Are snake populations in widespread decline?

Reading, C. J.; Luiselli, Luca; Akani, Godfrey C.; Bonnet, Xavier; Amori, Giovanni; Ballouard, Jean-Marie; Filippi, Ernesto; Naulleau, Guy; Pearson, David; Rugiero, Lorenzo

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0373

Cited by 251 publications

(170 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Recently reported local declines in snake and lizard populations (Cagle, 2008;Reading et al, 2010;Sinervo et al, 2010) suggest localised elevated extinction risks for both taxa. While we estimate that about one in five lizard species is threatened with extinction, only 12% of snakes were estimated to be threatened with extinction.…”

Section: Extinction Risk Of the World's Reptilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Böhm

Collen

Baillie

et al. 2013

Biological Conservation

717

500

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Section: Extinction Risk Of the World's Reptilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Böhm

Collen

Baillie

et al. 2013

Biological Conservation

717

500

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“…There is no evidence of a regional decline in any taxon, although distributional information for many species is poor. Recent concerns about the decline of lizard (Sinervo et al 2010) and snake (Reading et al 2010) species elsewhere in the world, however, highlight the problems in determining population trends and the accurate assessment of the conservation status of cryptic reptiles.…”

Section: Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herpetological assemblages of the Pilbara biogeographic region, Western Australia: ecological associations, biogeographic patterns and conservation

Doughty¹,

Rolfe²,

Burbidge³

et al. 2011

Rec West Aust Mus Sup

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-The Pilbara region has one of the most diverse reptile assemblages in the world and includes many typical arid zone species as well as many saxicoline endemics. We present the results of a four-year survey of the region during which pitfall trap lines were used to sample 297 quadrats for a total of two weeks in spring and in autumn. The quadrats were located across the region and were chosen to sample the main substrate types. Environmental variables were measured to characterise the soil as well as the geomorphic, vegetative and climatic setting of each quadrat. We used the program PATN to expose patterns in species composition among quadrats, and in relation to the environmental variables.A strong signal for community structure emerged that was linked to surface type. Broad rock, clay, sand and loam categorisations seemed to explain most assemblage composition, with climatic variables showing only weak infl uence. However, many taxa occurred across several surface types, refl ecting the close juxtaposition of habitats within the region, wide dispersion of some taxa, and perhaps the infl uence of recent environmental history including anthropogenic changes.Examination of biogeographic characteristics of the species groups indicated strong endemism for taxa that preferred rocky substrates. In addition, many saxicoline Pilbara taxa have ranges that extend south into rocky areas of the Gascoyne, western Murchison and adjacent areas. Sandy habitats similar to those found in the Pilbara are widespread across Australia's arid zone, and accordingly few endemic taxa showed a preference for sandy surface types, and taxa with such preferences have distributions extending far beyond the Pilbara. The sandy areas of the coastal plain in the Roebourne subregion contained many taxa from Dampierland and the Great Sandy Desert to the north and north-east, as well as some taxa from the rich sand-adapted fauna of the Carnarvon region to the south. Some endemic taxa are associated with clay in the region, although clay surfaces were not as extensive as the rocky, loamy and sandy surfaces. Species associated with the fi ne-textured soils of the mulga woodlands in the southern part of the region appear to be an extension of herpetofaunal communities of regions to the south.Herpetofauna composition at the regional scale appears to have persisted, and patterns discerned in our analysis appear robust, despite the changes that have accompanied European colonisation in the Pilbara, including pastoralism, changed fi re regimes, weeds, introduced animals, mining and infrastructure. However, the existing reserve system does not adequately capture the region's herpetofaunal diversity, especially the endemic taxa in the Fortescue and Roebourne subregions, and there are likely to have been changes in community composition at the local level.

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“…Although there is no consensus among herpetologists about this aspect in relation to snakes, some believe they are disappearing throughout the world (Mullin and Seigel, 2009). The reason for this lack of consensus is the dearth of studies about snake populations (Reading et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of injuries caused by anthropic action in snakes from Brazil

et al. 2015

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Human behavior toward wild animals is defined by cultural influences and often is affected by lack of knowledge, mainly in situations of confrontation. The present study was conducted between 2008 and 2013, involving analysis of snakes that had suffered injuries belonging to the reptile collections of Centro Universitário de Lavras and Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. The injuries were classified according to location on the body. Among the 449 specimens analyzed, 245 specimens showed injury to some part of the body. The nonvenomous snakes were the most representative and had a higher rate of injury (66.3%) than the venomous ones (18.2%). The body region where the greatest percentage of injuries was recorded was the anterior (39.6%), followed by the middle (36.5%) and posterior (8.4%). We believe this fact may have resulted due the lack of knowledge on how to differentiate species. Studies of the relationship between schooling level and contact with environmental education activities demonstrate reduction of attacks on these animals. This fact indicates that the preservation of many species is related to awareness and education of the population.Keywords: conservation of natural resources, environmental education, injuries, snakes. Avaliação das lesões causadas pela ação antrópica em serpentes do BrasilResumo O comportamento humano para com os animais selvagens é definido por influências culturais e muitas vezes é afetado por falta de conhecimento, principalmente em situações de confronto. Podendo levar à matança indiscriminada, consequentemente a um estado de declínio. O presente estudo foi realizado entre 2008 e 2013, envolvendo a análise de serpente que sofreram lesões pertencentes às coleções de répteis do Centro Universitário de Lavras e Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. As lesões foram classificadas de acordo com a localização no corpo. Entre os 449 espécimes analisados, 245 mostram lesões. As serpentes não peçonhentas foram as mais representativas e apresentaram uma maior taxa de lesão (66,3%) do que os peçonhentos (18,2%). A região do corpo onde ocorreu a maior percentagem de lesões registada foi a anterior (39,6%), seguido pelo meio (36,5%) e posterior (8,4%). Acreditamos que este fato pode ter resultado devido a falta de conhecimento sobre como diferenciar espécies. Estudos sobre a relação entre nível de escolaridade e contato com atividades de educação ambiental demonstram redução dos ataques a esses animais. Este fato indica que a preservação de muitas espécies está relacionado à conscientização e educação da população.Palavras-chave: conservação de recursos naturais, educação ambiental, injúrias, serpentes.

show abstract

Are snake populations in widespread decline?

Cited by 251 publications

References 20 publications

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Herpetological assemblages of the Pilbara biogeographic region, Western Australia: ecological associations, biogeographic patterns and conservation

Evaluation of injuries caused by anthropic action in snakes from Brazil

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