Morphology, ethology, new records, and ecological niche modeling for Hydromorphus and Tretanorhinus (Squamata, Colubridae) in Panama
- Fuentes, Rogemif1
- Batista, Abel2
- Ponce, Marcos3
- Urriola, Mario4
- Muñóz, Katherine5
- Castillo, Melquiades6
- Aschcroft, Jesse7
- Baules-Aguilar, Alexis8
- Zambrano, Eduardo9
- Elduayen, Jesús9
- Bonilla, Eleodoro3
- Garcés, Orlando10
- Añino, Yostin11
- González, Kedric12
- Rodríguez, Luis C.13
- Venkrbec, Tadeáš14
- Quintero-Arrieta, Helio15
- Flores, Eric E.16
- 1. Fundación Los Naturalistas, David, Panama|Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Panamá, Panama|Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Instituto Interdisciplinario de Investigación e Innovación, David, Panama
- 2. Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Clayton, Panama|Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Instituto Interdisciplinario de Investigación e Innovación, David, Panama|Fundación Los Naturalistas, David, Panama
- 3. Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Instituto Interdisciplinario de Investigación e Innovación, David, Panama
- 4. Fundación Biodiversidad Tropical Panamá, El Valle de Antón, Panama|Centro de Conservación, Rescate y Rehabilitación de Biodiversidad, Panamá, Panama
- 5. Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Panamá, Panama
- 6. Natural Tanks, Inc., Panamá, Panama|Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Panamá, Panama
- 7. Portobelo Adventures, Colón, Panama|Fundación Los Naturalistas, David, Panama
- 8. Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Centro de Investigaciones Hidráulicas e Hidrotécnicas, Panamá, Panama
- 9. Fundación Los Naturalistas, David, Panama
- 10. Fundación Los Naturalistas, David, Panama|Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, Gamboa, Panama
- 11. Coiba Scientific Station (COIBA AIP), Clayton, Panama|Universidad de Panamá, Museo de Invertebrados G. B. Fairchild, Panamá, Panama
- 12. Washington State University, Waltzek Lab, Pullman, United States of America
- 13. Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Panamá, Panama
- 14. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- 15. Fundación Los Naturalistas, Panamá, Panama
- 16. Coiba Scientific Station (COIBA AIP), Clayton, Panama
Description
The genera Hydromorphus and Tretanorhinus (Colubridae) comprise uncommon, poorly studied aquatic snakes, largely because of their nocturnal and aquatic habits. In Panama, four species have been recorded: Hydromorphus concolor, H. dunni, Tretanorhinus mocquardi, and T. nigroluteus. Although more than a century has passed since the first Panamanian record, knowledge of their distribution, morphology, ecology, and behavior remains limited. Through an exhaustive literature review and fieldwork, we updated their distribution and provided seven new records for H. dunni, 16 for H. concolor, six for T. mocquardi, and five for T. nigroluteus. For H. dunni, the only previously known record was the holotype from the original description. We documented substantial range extensions, especially for H. dunni, with new records extending its known distribution by 228 km northeast to Donoso (Colón Province) and 273 km southeast to Altos de Campana National Park, representing the most distant records for the species to date. We report new localities in Darién Province for T. mocquardi and in Bocas del Toro Province for T. nigroluteus, collectively refining the known distribution of these aquatic snakes in Panama. We identified previously unreported variation in the arrangement and number of cephalic scales, particularly in H. dunni, strengthening the morphological basis for taxonomic diagnosis. We also provide an updated morphological dichotomous key. In addition, we contribute to knowledge of the trophic ecology of T. nigroluteus by documenting a direct case of necrophagy during captive feeding trials. Overall, this study provides new information on these taxa in Panama, improves their ecological characterization, and may support future conservation efforts.
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References
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