Open AccessTHE THE FIRST DOCUMENTED PREY ITEMS FOR Bothrops medusa (STERNFELD, 1920)
Author(s) -
Tristan D. Schramer
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
revista latinoamericana de herpetología
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2594-2158
DOI - 10.22201/fc.25942158e.2019.1.38
Subject(s) - arboreal locomotion , endangered species , herpetology , natural history , biology , predation , ecology , zoology , range (aeronautics) , habitat , materials science , composite material
The Venezuelan forest pitviper (Bothrops medusa) is an endangered viperid endemic to the central range of the Cordillera de la Costa in Venezuela. Little is known regarding its natural history. We examined the stomach contents of museum specimens housed in the University of Illinois Museum of Natural History Herpetology Collection and report the first prey items for the species. The arboreal habits of both prey items support the notion that B. medusa may be semi-arboreal. This exposes the need for further studies on this rare viperid and showcases the value of natural history collections for studying endangered species.