Clelia plumbea Wied, 1820

De Alencar, Arília Aiarsa Laura R. V. & Martins, Marcio, 2013, Natural History Of Pseudoboine Snakes, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (19), pp. 261-283 : 264

Clelia plumbea Wied, 1820

Distribution: Clelia plumbea is distributed throughout Brazil and in Paraguay ( Silva, 1993; Lema, 1994; Zaher, 1996; Marques, 1998; Argôlo, 2004; Hartmann, 2005; Morato, 2005; Pizzatto, 2005; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; França et al., 2006; Cicchi et al., 2007; Kunz, 2007; Condez et al., 2009). Additionally, there are known records for Paraguay and northeastern Argentina (Scott Jr. et al., 2006).

Habitat and time of activity: This is the largest pseudoboine (maximum SVL = 2790 mm, female; Pizzatto, 2005). It occurs mainly in forests ( Silva, 1993; Marques, 1998; Argôlo, 2004; Morato, 2005; S. Morato, unpublished data; M. Sena, unpublished data) and can be found in disturbed areas ( Argôlo, 2004; Kunz, 2007). Clelia plumbea is terrestrial (N = 8; Marques, 1998; Argôlo, 2004; Hartmann, 2005; Bernarde & Abe; 2006; M. Sena, unpublished data) and predominantly nocturnal (N = 13; Nascimento et al., 1987; Marques, 1998; Hartmann, 2005). It can also be found active during the day (N = 7; Argôlo, 2004; Morato, 2005; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Kunz, 2007; M. Sena, unpublished data).

Feeding: C. plumbea is a snake specialist (N = 14, Atractus pantostictus , Drymarchon corais , one Echinantera undulata, Echinantera sp., one Spilotes pullatus , Micrurus lemniscatus , Bothrops jararaca , B. jararacussu , one Bothrops sp. ), but lizards (N = 3, one Ameiva sp. , one Ophiodes fragilis , one Gonatodes sp. ) and small mammals (N = 2, one rodent, one Metachirus nudicaudatus ) can also be found ( Cunha & Nascimento, 1978; Marques, 1998; Pinto & Lema, 2002; Bernarde, 2004; Morato, 2005; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; this study).

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from four to 29 eggs (mean = 12.6 eggs, N = 14; Pizzatto, 2005; this study) and this species presents a continuous reproductive cycle ( Pizzatto, 2005). Additionally, Pizzatto (2005) found a significant sexual size dimorphism in snout-vent length for C. plumbea , where females attain larger body size than males. The smallest mature female was 1125 mm SVL (this study) and the smallest mature male was 1035 mm SVL ( Pizzatto, 2005).