Ecology and morphology of the dwarf bromeliad boa Ungaliophis panamensis (Squamata, Boidae, Ungaliophiinae) in Costa Rica and Panama

Lewis, Todd R.; Griffin, Rowland K.; Martin, Irune Maguregui; Figueroa, Alex; Ray, Julie M.; Feltham, Josh; Grant, Paul B.C.

Abstract

Ecological and morphological data on Ungaliophis panamensis is extremely limited as this species is rarely encountered. These knowledge gaps have been advanced in this study where data was analysed from a small sample of snakes collected in two tropical forested environments in Costa Rica and Pana-ma. Standardised major axis testing and a Bayesian latent variable ordination revealed that the species is sexually dimorphic, closely associated with tree trunks in natural forested areas, and occasionally discovered in rural buildings. Although further investigation into its natural history is warranted, this study shows that even with just a few individuals it is possible to elucidate ecological information that is relevant to the conservation of snake species.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 1, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 18, 2021
• Publication Date: May 18, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 14, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 15, 2021
• Journal: Neotropical Biology and Conservation
• Electronic ISSN: 2236-3777
• Publisher: Universidad do Vale de Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 317-331
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.16.e57872
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7532284