ow sexual differences affect locomotor performance and metabolism of the Sword Snake: An integrated view from energetic

Autor(es)

Lima-Santos, J. ^[1] ; Carvalho, J. E. ^{[1, 2]} ; Brasileiro, C. A. ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Programa P osgrad Ecol & Evolucao, Diadema, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolutiva, Diadema, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY; v. 315, n. 2, p. 149-155, OCT 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

In snakes, behavioral differences between sex and body size can positively influence locomotor performance and metabolic rate. Evidence suggests that larger body size can positively influence the locomotor performance of snakes and affect the metabolic rate of individuals. However, the influence of sexual variation on locomotor performance may not be entirely explained by the variation in body morphology, but also by sexual behavior. Herein, we investigated the locomotor performance, resting metabolic rate, and enzyme activities in the biochemical metabolic pathways of the sexually dimorphic snake Tomodon dorsatus. We used 20 females and 14 males to measure the sprint speed as a proxy for locomotor performance and oxygen consumption to assess the metabolic rate. We also measured the maximum activity of the enzymes: lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase in the intercostal skeletal muscle, liver, and heart. Individual snout-vent length was related to tail length, body mass, and sex but was not with the maturity. Males of T. dorsatus are faster than females, and sprint speed and oxygen consumption were found to not be correlated. Males also had higher metabolic rate, while enzyme activities were similar in males and females. These results contributed to understanding the sexual variation in the reproductive behavior of T. dorsatus. Although the results on locomotor performance do not support the hypothesis that locomotion in the species is favored by sexual dimorphism, the increased locomotor performance in males can be explained by courtship behavior. On the other hand, sexual dimorphism and smaller body size can explain the increased metabolic rates in males. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 20/12962-5 - Um olhar sobre a heterogeneidade dos habitats: como a fisiologia e o comportamento de lagartos tropiduríneos permitiram a ocupação de florestas e ambientes abertos?
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