Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador
Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador. The Birdsnake Spilotes sulphureus is a large-sized species that occurs from the Amazon region to the Atlantic forest of South America. Despite the wide distribution little is known about its natural hi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidade de São Paulo
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.revistas.usp.br/phyllo/article/view/147504 |
| _version_ | 1818418894010843136 |
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| author | Jorge H. Valencia Katty Garzon-Tello |
| author_facet | Jorge H. Valencia Katty Garzon-Tello |
| author_sort | Jorge H. Valencia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador. The Birdsnake Spilotes sulphureus is a large-sized species that occurs from the Amazon region to the Atlantic forest of South America. Despite the wide distribution little is known about its natural history. Here we report, for the frst time, reproductive behavior displayed by this species observed in a pair of Ecuadorian specimens in captivity. A ritualized pre-copulatory behavior followed a colubrine pattern similar to the congeneric species Spilotes pullatus. The repertoire included chin-rubbing, continuous tongue ficking, head raising, body jerking, cloacal gaping, and partial mounting. Oviposition occurred 86–98 days after of the frst copulation. Females lay clutches of 7–14 eggs. Juvenile coloration is remarkably different from adults. Newborns have a dorsum with transverse brown or gray bands, and white or pale gray interspaces; young of 1–2 years have green bands and yellow-green interspaces; adults have dark green bands. Ontogenetic color changes are presumably associated with antipredator strategies, change in size, vulnerability or habitat and microhabitat selection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:29:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-910b455331d74c1a8b19a18a1ea2eb16 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1519-1397 2316-9079 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:29:55Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | Universidade de São Paulo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology |
| spelling | doaj.art-910b455331d74c1a8b19a18a1ea2eb162022-12-21T23:01:13ZengUniversidade de São PauloPhyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology1519-13972316-90792018-06-01171Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from EcuadorJorge H. Valencia0Katty Garzon-Tello1Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo OrcésFundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés Vivarium de QuitoReproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador. The Birdsnake Spilotes sulphureus is a large-sized species that occurs from the Amazon region to the Atlantic forest of South America. Despite the wide distribution little is known about its natural history. Here we report, for the frst time, reproductive behavior displayed by this species observed in a pair of Ecuadorian specimens in captivity. A ritualized pre-copulatory behavior followed a colubrine pattern similar to the congeneric species Spilotes pullatus. The repertoire included chin-rubbing, continuous tongue ficking, head raising, body jerking, cloacal gaping, and partial mounting. Oviposition occurred 86–98 days after of the frst copulation. Females lay clutches of 7–14 eggs. Juvenile coloration is remarkably different from adults. Newborns have a dorsum with transverse brown or gray bands, and white or pale gray interspaces; young of 1–2 years have green bands and yellow-green interspaces; adults have dark green bands. Ontogenetic color changes are presumably associated with antipredator strategies, change in size, vulnerability or habitat and microhabitat selection.https://www.revistas.usp.br/phyllo/article/view/147504behaviorclutchdevelopmentneonatereproductionontogeny. |
| spellingShingle | Jorge H. Valencia Katty Garzon-Tello Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology behavior clutch development neonate reproduction ontogeny. |
| title | Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador |
| title_full | Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador |
| title_short | Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador |
| title_sort | reproductive behavior and development in spilotes sulphureus serpentes colubridae from ecuador |
| topic | behavior clutch development neonate reproduction ontogeny. |
| url | https://www.revistas.usp.br/phyllo/article/view/147504 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgehvalencia reproductivebehavioranddevelopmentinspilotessulphureusserpentescolubridaefromecuador AT kattygarzontello reproductivebehavioranddevelopmentinspilotessulphureusserpentescolubridaefromecuador |