The Role of Feeding Specialization on Post-Prandial Metabolic Rate in Snakes of the Genus Bothrops

Author(s)

Stuginski, Daniel Rodrigues ^[1] ; Navas, Carlos Arturo ^[2] ; de Barros, Fabio Cury ^[3] ; Grego, Kathleen Fernandes ^[1] ; Martins, Marcio ^[2] ; de Carvalho, Jose Eduardo ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Butantan, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCE; v. 35, n. 4, p. 373-381, AUG 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Feeding specialization is a recurrent issue in the evolution of snakes and is sometimes associated to morphological and/or behavioral adaptations that improve snake performance to exploit a particular food type. Despite its importance for animal fitness, the role of physiological traits has been much less studied than morphological and behavioral traits in the evolution of feeding specialization in snakes. In this context, the energetic cost of post-prandial period is an important physiological factor due to the remarkable effect on the snake energy budget. We collected data on post-prandial metabolic rate (SDA) in five species of pit vipers from the genus Bothrops with different degrees of mammal feeding specialization to test the hypothesis that feeding specialist species have lower energy costs during the digestion of their regular food item when compared to species with a more generalist diet. Our results support this hypothesis and suggest that ontogenetic changes in diet can be accompanied by changes in energy cost of the digestion process. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/50206-9 - Origin and evolution of snakes and their diversification in the Neotropics: a multidisciplinary approach
• Grantee: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/57898-0 - National Institute of Science and Technology on Toxins
• Grantee: Osvaldo Augusto Brazil Esteves Sant'Anna
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/57712-4 - The National Institute of Comparative Physiological Research
• Grantee: Augusto Shinya Abe
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/57687-0 - Effects of global climate change of the Brazilian fauna: a conservation physiology approach
• Grantee: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants