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Abstract

S nakes have fascinated and inspired fear since ancestral primates first encountered ophidian predators (Isbell 2006), and the venomous species are arguably the most intriguing of all. Inhabiting the last remnants of primary rainforests from Nicaragua to Bolivia, the magnificent bushmasters (Lachesis spp.) incite mystery and lore while much remains unknown about their natural history. Bushmasters, Lachesis Daudin 1803With total lengths that can exceed 3 m, bushmasters are the largest vipers in the world and the longest venomous snakes in the Americas. In cross-section, the body can be rounded or triangular and relatively compressed latrerally. The skin is coarsely rough, with dorsal scales bearing extended knoblike

Predation of a Legler's Stream Frog, Duellmanohyla legleri (Anura: Hylidae), by an Ornate Cat-eyed Snake, Leptodeira cf. ornata (Squamata: Dipsadidae)

“…We are unaware of any previous reports of predation on Duellmanohyla legleri; however, snakes of the genus Leptodeira are common predators of frogs (Arias et al 2015;Leenders 2016;Nuñez-Escalante and Garro 2020). This is the first known predator of D. legleri, although many other species likely feed on this frog.…”

Phylogenetic and morphological analysis of Gloydius himalayanus (Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae), with the description of a new species

“…They are found mainly in and around coniferous forests, where they take refuge under fallen leaves, fallen logs, crevices of rocks and under boulders (Khan & Tasnim 1986). They are also found in agricultural fields in parts of the distribution that overlap with human settlements (Whitaker & Captain 2004;Manhas 2020). There has been no recent work on intra-specific variation in G. himalayanus since Gloyd and Conant reviewed the Agkistrodon complex in 1990.…”