Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)
This study aimed at describing daily and seasonal variation in the activity of a population of South-American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) in a savanna like habitat (Cerrado) in Southeastern Brazil. Seasonal and daily activities of snakes were evaluated by the number of captures of snakes during...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academia Brasileira de Ciências
2013-09-01
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| Series: | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652013000301047&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1811261677279117312 |
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| author | ALEXANDRO M. TOZETTI MARCIO MARTINS |
| author_facet | ALEXANDRO M. TOZETTI MARCIO MARTINS |
| author_sort | ALEXANDRO M. TOZETTI |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed at describing daily and seasonal variation in the activity of a population of South-American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) in a savanna like habitat (Cerrado) in Southeastern Brazil. Seasonal and daily activities of snakes were evaluated by the number of captures of snakes during road surveys, accidental encounters, and relocations by radio-tracking. Our results show that climatic variables such as air temperature and rainfall have little influence on the activity pattern of rattlesnakes. Our findings indicate that rattlesnakes spend most of the day resting and most of the night in ambush posture. The South-American rattlesnake is active throughout the year with a discrete peak in activity of males during the matting season. The possibility of maintaining activity levels even during the coldest and driest season can facilitate the colonization of several habitats in South America. This possibility currently facilitates the colonization of deforested areas by rattlesnakes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:10:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-372894d46eb042ffb6f8d4b640ab70f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-2690 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:10:00Z |
| publishDate | 2013-09-01 |
| publisher | Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| spelling | doaj.art-372894d46eb042ffb6f8d4b640ab70f02022-12-22T03:19:54ZengAcademia Brasileira de CiênciasAnais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências1678-26902013-09-018531047105210.1590/S0001-37652013005000043S0001-37652013000301047Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)ALEXANDRO M. TOZETTIMARCIO MARTINSThis study aimed at describing daily and seasonal variation in the activity of a population of South-American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) in a savanna like habitat (Cerrado) in Southeastern Brazil. Seasonal and daily activities of snakes were evaluated by the number of captures of snakes during road surveys, accidental encounters, and relocations by radio-tracking. Our results show that climatic variables such as air temperature and rainfall have little influence on the activity pattern of rattlesnakes. Our findings indicate that rattlesnakes spend most of the day resting and most of the night in ambush posture. The South-American rattlesnake is active throughout the year with a discrete peak in activity of males during the matting season. The possibility of maintaining activity levels even during the coldest and driest season can facilitate the colonization of several habitats in South America. This possibility currently facilitates the colonization of deforested areas by rattlesnakes.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652013000301047&lng=en&tlng=enCerradoetologiasquamataradio-telemetria |
| spellingShingle | ALEXANDRO M. TOZETTI MARCIO MARTINS Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Cerrado etologia squamata radio-telemetria |
| title | Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) |
| title_full | Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) |
| title_fullStr | Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) |
| title_short | Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus) |
| title_sort | daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range south american rattlesnake crotalus durissus |
| topic | Cerrado etologia squamata radio-telemetria |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652013000301047&lng=en&tlng=en |
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