Oxyrhopus trigeminus Duméril

De Alencar, Arília Aiarsa Laura R. V. & Martins, Marcio, 2013, Natural History Of Pseudoboine Snakes, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (19), pp. 261-283 : 270

Oxyrhopus trigeminus Duméril ,

Bibron & Duméril, 1854

Distribution: Oxyrhopus trigeminus is distributed throughout Brazil ( Hoge et al., 1972; Hoge et al., 1976 /77; Cordeiro & Hoge, 1973; Cunha & Nascimento, 1983; Vitt & Vangilder, 1983; Rodrigues, 2003; Carvalho et al., 2005; Frota et al., 2005; Rocha et al., 2005; Vaz-Silva et al., 2007; L.J. Vitt, unpublished data; this study).

Habitat and time of activity: This moderate-sized pseudoboine (maximum SVL = 860 mm, female; this study) inhabits open areas ( Carvalho et al., 2005; Vaz-Silva et al., 2007; M. Sena, unpublished data; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data). It is predominantly terrestrial (N = 26; Rocha et al., 2005; Pereira-Filho, 2007; M. Sena, unpublished data; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data), but C. Strüssmann (unpublished data) reports one individual on the vegetation and another active in the water. Oxyrhopus trigeminus may be active both during the day (N = 6; Pereira-Filho, 2007) and night (N = 8; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data).

Feeding: O. trigeminus is a diet generalist that feeds mainly on lizards (N = 17, one Tropidurus hispidus , four Tropidurus torquatus , three Tropidurus sp. , three Ameiva ameiva , three Cnemidophorus occelifer , one scincid, two Hemidactylus mabouia ) and small mammals (N = 11, five Necromys lasiurus , two Oligoryzomys sp. , one Akodon sp. , one Nectomys squamipes , two unidentified rodents, one Didelphis albiventris ) ( Cunha & Nascimento, 1983; Vitt & Vangilder, 1983; Ávila-Pires, 1995; Rocha et al., 2005; Alencar et al., 2012; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; this study). In addition, Alencar et al. (2012) reported three birds (one Synallaxis sp. , one Coryphospingus ) and Vitt & Vanglier (1983) reported one lizard egg.

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from two to 12 eggs (N = 14, mean = 7.9; Vitt & Vangilder, 1983; Alencar et al., 2012; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; this study). The smallest mature female was 536 mm ( SVL, this study) and the smallest mature male was 439 mm SVL ( Alencar et al., 2012).

Defense: Pereira-Filho (2007) reports that when handled O. rhombifer can trash the body and expel cloacal gland products.