Distribution update, conservation status and color in life of the rare Amazonian snake, Eutrachelophis papilio Zaher and Prudente 2019 (Serpentes: Xenodontini)

The rare Amazonian snake Eutrachelophis papilio is known from only five individuals, from four localities, belonging to its type-series, the more recent collected over 10 years ago. Here, we expand its distribution and describe its color in life for the first time. We also provide an estimate of its distribution area using the minimum convex polygon method and identify the values of anthropic pressure within its known distribution range with the Human Footprint Index. The new occurrence is located 291 km from the nearest known locality and its distribution is associated with pristine forests. Considering its rarity, and the absence of demographic and biological data, we suggest that the species should be classified as Data Deficient by IUCN criteria.(AU)

A rara serpente amazônica Eutrachelophis papilio é conhecida por apenas cinco indivíduos provenientes de quatro localidades e pertencentes à sua série-tipo, sendo o mais recente coletado há mais de 10 anos. No presente trabalho, expandimos sua distribuição e descrevemos sua cor em vida pela primeira vez. Calculamos sua área de distribuição usando o método de mínimo polígono convexo e identificamos os valores de pressão antrópica dentro de sua área de distribuição através do Human Footprint Index. A nova ocorrência está a 291 km da localidade conhecida mais próxima e toda sua distribuição é associada a florestas bem preservadas. Devido à sua raridade, carências de dados demográficos e biológicos, sugerimos que a espécie seja categorizada como Dados Insuficientes (DD) pelos critérios da UICN.(AU)

Single large or several small? The influence of prey size on feeding performance of Philodryas nattereri (Squamata: Serpentes) / Uma presa grande ou várias pequenas? A influência do tamanho da presa no desempenho alimentar de Philodryas nattereri (Squamata: Serpentes)

This study aimed at evaluating the energetic return and feeding time on Philodryas nattereri kept in captivity. Snakes were fed biweekly for 60 days (four feeding trials), in two different feeding treatments (single and multiple prey items). The energetic return revealed no significant difference between the feeding treatments; however, we found a negative relationship between snake size and prey handling time during a feed using multiple prey items. In P. nattereri, when large preys are as easy to find as small ones, there seems to be no difference in energetic return.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o retorno energético e o tempo de alimentação em serpentes Philodryas nattereri mantidas em cativeiro. As serpentes foram alimentadas a cada duas semanas por 60 dias (quatro eventos alimentares) em dois tratamentos de alimentação diferentes (uma única presa e múltiplas presas). Não houve diferença significativa no retorno energético entre os tratamentos alimentares. No entanto, encontramos uma relação negativa entre o tamanho da serpente e o tempo de manipulação da presa durante uma alimentação usando várias presas. Em P. nattereri, parece não haver diferença no retorno energético quando presas grandes são tão fáceis de encontrar quanto presas pequenas.(AU)

Maintaining rear-fanged snakes for venom production: an evaluation of mortality and survival rates for Philodryas olfersii and P. patagoniensis in captivity

This study evaluates the mortality and average survival rates of captive female Philodryas olfersii and Philodryas patagoniensis snakes maintained for venom production. Also, two factors likely to reduce captive survival were studied - body condition at admission and seasonality. Mortality peaks occurred during the second month in captivity. More than half the individuals were dead at the end of the third month. This suggests that the first three months in captivity are the most critical in terms of survival and adaptation. Females collected and admitted during spring and summer lived less time than those collected in autumn and winter. As gravidity and egg-laying occur during spring and summer, we suggest that the lower survival rates in these seasons may be due to high costs and stress involved in these reproductive events. Unexpectedly, body mass and body condition were poor predictors of survival in captivity. Our results have important implications in maintaining snakes for venom production. We propose some prophylactic measures to minimize the deleterious impacts of captivity during the adaptation period.(AU)

Circadian pattern of Bothrops moojeni in captivity (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Members of the subfamily Crotalinae are considered to be essentially nocturnal and most of the data about these snakes have been collected from the field. Information on how nutritional status affects the movement rate and activity patterns is a key point to elucidating the ecophysiology of snakes. In this study, we distributed 28 lancehead Bothrops moojeni into three groups under distinct feeding regimens after a month of fasting. Groups were divided as follows: ingestion of meals weighing (A) 40 percent, (B) 20 percent, or (C) 10 percent of the snake body mass. Groups were monitored for five days before and after food intake and the activity periods and movement rates were recorded. Our results show that B. moojeni is prevalently nocturnal, and the activity peak occurs in the first three hours of the scotophase. After feeding, a significant decrease in activity levels in groups A and B was detected. The current results corroborate previous field data that describe B. moojeni as a nocturnal species with low movement rates. The relationship between motion and the amount of food consumed by the snake may be associated with its hunting strategy.(AU)