Clelia clelia (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 : 263-264

Clelia clelia (Daudin, 1803)

Distribution: Clelia cleia is the most widely distributed pseudoboine. It occurs from Mexico to Argentina, except for Chile ( Abalos et al., 1964; Duellman, 1978; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Campbell, 1998; Zaher, 1996; Scott Jr. et al., 2006; Cisneros-Heredia et al., 2007; Silva et al., 2010; M. Martins, unpublished data; this study).

Habitat and time of activity: Clelia clelia is the second largest pseudoboine (maximum SVL = 2398 mm, male; this study) and occurs mainly in forested areas ( Duellman, 1978, 2005; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Vanzolini, 1986; Murphy, 1997; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; McCranie & Castañeda, 2005; Maschio, 2008). It is primarily terrestrial (N = 12; Duellman, 1978; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Murphy, 1997; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Maschio, 2008), but it was also found in the water (N = 2; Duellman, 1978, 2005); furthermore, it is able to climb trees (N = 2, Teixeira et al., 1991; Duellman, 2005). One individual was found active in the leaf litter of a terra-firme forest ( Martins & Oliveira, 1998). Clelia clelia is primarily nocturnal (N = 12; Duellman, 1978; Campbell, 1998; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Maschio, 2008), but it can also be found in activity during the day (N = 6; Duellman, 1978, Teixeira et al., 1991; Santos-Costa, 2003; Maschio, 2008).

Feeding: Clelia clelia is a generalist species that feeds primarily on snakes (N = 20; Boa constrictor, Drepanoides anomalus , Helicops angulatus , Xenodon sp. , one Viperidae ) but also consume lizards (N = 11; Basiliscus vittatus , Tropidurus sp. , Ameiva sp. , Tupinambis sp. , two teiids; Nesticurus sp.), small mammals (N = 8) and birds (N = 1, Troglodytes aedon ) ( Beebe, 1946; Duellman, 1978, 2005; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Yanosky et al., 1996; Campbell, 1998; Starace, 1998; Vaughan & Ruiz-Gutierrez, 2006; this study). Additionally, M. Martins & M.E. Oliveira (unpublished data) encountered four snake eggs in the gut of one specimen of C. clelia from the state of Pará.

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from nine to 22 eggs (mean = 12.6 eggs, N = 6; Duellman, 1978; Martínez & Cerdas-Fallas, 1986; Strüssmann, 1992; Savage, 2002; Maschio, 2008). The smallest mature female was 973 mm SVL ( Duellman, 2005) and the smallest mature male was 650 mm SVL ( Pizzatto, 2005). Pizzatto (2005) found no difference in SVL between males and females.

Defense: When handled, C. clelia may constrict and expel cloacal gland products ( Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Maschio, 2008).