Variação geográfica na ecologia de tantilla melanocephala (serpentes: colubridae), em áreas de caatinga e floresta atlântica do nordeste na região neotropical

Abstract

Species with wide geographic range are suitable for studies on the comprehension of how environmental variations can influence the ecology of a species. In the present study we verified how populations of Tantilla melanocephala (Serpentes: Colubridae) answer to environmental variations in distinct areas, such as the Caatinga and the Northeast Atlantic Forest. We analyzed a total of 252 specimens from both biomes. The populations of T. melanochephala, despite the fact that they occupy different surroundings considering temperature, humidity, solar incidence, vegetation, pluviometry and food availability, they show conserved ecology and morphology. Neither dimorphism nor morphological disparities were found between the biomes. Furthermore, we found phylogenetic constraints in the diet of the species, witch showed specialization in the consumption of few food items, witch belong to the same taxonomic family – Chilopoda. However, subtle differences like witch genus of the centipedes are more consumed in each area were evidenced. Regarding its reproduction, T. melanocephalla had resemblances between the populations from both locations, such as the number and size of eggs and follicles. It was only acknowledged variation on the period of oviposition, which can be related to environmental features of the biomes, like distinct rainfall regimes and humidity. Tantilla melanocephala is a snake with predominant influence of historical features over ecological ones, expressing high phylogenetic constraints in its life history.