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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.

Rhabdias filicaudalis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from the lung of Spilotes pullatus (Serpentes: Colubridae) is described. The host snake was captured in the municipality of Avaré, São Paulo State, Brazil. Rhabdias filicaudalis n. sp. differs from all other species by the combination of the following characters: straight body, truncated anterior end, six weakly developed lips arranged in two opposite groups of three, pre-equatorial vulva, oesophagus length/body length ratio (%) 4.9–7.5 (5.8 ± 0.6), nerve ring distance from anterior end/oesophagus length ratio (%) 36.9–61.1 (49.8 ± 6.4), tail length/body length ratio (%) 3.0–5.5 (4.0 ± 0.5), vulva distance from anterior end/body length ratio (%) 39.9–51.7 (45.9 ± 3.5), and a cuticular filiform tail tip.

We studied the ecology of ticks found in different species of a taxocenosis of snakes from the Serra do Mendanha, an area of Atlantic Rainforest located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Snakes were sampled monthly in the field during a period of 48 months. The specific identity of the hosts and their parasites, the number of parasites, and and snout-vent length and body mass of each host were recorded. A total of 25% of the species of snakes in the area were parasitized by ticks (larvae, nymphs and adult females) Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844 was the predominant parasite species. The infestation parameters varied among the species of snakes sampled, with the highest prevalence of A. rotundatum being observed in the viperid Bothrops jararaca (Wied, 1824) (71.4%), followed by the colubrids Xenodon neuwiedii Günther, 1820 (33%), Chironius laevicollis (Wied, 1824) and Spilotes pullatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (both with 22%). The latter three species also showed the highest rates of infestation by A. rotundatum. The results of the present study suggest that a combination of skin shedding, habitat of the host, type of scale and pattern of scale distribution on the body of the host can influence the degree to which a given species is parasitized by ticks

Seasonal abundance of some snake species from the Atlantic forest in southeastern Brazil was inferred from collection data gathered throughout twelve years at the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. The number of collected individuals of Chironius spp., Liophis miliaris, Spilotes pullatus, Tropidodryas spp., Micrurus corallinus, and Bothrops jararaca was significantly higher during the rainy season, whereas the number of Sibynomorphus neuwiedi was higher during the dry season. Erythrolamprus aesculapii, Xenodon neuwiedii, Tomodon dorsatus and Bothrops jararacussu did not show significant differences in the number of individuals collected at each of these seasons. Seasonality in captures may result from seasonal activity patterns. Food availability, tolerance to climatic conditions, reproductive cycle, and phylogenetic constraints are considered the main factors responsible for the observed patterns. A multivariate approach is recommended for analysis of annual activity.

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.

Body size, reproductive biology and abundance of the rare pseudoboini snakes genera Clelia and Boiruna (Serpentes, Colubridae) in Brazil. Pseudoboini snakes of the genera Clelia and Boiruna are apparently rare in nature and certainly rare in collections. This work presents data on body size, reproduction and abundance of five Brazilian species of these genera, in the largest collection of snakes in Latin America, the Instituto Butantan. Despite scarcity of data, follicular cycle seems to be continuous in most species, except Clelia rustica, which occurs in highlands. Females are larger than males in all species, and fecundity is low when compared to other pseudoboini. Abundance is very low for all species even considering 100 years of collecting, and it is decreasing in recent decades when compared to other snakes (Bothrops jararaca, Oxyrhopus guibei, O. clathratus, Philodryas patagoniensis, Sibynomorphus mikanii, and Spilotes pullatus). The studied species present at least five traits of commonly threatened species and require more attention in researches and conservation policies.