Siphlophis cervinus Laurenti, 1768

De Alencar, Arília Aiarsa Laura R. V. & Martins, Marcio, 2013, Natural History Of Pseudoboine Snakes, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (19), pp. 261-283 : 274-275

Siphlophis cervinus Laurenti, 1768

Distribution: Siphlophis cervinus is distributed throughout the Amazon Forest, in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, as well as in Trinidad and Tobago and Panama ( Hoge & Nina, 1969; Cunha & Nascimento, 1978, 1993; Duellman, 1978, 2005; Gasc & Rodrigues, 1980; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Nascimento et al., 1987; Pérez-Santos & Moreno, 1988; Silva, 1993; Murphy, 1997; Barrio et al., 1998; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Prudente et al., 1998; Zaher & Prudente, 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; Frota et al., 2005; Maschio, 2008; Silva et al., 2010).

Habitat and time of activity: This small, slender pseudoboine (maximum SVL = 990 mm; Barrio et al., 1998) inhabits forests, and appears to be restricted to undisturbed habitats ( Duellman, 1978, 2005; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Nascimento et al., 1987; Silva, 1993; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Maschio, 2008; Maschio, unpublished data; M. Sena, unpublished data; F. Stender, unpublished data). It is nocturnal (N = 12; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Duellman, 2005; Santos-Costa, 2003; Maschio, 2008; Maschio, unpublished data; M. Sena, unpublished data) and semi-arboreal (arboreal data: N = 9; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Duellman, 2005; Maschio, 2008; Maschio, unpublished data; M. Sena, unpublished data; terrestrial data: N = 4; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Santos-Costa, 2003; F. Stender, unpublished data).

Feeding: Siphlophis cervinus is a lizard specialist (N = 31, one Iguania, one Plica sp. , one Plica umbra , one Polychrus marmoratus , two Tropidurus sp. , three tropidurids, one Bachia trinasale , one gymnophthalmid, three scincids, three Thecadactylus rapicaudus , two Gonatodes humeralis , two Gonatodes sp. , one Hemidactylus mabouia , one Hemidactylus sp. ), although it can also feed on snakes (N = 5), and occasionally on amphibians (N = 1) Duellman, 1978; Nascimento et al., 1987; Cunha & Nascimento, 1993; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Prudente et al., 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Maschio, 2008; M. Martins & E. Oliveira, unpublished data). Prudente et al. (1998) found a bat in the stomach of a S. cervinus specimen ( Myotis sp. ).

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from three to six eggs (N = 5, mean = 4.9; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; this study). The smallest mature female was 643 ( SVL; this study) and the smallest mature male was 518 ( SVL; this study) .

Defense: Acording to Martins & Oliveira (1998), when handled S. cervinus does not bite, may thrash the body, and forms tight balls with the head hidden within body coils.