Search

A 1.5 kg, male, wild-caught tiger rat snake (Spilotes pullatus) presented with an externally visible distension of the body wall at the level of the heart. Ultrasound examination showed marked pericardial effusion. Pericardial fluid showed no bacterial or fungal growth, few leukocytes, and few suspected reactive mesothelial or neoplastic cells. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis was successfully performed, removing most of the fluid from the pericardial sac. The snake had mild lethargy and weakness immediately after the procedure but returned to normal behavior within 2 wk. Repeat pericardiocentesis was performed 6 mo after the initial presentation when moderate refilling of the pericardial sac was seen. The snake died 4 days after the second procedure with acute hemorrhage. Pericardial mesothelioma was diagnosed by histopathology after postmortem examination. This report provides the first documented case of mesothelioma in a tiger rat snake and the first description of the disease in colubrids.

Objective. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of endoparasites and ectoparasites in ex situ snakes at the Barranquilla Zoo. Materials and Methods. Stool samples and ectoparasites of 2 colubrids (Leptophis ahaetulla and Spilotes pullatus), 2 diapsids (Oxybelys aeneus and Thamnodynastes paraguanae) and 13 boids (9 specimens of Boa constrictor, 2 of Epicrates maurus and 2 Eunectes murinus) were analyzed using flotation method in saturated sugar solution and direct observation. Results. The results showed that 65% (11/17) of the animals were positive to the presence of parasites. In relation to the positive specimens, 91% (10/11) belong to the Boidae family, presenting mostly nematodes, in the dipsadid’s samples mainly protozoans were observed and the colubrid’s samples were negative. Regarding ectoparasites, 2 species of ticks (Amblyomma dissimile and Ornothodoros turicata) were found in specimens of Boa constrictor, Epicrates maurus and Spilotes pullatus. Conclusions. The identification of parasites in this research represents a contribution to the study of parasitology in snakes ex situ in Colombia. It provides information to develop preventive measures against pathological agents and allows comparing results with other studies with animals in the wild and under human care., Objetivo. Identificar la prevalencia de endoparásitos y ectoparásitos en serpientes ex situ en la Fundación Botánica y Zoológica de Barranquilla. Materiales y métodos. Para esto se analizaron muestras de materia fecal y ectoparásitos de 2 colúbridos (Leptophis ahaetulla y Spilotes pullatus), 2 dipsadinos (Oxybelys aeneus y Thamnodynastes paraguanae) y 13 boidos (9 individuos de la especie Boa constrictor, 2 de Epicrates maurus y 2 de Eunectes murinus) utilizando los métodos de flotación en solución saturada de azúcar y observación directa. Resultados. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el 65% (11/17) de los animales evaluados fueron positivos a la presencia de parásitos, de los cuales el 91% (10/11) de los ejemplares pertenece a la familia Boidae presentando en su mayoría nematodos, mientras que en los dipsadinos se observaron principalmente protozoarios y los colúbridos resultaron negativos. Finamente como ectoparásitos se identificaron 2 especies de garrapatas (Amblyomma dissimile y Ornothodoros turicata) halladas en ejemplares de Boa constrictor, Epicrates maurus y Spilotes pullatus. Conclusiones. La identificación de las formas parasitarias en este trabajo representa una contribución para el conocimiento de los parásitos en serpientes ex situ en Colombia. Provee información para desarrollar medidas profilácticas y permite comparar los datos sobre las formas parasitarias encontradas con muestreos de estas especies en vida silvestre y bajo cuidados humanos.

Spilotes pullatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Records. Table 2. The Yellow Rat Snake was easily identified in the field by its size (TL = 230.9 cm ± 46.9; n = 2), shape, and color pattern, and through comparisons to collected specimens (e.g. ZUFMS-REP02134). The body was slender and laterally compressed with head quite distinct from the neck. Dorsally, the body was black with yellow spots, which formed crossbands, and on the all-black tail, the yellow banding was absent. The tip of the snout was yellow. The head shields were black, with a combination of yellow and black crossbands and black sutures between shields. Ventrally, specimens were yellow, with irregular black crossbands (Fig. 8)., Published as part of Fischer, Wagner, Faria de Godoi, Raquel & Conceição Paranhos Filho, Antonio, 2018, Roadkill records of reptiles and birds in Cerrado and Pantanal landscapes, pp. 845-876 in Check List 14 (5) on page 863, DOI: 10.15560/14.5.845

Spilotes pullatus (Linnaeus, 1758) ���Caninana��� (Figs. 12.8 and 25.4) Recorded in all states of the Caatinga, except Rio Grande do Norte, probably due to sampling gap. Recorded both in low and high altitudes (up to 1,000 m elevation). Besides its occurrence in Caatinga, it is widely distributed in Atlantic Forest, Amazon Forest, Cerrado, and Pantanal (Cunha & Nascimento 1978; Str��ssmann & Sazima 1993; Martins & Oliveira 1998; Marques et al. 2001; Arg��lo 2004; Marques et al. 2005; Marques et al. 2005; Sawaya et al. 2008; Nogueira et al. 2010; Zaher et al. 2011), generally associated to forested habitats (Marques 1998; Barbo et al. 2011; Zaher et al. 2011; Hamdan & Lira-da-Silva 2012). Inside Caatinga, It inhabits all phytophisiognomies, preferably bushy and arboreal caatinga vegetation and also forested enclaves. It has semi-arboreal habits, is diurnal, and feeds on vertebrates (Marques et al. 2001, 2005)., Published as part of Guedes, Tha��s B., Nogueira, Cristiano & Marques, Otavio A. V., 2014, Diversity, natural history, and geographic distribution of snakes in the Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil, pp. 1-93 in Zootaxa 3863 (1) on page 33, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3863.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/287111, {"references":["Cunha, O. R. & Nascimento, F. P. (1978) Ofidios da Amazonia X - As cobras da regiao leste do Para. Publicacoes Avulsas do Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, 31, 1 - 218.","Strussmannn, C. & Sazima, I. (1993) The snake assemblage of the Pantanal at Pocone, western Brazil: faunal composition and ecological summary. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 28, 157 - 168. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 01650529309360900","Martins, M. & Oliveira, E. (1998) Natural history of snakes in forests in Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History, 6, 78 - 150.","Marques, O. A. V., Eterovic, A. & Sazima, I. (2001) Serpentes da Mata Atlantica: Guia Ilustrado para a Serra do Mar. Holos Editora, Ribeirao Preto, 184 pp.","Argolo, A. J. S. (2004) As serpentes dos cacauais do Sudeste da Bahia. Ed. UESC, Ilheus, 260 pp.","Marques, O. A. V., Eterovic, A., Strussmann, C. & Sazima, I. (2005) Serpentes do Pantanal: Guia ilustrado. Holos Editora, Ribeirao Preto, 184 pp.","Sawaya, R. J., Marques, O. A. V. & Martins, M. (2008) Composition and natural history of a Cerrado snake assemblage at Itirapina, Sao Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 8, 127 - 149. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1590 / S 1676 - 06032008000200015","Nogueira, C., Colli, G. R., Costa, G. & Machado, R. B. (2010) Diversidade de repteis Squamata e evolucao do conhecimento faunistico no Cerrado. In: Diniz, I. R., Marinho-Filho, J., Machado, R. B. & Cavalcanti, R. B. (Eds.), Cerrado: conhecimento cientifico quantitativo como subsidio para acoes de conservacao. Editora UNB, Brasilia, pp. 333 - 375.","Marques, O. A. V. (1998) Composicao faunistica, historia natural e ecologia de serpentes da Mata Atlantica, na regiao da Estacao Ecologica de Jureia-Itatins, Sao Paulo, SP. Unpublished PhDThesis, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 142 pp.","Handam, B. & Lira-da-Silva, R. M. (2012) The snakes of Bahia State, northeastern Brazil: species richness, composition and biogeographical notes. Salamandra, 48, 31 - 50."]}

Few extensive studies have addressed the ecology of South American colubrids. Spilotes pullatus is a large and conspicuous colubrid snake with a broad distribution in South America. We analyzed the morphology, habitat use, diet, feeding behavior, and reproductive biology of S. pullatus in a subtropical area of distribution, specifically in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. We compared its ecological traits with those of other South American colubrids to identify common characteristics and differences among these snakes. Spilotes pullatus inhabits primarily lowland areas and readily occurs in altered habitats. Male and female snakes were similar in median snout-vent length, but the largest known individuals of the species are males. This snake forages actively by day, searching primarily for small mammals and nestling birds (usually 0.36-7.37% of snake mass) on the ground or in vegetation. Observations of captive snakes showed that small prey are quickly swallowed alive, whereas large prey are constricted or pressed against the substrate and die before swallowing. The reproductive cycle of the females appears to be seasonal, with vitellogenesis occurring from the middle of the dry season to the onset of the rainy season. Mating was recorded at the end of the dry season and the onset of the rainy season and coincided with the onset of male- male combat. Such combat behavior includes partial entwining of the anterior portions of the body and a consistent, upright position of the trunk. Recruitment of newborns occurs at the end of the rainy season and during the dry season. Spilotes pullatus shows unique characteristics but also shares several ecological traits with other South American colubrids.