Diel Movement and Predation Activity Patterns of the Eyelash Palm-Pitviper (Bothriechis schlegelii)
The Eyelash Palm-pitviper, Bothriechis schlegelii, is reported to be a nocturnal ambush predator that preys upon a wide variety of vertebrates. This study demonstrates that B. schlegelii has a greater temporal activity range than previously documented. Bothriechis schlegelii moves most frequently at night, is capable of capturing mobile prey from daytime perches, and consumes diurnally- and nocturnally-active prey. An ability to consume prey during both night and day increases the importance of the role of B. schlegelii as a predator of small vertebrates. La bocaracá (o toboba de pestañas), Bothriechis schlegelii, se reporta ser un depredador que se alimenta por una variedad de vertebrados. Esta investigación muestra que la actividad temporal de B. schlegelii es mas variable de que se ha documentado. Bothriechis schlegelii se mueve más frecuentemente durante la noche, tiene la capacidad de cazar presa móvil de perchas diurnas, y consume presa activa diurnas y nocturnas. La capacidad para consumir presa durante la noche, y el día aumenta la importancia de B. schlegelii como un depredador de vertebrados pequeños.Abstract
Resumen
Typical ambush posture of Bothriechis schlegelii. The branch that the snake is facing in the right half of the photograph is a potential prey runway that a lizard would use. This branch is where a lizard would be placed during a staged prey encounter.
Perch residency for Bothriechis schlegelii was calculated based on the number of consecutive days during which individual snakes (n = 50) used the same daytime perch site. This figure is based on relocations of individual snakes during daytime visual encounter surveys.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: G. Haenel.