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Reproductive biology of Atractus reticulatus (Boulenger, 1885) (Serpentes, Colubridae) in southern Brazil

2005; British Herpetological Society; Volume: 15; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

2634-1379

Balestrin, Rafael Lucchesi, Di-Bernardo, Marcos Marcos,

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

The reproductive biology of Atractus reticulatus was studied based on the analyses of 135 specimens from preserved in collections, and on field observations in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. The snout-vent length (SVL) of mature females was significantly larger than the SVL of mature males, and the tail length (TL) of mature males was significantly longer than the TL of mature females. Analysis of neonate body size, hatching time and seasonal distribution of body size classes (SVL) suggests that males reach sexual maturity at eight to 10 months old (SVL c. 198 mm) and females at 11 to 12 months old (SVL c. 242 mm). The reproductive period begins in late August, with clutches laid in November, December and January, and hatching occurring from January to March. Fecundity is low: the number of vitellogenic follicles varied from 2 to 6, and the number of eggs from 1 to 3. Relative to female size, the eggs are large and the clutches are heavy, corresponding to approximately 27% of female body mass.