Echinanthera cephalostriata Di-Bernardo, 1996

enezes, Frederico de Alcantara, Abegg, Arthur Diesel, Silva, Bruno Rocha da, ranco, Francisco Luis & Feio, Renato Neves, 2018, Composition and natural history of the snakes from the Parque Estadual da Serra do Papagaio, southern Minas Gerais, Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil, ZooKeys 797, pp. 117-160 : 117

Echinanthera cephalostriata Di-Bernardo, 1996

Natural history notes.

Species of small size (n = 2), predominantly diurnal, terrestrial and cryptozoic ( Marques et al. 2001). Feeds on anurans ( Marques et al. 2001, Forlani et al. 2010). In September, a female was found in the early afternoon (12:00 h), inside a bromeliad ( Aechmea aiuruocensis Leme) on the forest floor. In its digestive tract, we found a Physalaemus olfersii (Lichtenstein & Martens, 1856) (ingested by the leg), and three anuran eggs. Moura-Leite et al. (2003) recorded a specimen with 32 anuran eggs in the stomach. The second individual, another female, was found resting during the day. The record was made in November, at the forest edge, near a swamp area. This individual had ingested three Physalaemus jordanensis Bokermann, 1967 (two were ingested head-first and the last by the leg). Pontes et al. (2008) found E. cephalostriata only in primary and secondary forests. The presence of P. jordanensis (found in PESP just in open area marshes, F. Menezes pers. obs.) as prey of E. cephalostriata , indicates this snake also forages in open areas and lentic environments. Reproduction data of the species are scarce. The female collected in September (SVL = 490 mm; TL = 210 mm) presented nine vitellogenic follicles. Fiorillo (2016) refers to a female from Iguape, with eight vitellogenic follicles in November. No defensive behavior was observed for this species.

Altitudinal variation.

Found at altitude minimum of sea level from Santa Catarina coast to Rio de Janeiro and maximum of 1610 m a.s.l. in Campos do Jordão, SP ( Bérnils 2009). The maximum altitude for this species is recorded here, with two individuals found at 1730 m a.s.l.. Bérnils (2009) mentioned that more than 80% of the toponyms come from hill and plateau areas. Although the distribution range is concentrated in mountains and plateau areas, this species is also frequent in lower altitudes (see Hartmann 2005, Fiorillo 2016).

Distribution and habitat.

Northeast, southeast, and southern Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and São Paulo) ( Wallach et al. 2014). Occurs in dense and mixed ombrophilous forest formations, as well as in semi-deciduous forests ( Di-Bernardo 1996, Bérnils 2009).