Download Boa Constrictor Diet - Dr. Dennis K. Wasko

Associates, Ithaca, New York; Castoe et aL 2003. Herpetologica
59:421-432; Perez-Higaredaet a1.1985. Bull. Maryland. Herpetol.
Soc. 21:97-106).
01128 July 2006 we collected two gravid A. olmecfemales (580
nun SVL. 645 mm totallength(CNAR 12230); 582 mm SVL. 644
mm total length) on EJ Bastonal, Santa Marta volcano, Catemaco,
Veracruz, Mexico (18.333°N, 94.89°W, was 84). Both were under
rocks in a secondary forest at 1100 m elevation. The snakes were
captured in order to obtain venom samples and were individually
housed in cages at Instituto de Biotecnologfa, Universidad Nacional
Aut6noma de Mexico (UNAM).
One of tIle snakes (CNAR 12230) never fed in captivity and died
on 8 August 2006. Upon dissection we found 18 partially developed
embryos (CNAR 12231-12248), ranging from 93-105 mm SVL
(mean SVL= 101.9,SD= 3.3). We also found 23 adult hookworm
nematodes Ka/icepIJallis inermis (CNHE 5617) parasitizing her
intestine and stomach. Nineteen of these were females ranging
in length from 9.73-12.55 mm and fOllr were males ranging in
length from 8.23-10.02 mm. The other snake was maintained in
captivity and gave birth to 15 live offspring on 15 October 2006.
Neonates ranged from 161-186mmSVL(mean SVL 168.6 mm,
SD = 8.3). This snake and two snakes of the litter are still alive in
captivity at the Miguel Alvilrez del Toto Zoo, Chiapas, Mexico.
The only other report of litter size in this species is of a gravid
female found at Los Tuxtlas in late May that birthed) 2 offspring
in mid-June (Perez-Higareda et al. 2007. Serpientes de la Region
de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, Guia de Identificaci6n Ilustrada. Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico, Mexico City).
Based on these three litters, mealllitter size is 15 and falls within
the range reported for other, closely related, Arropoides species
(Campbell and Lamar, op. cit.; Sol6rzano-L6pez 1989. Rev. Biol.
Trap. 37: 133-137, Solorzano-L6pez 1990. Copeia 1990r4]:1l541157).
KaUcephall/s spp. nematodes have been reported from a broad
spectrum of reptile hosts worldwide, mostly from snake species but
also from several lizard species (Baker 1987. Occas. Pap. BioI.,
Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John, Newfoundland;
Schad 1962. Can. J. Zool. 40:1035-1 165). Kalicephalus inermis
has been described as a parasite of other genera of pitvipers
(Agkistrodol1, Bothrops, Crotalus) in America, including Mexico
(Baker 1987! op. cit.; Grego et al. 2004. Vet. Rec. 154:559-562;
Pfuffenberger et al. 1989. J. Wildl. Dis. 25:305-306; Schad 1962,
OJ). cit.). The life cycle of K. inermis is unknown. but direct
development is suspected, with free living larvae and parasitic
adults. Snakes can be infected experimentally by oral inoculation
of third-stage larvae which invade the stomach or intestinal wall
and become encapsulated in the mucosa where development to
the fourth stage takes place. How snakes become infected under
natural conditions is unknown. Because this reptile group tests
their environment with their tongues, it is suggested that larvae
might attach to the latter. There is also the possibility that infective
larvae could invade soft-bodied animals such as snails, slugs and
amphibians cohabiting with the snakes. There is no evidence that
skin penetration occurs in snakes so ingestion is the most probable
mechanism for infection (Anderson 2000. Nematode Parasites of
Vertebrates. Their Development and Transmission. 2" d ed. CABI,
International Publishing, New York; Schad 1956. Can. J. Zool.
43:425--452).
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It has been reported that juvenile Atropoides mexicanus and Atropoides occiduus feed on orthopterans and lizards. Adults of these
species (as well as Afropoides nummifer) feed on small rodents
(Campbell and Lamar, op. Cif.). No data on the natural diet of A.
oimec are available, but in captivity both juvenile and adults fed
on rodents (newborn and adult mice) and frogs (Ferez-Higareda
et 81.2007, op. cit.).
The ecology of A. olmec has been poorly studied, and its habitat
is fi'agmented, isolated, and dangerously subject to increasing
pressure from human use. A better understanding of the species'
natural history is necessary to help in conservation of the remaining
populations. Specimens were deposited in the Coleccion Nacional
de Anfibios y Reptiles (CNAR) ancl the Colecci6n Nacional de
Helmintos (CNHE), Instituto de Biologfa, Universidad Nacional
Aut6noma de Mexico.
Submitted by ELISA CABRERA-GUZMAN, Colecci6n
Nacional de Anfibios y Reptiles, Instituto de Biologfa. Departamento de ZooIogfa, Universidad Nacional Aut6noma cle Mexico,
Circuito exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico D. F. c.P. 04510
(e-mail: [email protected]); ALEJANDRO CARBAJAL
SAUCEDO and ISAAC DELGADILLO, Instituto de Bioteenologfa, UNAM.Av. Universidad2001. CoL Chamilpa. c.P. 62210.
Cuernavaca, Morelos. Mexico (e-mail: [email protected]).
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BOA CONSTRICTOR (B oa Constrictor), DIET. Boa constrictor is
a widely-distributed generalist predator that is abundant throughout
many neotropical systems and is known to consume a wide variety
of reptiles , mammals,alld birds (Greene 1983 .In Janzen led.], Costa Rican Natural History, pp. 380-383. University of Chicago Press,
Chicago, Illinois). Avian prey taken by B. constrictor includes a
diversity of ground- and canopy-dwelling species (Boback et a!.
2000. Herpeto\' Rev. 31:244-245; Sironi et al. 2000. AmphibiaReptilia 21 :226-232), yet the actual number of documented prey
species remains relatively small. Here we report predation on an
additional species of passerine bird, Hylocichia mustelina (Wood
Thrush), at La Selva Biological Station, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui,
Heredia Province, Costa Rica (IOA313"N, 84.0036"W). On April
6,2005 at 1320 h, DLR was radio-tracking adult Wood Thrushes
that had been equipped with external transmitter backpacks, and
found that one bird (60-65 g, 20 cm long including tail feathers) had
been consumed by a female B. constrictor (J 203 mm SVL, 772.3
g). At the time of capture, the snake was resting on a 70 em high
branch, and had rectrices protruding from its mouth. We believe
this to be the site of actual predation, because additional feathers
were visible on the ground directly below the snake and tracked
H. mltstelina typically foraged in similar understory habitat. The
snake was returned to the lab for data collection. Six days later it
defecated 7.5 g ot'feathers, one partially-digested tarslIS, the maxilla and mandible, and the 2 g intact transmitter, and subsequently
was released at point of capture.
Submitted by DENNIS K. WASKO, Department of Biology,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA (e-mail:
[email protected]); and DINA L. ROBERTS, Department
of Fish and Wildlife, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844,
USA (e-mail: DinaRoberts@vanda!s.uidaho.edu).
Herpetological Review 39(4), 2008
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