Description of the antipredatory head-wobble behaviour in Chilean rear-fanged snakes Tachymenis peruviana Wiegmann, 1835 and Tachymenis chilensis coronellina Werner, 1898 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)

Abstract

In this work, we describe the first records of head-wobble behaviour for Tachymenis peruviana and T. chilensis coronellina. We analyse this behaviour (occurrence, frequency) and accompanying displays in both species. Of particular note is that T. ch. coronellina exhibited more frequent head-wobbling than T. peruviana and, in both records, wind activity was observed during this antipredatory behaviour.

The first record of leucism in the Rhabdophis tigrinus (Boie, 1826) (Squamata, Colubridae) in South Korea

“…Based on its body pattern and morphological characteristics, this abnormal individual was identified as R . tigrinus , while the characteristics of its abnormal color variation (i.e., body, eyes, and tongue) suggested that it was leucistic (Lobo & Sreepada, 2016 ; Urra et al., 2021 ). Another normal R .…”

“…In fact, our observed individual was also found near a stagnant pond. However, the implications of these rare phenotypes for the metabolism, thermoregulation, and environmental fitness of affected individuals remain largely unknown (Urra et al., 2021 ). Therefore, further studies are needed to understand the impact of these abnormal phenotypes on the species and their natural history.…”

“…Especially, we confirmed that the snake was during the process of ecdysis (Figure 2b). Based on its body pattern and morphological characteristics, this abnormal individual was identified as R. tigrinus, while the characteristics of its abnormal color variation (i.e., body, eyes, and tongue) suggested that it was leucistic (Lobo & Sreepada, 2016;Urra et al, 2021). Another normal R. tigrinus individual observed in the same location was greenish overall, with black spots across its entire body and a black tongue (Figure 2c,d).…”