Drepanoides anomalus Jan, 1863

De Alencar, Arília Aiarsa Laura R. V. & Martins, Marcio, 2013, Natural History Of Pseudoboine Snakes, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (19), pp. 261-283 : 265

Drepanoides anomalus Jan, 1863

Distribution: Drepanoides anomalus is distributed throughout the Amazon basin ( Cunha & Nascimento, 1978, 1993; Duellman, 1978, 2005; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Vanzolini, 1986; Silva, 1993; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Vidal et al., 1999; Yuki et al., 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Maschio, 2008; Prudente et al., 2010; Silva et al., 2010; Ávila & Kawashita-Ribeiro, 2011; Bernarde et al., 2011).

Habitat and time of activity: Drepanoides anomalus is a small pseudoboine (maximum SVL = 662 mm, female; Martins & Oliveira, 1998) that inhabits forests ( Cunha & Nascimento, 1978; Duellman, 1978, 2005; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Vanzolini, 1986; Silva, 1993; Vidal et al., 1999; Yuki et al., 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; Bernarde, 2004; Bernarde & Abe, 2006) and can occasionally be found in their surroundings ( Duellman, 1978; Dixon & Soini, 1986). This semi-arboreal snake (terrestrial observations: N = 10; Duellman, 1978, 2005; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Vidal et al., 1999; Yuki et al., 1999; Santos-Costa, 2003; arboreal observations: N = 5; Vanzolini, 1986; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Duellman, 2005; R. Recoder, unpublished data) is nocturnal (N = 11; Duellman, 1978, 2005; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Vidal et al., 1999; Yuki et al., 1999; R. Recoder, unpublished data) and can occasionally be found active during the day (N = 2; Vanzolini, 1986; Santos-Costa, 2003).

Feeding: Drepanoides anomalus is a lizard egg specialist (N = 9; seven Gonatodes spp. , two unidentified) that occassionaly eats lizards (N = 2) ( Cunha & Nascimento, 1978; Dixon & Soini, 1986; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Santos-Costa, 2003; Bernarde, 2004; Duellman, 2005; Bernarde & Abe, 2006; Maschio, 2008; Silva et al., 2010; M. Martins, unpublished data).

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from two to four eggs (N = 9, mean = 2.3 eggs; Martins & Oliveira, 1998; this study). Duellman (2005) reports one clutch with 13 eggs for D. anomalus from Cuzco, Peru. However, due to the small size of this species and the large sample gathered here, we believe that this may be an error. The smallest mature female was 461 + 124 mm ( SVL + TL, this study) and the smallest mature male was 422 + 153 mm ( SVL + TL; this study).

Defense: When handled, D. anomalus tries to escape, can thrash the body, and discharge cloacal secretions ( Martins & Oliveira, 1998; Yuki et al., 1999; Maschio, 2008).