serpens volume 1 i number 1 - orianne society

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serpens Volume 1 I Number 1

Welcome to the first newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Boa & Python Specialist Group (BPSG) –

serpens.

The BPSG started in August 2011, and since then it has concentrated on developing the group

by appointing core members and working on its corporate image. The BPSG is currently

focusing on the significant trade in Southeast Asian pythons, but hopes to encourage and act as

a focal point for all researchers working on the natural history and conservation of boa and

python species worldwide. The BPSG welcomes you and your colleagues to send us any project

news, reports, recent publications, and photos. Sharing your valued efforts with the BPSG

allows us to document and promote research and conservation work on our focal species.

Finally, thank you to all those members who contributed to the first serpens!

Jessica Lyons, BPSG serpens Editor

FROM THE EDITOR

Green python Morelia viridis

An arboreal species of

python distributed

throughout the Island of

New Guinea and a small

area in Northern Australia.

Juveniles are born either

‘brick’ red or ‘banana’

yellow and later change to

‘lime’ green (above). The

green python is the symbol

for the BPSG.

THIS ISSUE

From the Editor From the BPSG Chair Boas and pythons in the news From the Orianne Society Recent scientific publications Book review Upcoming Events BPSG Committee

© Daniel Natusch

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s e r p e n s Vol. 1 I No. 1

FROM THE BPSG CHAIR

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Serpens is a bi-yearly newsletter produced

and distributed by the IUCN/SSC Boa &

Pythons Specialist Group (BPSG). The

newsletter provides information on the

conservation, status, and news concerning

boas and pythons. Current events, such as

scientific research, workshops, and fieldtrips

are also detailed in the newsletter.

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Serpens is distributed to the BPSG members

and to other interested individuals and

organizations twice a year in January and

July. The newsletter is free, and will be

available to download online at the BPSG

website. Visit the BPSG on Facebook to keep

up to date with the group. If you would like

to assist with fundraising efforts for the

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The establishment of the IUCN/SSC

Boa & Python Specialist Group satisfies

a long-standing personal desire, but

more importantly fulfills an overdue

necessity considering the threats these

species face. Boas and pythons are

widely distributed in tropical and

subtropical regions of the world,

however, clear-cutting of forests,

substitution of natural habitats by

crops and infrastructure, introduced

predators and competitors,

international trade, and climate change,

threaten their survival globally. Most

taxa known to be at risk are relatively

small, inhabiting insular or restricted

habitats, and severely affected by

habitat destruction and invasive

species. On the other hand, a number

of charismatic species are in high

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demand for their skins for the fashion

industry. For many of these species,

scientists and institutions have to cope

with the attention of public opinion and

are challenged with the elusive issue of

sustainability. However, this should not

be a task for individuals. Therefore, the

BPSG has been created with the aim of

bringing together scientists and

conservationists from around the world

to foster global conservation actions

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and to influence the decision-making

process regarding the conservation of

these fascinating creatures. Needless to

say, Serpens is an open channel for your

contributions, views and remarks. I hope

readers share my view that the

contribution of Jess Lyons, the Editor, in

proposing and designing Serpens serves

as an example of the proactive spirit we

need within the BPSG.

BOAS AND PYTHONS IN THE NEWS

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HA NOI – The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recently released an announcement outlining the prohibition of importing several species of pythons into the United States, including the python molurus bivittatus, which is being bred for export in Viet Nam. According to the announcement, four species of pythons, including the eunectes notaeus, python molurus, python natalensis and python sebae, are

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considered as "harmful wild animals" by the US. The announcement specifies prohibition in the import of live specimens, including their sperm, eggs and hybrid specimens into the US, and the transport of these animals through the US to other countries. The import of dead specimens and products made from the parts of dead pythons, however, are not prohibited. Following the announcement, the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and

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Rural Development yesterday requested departments in cities and provinces to send relevant announcements about the US's new regulation to facilitate adjustments of company production plans. Local departments were also requested to conduct more inspections and supervision in the breeding and trading of wild animals to prevent violations of Vietnamese laws and CITES rules.

Viet Nam News 13/04/2012

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BPSG or wish to make a donation to the

group’s conservation initiatives, please

contact Guillermo Adrián Puccio at

[email protected]


FROM THE ORIANNE SOCIETY WWW.ORIANNESOCIETY.ORG

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Exploring the Python

Dichotomy

A tale of two populations: Burmese

pythons of Bangladesh may be

dwindling in their native

environment while thriving as

invaders half a world away in the

Everglades

By Shahriar Caesar Rahman

Burmese pythons (Python molurus

bivittatus) in the Florida Everglades have

been the subject of intensive scientific

study and media scrutiny in recent

years as concern grows about their

impact as invaders. It is suspected that

the non-native pythons pose a serious

threat to native ecosystems in Florida,

not just in their current range but far

beyond. The impact of pythons and

their potential range expansion in other

parts of the United States is not clearly

understood, partly because of a lack of

knowledge concerning their ecology and

behavior in their native range. A half a

world away, Burmese pythons remain

one of the least-studied python species

on the planet. Despite their tremendous

popularity in the pet industry, Burmese

pythons in native Asia are something of

a mystery. Drastically understudied in

almost all aspects of their biology, very

little is known about the Burmese

python, their ecology, and natural

history in Asia. Published knowledge on

the ecology and behavior of free-ranging

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Burmese pythons in their native range

is limited to studies of their basking and

breeding behavior in Keoladeo National

Park, Rajsthan, India; a 24-day radio

telemetric study of a single individual in

Hong Kong; and incidental natural

history observations. Detailed field

study on Burmese pythons is long

overdue. With that in mind, our

research team embarked on a field

study of Burmese pythons in

Bangladesh's Lawachara National Park

in May of 2011 with initial financial

support from The Orianne Society and

The Explorers Club.

Both subspecies of Asian rock pythons,

Indian Python (Python molurus molurus)

and Burmese Python (Python molurus

bivittatus), occur in Bangladesh. Once

common throughout the country,

pythons are now fragmented into small

and disjunct populations. They are now

mostly found in the Sundarban

mangrove forest in the southwest and

the mixed-evergreen forests in the

northeast and southeast of the country.

Habitat destruction is one major cause

of their decline. Indiscriminate killing —

out of fear or for consumption — is

another.

Lawachara National Park, a 1,250

hectares mixed-evergreen forest,

located in the northeast of Bangladesh,

falls within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity

Hotspot, which supports some of the

most unique and diverse biota on the

planet. Most of the original forest cover

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has been altered or substantially

removed by rotation since the early

1900s, with only some small, remnant

patches of primary forest left inside the

park. During our first year of study, we

conducted intensive field surveys in this

forest-plantation mosaic landscape to

collect baseline data on the python

population and create a base for a

longer-term ecological study. Our

research team also spent hundreds of

hours in the field and systematically

documented more than 500 individual

snakes and identified 35 snake species

from Lawachara National Park and the

surrounding tea estates. Several of the

snake species were recorded for the

first time from Bangladesh. Despite the

adversity herpetofauna may be facing—

from indiscriminate killing, road

mortality, deforestation, and

degradation of the habitat—Lawachara

appears to be a snake hotspot in this

region. Surrounded by tea plantations

and human habitats on almost all sides,

Lawachara pythons are

opportunistically captured and

consumed by the indigenous tribal

people living adjacent to the forest.

Pythons are also often found on the tea

estates, particularly in porcupine and

pangolin burrows.

During our survey, we found an

abandoned python nest as well as four

python hatchlings in different parts of

the tea plantation, indicating that

pythons use the plantation areas for

breeding purposes. This summer, we


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Asia

Southeast

The International Trade Centre (ITC), in

collaboration with the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered

Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) is

analysing the trade in python skins with

the aim to strengthen the sustainability

of the trade through engagement with

the fashion industry. Currently, python

skins are used for high-end accessories

like handbags and shoes. International

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supply chains that source animal and

plant products in a manner which does

not ensure the legality and

sustainability of such sourcing may be

contributing to the overexploitation of

certain species. The study will examine

the legal and illegal trade of pythons

and highlight best practices in

managing sustainable supply chains.

See http://www.intracen.org/analyzing-

trade-in-wildlife/ for more information.

Central

‘The Snakes of Sri Lanka: A Coloured

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Atlas’ by Anslem de Silva provides an

introduction to snakes of Sri Lanka and

lists the most updated (up to May

2009) provisional checklist of snakes of

Sri Lanka. If you wish to purchase a

copy, please contact Vijitha Yapa

Bookshop at [email protected]

Oceania

Jessica Lyons is completing a Master of

Science at the University of New South

Wales, Sydney, Australia. Her thesis is

on the on the global trade of the green

python (Morelia viridis).

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plan to implant radio transmitters and

miniature temperature loggers on

several adult pythons to collect data on

movement, ranging patterns, and

thermal preference of free-ranging

pythons. One of our future research

objectives is to answer some important

scientific questions: How do pythons

react to thermal variation

throughout the year? How much

time do they spend basking in

winter, and do they use different

areas of their activity range in cool

months versus warm months? How

does thermal biology affect

detection probability?

The knowledge gained from this

study could be crucial for many

reasons. Any information that

sheds lights on the natural history

and ecology of pythons could provide

knowledge to help understand their

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impact on the Everglades and potential

range expansion in North America.

Our study site in Bangladesh is at

nearly the same latitude as southern

Florida, which could allow for the

collection of useful comparative data to

help understand the invasion process.

Also, Burmese pythons are considered

Endangered in much of their native

REGIONAL FOCUS

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range. The lack of basic information

makes conservation and management

decisions difficult at best, and possibly

inappropriate. Collecting information

about their home-range size, habitat

use, thermoregulatory behavior (e.g.

basking) and other aspects of life

history will be vital for conservation and

management of this species in

Bangladesh or anywhere in their

native range.

Shahriar works for the Department of

Environmental Science, Independent

University, Bangladesh and Center for

Advanced Research in Natural

Resources and Management

(CARINAM), Bangladesh.


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In press

Ecology and conservation of the

endemic Turks Island Boa

(Epicrates c. chrysogaster:

Serpetes: Boidae) on Big

Ambergris Cay

Reynolds, R.G. and Gerber, G.P. (in

press). Journal of Herpetology

Shortened abstract — The boid genus

Epicrates contains ten species in the West

Indies, several of which are listed as

threatened or endangered, while the status

of the others remains unknown. Little is

known about Turks Island Boas (E.

chrysogaster chrysogaster), a subspecies of

the Southern Bahamas Boa endemic to the

Turks and Caicos Islands, and no published

ecological studies exist for this subspecies. A

long history of human habitation, greatly

exacerbated by exponentially increasing

development in the last several decades,

appears to be threatening the remaining

populations of these boas. However, a lack of

basic ecological information is holding back

conservation efforts. Here we report on the

first multi-year ecological study of Turks

Island Boas, focusing on an important

population located on the small island of Big

Ambergris Cay in the southeastern margin of

the Caicos Bank. Encounter rates of up to

3.5 snakes per person hour make this

population especially easy to study, and a

total of 249 captures were made, 11 of

which were recaptures. We provide basic

natural history information including size,

color pattern, girth, body temperature,

abundance, diet, activity, diurnal refuge

selection, and population size, as well as

clarify the known distribution and conservation concerns of this species.

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The consequences of alternative

paternal care tactics in free-

ranging pythons in tropical

Australia

Stahlschmidt, Z.R., Shine, R. and

DeNardo, D.F. (in press). Functional

Ecology

Shortened abstract — Life-history theory

attributes the evolution of parental care to

the benefits to offspring viability outweighing

any costs to parental viability. However, the

consequences of parental care tactics to

parent(s) and the developmental

environment have seldom been measured

under field conditions. Laboratory research

on pythons shows that maternal nest-site

selection and egg brooding benefit embryos,

but prolonged nest attendance may impose

fitness costs to free-ranging females. A

population of water pythons (Liasis fuscus) in

tropical Australia provides an excellent

opportunity to examine this parent–offspring

trade-off because females exhibit parental

care polymorphism wherein some individuals

brood their eggs only briefly (<10 days) post-

oviposition (‘short brooders’) while others

remain with their eggs throughout the

incubation period (>50 days; ‘long

brooders’). We used radiotelemetry,

temperature and humidity data loggers,

ultrasonography, haematological techniques,

and habitat analyses to examine the

correlates and consequences of maternal

nesting decisions in 14 free-ranging female

pythons over the 4-month reproductive

season. Nest-site selection and maternal

attendance enhanced thermal and hydric

regimes within the nest. Egg production by

reproducing female pythons resulted in high

energetic costs (loss of 60% of maternal

body mass) and increased parasite load.

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2012

Genetic evidence of a recent

successful colonization of

introduced species on islands: Boa

constrictor imperator on Cozumel

Island

Vázquez–Domínguez, E., Suárez–

Atilano, M., Booth, W., Gonzáles–Baca,

C. and Cuarón, A.D. (2012). Biological

Invasions doi:10.1007/s10530-012-

0217-x

Shortened abstract — Only one study has

described the population genetic structure of

Boa constrictor imperator and only in a single

naturally colonized island. B.c. imperator, a

snake with a naturally wide distribution

across the Neotropics, was introduced to

Cozumel Island, Mexico, in 1971. At present,

it is one of the most abundant, widely

distributed, terrestrial vertebrate on the

island. We analyzed the genetic diversity and

structure, based on seven microsatellite loci,

of 76 individuals of B.c. imperator from

Cozumel. We also included 96 samples from

different localities across mainland Mexico,

to review the potential origin of the founder

individuals. We identified two genetically

differentiated populations on Cozumel that

showed moderate levels of genetic diversity

(H o = 0.590–0.620), with a low but

significant level of genetic structure (F

ST = 0.032). Individuals were highly

unrelated (71 %) and the majority of genetic

variation was distributed within individuals

(84 %). We detected a signal of reduction in

population size and evidence of genetic

bottleneck.

RECENT SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS


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Snake modulates constriction in

response to prey's heartbeat

Boback, S.M., Hall, A.E., McCann, K.J.,

Hayes, A.W., Forrester, J.S. and

Zwemer, C.F. Biology Letters doi:

10.1098/rsbl.2011.1105

Shortened abstract — Many species of

snakes use constriction—the act of applying

pressure via loops of their trunk—to subdue

and kill their prey. Constriction is costly and

snakes must therefore constrict their prey

just long enough to ensure death. However, it

remains unknown how snakes determine

when their prey is dead. Here, we

demonstrate that boas (Boa constrictor) have

the remarkable ability to detect a heartbeat

in their prey and, based on this signal,

modify the pressure and duration of

constriction accordingly. We monitored

pressure generated by snakes as they struck

and constricted warm cadaveric rats

instrumented with a simulated heart. Snakes

responded to the beating heart by

constricting longer and with greater total

pressure than when constricting rats with no

heartbeat. When the heart was stopped

midway through the constriction, snakes

abandoned constriction shortly after the

heartbeat ceased. Furthermore, snakes naive

to live prey also responded to the simulated

heart, suggesting that this behaviour is at

least partly innate.

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Population structure and gene flow

of the Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes

notaeus) in Northern Argentina

McCartney-Melstad, E., Waller, T.,

Micucci, P.A., Barros, M., Draque, J.,

Amato, G. and Mendez, M. (2012).

PLoS ONE 7(5): e37473

Shortened abstract — Yellow anacondas

(Eunectes notaeus) are large, semiaquatic

boid snakes found in wetland systems in

South America. These snakes are

commercially harvested under a sustainable

management plan in Argentina, so

information regarding population structuring

can be helpful for determination of

management units. We evaluated genetic

structure and migration using partial

sequences from the mitochondrial control

region and mitochondrial genes cyt-b and

ND4 for 183 samples collected within

northern Argentina. A group of landscape

features and environmental variables

including several treatments of temperature

and precipitation were explored as potential

drivers of observed genetic patterns. We

found significant population structure

between most putative population

comparisons and bidirectional but

asymmetric migration in several cases.

Temporal and spatial complexity of

maternal

thermoregulation in

tropical pythons

Stahlschmidt, Z.R.,

Shine, R. and DeNardo,

D.F. (2012). Physiological

and Biochemical Zoology

85(3), 219-230

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Shortened abstract — Parental care is a

widespread adaptation that evolved

independently in a broad range of taxa.

Although the dynamics by which two parents

meet the developmental needs of offspring

are well studied in birds, we lack

understanding about the temporal and

spatial complexity of parental care in taxa

exhibiting female-only care, the predominant

mode of parental care. Thus, we examined

the behavioral and physiological mechanisms

by which female water pythons Liasis fuscus

meet a widespread developmental need

(thermoregulation) in a natural setting.

Although female L. fuscus were not

facultatively thermogenic, they did use

behaviors on multiple spatial scales (e.g.,

shifts in egg-brooding postures and surface

activity patterns) to balance the thermal

needs of their offspring throughout

reproduction (gravidity and egg brooding).

Maternal behaviors in L. fuscus varied by

stage within reproduction and were mediated

by interindividual variation in body size and

fecundity.

Digital near-infrared photography

as a tool in forensic snake skin

identification

Baker, B.W., Reinholz, A.D., Espinoza,

E.O. (2012). The Herpetological Journal

22(2), 79-82

Shortened abstract — This project

demonstrates that near-infrared (NIR)

imaging with an alternate light source (ALS)

and digital photography are useful tools for

revealing and documenting original dorsal

skin patterns found on dyed snake leather

products in the wildlife trade. We used an

Omnichrome Spectrum 9000+ ALS at NIR

wavelengths of 700 nm to reveal dorsal

patterns on a tanned and dyed reticulated

python skin (Python reticulatus) submitted for

forensic analysis. Under NIR imaging, this

© Scott Boback


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pattern was easily photographed using a

Fujifilm Finepix IS-Pro digital camera

designed specifically for forensic ultraviolet

(UV) and infrared (IR) photography. These

methods have great potential for species

identification based on highly modified

animal products (such as dyed snake

leather), thus contributing to CITES

enforcement efforts.

Ecological attributes and trade of

the white-lipped pythons (Genus

Leiopython) in Indonesian New

Guinea

Natusch, D.J.D. and Lyons, J.A. (2012).

Australian Journal of Zoology 59(5),

339-343

Shortened abstract — White-lipped pythons

(WLPs) (Genus Leiopython) have been

collected from the wild in Indonesian New

Guinea and exported for the pet trade since

at least 1977. Despite the long duration of

trade and recent taxonomic work recognising

six different species, virtually nothing is

known of the trade dynamics or ecology of

these species. Surveys of wildlife traders in

Indonesian New Guinea and measurement of

122 WLPs provides the first information on

trade and ecological attributes of the two

most commonly traded species, L. albertisii

and L. hoserae. Both species exhibit broadly

similar ecological attributes; however, L.

hoserae has a longer and wider head than L.

albertisii. WLP prey mainly on mammals,

although smaller snakes were found to feed

on lizards. Reproduction appears to be

seasonal with oviposition and hatching

occurring in the summer months between

December and March. Most trade was in L.

albertisii and although traders differentiated

between the two species on the basis of

colour, both were traded under the name L.

albertisii.

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venomous snakes inhabiting most of

continental Australia and a small area of New

Guinea. They have been relatively well

studied in Australia, but little is known about

the New Guinea population, even though it is

harvested and exported from Indonesia for

the international pet trade. In total, 281

locality records were compiled for two

distinct populations south of latitude 7°S in

Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian

province of Papua. Traders in Papua

collected 274 carpet pythons (most of which

were recently hatched neonates) for the pet

trade. Data from a sample of 174 individuals

revealed little sexual dimorphism in any

traits, although males appear to grow larger

than females despite females maturing at

greater lengths. Fecundity was high (average

17 eggs) and reproduction was highly

seasonal, with hatching in December and

January.

2011

Conservation implications of rapid

shifts in the trade of wild African

and Asian pythons

Luiselli, L., Bonnet, X., Rocco, M. and

Amori, G. (2011). Biotropica

doi: 10.1111/j.1744-

7429.2011.00842.x

Shortened abstract — Pythons are harvested

for the international leather industry and pet

trade. We analyzed the CITES export records

(1999–2008) of the most intensively

commercialized wild pythons (Python

regius,Python sebae,Python reticulatus,Python

molurus,Python curtus species complex) from

African and Asian countries where reliable

data on trade rates and ecology are

available. Mean declared annual numbers of

exported pythons were 30,000 in five African

countries and 164,000 in Indonesia. Trade

intensity tripled in Indonesia over the last

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Tree hollows are of conservation

importance for a Near-Threatened

python species

Bryant, G.L., Dundas, S.J. and Fleming,

P.A. (2012). Journal of Zoology 286 (1),

81-92

Shortened abstract — Understanding

microhabitat requirements for species

vulnerable to anthropogenic threats can

provide important information to

conservation managers. This may be

particularly true for ectotherms, where

behaviour and physiology (e.g. digestion,

responsiveness and activity patterns) are

strongly influenced by thermal conditions of

microhabitat retreat sites. Retreat sites

selected by southwest carpet pythons

(Morelia spilota imbricata) were identified

through radio tracking 46 pythons over 3

years. Tree hollows appear to be a very

important resource for pythons: 61% (22 of

36 individuals tracked over winter) used tree

hollows as retreat sites (56% of all

observations in winter), and remained in

hollows for an average of 124 ± 49 (range 34

to 210) days. If pythons did not use tree

hollows over winter, they found refuge in one

of four alternative microhabitats: low

vegetation cover (26% of winter

observations), ground cover (10%), on tree

branches (6%) or in hollow logs on the

ground (2%).

Distribution, ecological attributes

and trade of the New Guinea carpet

python (Morelia spilota) in

Indonesia

Natusch, D.J.D. and Lyons, J.A. (2012).

Australian Journal of Zoology 59(4),

236-241

Shortened abstract — Carpet pythons

(Morelia spilota) are medium-sized non-


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decade, but declined in Africa. African

international trade is exclusively associated

with the pet market (mainly United States

and Europe), whereas Asian pythons are sold

mostly for luxury leather, albeit more

recently also for the pet trade. A negative

correlation between the annual numbers of

pythons traded in Africa vs. Asia suggests a

rapid and recent shift of the pressure exerted

on wild populations in the two main

exporting continents.

Unexpected shallow genetic

divergence in Turks Island Boas

(Epicrates c. chrysogaster)

reveals single evolutionarily

significant unit for conservation

Reynolds, R.G., Gerber, G.P. and

Fitzpatrick (2011). Herpetologica 67,

477-486

Shortened abstract — The Turks Island Boa

(Epicrates c. chrysogaster) is endemic to the

Turks and Caicos Islands and is currently

known from only 11 islands. The subspecies

has likely been extirpated from several

islands in its historic range, and all

remaining populations are threatened with

extirpation owing to habitat loss, introduced

feral predators, malicious killing, and vehicle

strikes. To assist conservation efforts, we

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undertook a genetic analysis of 53 individual

E. c. chrysogaster, representing five island

populations, with the goal of identifying

existing population structure and genetic

diversity. For each snake sampled, we

sequenced one mitochondrial and two

nuclear genes, resulting in 1591 bp of

sequence, and screened nine microsatellite

loci.

Wildlife through breeding farms:

Illegal harvest, population declines

and a means of regulating the

trade of the green python (Morelia

viridis) from Indonesia

Lyons, J.A. and Natusch, D.J.D. (2011).

Biological Conservation 144, 3073-

3081

Shortened abstract — Wildlife breeding

farms have been promoted to aid biodiversity

conservation by alleviating the pressure of

harvest on wild populations. There is,

however, growing concern that many

breeding farms are being used to launder

illegally caught wildlife. Surveys of wildlife

traders in the Indonesian provinces of

Maluku, West Papua and Papua were

conducted between August 2009 and April

2011 to assess the trade of the green python

(Morelia viridis), the species currently

exported in the largest

numbers from Indonesia

declared as captive-bred. In

total, 4227 illegally collected

wild green pythons were

recorded during surveys and

high levels of harvest were

found to have depleted and

skewed the demographics of

some island populations.

Snakes were traced from their

point of capture to breeding

farms in Jakarta where they

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are to be exported for the pet trade,

confirming the reports of wildlife laundering.

Extrapolation of monthly collection estimates

provided by traders revealed that at least

5337 green pythons are collected each year,

suggesting that at least 80% of the green

pythons exported from Indonesia annually

are illegally wild-caught.

Species Delimitation in the

Continental Forms of the

Genus Epicrates (Serpentes,

Boidae) Integrating

Phylogenetics and Environmental

Niche Models

Rivera, P.C., Cola, V.D., Martı´nez, J.J.,

Gardenal, C.N. and Chiaraviglio, M.

(2011). PLoS ONE 6(9): e22199.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022199

Shortened abstract — Until recently, the

genus Epicrates (Boidae) presented only one

continental species, Epicrates cenchria,

distributed in Central and South America,

but after a taxonomic revision using

morphologic characters five species were

recognized: E. cenchria, E. crassus, E. maurus,

E. assisi, and E. alvarezi. We analyzed two

independent data sets, environmental niche

models and phylogeny based on molecular

information, to explore species delimitation

in the continental species of this genus. Our

results indicated that the environmental

requirements of the species are different;

therefore there are not evidences of

ecological interchangeability among them.

There is a clear correlation between species

distributions and the major biogeographic

regions of Central and South America. Their

overall distribution reveals that allopatry or

parapatry is the general pattern. These

evidences suggest that habitat isolation

prevents or limits gene exchange among

them. © Jessica Lyons


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REVIEW

Invasive pythons in the United States: Ecology of an introduced predator

Mike Dorcas and John D. Willson

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Most people think of pythons as giant

snakes in distant tropical jungles, but

Burmese pythons, which can reach

lengths of over twenty feet and weigh

over two hundred pounds, are now

thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly

kept as pets and presumably escaped

or were released in the Everglades.

Pythons are now common in this region;

widespread throughout hundreds of

square miles, they are breeding and

appear to be expanding their range.

Pythons are voracious predators that

feed on a variety of native wildlife

including wading birds, bobcats, white-

tailed deer, and even alligators. Their

presence has drawn dramatic media

attention and stoked fears among the

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public that pythons may threaten not

just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern,

information on pythons has been

limited to a few scientific publications

and news coverage that varies widely in

fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons

in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas

and John D. Willson provide the most

reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically

grounded information on invasive

pythons. Filled with over two hundred

color photographs and fifteen figures

and maps, the book will help general

readers and the scientific community

better understand these fascinating

animals and their troubling presence in

the United States.

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Features information on:

• General python biology

• Biology of Burmese pythons in

their native range

• Research on pythons in the United

States

• History and status of introduced

pythons in Florida

• Risks pythons pose in Florida and

elsewhere

• Methods to control python

populations, and

• Other boas and pythons that may

become or are already established

in the United States

Reviews and images from Amazon.com, Inc.

http://www.amazon.com

“This meticulously researched

and profusely illustrated work

shines a spotlight on the

dangers caused by introduction

of non-native pythons into

South Florida while providing a

comprehensive account of what

we know about the ecology of

Burmese pythons, both in the

United States and in their

native range. This book will be

of considerable interest to a

wide range of readers including

scholars, researchers, outdoors

people, wildlife enthusiasts,

and those concerned about the

environmental and human

threats posed by this invasive

species in the United States."

Russell A. Mittermeier

President, Conservation International, and

Vice President, IUCN


UPCOMING EVENTS

West Indian Boa Group Meeting in Puerto Rico 2013

We would like to host a meeting held at the Universidad Interamericanan de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in September 2013 for researchers interested in West Indian and Latin American boids. If you are interested in attending such a meeting or joining a Caribbean / Latin American boid group please contact:

Dr. R. Graham Reynolds, University of Massachusetts, Boston at [email protected]

© R. Graham Reynolds

Right: Five years and counting of research on the Turks Island Boa (Epicrates c. chrysogaster) in collaboration with Glenn Gerber of the San Diego Zoo.

IUCN World Conservation Congress 2012

The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the world’s largest and most important conservation event. Held every four years, the Congress aims to improve how we manage our natural environment for human, social and economic development. The 2012 World Conservation Congress will be held from 6 to 15 September 2012 in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Leaders from government, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, business, UN agencies and social organizations will discuss, debate and decide solutions for the world’s most pressing environment and development issues.

The Congress starts with a Forum where IUCN members and partners discuss cutting edge ideas, thinking and practice. The Forum leads into the IUCN Members’ Assembly, a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs. Effective conservation action cannot be achieved by conservationists alone. The 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress is the place to put aside differences and work together to provide the means and mechanisms for good environmental governance, engaging all parts of society to share both responsibilities and the benefits of conservation.

The Congress has two components: - A Forum where IUCN members and partners discuss cutting edge ideas, thinking and practice. - A Members’ Assembly, which is a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs.

Please visit http://www.iucnworldconservationcongress.org/ for more information.

© R. Graham Reynolds

© R. Graham Reynolds and Albert R. Puente-Rolón

Left: Work continues on the ecology and genetics of the Puerto Rican Boa (Epicrates inornatus).

s e r p e n s Vol. 1 No. 1

Jessica Lyons BPSG serpens Editor

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School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science

University of New South Wales, Australia

[email protected]

Mark Auliya Red List Authority Focal Point Department of Conservation Biology, Helmholtz

Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Germany

[email protected]

Fundación Biodiversidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina

[email protected]

Tomás Waller BPSG Chair

Guillermo Adrián Puccio BPSG Executive Officer Fundación Biodiversidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina

[email protected]

BPSG COMMITTEE

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization. Founded in 1948, its six Commissions unite thousands of volunteer experts from a range of

disciplines. The Species Survival Commission (SSC), to which the BPSG belongs, is the largest of them with approximately 9,000 members distributed in more than 130 groups. SSC advises the Union on the technical

aspects of species conservation and mobilizes action for those species threatened with extinction.

serpens volume 1 i number 1 - orianne society

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