Dipsadid Snake Research Articles

New localities and altitudinal records for the snakes Oxyrhopus petolarius, Spilotes pullatus, and Urotheca fulviceps in Talamanca, Costa Rica

Distribution records are the basis for conservation planning and species conservation assessments. Newlocality and elevation records are reported for 2 dipsadid snakes (Oxyrhopus petolarius and Urotheca fulviceps) and1 colubrid (Spilotes pullatus) from the Talamanca mountain range of Costa Rica as established by direct sightings.These new records represent important additions to the knowledge of the species and more generally for the Talamancaecoregion.

Rhachidelus brazili Boulenger, 1908 (Squamata: Serpentes: Dipsadidae): new records, range extension and distribution map in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states, Brazil

The present study reports new records of the Dipsadid snake Rhachidelus brazili Boulenger, 1908, from Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states, Brazil. Our data extend the known geographical distribution ca. 713 km to the northwest and constitute the first record in the Upper Paraguay sub-basin.

Reptilia, Squamata, Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae, Taeniophallus brevirostris (Peters, 1863): distribution extension and new state record

Taeniophallus brevirostris is a dipsadid snake widely distributed in Amazon. Here we report a new Brazilian state record for the species, improving our knowledge of its geographic distribution. On 15 May of 2008, one female specimen was collected at Serra do Santo Expedito, Aripuanã municipality, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is the first record of this species for the state of Mato Grosso and extends its distribution ca. 300 kilometers from the nearest localities presented in literature.

Activity Patterns ofAlsophis siboniusandLiophis juliae(Dipsadidae) in Cabrits National Park, Dominica, West Indies

ABSTRACT. Two dipsadid snakes occur on the island of Dominica, Lesser Antilles. In June 2008, we conducted visual encounter surveys to document activity periods of Alsophis sibonius and Liophis juliae at Cabrits National Park. Based on 165 observations of A. sibonius over the course of 71.25 search hours, we determined that daytime activity is bimodal and inversely correlated with temperature. Most snakes were found in moderately disturbed habitats, near trails, and on leaf litter. All nine L. juliae were observed during the morning. More individuals of both species were observed at a greater range of times on rainy days. Our data supported predictions that A. sibonius would exhibit a bimodal activity period and would extend activity when cool/rainy weather moderated periods of midday heat. Neither species appeared to be deterred by human-mediated habitat alterations, effectively exploiting stone ruins and areas near trails.