Abstract
Lizards of the Ophiodes genus, popularly known as glass snakes, are exclusively Neotropical. Despite their wide geographic distribution, glass snakes are poorly studied and there are many knowledge gaps in their biology and ecology to be filled. In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze possible sexual and population morphological differences of Ophiodes striatus specimens collected from different municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 63 specimens belonging to the Herpetological Collection of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora - Reptiles (CHUFJF-Reptiles), collected between 1995 and 2015 were analyzed. All the specimens were necropsied and morphometric measures related to body and head were measured. The males and females analyzed showed similar morphometric measures, and there was no size-related sexual dimorphism. Principal component analysis did not group the analyzed specimens by sex or locality. A positive correlation was observed between the snout-vent length and the vestigial limb length. The present study brings new information related to sexual dimorphism and population morphometric variation of O. striatus, adding information that will help in better understanding the ecology, biology and evolution of the genus in Brazil.
Highlights
IntroductionThe lizards belonging to the Ophiodes Wagler, 1828 genus (Squamata, Anguidae, Diploglossinae), popularly known as glass snakes, glass lizards or smash breaks, are exclusively Neotropical and distributed from the east of the Andes to the southeast of South America (Borges-Martins 1998, Pizzato 2005, Barros & Teixeira 2007, Montechiaro et al 2011, Cacciali & Scott 2012, 2015, Oliveira et al 2016, Ortiz et al 2017, Entiauspe-Neto et al 2017)
We investigated the existence of sexual dimorphism and variation related to external morphological measurements of O. striatus collected from different municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil) using morphometric data
The morphometric measures were only verified in the individuals that were in an advanced gestational stage, with complete formation (Table I)
Summary
The lizards belonging to the Ophiodes Wagler, 1828 genus (Squamata, Anguidae, Diploglossinae), popularly known as glass snakes, glass lizards or smash breaks, are exclusively Neotropical and distributed from the east of the Andes to the southeast of South America (Borges-Martins 1998, Pizzato 2005, Barros & Teixeira 2007, Montechiaro et al 2011, Cacciali & Scott 2012, 2015, Oliveira et al 2016, Ortiz et al 2017, Entiauspe-Neto et al 2017). The morphological variations observed in O. striatus and its wide geographic distribution suggest the existence of a complex species (Borges-Martins 1998, Bernardo & Pires 2006, Barros & Teixeira 2007, Montechiaro et al 2011). Studies that analyze the ecological and biological variations of this species appear as a tool which contributes to the knowledge on the taxonomy and conservation of this group
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