Contribuições ao estudo da história natural da suaçuboia Corallus hortulana (Serpentes: Boidae), em uma unidade de conservação na Floresta Atlântica de Pernambuco, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Studies on the natural history of species form the basis of knowledge about biodiversity, brings information on the population structure, sexual maturation, sexual reason, fecundity and habitat use. The project aimed to obtain information on the natural history of C. hortulana in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in the Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos (PEDI), a Conservation Unit. Data collections occurred from October 2015 to July 2017 bimonthly and from April 2019 to September 2021 monthly, with active research, using time-limited viewing, occasional encounter, and third-parties collection. After collection, morphometry was performed, marking and release of the animal. 29 individuals of C. hortulana were recorded over the 50-month period, 18 females and 10 males and an unspecified individual. The specimens were found in three substrate types: buildings (54.29%) vegetation (28.57%) and soil (17.14%). Individuals above 1200 mm foraged in buildings, larger animals (1400 mm) were observed on the soil substrate and different sizes (1040 mm a 1811 mm) in the vegetation. Of the 31 encounters with active animals, 19 were found during the morning, nine in the afternoon and three at night, this may point us to the point that perhaps the species is not exclusively active in the night shift. A fight between two males has been documented, the record of male body fighting and the recapture of one of these individuals in copulation, as well as the observation of animals found and recaptured in the same locality may indicate to territoriality. There were seven animals recapture. A copulation and a court were recorded. PEDI has the potential for more studies to be developed with Corallus hortulana, there are few researches on its natural history and information like this is of great value for the conservation of the species and its habitat, a long- term study may allow more gaps to be filled in about your life history.