Biologia reprodutiva e alimentar de dendrophidion dendrophis (fitzinger, 1843) (reptilia, serpentes, colubridae) da Amazônia Oriental, Pará, Brasil.

Abstract

Dendrophidion dendrophis is a semi-arboreal species, characterized by a slightly compressed, slender body and long tail. In Brazil, it is present in the eastern portion of the Amazon, and can be found foraging actively on the soil of primary and secondary forests. This work aims to provide data on the reproductive and feeding biology of this species. We analyzed 89 specimens (55 males and 34 females) from the Herpetological Collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Six morphometric and meristic variables were considered in the study of sexual dimorphism. The gonads and stomach contents were examined by abdominal incision. Males were considered mature if the duetos deferens were tangled and/or opaque, and females with secondary vitellogenic follicles (> 10mm), eggs, enlarged oviduct or with egg marks. Nestlings were considered to be individuals with umbilical scar, and juveniles individuals with immature gonads. The food items were identified and the direction of prey ingestion was observed. Females presented a greater total length than males. However, sexual dimorphism was not observed in the number of ventral, sub-caudal, rostro-cloacal (CRC) and caudal lengths. Smallest male and smallest female mature with CRC 456 and 445 mm, respectively. The reproductive cycle of females is asseasonal, with eggs present throughout the year. It was observed that the higher the CRC of the female, the greater the length and thickness of the vitellogenic follicles and eggs. It was confirmed that it is an exclusively anurophagous species (including species of Adenomera, Physalaemus and Pseudopaludicola), with ingestion predominantly in the posteroanterior direction.