Siphlophis compressus Daudin, 1803

De Alencar, Arília Aiarsa Laura R. V. & Martins, Marcio, 2013, Natural History Of Pseudoboine Snakes, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (19), pp. 261-283 : 275-276

Siphlophis compressus Daudin, 1803

Distribution: Siphlophis compressus is mainly distributed in the Amazon Forest in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as in the Atlantic Forest of eastern and northeastern Brazil ( Beebe, 1946; Hoge, 1967; Fitch, 1970; Cunha & Nascimento, 1978, 1993; Duellman, 1978; Gasc & Rodrigues, 1980; Riley & Winch, 1985; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Silva, 1993; Murphy, 1997; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Prudente et al., 1998; Yuki et al., 1999; Zaher & Prudente, 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; Argôlo, 2004; Neckel-Oliveira & Gordo, 2004; Frota et al., 2005; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Maschio, 2008; Prudente et al., 2010; Silva et al., 2010; Ávila & Kawashita-Ribeiro, 2011; Guedes et al., 2011; Vilela et al., 2011).

Habitat and time of activity: Siphlophis compressus seems to be the largest species of the genus Siphlophis (maximum SVL = 1229 mm, female; this study). It appears to be restricted to forested areas ( Duellman, 1978; Silva, 1993; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Starace, 1998; Yuki et al., 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; Argôlo, 2004; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Maschio, 2008; P. Bernarde, unpublished data; M.P. Gaiarsa, unpublished data; G. Maschio, unpublished data; M. Sena, unpublished data). It is a semi arboreal species found both on the ground (N = 18; Murphy, 1997; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Maschio, 2008; P. Bernarde, unpublished data; G. Maschio, unpublished data; S. Morato, unpublished data; M. Sena, unpublished data) and on the vegetation (N = 10; Duellman, 1978; Murphy, 1997; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Yuki et al., 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; M.P. Gaiarsa, unpublished data; S. Morato, unpublished data). Siphlophis compressus is a nocturnal species (N = 19; Duellman, 1978; Murphy, 1997; Yuki et al., 1999; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Bernarde, 2004; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Maschio, 2008; G. Maschio, unpublished data; M.P. Gaiarsa, unpublished data; S. Morato, unpublished data), although sporadically it may be found active during the day (N = 4; Murphy, 1997; Maschio, 2008; G. Maschio, unpublished data; S. Morato, unpublished data). There are additional data regarding habitat and microhabitat of S. compressus (N = 11 terrestrial and N = 4 arboreal) available in Argôlo (2004); however these data were not included in the synthesis above because it is not clear whether the individuals found were active.

Feeding: Siphlophis compressus is a lizard specialist (N = 25, one Anolis sp. , one Plica plica , two Kentropyx sp. , two teiids, one Alopoglossus sp. , one Neusticurus sp. , three gymnophthalmids, two Gonatodes humeralis , 12 n. i.; Duellman, 1978; Murphy, 1997; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Maschio, 2008; G. Maschio, unpublished data; M. Martins & E. Oliveira, unpublished data; L.J. Vitt, unpublished data), although there are two records of snakes as prey ( Alemu & Rowley, 2008; Maschio, 2008).

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from three to 12 eggs (N = 12, mean = 6.2; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; this study). The smallest mature female was 728 mm SVL (this study) and the smallest mature male was 514 mm SVL (this study) .

Defense: When handled, this species may rotate and/or trash the body and head, make an s-coil, strike with the mouth closed (false strikes), and vibrate the tail; it does not bite ( Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Maschio, 2008).