Natural history of the threatened coral snake Micrurus altirostris (Serpentes, Elapidae) in Argentina

ARZAMENDIA VANESA; BELLINI GISELA P.; RODRÍGUEZ MARÍA EUGENIA; GIRAUDO ALEJANDRO R.

REVISTA MEXICANA DE BIODIVERSIDAD

INST BIOLOGIA

Lugar: México; Año: 2018 vol. 89 p. 1255 - 1262

1870-3453

The Micrurus genus comprises near 80 endemic species in the American continent. Knowledge on its natural history is based on populations from Brazil and Uruguay, making it necessary to intensify ecological research in Argentina. We present data on morphology, diet, and reproduction of M. altirostris, a threatened Argentine population from the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. Ecological data were obtained from collected specimens and scientific collections. Females attained sexual maturity at a longer body size than males, but the latter reached a larger size, which is related to male?male combat, a behavior reported in this study. We reported a female with three oviductal eggs, and two ovipositions of four and six eggs in the late spring-early summer period. Males seemed to have a seasonal reproductive cycle. Micrurus altirostris diet was based on elongated reptilians and was mostly similar to the diet of populations from Brazil and Uruguay. We reported four new prey types for M. altirostris and confirm the consumption of reptile eggs for the genus Micrurus. Our results contribute to a better understanding of natural history of M. alirostris, providing valuable information for designing strategic conservation plans.