Diurnal refuge sharing between species of Cuban snakes of the genus Tropidophis (Squamata: Tropidophiidae)

Abstract

Snakes of the genus Tropidophis Bibron, 1840 have undergone an adaptive radiation in Cuba, where 16 out of the 27 Antillean species occur (Hedges 2002). With this high diversity, coexistence of four species is somewhat common (Rodríguez et al. 2013). Coexistence has been hypothesized to be possible due to differences in habitat use based on body shape (Rodríguez-Cabrera et al. 2016). Even with potential segregating echanisms, it is reasonable to expect certain levels of niche overlap. Herein we report three instances of diurnal refuge shared between species of Tropidophis.

A new species of Tropidophis (Squamata: Tropidophiidae) and molecular phylogeny of the Cuban radiation of the genus

“…Apart from these revisionary accounts, most contributions are papers describing new species or subspecies (e.g. : Bailey, 1937;Schwartz, 1957;Schwartz & Thomas, 1960;Schwartz & Garrido, 1975;Hedges & Garrido, 1992, 2002Hedges et al, , 2001Domínguez et al, 2006), complementary morphological data and/or new geographic records (Rehak, 1987;Fong, 2002;, 2006Domínguez & Parada, 2009;Fong & Armas, 2011;Torres et al, 2013b;Díaz et al, 2014, Torres & Martínez-Muñoz, 2014Iturriaga & Olcha, 2015;Cajigas et al, 2018;Torres et al, 2018), descriptive synopses of the generic fauna and/or comprehensive distribution maps (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991;Tolson & Henderson, 1993;Rodríguez-Schettino et al, 2013;García-Padrón et al, 2020), natural history updates (Henderson & Powell, 2009;Polo & Arango, 2011;Fong et al, 2013;Torres et al, 2013a;Iturriaga, 2014;Díaz et al, 2014;Torres et al, , 2016Torres et al, , 2018Armas & Iturriaga, 2017;Rodríguez-Cabrera et al, 2017Torres & Rodríguez-Cabrera, 2020) or repetitions of previously published information (eg: Torres et al, 2017).…”

First record of the Dwarf Green Anole, Anolis isolepis (Dactyloidae) from Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve, in central Cuba

“…In sharp contrast with most protected areas of Cuba, the herpetofauna of Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve has received considerable attention (Garrido et al 1991;Estrada 1994;Rodríguez-Cabrera 2018;Rodríguez-Cabrera et al 2020a, 2020b, 2020cTorres and Rodríguez-Cabrera 2020). The fact that A. isolepis was not previously documented for this area reinforces the hypothesis that this species has very secretive habits and that it can go undetected even in relatively well-studied areas.…”