A CURIOUS CASE OF ATTEMPTED CANNIBALISM IN PHILODRYAS NATTERERI (STEINDACHNER, 1870) (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE)

Case of attempted cannibalism in Philodryas nattereri

Authors

  • Hugo Yuri Elias Gomes de Assis Superintendência de Administração do Meio Ambiente
  • Silvio Felipe Barbosa Lima Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Samuel Cardozo Ribeiro Universidade Federal do Cariri

Abstract

Philodryas nattereri is a generalist active forager snake that preys on small vertebrates, with one case of cannibalism recorded in the neotropical region. This note reports an attempted cannibalism between P. nattereri in a coastal environment in the state of Paraíba. The two individuals were observed actively confronting and tightly coiled around one another on the south bank of the Mamanguape River estuary in the Barra do Rio Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area, a mesoregion of the Atlantic Forest. One of the snakes was recorded biting the neck area of its conspecific counterpart. After approximately 60 minutes, both snakes were found dead at a distance from the interaction area, with one partially ingesting the other about halfway along its length. The attempted cannibalism between adults may have occurred in response to a number of factors that will be better understood with further studies on the ophiophagous feeding habits of the species.

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Published

2025-11-28

Issue

Ahead of print

Section

Short communication