Abstract

SCARTOZZONI, Rodrigo Roveri  and  MOLINA, Flavio de Barros. Feeding behavior of Boa constrictor, Epicrates cenchria and Corallus hortulanus (Serpentes: Boidae) in captivity. Rev. etol. [online]. 2004, vol.6, n.1, pp. 25-31. ISSN 1517-2805.

The feeding behavior of Boa constrictor, Epicrates cenchria, and Corallus hortulanus (Snakes, Boidae) is here described and compared with discrepant data from the literature. Records were obtained according to the "all occurrence" and "sequence sampling" methods. Behavior was divided into four phases: (i) orientation towards prey, approach and strike; (ii) constriction; (iii) inspection; and (iv) swallowing. In the first phase, tongue flicking was evident and the strikes were directed preferentially on the head of mice. During constriction, no side dominance was evident, only a few specimens displayed a preference for the side of the body in contact with the prey. All snakes presented a ventral pattern of constriction and the number of coils utilized was one for B. constrictor and E. cenchria and two for C. hortulanus. The prey was inspected by tongue flicking and snout touching and usually was swallowed headfirst.

Keywords : Feeding behavior; Snakes; Boidae.

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