Oxyrhopus rhombifer 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 : 269-270

Oxyrhopus rhombifer Duméril,

Bibron & Duméril, 1854

Distribution: Oxyrhopus rhombifer occurs in central to northern Argentina, southern to northeastern Brazil, as well as in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Uruguay ( Abalos et al., 1964; Cordeiro & Hoge, 1973; Cunha & Nascimento, 1983; Veja & Bellagamba, 1990; Vuoto, 1995; Yanosky et al., 1996; Achaval & Olmos, 1997; Avila & Morando, 1999; Argôlo & Freitas, 2000; Valdujo & Nogueira, 2001; Alvarez et al., 2002; Arzamendia & Giraudo, 2002; Maschio & Di-Bernardo, 2002; Vidal, 2002; Maschio et al., 2004; Leynaud & Bucher, 2005; Gallardo & Scrocchi, 2006; França et al., 2006; Kacoliris et al., 2006a,b; Ribeiro, 2007).

Habitat and time of activity: This moderate-sized pseudoboine (maximum SVL = 958 mm, female; Giraudo, 2001) occurs mainly in open areas, but can also be found in forests ( Cechin, 1999; Kacoliris, 2006a,b; Ribeiro, 2007; Sawaya et al., 2008; S. Morato, unpublished data; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data). It is a terrestrial species (N = 20; Di-Bernardo, 1998; Ribeiro, 2007; Sawaya et al., 2008; S. Morato, unpublished data; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data), but Sawaya et al. (2008) reported two individuals on the vegetation approximately 20 cm above the ground. Oxyrhopus rhombifer is mainly nocturnal (N = 19; Cechin, 1999; Sawaya et al., 2008; S. Morato, unpublished data; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data), but can also be found active during the day (N = 8; Cechin, 1999; Sawaya et al., 2008; C. Strüssmann, unpublished data; P. Valdujo, unpublished data).

Feeding: O. rhombifer is a diet generalist that eats mainly lizards (N = 20, one Liolaemus wiegmanii , three Cnemidophorus lacertoides , one Cnemidophorus sp. , one Kentropyx sp , one Teius oculatus , one Cercosaura schreibersii , one Hemidactylus mabouia , one Ophiodes sp. , and six unidentified) and small mammals (N = 19, three Cricetidae , two rodents, one Nectomys squamipes ), but also snakes (N = 1, Epictia munoai ) ( Abalos et al., 1964; Lema et al., 1983; Cechin, 1999; Vidal, 2002; Maschio et al., 2003, 2004; Ribeiro, 2007; Sawaya et al., 2008).

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from four to 17 eggs (N = 12, mean = 8.3 eggs; Pontes & Di-Bernardo, 1988; Yanosky et al., 1996; Gallardo & Scrocchi, 2006; this study). The smallest mature female was 442 mm SVL ( Cunha & Nascimento, 1983) and the smallest mature male was 452 mm SVL (this study).

Defense: Sawaya et al. (2008) reports that when handled O. rhombifer can trash the body, expel cloacal gland products, and laterally compress the body.