Records of the rattlesnakes Crotalus durissus terrificus (Laurenti) (Serpentes, Viperidae) in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a possible case of invasion facilitated by deforestation

Abstract

This paper documents the presence of rattlesnakes, as an invasive species, in several municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro. As previous registers indicate, these snakes probably invaded at least the municipality of Valença carried by floodwaters between the decades of 1950 and 1960. In the new environment, along the margins of the Rio Preto, these snakes were able to establish new populations in deforested areas turned into cattle grazing. The presence of rattlesnake in the municipality of Barra do Piraí, a municipality that has no border with Rio Preto, however, indicates that these snakes dispersal into new areas may be facilitated by open areas, represented by pastures, created after deforestations.

Daily and seasonal activity patterns of free range South-American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)

“…Compared to the North-American rattlesnakes, C. durissus is active throughout the year what may be allowed both by favorable weather conditions. These features clearly facilitated the colonization by C. durissus of several open habitats in South America during its spread in the continent (Wüster et al 2005), as well as facilitated its invasion of deforested areas throughout its distribution (e. g., Bastos et al 2005).…”

Ecologia e história natural de uma taxocenose de serpentes no Núcleo Santa Virgínia do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, no sudeste do Brasil

“…O hábito é terrícola (Salomão et al 1995, Sazima & Haddad 1992, sendo que todos os indivíduos foram encontrados no chão (N = 8). Espécie típica de áreas abertas (Amaral 1978, Bastos et al 2005, três indivíduos foram encontrados em área cercada por mata preservada. Foi mais encontrada nos meses de março a abril (N = 6).…”

Trans-Amazon dispersal potential for Crotalus durissus during Pleistocene climate events

“…Populations of this species are found across a broad range in Mesoamerica, and in South America north and south of the Amazon Basin. Though predominantly found in the cerrado formations known as campo cerrado and campo sujo, (Wü ster et al 2005a, Quijada-Mascareñ as et al 2007), C. durissus populations are also known from fragmented dry forest habitats and disturbed areas (Bastos et al 2005, QuijadaMascareñ as et al 2007, Tozetti and Martins 2008, Tozetti et al 2009). As a result, a distributional understanding for this species through time may be particularly illuminating as regards the distributional history of Amazonian biotas.…”