducers at 10MHz were used. The ultrasound examination was conducted in the craniocaudal direction, with longitudinal and transversal sections to assess syntropy, echogenicity and echotexture of the organs. The liver was bilobulated, hyperechoic, homogeneous echotexture, hyperechoic capsule, with a hepatic lobe measuring 1.15±0.64cm wide, and the presence of a central hepatic vein, measuring 0.44±0.21cm in diameter. The gallbladder was characterized as an anechoic structure with echogenic walls and dimensions of 2.91±1.18cm x 1.38±0.84cm (length x width). The stomach showed a pleated and linear texture, echogenic, with hypoechoic walls measuring 0.3±0.07cm wide. The splenopancreas was a circular and echogenic structure, homogeneous echotexture and measuring 1.18±0.62cm in width and 1.56±0.88cm in length. The kidneys were characterized by elongated, lobulated, hypoechoic structures, an echogenic capsule and an echogenic central line, measuring 1.05±0.7cm in width. The testis were characterized by fusiform, hypoechoic structures, homogeneous echotexture, measuring 2.31±0.79cm in length and 0.6±0.23cm in width. Ovarian follicles were seen in different stages, 0.67±0.39cm wide and 0.73±0.38cm long. No differences were found between species of syntropy, echogenicity and echotexture of the organs of the coelomic cavity. The ultrasound examination proved to be a safe, non-invasive and efficient technique for characterizing the organs of the coelomic cavity of snakes.

Avaliação ultrassonográfica de estruturas reprodutivas, fígado e vesícula biliar de Boa constrictor (Linnaeus, 1758) ex situ

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2020

A ultrassonografia possibilita avaliações que resultam em informações relevantes para a manutenção das espécies em cativeiro. Desse modo, realizou-se um estudo com 15 exemplares de Boa constrictor, de ambos os sexos, a fim de caracterizar a aparência ultrassonográfica das estruturas reprodutivas, fígado e vesícula biliar desses animais, pela técnica da janela lateral. Além disso, avaliou-se a influência dos fatores intervalo entre alimentações e o tamanho dos indivíduos na caracterização ultrassonográfica das estruturas. Folículos pré-vitelogênicos foram caracterizados por formato arredondado, preenchidos basicamente por conteúdo anecoico e com ecotextura homogênea e grosseira e folículos vitelogênicos apresentaram conteúdo anecogênico e hipoecogênico, ambos com margens finas e regulares. Os testículos foram caracterizados por formato alongado, parênquima com média ecogenicidade, margens regulares e ecotextura homogênea. O fígado apresentou formato alongado, parênquima com ecogenicidade mista (hipoecoico a levemente hiperecoico), margens ecogênicas, ecotextura homogênea e tamanho médio de 27,6 cm. A vesícula biliar apresentou formato arredondado, preenchida por conteúdo anecoico, envolvida por uma margem fina hiperecogênica. Dos fatores avaliados, o intervalo entre alimentações foi o que mais influenciou na caracterização ultrassonográfica das estruturas. O tamanho das serpentes não exerceu nenhuma influência. Foi possível concluir que o ultrassom, por meio da técnica da janela lateral, é eficaz na avaliação dos órgãos estudados.

Morphological and structural differences between the hemipenes and hemiclitores of golden lancehead snakes, Bothrops insularis (Amaral, 1922), revealed by radiography

Article

Jun 2022
ANAT HISTOL EMBRYOL

The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) is a critically endangered and island endemic snake. A remarkable characteristic of golden lanceheads is the high frequency of females showing hemiclitores. Here, we use radiography to identify morphological and structural differences between the hemipenes and hemiclitores in captive individuals. Sex was identified using the probing method and confirmed by visualizing the gonads by ultrasound. Hemipenes appeared as herringbone-shaped structures with bone radiopacity and hemiclitores as triangular structures with soft tissue radiopacity. These differences suggest that hemiclitores spines fail to develop the level of ossification observed in hemipenis spines.

Reproductive cycles of neotropical boid snakes evaluated by ultrasound

Article

Aug 2021

Snakes have increasingly been bred as pets around the world. Few studies have addressed the reproduction of boid snakes, and no study has addressed their reproductive cycles in captivity. Thus, this paper describes the reproductive aspects of Brazilian boids in captivity. We used ultrasonography to characterize the reproductive cycle of four boid species in captivity in the Southern Hemisphere: the anaconda (Eunectes murinus), the red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor constrictor), the Amazon tree boa (Corallus hortulanus), and the rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria). Nonvitellogenic follicles occurred from January to December in anaconda and red-tailed boa and for a shorter period from September to February in Amazon tree boa and from January to May in rainbow boa. Vitellogenesis occurred from late June to late March in E. murinus in year-round (12 months), from March to March in Amazon tree boa, from late September to late March in red-tailed boa, and from late March to late September in rainbow boa. Mating occurred from late March to late September in red-tailed boa and rainbow boa and from late September to late March in Amazon tree boa. No mating was observed in anacondas, but a female probably underwent parthenogenesis. Births occurred in July in anaconda and in March to July in Amazon tree boa and from December to March in red-tailed boa and rainbow boa. In males, increases in testicular size were associated with the mating season. Ultrasonography proved to be a safe and noninvasive technique to study the reproductive cycle of giant snakes in captivity. HIGHLIGHTS • A method of diagnosing the reproductive phases that determined an ovulatory and gestational development reproductive standard. • In males was possible to relate the size of the testicles with the reproductive season. • Ultrasound examination showed an easy and inexpensive method of diagnosis.

Corallus hortulanus testes histology: morphological and reproductive aspects

Article

Full-text available

May 2024
AN ACAD BRAS CIENC

In general snakes show differentiate anatomical, biological and behavioral particularities compared to other species. Basic information about the snakes anatomy, physiology and reproductive biology is scarce in several species, making the reproduction a challenge. Thus, the present work aims to evaluate morphological aspects of the Corallus hortulanus testes, correlating these findings with environmental factors and reproductive aspects. The testes of three specimens of Corallus hortulanus were cut to a thickness of 3μm in microtome, stained with 1% toluidine blue, photo documented and described. Seasonality was observed in the sperm production of Corallus hortulanus, with the presence of mature spermatozoa in the wettest and hottest periods of the year, as well as the largest testicular volume in these periods.

Reproductive cycles of two island pitvipers species (Serpentes, Viperidae) determined by ultrasonography and radiography

Article

Apr 2024

We used ultrasonography and radiography to assess the sexual organs and characterize the reproductive cycle of captive golden lancehead ( Bothrops insularis ) and Alcatrazes lancehead ( B. alcatraz ), two endangered island snake species in Brazil. We assessed 46‐ individuals of golden lancehead and 12 of Alcatrazes lancehead kept in captivity between 2014 and 2020. Follicular development was similar between species, but follicles in Alcatrazes lancehead were smaller than in the golden lanceheads. Female golden lanceheads produced 24 live young, seven stillborn and 73 undeveloped eggs. Parturition of live young occurred between midsummer (February) and early autumn and gestation averaged 8 months. Female Alcatrazes lanceheads produced four live young in midsummer, and one undeveloped egg in early autumn. Males and females of both species have seasonal and biennial reproductive cycles. Sperm storage in both sexes is essential to coordinate male and female cycles. The data obtained with golden lancehead and Alcatrazes lancehead in captivity, demonstrate a degree of conservatism, following data from other Bothrops .

Testicle histology of the Epicrates cenchria: a morphological and reproductive biology analysis [Histologia dos testículos de Epicrates cenchria: uma análise morfológica e da biologia reprodutiva]

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022
ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO

The lack of information about anatomy, physiology and reproductive biology in many snake species makes the understanding of these free-living animals’ reproduction and reproductive biotechnics application in captivity difficult. The present study aims to evaluate the Epicrates cenchria’s testicle morphology and correlate these findings with environmental aspects and reproductive biology. The testicles of five specimens of E. cenchria were histologically evaluated, and it was possible to observe seasonality in sperm production, with the presence of mature spermatozoa in the wettest and warmest periods of the year, as well as the highest testicular volume in these periods. Correlating these findings with that reported in the literature on copulation period presupposes a prenuptial (or associated) pattern in E. cenchria. Keywords: snakes; spermatogenesis; reproduction; reproductive pattern

A taxonomic review of the Corallus hortulanus complex of neotropical tree boas

Article

Full-text available

Dec 1997
CARIBB J SCI

Robert W Henderson

The arboreal boa Corallus hortulanus has a wide geographic and ecological distribution on the Neotropical mainland and several continental and oceanic islands. Through examination of over 600 specimens of C. hortulanus from throughout its range utilizing characters of scalation, size, color, and pattern, coupled with analysis of mtDNA sequences from several critical areas, it was determined that C. hortulanus is a complex of four species: Corallus hortulanus (Linnaeus) (the Guianas, throughout Amazonia, and into southeastern Brazil), C. ruschenbergerii (Cope) (southern Costa Rica, Panama and associated islands, northern Colombia, northern Venezuela including Isla Margarita, and Trinidad and Tobago), C. cooki Gray (St. Vincent), and C. grenadensis (Barbour) (Grenada Bank).

Reprodução de Bothrops spp. (Serpentes, Viperidae) em criadouro conservacionista.

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2013

A maioria das espécies do gênero Bothrops apresenta reprodução sazonal. O período de acasalamento geralmente ocorre no outono e a parturição é observada ao final no verão. Entretanto, há relatos de ampla variação destes aspectos reprodutivos (e.g. época de acasalamento, gestação e nascimento) principalmente em espécies mantidas em cativeiro. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o ciclo e o comportamento reprodutivo de espécimes do gênero Bothrops visando contribuir com o manejo e a conservação ex situ. O estudo foi conduzido em um criadouro conservacionista em Americana – São Paulo. As maioria das espécies acasalou entre maio e junho (outono), exceto B. moojeni. A duração das cópulas foram de 3 a 5 horas. O período gestacional se estendeu de 4 a 5 meses, considerando a estocagem de esperma, já observada nestas espécies. Os nascimentos ocorreram entre dezembro e fevereiro (verão). A sincronia e a sazonalidade observadas nos eventos reprodutivos na maioria das espécies estudadas comprovam a hipótese de um ciclo reprodutivo conservado para o gênero Bothrops. Palavras-chave: Bothrops ssp., reprodução, cópula sazonal, nascimentos, cativeiro

Ultrasonography of the liver, renal and reproductive apparatus of Boa constrictor Snake

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Apr 2009
PESQUISA VET BRASIL

Currently, wild animals have been received special attention for domestic breeding. In Wild Animal Medicine, ultrasonographic exams could be considered as a tool to diagnose and prevent disease. Ultrasonographic examination of twenty snakes (Boa constrictor) was performed in order to describe the morphological and ultrasonography appearance of their coelomic structures. Examination by ultrasonography revealed the parechymal liver ranging from slightly hypoechogenic to hyperechogenic, with echogenic margins and homogeneous echotexture in total scanning of this organ. The kidney was accessible for examination by sagittal ultrasound, showing an ellipsoid shape, a hyperechogenic capsule with a thin and regular wall. Ultrasonographic scanning of ovarian follicle showed an ovoid shape, as well as a thin, regular and slightly hyperechogenic edge. No evident structures from male reproductive system were identified by ultrasound examination because of their similar echogenic appearance to the tissues around and the "body fat" that lies in this region. Examination by ultrasound of the coelomic structures was a fast and repeatable technique, which provides useful data to recognize the morphology, sintopy and ultrasonographic appearance of organs such as liver, kidneys and vitellogenic follicles.

Reproductive biology

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