Snakes from the Cerrado: an illustrated guide

• Grant number: 15/08923-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Books published in Brazil
• Start date: October 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Otavio Augusto Vuolo Marques
• Grantee: Otavio Augusto Vuolo Marques
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The guide includes a total of 135 snakes from the Cerrado region illustrated by 185 color photographs. Ontogenetic variation and polymorphisms of color pattern are illustrated. Information on morphology (body and tail size, mass and dentition), habitat use (daily activity and substrate), diet (main items), reproductive mode (oviparous or viviparous), defensive tactics and risk of serious envenomation is provided for each species. Snakes are clustered by color in order to facilitate searches by the readers. The guide includes a text on the Cerrado and an introductory text on snake natural history. The guide also includes information on other elongate vertebrates and on other Cerrado reptiles. At the end of the guide readers will find taxonomic comments about the relevant species. Finally, there is a list of all the snakes recorded in the Cerrado, complemented by information on vegetation types used by each species. (AU)