Semi-natural environments within cities can provide habitats for vulnerable reptile species. Better understanding of their habitat use and home range sizes is important for their conservation. We ...investigated the spatial ecology of Caspian whipsnakes (
) in a peri-urban habitat in Budapest, Hungary. We used radiotelemetry to track five adult snakes and analyzed their microhabitat preferences, home range sizes and daily movements. The Caspian whipsnakes intensively utilized areas covered with woody vegetation, with a high density of hibernacula. The tracked snakes used an area of 40.15 ha during the activity period from spring to autumn, but for the winter, they withdrew to a central area of 1.75 ha, abundant in hibernacula. During the activity period the individual home range sizes varied between 6.1 and 15.5 ha, estimated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP); however, for the entire datasets of the individuals, the adaptive kernel method gave the highest mean (13.8 ha), while the LoCoH-R yielded the smallest home ranges (5.19 ha). We found that the average daily displacement for the different individuals ranged between 12.6 and 36.6 m during their main activity season. In the study area, the whipsnakes currently have enough space for foraging, but the restricted spatial distribution of hibernacula, which is mainly available in the central dry rocky forest and partly in the shrubby areas, can limit the extent of the suitable habitat. Human activities and anthropogenic disturbances, especially around hibernacula, may exert pressure on this peri-urban snake population.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Snakeborne Armillifer pentastomiasis is an emerging human parasitic infection in rural tropical areas where snake meat is eaten. After a series of severe ocular A. grandis larval infections and ...anecdotal abdominal infection in Sankuru District, Democratic Republic of the Congo, during 2014-2015, we systematically investigated possible pentastomid etiology in patients who underwent surgery in the region. Histologic and molecular analyses by established pentastomid 18S rDNA- and newly developed Armillifer-specific cytochrome oxidase PCRs revealed larval pentastomid lesions in 3.7% of patients. Some persons had A. armillatus and A. grandis co-infections. Another pentastomid larva, Raillietiella sp., was molecularly detected in 1 patient who had concomitant A. grandis and A. armillatus infection. The PCRs used were suitable for detecting pentastomid species even in highly necrotic tissues. Phylogenetic analyses of Armillifer cytochrome oxidase genes detected multiple local strains.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Across the distribution of the Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius), populations have become increasingly disconnected due to habitat alteration. To understand population dynamics and this ...widespread but locally endangered snake’s adaptive potential, we investigated population structure, admixture, and effective migration patterns. We took a landscape-genomic approach to identify selected genotypes associated with environmental variables relevant to D. caspius. With double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing of 53 samples resulting in 17,518 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we identified 8 clusters within D. caspius reflecting complex evolutionary patterns of the species. Estimated Effective Migration Surfaces (EEMS) revealed higher-than-average gene flow in most of the Balkan Peninsula and lower-than-average gene flow along the middle section of the Danube River. Landscape genomic analysis identified 751 selected genotypes correlated with 7 climatic variables. Isothermality correlated with the highest number of selected genotypes (478) located in 41 genes, followed by annual range (127) and annual mean temperature (87). We conclude that environmental variables, especially the day-to-night temperature oscillation in comparison to the summer-to-winter oscillation, may have an important role in the distribution and adaptation of D. caspius.
We report a recent case of common adder (Vipera berus) envenoming causing paralytic signs and symptoms. A 12-year-old girl was bitten by the nominate subspecies of the common adder (V. berus berus) ...in eastern Hungary on May 2, 2012, 22 km away from where the first neurotoxic V. berus berus envenoming was reported in 2008. The patient developed unambiguous cranial nerve disturbances, manifested in bilateral impairment characterized by oculomotor paralysis with partial ptosis, gaze paresis, and diplopia. Drowsiness and photophobia were her additional symptoms; both occurred only during the first day of envenoming. Until now among viper envenomings in Europe, photophobia has only been documented by victims of Vipera aspis. Supportive and symptomatic treatments were administered during 3 days of hospitalization. Although case reports of V. berus berus envenomings are often published, clinical experience with neurotoxicity by this subspecies still remains rare. Population-based and geographic variation of venom composition in V. berus berus seems to include neurotoxic envenomings in certain populations. This second authenticated case provides new clinical evidence for the existence of a possible neurotoxic V. berus berus population in a restricted geographical area in eastern Hungary.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
African pythons (Pythonidae) and large vipers (
Bitis
spp.) act as definitive hosts for
Armillifer armillatus
and
Armillifer grandis
parasites (Crustacea: Pentastomida) in the Congo Basin. Since the ...proportion of snakes in bushmeat gradually increases, human pentastomiasis is an emerging zoonotic disease. To substantiate the significance of this threat, we surveyed snakes offered for human consumption at bushmeat markets in the Kole district, Democratic Republic of the Congo, for the presence of adult pentastomids. In
Bitis
vipers (
n
= 40),
Armillifer
spp. infestations exhibited an 87.5% prevalence and 6.0 median intensity. Parasite abundance covaried positively with viper length, but not with body mass. In pythons (
n
= 13),
Armillifer
spp. exhibited a 92.3% prevalence and 3.5 median intensity. The positive correlations between parasite abundance and python length or mass were statistically nonsignificant. Ninety-one percent of
A. grandis
were discovered in vipers and 97% of infected vipers hosted
A. grandis
, whereas 81% of
A. armillatus
specimens were found in pythons and 63% of infected pythons hosted
A. armillatus.
Thus, challenging the widespread notion of strict host specificity, we found ‘reversed’ infections and even a case of coinfection. In this study, we also gathered information about the snake consumption habits of different tribal cultures in the area. Infective parasite ova likely transmit to humans directly by consumption of uncooked meat, or indirectly through contaminated hands, kitchen tools or washing water.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Eye size is interesting in snakes because in most species body length differs between the sexes, while the eye’s performance depends on its absolute size. So, does the smaller sex see less well? We ...hypothesized that eye sexual mensural dimorphism (SMD) would be smaller than Body SMD. We found among 26 snake populations that body length SMD was female biased in 47.6% and male biased in 38.1% of samples. Often the larger sex’s head was further enlarged but the SMD of absolute eye size was mitigated or annulled by the smaller sex’s eye being enlarged within the head, and the head enlarged relative to the body. Overall generally the SMD of eye size was smaller than body SMD. This accords with a hypothesis that eye size affects the evolution of head size and its SMD, both reflecting and emphasizing that absolute eye size is functionally important. Although Colubridae exceed Viperidae in length, Viperidae have larger eyes in absolute terms. In Colubridae the females have larger eyes and in Viperidae the males have larger eyes. Additionally we examine to what extent SMD in different characters is correlated, and briefly review other aspects of SMD, including some aspects of Rensch’s rule.
A study of 353 museum specimens of the Echis coloratus complex from its entire range of distribution revealed an undescribed species in the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman. The results of ...UPGMA clustering and principal coordinate analysis of 138 male and 142 female specimens yielded for both sexes two major clusters, one with specimens from the UAE and northern Oman and one from southern and western Arabia, the Levant and Egypt. The new species has a longer tail with higher subcaudal counts; the lower prenasal scale is often missing and the upper prenasal is frequently fused with the nasal; the subnasal is often missing or fused with the nasal. The gular scales between the chin-shield and the preventrals are round or only slightly elongate, not elongate as in Echis coloratus, and their number is higher. Other differences in characters of the gular area indicate a different scale structure of the ventral surface of the head. The new species is allopatric or parapatric with E. coloratus, but sympatric with Echis carinatus sochureki.
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Geographic variation of morphological characters was studied in the Levantine populations of the Echis coloratus complex. Multivariate analyses of morphological characters showed that within the ...Levant the northern and southern populations differ in overall morphology. The exact nature of the contact zone between the two groups is unclear. The difference between the two populations may be the result of separate phylogenetic history or of different selective regimes of two ecologically different biogeographic regions. The samples from the southern Levant and from continental Egypt resemble that from the type locality of E. coloratus s.l., therefore these populations are assigned to the typical subspecies Echis coloratus coloratus. The northern Levantine population is recognized at the subspecies level on the basis of its phenetic difference from the southern Levantine population. The new subspecies Echis coloratus terraesanctae n. ssp. differs from the parapatric E. coloratus coloratus in its lower ventral count and higher number of dorsal scale rows on all sections of the body, in its relatively larger eyes and in colour pattern. It occurs in the central and northern Dead Sea basin, the Jordan Valley and their western slopes East of the watershead. From the southern Dead Sea basin it penetrates the Negev, where it probably composes a hybrid swarm with E. c. coloratus. The study of its distribution in Jordan needs further effort.
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Consequences of bites by the Common adder (Vipera berus) were reviewed in this study. Patients bitten by snakes from different populations may develop variable symptoms due to geographical venom ...variation. The correct diagnosis of snake bites and the knowledge of the distribution of venomous snake taxa have a crucial impact on snake bite therapy. The characteristic symptoms of patients bitten by V. berus in Hungary are highlighted. The habitat characteristics, seasonal activity and the Hungarian distribution of the adder are described based on literature data, museum specimens and field observations. However, envenomings are uncommon in Hungary, the annual 3 to 4 incidents have to be taken seriously, regardless of the age and actual health condition of the patients. Contrary to beliefs persisting both among laymen and professionals, the venom of V. berus is powerful. Medical observation of the patients is necessary in the first 5 to 6 hours. Any systemic symptom or progression of the edema requires hospital admission.
Variation in the primarily East African snake genus Micrelaps (Atractaspididae) was investigated in the southern Levant (mainly Israel) from museum specimens and some photographs. The fossorial M. ...muelleri Boettger, 1880, hitherto considered rare, inhabits the mesic Mediterranean zone (n=82). Its usual colour pattern is a variable number of black and yellow rings but two rare longitudinally striped morphs also occur. Sexual dimorphism, hitherto unknown, affects pholidosis, proportions and colour pattern. A new species, M. tchernovi Werner, is described (n=6) from the semi-arid Irano-Turanian zone in the central Jordan Valley. It differs mainly in colour characters, having black saddles rather than rings. The distinction of the two species is verified using Principal Coordinates Analysis. Their relationships with the African members of the genus are briefly discussed.
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