INVESTIGADORES
GIRAUDO Alejandro Raul
artículos
Título:
Natural history of the threatened coral snake Micrurus altirostris (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Argentina
Autor/es:
RODRÍGUEZ, MA. EUGENIA; ARZAMENDIA VANESA; BELLINI, GISELA PAOLA; ALEJANDRO R. GIRAUDO
Revista:
REVISTA MEXICANA DE BIODIVERSIDAD
Editorial:
INST BIOLOGIA
Referencias:
Lugar: México; Año: 2018 vol. 89 p. 1255 - 1262
ISSN:
1870-3453
Resumen:
The genus Micrurus comprises nearly 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 for a threatened Argentine population of M. altirostris 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 report a female with 3 oviductal eggs, and 2 ovipositions of 4 and 6 eggs in the late spring-early summer period. Males seemed to have a seasonal reproductive cycle. The diet of M. altirostris was based on elongated reptilians and was mostly similar to the diet of populations from Brazil and Uruguay. We reported 4 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 the natural history of M. altirostris, providing valuable information for designing strategic conservation plans.