Distribution of Bothrops asper in Tamaulipas, Mexico and a review of prey items.
Bothrops asper is a wide-ranging Neotropical pit viper. We follow Liner and Casas-Andreu (2008) in using their standardized English and Spanish names for the species, terciopelo and cuatro narices, respectively. Terciopelos occur on the northwestern Pacific and Caribbean versants of South America (from extreme northwestern Peru to northern Venezuela), throughout much of Central America and into eastern Mexico, with vertical distributions from sea level to 1,300 m in Mexico and Central America and up to 2,640 m in South America (Campbell and Lamar, 2004). Townsend et al. (2006) reported a maximum elevation of 1,450 m in Honduras. Bothrops asper has a relatively lengthy synonymy with twenty synonyms and combinations (McDiarmid et al., 1999). An extended discussion on the taxonomy is beyond the scope of this review; however, we note that literature specifically addressing Tamaulipas populations have used Bothrops atrox (e.g., Martin 1955, 1958), Bothrops atrox asper (e.g., Smith and Taylor, 1945), and Bothrops asper (e.g., Auth et al., 2000; Campbell and Lamar, 2004; Lavin-Murcio and Lazcano, 2010; Farr, 2015).Martin del Campo (1937) included Tamaulipas in the distribution of B. atrox asper; however, it was noted that the record "seems to be based upon probability of occurrence instead of actual specimens" (Smith and Taylor, 1945:180). A specimen from Tamaulipas (CAS-71773) collected in 1920 is notable, although no specific locality is available for the snake, and we are unaware of any references to this specimen in the literature (Appendix 1; institution abbreviations per Sabaj Perez, 2014). Martin (1955) included B. asper (as B. atrox) among 39 amphibian and reptile species representing new state records from the Gomez Farias region of Tamaulipas. Martin (1958) provided further details on specimens collected in the vicinity of Gomez Farias, with explicit localities and the associated vegetation zones. Subsequent to Martin (1955, 1958), the occurrence of B. asper in Tamaulipas has been reflected in the literature; however, like many species, additional localities have rarely been reported despite the accumulation of specimens in museums for over a half a century (Farr et al., 2013). Auth et al. (2000) reported one additional record from Tamaulipas (SMBU-BCBF 68-97; Appendix 2). Campbell and Lamar (2004) included Tamaulipas in the distribution but their map only indicted generalized shading in the state: no dots were included and specific localities or museum vouchers were not identified.
One of us (WLF) queried over 100 institutions for information on their holdings of Tamaulipan herpetofauna. Sixty-one institutions responded providing a total of 28 B. asper records from eight collections. We have examined and verified all of these specimens (Appendix 1). The localities of specimens were plotted on a map along with a literature record from Tamaulipas, literature records from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and an additional museum specimen (TNHC, verified by personnel from that institution) from Veracruz, Mexico (Fig 1; Appendix 2). Coordinates are expressed in map datum WGS84. Coordinates and elevations for specimens we collected were recorded with a handheld global positioning system unit and are presented in parentheses in Appendix 1. For museum and literature records without coordinates in the original data, we determined the approximate coordinates using Google Earth based on recorded localities, and provide them here in brackets in Appendices 1 and 2. We follow Sabaj Perez (2014) in the abbreviations for symbolic codes of institutional resource collections. We describe the distribution and associated vegetation zones and identify all known municipality records of B. asper in Tamaulipas. A specimen (UANL-6608) with a conspicuous bulge, collected in the municipality of Tula, was dissected and we found a small mammal in the stomach. The skull of this prey item was cleaned and identified. Literature was reviewed for references identifying specific prey items (e.g., family, genus, and species) in the diet of B. asper (Table 1). Literature that only identified generalized prey items (e.g., class, order, frogs, lizards, rodents, small mammals, etc.) is not included here.
Bothrops asper occurs in a relatively limited area of south-central Tamaulipas, where it is generally associated with humid, mid-low elevations on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental and adjacent lowlands (Fig. 1). Martin (1958) reported B. asper from tropical deciduous forest, tropical evergreen forest, and lower sections of cloud forest in Tamaulipas (vegetation zones defined therein). To that we add habitat in the municipality of Tula along the Rio Gallos Grandes, where B. asper follows the river well into the Sierra Madre Oriental. The riparian areas there have elements of temperate Madrean oak woodlands, characterized by conspicuous stands of what appear to be Acer grandidentatum (bigtooth maple), although we were unable to verify the identification of these trees with certainty. The slopes above the riparian areas to the west are slightly more arid with Quercus (oak) and Juniperus (juniper) forest. The slopes above the riparian areas to the east are more humid with Quercus (oak) and Sabal (palm). We confirmed B. asperfrom seven municipalities: Antiguo Morelos, El Mante, Gomez Farias, Llera, Ocampo, Tula, and Xicotencatl. The occurrence of B. asper should be anticipated from the municipality of Nuevo Morelos with near certainty, as every adjacent municipality holds records, including two municipalities (El Naranjo and Ciudad Valles) in the neighboring state of San Luis Potosi, (Taylor, 1949; Auth et al., 2000; Lemos-Espinal and Dixon, 2013). A vertical distribution between 98-1,190 m can be confirmed in Tamaulipas. Bothrops asper is apparently absent from the lower elevations to the east which support semiarid thorn scrub habitat in Tamaulipas. However, literature and museum records are available from lower elevations to the east in adjacent areas in San Luis Potosi and Veracruz (Fig. 1; Appendix 2). An extensive area of marshlands and lagoons associated with the Rio Tamesi on the Veracruz border, which sustain extensive Cyperus and Typha vegetation, might be a factor in limiting the dispersal of the species in southeast Tamaulipas.
Bothrops asper reaches range-wide distributional limits in Tamaulipas. A record (UANL-6608) from the Sierra Madre Oriental in the municipality of Tula represents the westernmost locality, located less than 17 km east of Chihuahua Desert scrub in the Tula Valley. The arid environment of the Mexican Plateau presents a natural barrier, and the species should not be anticipated significantly west of this locality. Three specimens from the municipality of Llera (LACM-20229, 20230, 20231) represent the northernmost locality, approximately 37 km south of the Tropic of Cancer. Significant areas of tropical deciduous forest extend northward to the general vicinity of the Tropic of Cancer and the Rio Guayalejo, and future collecting might produce new records 25-50 km to the north, but this remains to be demonstrated. Martin (1958) noted that B. asper should be anticipated in the tropical deciduous forest of the Sierra de Tamaulipas. We are unaware of any literature or museum records from the Sierra de Tamaulipas. Much of the habitat in the Sierra de Tamaulipas would appear suitable for the species, but this mountain range is isolated on the costal plan and separated from the tropical deciduous forest associated with the Sierra Madre Oriental by [mayor que o igual a]35 km of low-elevation arid thorn scrub habitat.
We found a juvenile B. asper, approximately 325 mm in total length, with a conspicuous bulge in its abdomen (UANL-6608). Although this snake was found dead on the road, the head was pulverized or shredded beyond recognition but the rest of its body was in relatively good condition, suggesting it might not have been run over by a vehicle but deliberately killed by a predator or perhaps a person. The specimen was later dissected and the stomach content was identified from its skull as a Cryptotis parva (North American least shrew or musarana), now in the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mammal Collection (UANL-4320). Averaging 79 mm and 4-7.5 g, C. parva are notable as one of the smallest mammals of North America (Schmidly, 1994). To our knowledge the genus Cryptotis, the Family Soricidae, or the order Eulipotyphla have not previously been reported in the diet of B. asper.
Martins et al. (2002) reviewed the feeding habits of 22 species of Bothrops and found 32 prey items in the digestive tracts of their B. asper sample, although the prey items were not identified beyond class, order, or suborder. Martins et al. (2002) concluded B. asper is a diet generalist, with an ontogenetic diet shift from a greater percentage of ectotherms in juveniles to a higher percentage of endotherms, particularly small mammals, in adults. Boada et al. (2005) dissected 21 B. asper from Ecuador and found prey items in 14 specimens. Boada et al. (2005) found no clear distinction between juveniles and adults regarding ectothermic and endothermic prey, suggesting B. asper is a diet generalist regardless of size or age, although they noted their sample size was limited. Sasa et al. (2009) reviewed the natural history of the terciopelo in Costa Rica and analyzed the gut contents of 56 adult or subadult terciopelos. They published a remarkable table identifying 33 species and seven additional genera and orders of prey items in the diet of B. asper gleaned from both literature and their samples. We reviewed the literature identifying specific prey items of B. asper and found a number of items reported both prior and subsequent to Sasa et al. (2009) that were not included in their review (Table 1). These data do support a generalized ontogenetic diet shift from a greater percentage of ectothermic prey in juveniles to a higher percentage of endothermic prey in adults. However, clearly B. asper will opportunistically prey on a remarkably wide spectrum of both ectothermic and endothermic species regardless of size or age. Only Aves (birds) and Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) are exclusively identified in the diet of adults.
Several authors have reported invertebrate and insect remains in the digestive systems of B. asper including Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Orthoptera. Most authors interpreted these as instances of secondary ingestion from anuran and lizard prey. Boada et al. (2005) interpreted insect remains found in specimens along with anuran and lizard remains as secondary ingestion, but in specimens containing only insect remains (Coleoptera and Hemiptera) as primary prey. Boada et al. (2005) found plant matter (leaves) in the digestive tract of one specimen, presumably ingested with insect prey. Sasa et al. (2009) noted that centipedes, squamata, and fishes were an infrequent but important part of the diet, particularly for juveniles, but they did not include any examples of the latter. March (1928) commented that young opossums appear to be the favorite food in the region ofTela, Honduras, although no data were provided. Picado (1931) referred to zorrillos (skunks) in the diet of B. asper; however, no further details were provided and it is not clear if this was a documented prey item or simply an example of a small mammal that might fall prey to B. asper. Cannibalism has been reported for juveniles of both captive (Burger and Smith, 1950; Tryon, 1985; Correa Sanchez et al., 1998) and wild individuals (Buttenhoff and Vogt, 1995). Scavenging of anurans and rodents has been reported (Logan and Montero, 2009; Sasa et al., 2009). Ryan et al. (2010) provided an account of a B. asper succumbing to the toxins of a Leptodactylus savagei while preying on the frog, and Boada et al. (2005) noted an observation in which a Bufo marinus (=Rhinella horribilis) was suspected in contributing to the death of a B. asper found dead on a road. Beebe (1946) identified Leptodactylus pentadactylus, ameivas and other unidentified lizards, a small snake, remains of mice, spiny rats, and fur of a small mammal as prey items of B. atrox from two localities, Kartabo, British Guiana and Caripito, Venezuela. His samples from British Guiana were clearly B. atrox, but specimens from Venezuela were likely B. asper. Unfortunately, Beebe (1946) did not distinguish which specimens or prey items came from which localities.
APPENDIX 1--Specimens Examined--MUNICIPIO DE ANTIGUO MORELOS: AMNH 172091, 12 mi [19.3 km] SW of Mante on Mexico 80 [22.60076[degrees]N, 99.03015[degrees]W; elev. 278 m.]. UANL 4456, Antiguo Morelos- Cd. Valles a 4.6 Km al W del Antiguo Morelos [22.55250[degrees]N, 99.14750[degrees]W; elev. 397 m.]. UANL-6452, Near cave at Al Abra, 8 km NE of Antiguo Morelos (22.60666[degrees]N, 99.02430[degrees]W; elev. 263 m.). MUNICIPIO DE EL MANTE: AMNH 161864, 7 mi. S Ciudad Mante [22.65369[degrees]N, 99.02221[degrees]W; elev. 109 m.]. MUNICIPIO DE GOMEZ FARIAS: AMNH 172092, AMNH 172093 (2), Gomez Farias, between Cd. Victoria and Cd. Mante, in sugar cane fields [23.02214[degrees]N, 99.09088[degrees]W; elev. 98 m.]. TCWC 71142, Gomez Farias, estacion Los Cedros [23.04726[degrees]N, 99.15498[degrees]W; elev. 391 m.]. TU 15681, 7 km. NE. Gomez Farias [23.09676[degrees]N, 99.11260[degrees]W; elev. 134 m.]. UANL-6508 (skin only), In the town of Gomez Farias (23.03388[degrees]N, 99.15000[degrees]W; elev. 364 m.). UANL-7874, 3 km al SE del Ej. San Jose [23.02738[degrees]N, 99.22388[degrees]W; elev. 1173 m.]. UIMNH 51144, 2.5 mi W Gomez Farias [23.05541[degrees]N, 99.19327[degrees]W; elev. 913 m.]. UMMZ 101263 (head only), Rancho del Cielo, 5 mi. NW of Gomez Farias [23.10000[degrees]N, 99.19250[degrees]W; elev. 1190 m.]. UMMZ 101264, Rancho del Cielo, 5 mi. NW of Gomez Farias [23.10000[degrees]N, 99.19250[degrees]W; elev. 1190 m.]. UMMZ 110824, Gomez Farias [23.04726[degrees]N, 99.15498[degrees]W; elev. 391 m.]. UMMZ 110825, Gomez Farias [23.04726[degrees]N, 99.15498[degrees]W; elev. 391 m.]. UMMZ 111348 (head only), UMMZ 111349 (head only), Gomez Farias, near [ca. 23.04726[degrees]N, 99.15498[degrees]W; elev. 391 m.]. UMMZ 112901, Gomez Farias, 3 mi. NNE of at Ejido La Azteca [23.08217[degrees]N, 99.12704[degrees]W; elev. 116 m.]. MUNICIPIO DE LLERA: LACM-20229, LACM-20230, LACM-20231, Rio Sabinas, 2 mi. W Encino [23.14181[degrees]N, 99.14586[degrees]W; elev. 145 m.]. MUNICIPIO DE OCAMPO: UANL-6573, On hwy 66, 18.5 km NW of Ocampo (22.91527[degrees]N, 99.49975[degrees]W; elev. 651 m.). UMMZ 111053, Ocampo, 7.2 airline mi. N of on road to Refugio [ca. 22.97652[degrees]N, 99.35948[degrees]W; elev. 1000 m.]. UMMZ 111350 (head only), Aserradero del Paraiso (near), 9 mi. NNW of Chamal [ca. 22.96306[degrees]N, 99.19276[degrees]W; elev. 500 m.]. MUNICIPIO DE TULA: UANL-6608, 11 km. SE of Gallos Grandes along the Rio Gallos Grandes, 43.5 km SE of Tula (22.643532[degrees]N, 99.543063[degrees]W; elev. 814 m.). MUNICIPIO DE XICOTENCATL OR GOMEZ FARIAS: UMMZ 102911, Pano Ayuctle [=El Azteca], 5 mi. NE of Gomez Farias along the Rio Sabinas [23.11300[degrees]N, 99.14340[degrees]W; elev. 123 m.]. UMMZ 104114, Pano Ayuctle [=El Azteca], 5 mi. NE of Gomez Farias along the Rio Sabinas [23.11300[degrees]N, 99.14340[degrees]W; elev. 123 m.]. MUNICIPIO UNKNOWN: CAS 71773, Tamaulipas.
APPENDIX 2--Literature Records and Other Museum Specimens--San Luis Potosi: MUNICIPIO DE CIUDAD VALLES: 3.2 km E of Ciudad Valles (21.9833[degrees]N, 98.9833[degrees]W; 99 elev. m.) (Lemos-Espinal and Dixon, 2013). 17.2 km W, 14.2 km E of Tamuin (21.9671[degrees]N, 98.9000[degrees]W; 181 elev. m.) (Lemos-Espinal and Dixon, 2013). MUNICIPIO DE EBANO: Ebano. [22.2117[degrees]N, 098.3696[degrees]W; 56 elev. m.] (Lemos-Espinal and Dixon, 2013). KU-24032, Hda. Limon, 10 mi. [16.09 km] W of Ebano [22.1504[degrees]N, 98.5114[degrees]W; 29 elev. m.] (Taylor, 1950). MUNICIPIO DE EL NARANJO: BCB-7546, El Salto [22.5861[degrees]N, 99.3825[degrees]W; 427 elev. m.] (Auth et al., 2000). KU-24033, El Salto [22.5861[degrees]N, 99.3825[degrees]W; 427 elev. m.] (Taylor, 1949). Tamaulipas: MUNICIPIO DE OCAMPO: SMBU BCBF 68-97, Chamal, 6 mi. NW of - [22.90224[degrees]N, 99.26285[degrees]W; elev. 354 m.] (Auth et al., 2000). Veracruz: MUNICIPIO DE TAMPICO ALTA: TNHC-87818, 32 km S of Tampico [21.9350[degrees]N, 97.7607[degrees]W; elev. 68 m].
Submitted 17 June 2016. Accepted 6 February 2017.
Associate Editor was Neil B. Ford.
We thank the following individuals who provided data, allowed us the opportunity to examine voucher specimens held in the respective institutions, or both: D. R. Frost, D. Kizirian, D. Dickey, M. Arnold, A. Schweitzer, R. Pascocello (AMNH); J. Vindom (CAS); R. Brown, D. Blackburn, A. Campbell, L. Trueb (KU); G. Pauly, N. Camacho (LACM); J. Rosado (MCZ); J. R. Dixon, T. J. Hibbitts (TCWC); D. Cannatella, T. J. LaDuc (TNHC); H. Dundee, N. Rios (TU); C. Phillips, D. Wylie, M. Dreslik (UIMNH); G. Schneider, R. A. Nussbaum (UMMZ); R. Heyer, T. Hartsell, S. Gotte, K. Tighe (USNM);J. A. Campbell, C. Franklin (UTA); and C. Lieb, R. Couvillon (UTEP). T. J. LaDuc (TNHC) verified a specimen on our behalf, and we thank A. N. Ruiz Heredia for help identifying Cryptotis parva. We thank the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon and its research programs (Programa de Apoyo a la Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica CN361-15). N. Ford provided some difficult-to-obtain literature. Fieldwork was conducted under Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (now Instituto Nacional de Ecologia y Cambio Climatico) permits 7150/97, FAUT-0045, 1624/05, 0800/06, 1085/07, 1255/08.
LITERATURE CITED
AUTH, D. L., H. M. SMITH, B. C. BROWN, AND D. LINTE. 2000. A description of the Mexican amphibian and reptile collection of the Strecker Museum. Bulletin Chicago Herpetological Society 35:65-85.
BARBOUR, T., AND A. LOVERIDGE. 1929. On Bothrops atrox (Linne). Bulletin of the Antivenin Institute of America 2:108.
BEEBE, W. 1946. Field notes on the snakes of Kartabo, British Guiana, and Caripito, Venezuela. Zoologica 31:11-52.
BOADA, C., D. SALAZAR-V., A. FREIRE-LASCANO, AND U. KUCH. 2005. The diet of Bothrops asper (Garman, 1884) in the Pacific lowlands of Ecuador. Herpetozoa 18:77-79.
BURGER, W. L., AND P. W. SMITH. 1950. The coloration of the tail tip of young fer-de-lances: sexual dimorphism rather than adaptive coloration. Science 112:431-433.
BUTTENHOFF, P. A., AND R. C. VOGT. 1995. Bothrops asper (Nauyaca). Cannibalism. Herpetological Review 26:146-147.
BUTTENHOFF, P. A., AND R. C. VOGT. 1997. Historia Natural de Especies (Bothrops asper). Pages 478-480 in Historia Natural de Region de Los Tuxtlas (E. Gonzalez-Soriano, R. Dirzo, and R. C. Vogt, editors). Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
CAMPBELL, J. A. 1998. Amphibians and reptiles of northern Guatemala, the Yucatan, and Belize. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
CAMPBELL, J. A., AND W. W. LAMAR. 2004. The venomous reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 Volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
CORREA SANCHEZ, F., A. GONZALEZ, AND E. GODINEZ CANO. 1998. Cannibalism in Bothrops asper. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 34:83-86.
EMSLEY, M. 1977. Snakes, and Trinidad and Tobago. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 13:201-304.
FARR, W. L., D. LAZCANO, AND P. A. LAVIN-MURCIO. 2013. New distributional records for amphibians and reptiles from the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. III. Herpetological Review 44:631-645.
FARR, W. L. 2015. Herpetofauna of Tamaulipas. Pages 101-121 in Amphibians and reptiles of the US-Mexico border states (J. A. Lemos Espinal, editor). Texas A&M University Press, College Station.
GREENE, H. W. 1992. The ecological and behavioral context for pitviper evolution. Pages 107-117 in Biology of the pitvipers (J. A. Campbell and E. D. Brodie, Jr., editors). Selva, Tyler, Texas.
GREENE, H. W. 1997. Snakes: the evolution of mystery in nature. University of California Press, Berkeley.
GREENE, H. W., AND D. L. HARDY. 1989. Natural death associated with skeletal injury in the terciopelo Bothrops asper (Viperidae). Copeia 1989:1036-1037.
HERTZ, A., M. NATERA, S. LOTZKAT, J. SUNYER, AND D. MORA. 2009. Bothrops asper (mapanare, lancehead). Prey. Herpetological Review 40:230.
HIRTH, H. F. 1964. Observations of the fer-de-lance Bothrops atrox in coastal Costa Rica. Copeia 1964:453-454.
JONES, M. A., J. R. STRAKA, AND K. KAYANO. 2014. Bothrops asper (fer-de-lance) diet. Herpetological Review 45:512.
KUCH, U., C. BOADA, F. GARCIA, J. TORRES, AND A. FREIRE. 2004. Bothrops asper (terciopelo or equis). Diet. Herpetological Review 35:273-274.
LAVIN-MURCIO, P. A., AND D. LAZCANO. 2010. Geographic distribution and conservation of the herpetofauna of northern Mexico. Pages 274-301 in Conservation of Mesoamerican amphibians and reptiles (L. D. Wilson, J. H. Townsend, and J. D. Johnson, editors). Eagle Mountain Publishing, LC. Eagle Mountain, Utah.
LEMOS-ESPINAL, J. A., AND J. R. DIXON. 2013. Amphibians and reptiles of San Luis Potosi. Eagle Mountain Publishing, Eagle Mountain, Utah.
LINER, E. A., AND G. CASAS-ANDREU. 2008. Standard Spanish, English and scientific names of the amphibians and reptiles of Mexico. Herpetological Circular 38. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
LOGAN, C. J., AND C. MONTERO. 2009. Bothrops asper (terciopelo). Scavenging behavior. Herpetological Review 40:352.
MARCH, D. D. H. 1928. Field notes on Barba amarilla (Bothrops atrox). Bulletin of the Antivenin Institute of America 1:92-97.
MARTIN, P. S. 1955. Herpetological records from the Gomez Farias region of southwestern Tamaulipas, Mexico. Copeia 1955:173-180.
MARTIN, P. S. 1958. A biogeography of reptiles and amphibians in the Gomez Farias region, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 101:1-102.
MARTIN DEL CAMPO, R. 1937. Reptiles ponzoiiosos de Mexico. Las viboras de cascabel. Folletos de Divulgacion Cientifica. Instituto de Bioltogica Mexico 27:1-18.
MARTINS, M., O. A. V. MARQUES, AND I. SAZIMA. 2002. Ecological and phylogenetic correlates of feeding habits in Neotropical pitvipers of the genus Bothrops. Pages 307-328 in Biology of the vipers (G. W. Schuett, M. Hdggren, M. E. Douglas, and H. W. Greene, editors). Eagle Mountain Publishing, Eagle Mountain, Utah.
MCDIARMID, R. W., J. A. CAMPBELL, AND T. TOURE. 1999. Snake species of the world. A taxonomic and geographic reference. The Herpetologists' League. Washington, D.C.
MOLE, R. R. 1924. The Trinidad snakes. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1:235-278.
MOODY, R. K. 2015. Bothrops asper (fer-de-lance). Diet and feeding behavior. Herpetological Review 46:266-267.
MURPHY, J. C. 1997. Amphibians and reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago. Krieger, Malabar, Florida.
NICEFORO-MARIA, H. 1930. Los reptiles y batracios de Honda (Tolima) en el Museo de La Salle. Revista Sociedad Colombiana de Ciencias Naturales 19:96-104.
PARKER, H. W. 1926. The reptiles and batrachians of Gorgona Island, Colombia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, London (Ser. 9) 17:549-554.
PICADO, T .C. 1931. Serpientes venenosas de Costa Rica. Imprenta Alsina. Sauter, Arias & Co., San Jose, Costa Rica.
RYAN, M. J., N. J. BLEA, I. M. LATELLA, AND M. A. KULL. 2010. Leptodactylus savage (smokyjungle frog) antipredator defense. Herpetological Review 41:337-338.
SABAJ PEREZ, M. H., editor. 2014. Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology and ichthyology: an online reference. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Version 6.5 (16 August 2016). Available at: http://wwwasih.org/resources. Accessed 16 February 2017.Sasa, M., D. K. WASKO, AND W. W. LAMAR. 2009. Natural history of the terciopelo Bothrops asper (Serpentes: Viperidae) in Costa Rica. Toxicon 54:904-922.
SCHMIDLY, D. J. 1994. The mammals of Texas, revised edition. University of Texas Press. Austin.
SEGOVIA-NUNEZ, G., A. DE OSMA, AND P. J. RAMIREZ-BARAJAS. 2014. Bothrops asper (terciopelo). Diet. Herpetological Review 45:512-513.
SEXTON, O. J., AND H. HEATWOLE. 1965. Life history notes on some Panamanian snakes. Caribbean Journal of Science 5:39-43. Smith, H. M., and E. H. Taylor. 1945. An annotated checklist and key to the snakes of Mexico. United States National Museum Bulletin 187:1-239.
SOLORZANO, A. 2004. Snakes of Costa Rica: distribution, taxonomy, and natural history. Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica: Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica.
STUART, L. C. 1948. The amphibians and reptiles of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 69:1-109.
TAYLOR, E. H. 1949. A preliminary account of the herpetology of the states of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 33:169-215.
TAYLOR, E. H. 1950. Second contribution to the herpetology of San Luis Potosi. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 33:441-457.
TOWNSEND, J. H., L. D. WILSON, B. L. TALLEY, D. C. FRASER, T. L. PLENDERLEITH, AND S. M. HUGHES. 2006. Additions to the herpetofauna of Parque Nacional El Cusuco, Honduras. Herpetological Bulletin 96:29-39.
TRYON, B. W. 1985. Bothrops asper (terciopelo). Caudal luring. Herpetological Review 16:28.
URBINA-CARDONA, J. N. 2009. Bothrops asper (terciopelo). Diet. Herpetological Review 40:94.
WILLIAM L. FARR * AND DAVID LAZCANO
11019 Wainfleet Lane, Houston, TX 77096 (WLF)
Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Laboratorio de Herpetologia, Apartado Postal 513, San
Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, C.P. 66450, Mexico (DL)
* Correspondent: williamfarr@sbcglobal.net
Caption: FIG. 1--The distribution of Bothrops asper in Tamaulipas and adjacent San Luis Potosi and Veracruz, Mexico. Solid dots = verified museum vouchers, open dots = literature records, question mark = area of probable occurrence.
TABLE 1--Specific prey items identified in the diet of Bothrops asper.
Prey Note Size
Invertebrates
Invertebrates Dissection Juvenile
Class Chilopoda
Scolopendra Dissection Adult
Scolopendra -- Juvenile
Scolopendra Dissection Juvenile
Scolopendra angulata Dissection Juvenile
Class Insecta
Coleoptera Dissection Juvenile
Diptera Dissection --
Hemiptera Dissection Juvenile
Hymenoptera Dissection --
Orthoptera Dissection --
Orthoptera -- Juvenile
Orthoptera Dissection Adult
Class Malacostraca
Crayfish -- --
Class Actinopterygii
Synbranchus marmoratus Dissection Adult
Class Amphibia
Dermophis parviceps In situ observation Sub adult
Anuran In situ Sub adult
observation (b)
Acris gryllus Captivity Juvenile
Craugastor fitzingeri Dissection --
Dendrobatid frogs In situ Juvenile
observation (c)
Eleutherodactylus In situ observation Juvenile
Eleutherodactylus -- Juvenile
Eleutherodactylus Dissection Juvenile
[Craugastor] rhodopis
Eleutherodactylus Dissection Juvenile
[Pristimantis] achatinus
Hyla crucifer Captivity Juvenile
Leptodactylus bolivianus Dissection --
Leptodactylus savagei In situ Adult
observation (c)
Leptodactylus savagei Dissection Adult
Lithobates forreri In situ observation Adult
Lithobates forreri Dissection Adult
Lithobates vaillanti Dissection --
Lithobates warzewitzchi Dissection --
Mannophryne trinitatis -- Juvenile
Rhinella marina Dissection --
Bufo [Rhinella] marinus In situ observation Subadult
Smilisca baudinii Dissection Juvenile
Smilisca phaeota Dissection --
Smilisca sordida Dissection --
Class Reptilia
Amphisbaena alba Dissection Adult
Ameiva [Holcosus] festiva Dissection --
Ameiva [Holcosus] undulata Dissection Juvenile
Anolis Captivity Adult
Anolis Captivity Juvenile
Anolis -- Juvenile
Anolis limifrons Dissection Juvenile
Ctenosaura similis Dissection Adult
Gonatodes fuscus [albogularis] -- --
Lepidophyma reticulatum Dissection Adult
Lepidophyma tuxtlae In situ observation Sub adult
Lygosoma [Sphenomorphus] Dissection --
cherriei
Skinks -- Juvenile
Bothrops asper Captivity (c) Juvenile
Bothrops asper Dissection Juvenile
Bothrops asper Dissection Juvenile
Bothrops asper Captivity Juvenile
Bothrops asper Captivity Juvenile
Crotalus horridus Captivity (c) Juvenile
Erythrolamprus bizona -- Adult
Ninia atrata -- --
Ninia sebae Dissection --
Storeria dekayi Captivity Juvenile
Class Aves
Feathers Dissection --
Feathers Dissection --
Unidentified passerines (feathers) Dissection Adult
Cantorchilus [Thryothorus] Dissection Adult
nigricapillus
Eucometis penicllata In situ observation Adult
Troglodytes Dissection Adult
Volantinia jacarina Dissection Adult
Class Mammalia
Hair Dissection Adult
Mammalian hair Dissection Juvenile
Small marsupials -- Adult
Full-grown opossum -- Adult
Caluromys derbianus Dissection Adult
Didelphis -- Adult
Didelphis marsupialis -- Adult
Didelphis marsupialis A. B. Carr story Adult
Philander -- Adult
Philander opossum Dissection Adult
Rat sized rodent Dissection Adult
Muridae Dissection Subadult
Heteromys -- Adult
Heteromys desmarestianus Dissection --
Melanomys caliginosus Dissection --
Mus musculus Dissection --
Mus musculus Captivity Juvenile
Mus musculus Captivity Juvenile
Oligoryzomys fulvescens Dissection Adult
Oryzomys Dissection Adult
Proechimys semispinosus Dissection Adult
Proechimys semispinosus Dissection Adult
Rattus rattus Dissection Juvenile
Rattus rattus Dissection Juvenile
Rattus rattus "probably" Dissection Adult
Sigmodon hirsutus Dissection --
Sigmodon peruanus Dissection Subadult
Wood Rat [Neotoma] -- --
Coendou rothschildi Dissection Adult
Sylvilagus brasiliensis -- Adult
Skunks -- Adult
Cryptotis parva Dissection Juvenile
Prey Country
Invertebrates
Invertebrates Mexico
Class Chilopoda
Scolopendra Ecuador
Scolopendra Guatemala
Scolopendra Colombia
Scolopendra angulata Colombia
Class Insecta
Coleoptera Ecuador
Diptera Ecuador
Hemiptera Ecuador
Hymenoptera Ecuador
Orthoptera Ecuador
Orthoptera Guatemala
Orthoptera Costa Rica
Class Malacostraca
Crayfish Trinidad
Class Actinopterygii
Synbranchus marmoratus Venezuela
Class Amphibia
Dermophis parviceps Costa Rica
Anuran Costa Rica
Acris gryllus Mexico
Craugastor fitzingeri Costa Rica
Dendrobatid frogs Venezuela
Eleutherodactylus Costa Rica
Eleutherodactylus Guatemala
Eleutherodactylus Mexico
[Craugastor] rhodopis
Eleutherodactylus Ecuador
[Pristimantis] achatinus
Hyla crucifer Mexico
Leptodactylus bolivianus Costa Rica
Leptodactylus savagei Costa Rica
Leptodactylus savagei Costa Rica
Lithobates forreri Costa Rica
Lithobates forreri Costa Rica
Lithobates vaillanti Costa Rica
Lithobates warzewitzchi Costa Rica
Mannophryne trinitatis Trinidad
Rhinella marina Costa Rica
Bufo [Rhinella] marinus Ecuador
Smilisca baudinii Mexico
Smilisca phaeota Costa Rica
Smilisca sordida Costa Rica
Class Reptilia
Amphisbaena alba Venezuela
Ameiva [Holcosus] festiva Costa Rica
Ameiva [Holcosus] undulata Mexico
Anolis Costa Rica
Anolis Costa Rica
Anolis Guatemala
Anolis limifrons Panama
Ctenosaura similis Costa Rica
Gonatodes fuscus [albogularis] Colombia
Lepidophyma reticulatum Costa Rica
Lepidophyma tuxtlae Mexico
Lygosoma [Sphenomorphus] Guatemala
cherriei
Skinks Guatemala
Bothrops asper Mexico
Bothrops asper Mexico
Bothrops asper Mexico
Bothrops asper Mexico
Bothrops asper Costa Rica
Crotalus horridus Mexico
Erythrolamprus bizona Costa Rica
Ninia atrata Trinidad
Ninia sebae Costa Rica
Storeria dekayi Mexico
Class Aves
Feathers Costa Rica
Feathers Guatemala
Unidentified passerines (feathers) Costa Rica
Cantorchilus [Thryothorus] Ecuador
nigricapillus
Eucometis penicllata Panama
Troglodytes Venezuela
Volantinia jacarina Costa Rica
Class Mammalia
Hair Panama
Mammalian hair Ecuador
Small marsupials Costa Rica
Full-grown opossum Honduras
Caluromys derbianus Costa Rica
Didelphis Mexico
Didelphis marsupialis Costa Rica
Didelphis marsupialis Trinidad
Philander Guatemala
Philander opossum Costa Rica
Rat sized rodent Ecuador
Muridae Ecuador
Heteromys Guatemala
Heteromys desmarestianus Costa Rica
Melanomys caliginosus Costa Rica
Mus musculus Costa Rica
Mus musculus Mexico
Mus musculus Costa Rica
Oligoryzomys fulvescens Costa Rica
Oryzomys Costa Rica
Proechimys semispinosus Ecuador
Proechimys semispinosus Costa Rica
Rattus rattus Mexico
Rattus rattus Mexico
Rattus rattus "probably" Costa Rica
Sigmodon hirsutus Costa Rica
Sigmodon peruanus Ecuador
Wood Rat [Neotoma] Trinidad
Coendou rothschildi Ecuador
Sylvilagus brasiliensis Costa Rica
Skunks Costa Rica
Cryptotis parva Mexico
Prey Reference (a)
Invertebrates
Invertebrates Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
Class Chilopoda
Scolopendra Boada et al. (2005)
Scolopendra Campbell (1998)
Scolopendra Greene (1992)
Scolopendra angulata Parker (1926)
Class Insecta
Coleoptera Boada et al. (2005)
Diptera Boada et al. (2005)
Hemiptera Boada et al. (2005)
Hymenoptera Boada et al. (2005)
Orthoptera Boada et al. (2005)
Orthoptera Campbell (1998)
Orthoptera Sasa et al. (2009)
Class Malacostraca
Crayfish Emsley (1977) (1'2'3)
Class Actinopterygii
Synbranchus marmoratus Hertz et al. (2009)
Class Amphibia
Dermophis parviceps Jones et al. (2014)
Anuran Logan and Montero (2009)
Acris gryllus Burger and Smith (1950)
Craugastor fitzingeri Sasa et al. (2009)
Dendrobatid frogs Lemos-Espinal and Dixon (2013)
Eleutherodactylus Greene (1997)
Eleutherodactylus Campbell (1998)
Eleutherodactylus Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
[Craugastor] rhodopis
Eleutherodactylus Boada et al. (2005)
[Pristimantis] achatinus
Hyla crucifer Burger and Smith (1950)
Leptodactylus bolivianus Sasa et al. (2009)
Leptodactylus savagei Ryan et al. (2010)
Leptodactylus savagei Sasa et al. (2009)
Lithobates forreri Campbell and Lamar (2004)
Lithobates forreri Sasa et al. (2009)
Lithobates vaillanti Sasa et al. (2009)
Lithobates warzewitzchi Sasa et al. (2009)
Mannophryne trinitatis Mole (1924) (1)
Rhinella marina Sasa et al. (2009)
Bufo [Rhinella] marinus Boada et al. (2005)
Smilisca baudinii Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
Smilisca phaeota Sasa et al. (2009)
Smilisca sordida Sasa et al. (2009)
Class Reptilia
Amphisbaena alba Hertz et al. (2009)
Ameiva [Holcosus] festiva Sasa et al. (2009)
Ameiva [Holcosus] undulata Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
Anolis Picado (1931)
Anolis Picado (1931)
Anolis Campbell (1998)
Anolis limifrons Sexton and Heatwole (1965)
Ctenosaura similis Sasa et al. (2009)
Gonatodes fuscus [albogularis] Niceforo-Maria (1930) (2,3)
Lepidophyma reticulatum Sasa et al. (2009)
Lepidophyma tuxtlae Urbina-Cardona (2009)
Lygosoma [Sphenomorphus] Stuart (1948)
cherriei
Skinks Campbell (1998)
Bothrops asper Burger and Smith (1950)
Bothrops asper Buttenhoff and Vogt (1995)
Bothrops asper Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
Bothrops asper Correa Sanchez et al (1998)
Bothrops asper Tryon (1985)
Crotalus horridus Burger and Smith (1950)
Erythrolamprus bizona Sofirzano (2004)
Ninia atrata Murphy (1997)
Ninia sebae Sasa et al. (2009)
Storeria dekayi Burger and Smith (1950)
Class Aves
Feathers Picado (1931)
Feathers Barbour and Loveridge
(1929) (2,3)
Unidentified passerines (feathers) Sasa et al. (2009)
Cantorchilus [Thryothorus] Boada et al. (2005)
nigricapillus
Eucometis penicllata Moody (2015)
Troglodytes Hertz et al. (2009)
Volantinia jacarina Sasa et al. (2009)
Class Mammalia
Hair Sexton and Heatwole (1965)
Mammalian hair Kuch et al. (2004)
Small marsupials Picado (1931)
Full-grown opossum March (1928)
Caluromys derbianus Hirth (1964)
Didelphis Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
Didelphis marsupialis Greene and Hardy (1989)
Didelphis marsupialis Mole (1924) (1'2'3)
Philander Campbell (1998)
Philander opossum Sasa et al. (2009)
Rat sized rodent Kuch et al. (2004)
Muridae Kuch et al. (2004)
Heteromys Campbell (1998)
Heteromys desmarestianus Sasa et al. (2009)
Melanomys caliginosus Sasa et al. (2009)
Mus musculus Sasa et al. (2009)
Mus musculus Correa Sanchez et al (1998)
Mus musculus Tryon (1985)
Oligoryzomys fulvescens Sasa et al. (2009)
Oryzomys Sasa et al. (2009)
Proechimys semispinosus Segovia-Nunez et al. (2014)
Proechimys semispinosus Sasa et al. (2009)
Rattus rattus Buttenhoff and Vogt (1995)
Rattus rattus Buttenhoff and Vogt (1997)
Rattus rattus "probably" Hirth (1964)
Sigmodon hirsutus Sasa et al. (2009)
Sigmodon peruanus Kuch et al. (2004)
Wood Rat [Neotoma] Mole (1924) (1)
Coendou rothschildi Segovia-Nunez et al. (2014)
Sylvilagus brasiliensis Greene and Hardy (1989)
Skunks Picado (1931)
Cryptotis parva This study
(a) Reference: fide Murphy (1997); fide Campbell and Lamar (2004);
fide Sasa et al. (2009).
(b) Scavenged.
(c) Attempted.
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Title Annotation: | Notes |
|---|---|
| Author: | Farr, William L.; Lazcano, David |
| Publication: | Southwestern Naturalist |
| Article Type: | Report |
| Geographic Code: | 1MEX |
| Date: | Mar 1, 2017 |
| Words: | 5466 |
| Previous Article: | Protozoal hepatitis in a western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). |
| Next Article: | Landscape-level habitat use and movement patterns of black bears in northeastern Arizona. |
| Topics: | |