Descrição do comportamento reprodutivo de Bothrops pauloensis (Serpentes, Viperidae) em cativeiro

Abstract

Snakes is carried out through random field records, studies of specimens from scientific collections and data generated in captivity. The maintenance of venomous snakes in captivity at the Butantan Institute is important due to the production of immunobiologicals and toxinology research at the Institute or at other research centers. The black faced lancehead (Bothrops pauloensis) is an endemic viper of the Brazilian cerrado, present in seasonally dry open savannas. This study aimed to describe the behavior of courtship and copulation of B. pauloensis in captivity. During the months of June to August in 2019, seven copulation attempts were made, in which the behaviors of couples of trios of animals (one female and two males) were recorded in a breeding arena (115x65x60 cm). The female was placed in the arena 30 minutes after the presence of the males. The next day, the animals were separated, from the arena and then the female to perform the vaginal secretion collection (exfoliative cytology) (an examination where material is collected from the female's vagina, smearing and staining the slides and as well as the elaboration of photomicrographs to check for the presence of sperm. Three females obtained positive swabs with sperm on the slides. During the court, one of the males became interested in the female to do the reconnaissance and stimulate the copulation, the other male eventually moved away and hid under the cardboard in the arena. During the court, "head-rise", "mount" and "tail quiver" movements were observed. These mating behaviors are typical and have been described in other neotropical viperids, such as B. erythromelas. In short, B. pauloensis exhibited ritualistic behavior at the time of reproduction similar to that described for other Bothrops. The best period for copulation was during the month of July, during which the females were more receptive.