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Reproductive biology of the false coral snake Oxyrhopus guibei (Colubridae) from southeastern Brazil

2002; Brill; Volume: 23; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/15685380260462392

1568-5381

Otávio Augusto Vuolo Marques, Lígia Pizzatto,

Turtle Biology and Conservation

Abstract The reproductive biology of the false coral snake, Oxyrhopus guibei, was studied through dissection of 496 specimens, combined with observations on captive individuals. Males mature with smaller body size than females, females attain much larger body size, and male-male combat is not expected. Clutch size ranged from 3 to 20, and was correlated with female length. Reproductive cycles in both males and females seem to be continuous, with vitellogenesis and spermatogenesis occurring throughout the year. Reproductive activity in both sexes decreased at the end of the rainy season possibly due to previous intense reproductive activity in more favorable climatic conditions. The smaller number of individuals collected at the end of the rainy season apparently occurs due to the decrease of reproductive activity of this snake.