New defensive behaviour of the false coral snake Oxyrhopus rhombifer Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) in south-eastern Brazil

Abstract

Anti-predator mechanisms are essential for species survival and the description of defensive behaviour may improve our understanding about the ecology, biology and evolution of species. Herein, we describe new anti-predator behaviour for the False Coral Snake Oxyrhopus rhombifer in south-eastern Brazil, through direct observation of a juvenile specimen under laboratory settings. We recorded 10 types of defensive behaviour, seven of which are new records for this species and one of them (body vibration) is the first report for Brazilian snakes. Such behaviour may be explained by ontogeny or physical constraints. We highlight that O. rhombifer may be capable of recognising different threat levels imposed by predators and, accordingly, adjusting its defensive behaviour.

Defensive behavior by a Villavicencio Coralsnake, Micrurus medemi Roze 1967 (Squamata: Elapidae), in Colombia

“…Snakes employ various antipredatory mechanisms that seek to avoid detection and injury or even signal death to a predator (Green 1988). However, knowledge of anti-predator mechanisms in many snake species is scarce (Lopes de Assis et al 2020).…”

On the defensive behavior of the High-Andean Toad-headed Pitviper, Bothrocophias myrringae (Squamata: Viperidae), in central Colombia

“…Generally, these strategies are composed of a repertoire of chemical, acoustic, and visual behaviors, which can be exhibited together (Greene 1988). Knowledge about these strategies has increased with the records of new defensive behaviors in different groups of snakes (e.g., Assis et al 2020;Díaz-Flórez et al 2022a).…”

Defensive head-mimicry in coralsnakes, Micrurus spp. (Squamata: Elapidae): Three new records and a review of congeners exhibiting this behavior.

“…D ifferent defensive strategies, acoustic, chemical, or visual (Rowe and Halpin 2013;Dalziell and Welbergen 2016), have been evolutionarily adopted by animals in response to predation (Brodie et al 1991). Snakes exhibit a variety of anti-predatory strategies (Green 1988;Tozetti et al 2009); however, knowledge of these mechanisms is scarce in some species (Lopes de Assis et al 2020).…”