The Diet of Rattlesnakes and Copperheads in the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkAuthor(s): Thomas SavageSource: Copeia, Vol. 1967, No. 1 (Mar. 20, 1967), pp. 226-227Published by: American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1442204 .

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COPEIA, 1967, NO. 1 COPEIA, 1967, NO. 1

it has been possible to examine the holotype, an adult male, 61 mm in snout-vent length. The specimen is in good condition and re- tains most of the distinctive features men- tioned in the original description. Measure- ments in mm are: head length 19; head width 21; tympanum 4; orbit 6; orbit to tip of snout 7; interorbital width 5; parotoid length 8; greatest width of parotoid 4; leg length, anus to tip of fourth toe, 80; tibia length 25; length of foot including tarsus 38.

Bufo politus differs from all other toads known from tropical America in the follow- ing combination of characteristics: 1, no cranial ridges and associated epidermal crests; 2, a tympanum and large ostium pharyn- geum; 3, no vocal sac or slits; 4, the parotoid gland elliptical and about equal in shape and area to upper eyelid; 5, dorsum covered by smooth scattered warts without a lateral series of enlarged warts; 6, the first and second fingers equal in length; 7, no finger webs, large subarticular tubercles but no supernumerary tubercles; 8, thenar and pal- mar tubercles elliptical in shape, thenar slightly larger; 9, three large round tibial warts; 10, webbing formula for toes I 1-2 II 1/2-2%2 III 1-3 IV 3-1 V; small subarticular tubercles but no supernumeraries; 11, toes fringed; 12, inner and outer metatarsal tubercles oval, outer larger; 13, a well-devel- oped inner tarsal fold; 14, dorsum dark brown with black blotches; venter mottled yellow and black.

In all of these features the presumed Nicaraguan form agrees with the western North American species Bufo boreas Baird and Girard. Indeed, no other member of the genus except B. boreas presents this peculiar combination of characters. Direct comparison of the type of B. politus with specimens of B. boreas from California, Oregon and Wash- ington, leaves no question but that the two are conspecific. Probably the holotype was originally collected in the Pacific coast region of the western United States. Perhaps the collector, identified by Cope as Dr. Caldwell, returned to the eastern United States by boat to Nicaragua and then via the transcontinen- tal route across the lakes and down the Rio San Juan, so popular during the 1850's in travel to and from the gold fields of Califor- nia (Bailey and Nasatir, 1960:474; James, 1959:685). Greytown (today San Juan del Norte) was the Caribbean terminus of this route and a mix-up in data or specimens

it has been possible to examine the holotype, an adult male, 61 mm in snout-vent length. The specimen is in good condition and re- tains most of the distinctive features men- tioned in the original description. Measure- ments in mm are: head length 19; head width 21; tympanum 4; orbit 6; orbit to tip of snout 7; interorbital width 5; parotoid length 8; greatest width of parotoid 4; leg length, anus to tip of fourth toe, 80; tibia length 25; length of foot including tarsus 38.

Bufo politus differs from all other toads known from tropical America in the follow- ing combination of characteristics: 1, no cranial ridges and associated epidermal crests; 2, a tympanum and large ostium pharyn- geum; 3, no vocal sac or slits; 4, the parotoid gland elliptical and about equal in shape and area to upper eyelid; 5, dorsum covered by smooth scattered warts without a lateral series of enlarged warts; 6, the first and second fingers equal in length; 7, no finger webs, large subarticular tubercles but no supernumerary tubercles; 8, thenar and pal- mar tubercles elliptical in shape, thenar slightly larger; 9, three large round tibial warts; 10, webbing formula for toes I 1-2 II 1/2-2%2 III 1-3 IV 3-1 V; small subarticular tubercles but no supernumeraries; 11, toes fringed; 12, inner and outer metatarsal tubercles oval, outer larger; 13, a well-devel- oped inner tarsal fold; 14, dorsum dark brown with black blotches; venter mottled yellow and black.

In all of these features the presumed Nicaraguan form agrees with the western North American species Bufo boreas Baird and Girard. Indeed, no other member of the genus except B. boreas presents this peculiar combination of characters. Direct comparison of the type of B. politus with specimens of B. boreas from California, Oregon and Wash- ington, leaves no question but that the two are conspecific. Probably the holotype was originally collected in the Pacific coast region of the western United States. Perhaps the collector, identified by Cope as Dr. Caldwell, returned to the eastern United States by boat to Nicaragua and then via the transcontinen- tal route across the lakes and down the Rio San Juan, so popular during the 1850's in travel to and from the gold fields of Califor- nia (Bailey and Nasatir, 1960:474; James, 1959:685). Greytown (today San Juan del Norte) was the Caribbean terminus of this route and a mix-up in data or specimens

may have led to that locality becoming as- sociated with this toad.

In any event Bufo politus Cope, 1862, is a junior synonym of Bufo boreas Baird and Girard, 1852, and is based on an apparently mislabeled specimen. The name B. politus should be removed from any list of Central American amphibians. B. boreas, of course, is known only from the western United States and Canada and northern Baja California, Mexico, and is not a member of the tropical American herpetofauna.

LITERATURE CITED

BAILEY, H. M. AND A. P. NASATIR. 1960. Latin America, the development of its civilization. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N. J.

BAIRD, S. F. AND C. GIRARD. 1852. Descriptions of new species of reptiles, collected by the U. S. Exploring Expedition under the command of Capt. Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 6:174-177.

COPE, E. D. 1862. On some new and little known American Anura. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 14:151-159.

JAMES, P. 1959. Latin America. The Odyssey Press, New York, N. Y.

JAY M. SAVAGE, Department of Biological Sciences and Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California, Los Ange- les, California.

THE DIET OF RATTLESNAKES AND COPPERHEADS IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.-During May through September 1963 and 1964, 92 copperheads, Agkistrodon contortrix moke- son, and 45 timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus h. horridus, were brought to me by various employees of the U. S. National Park Service. In addition, Arthur Stupka provided me with data on 19 rattlesnakes and 3 copperheads which he had gathered while Park Naturalist. All of these snakes came from within the Park's boundaries. Common localities were: Cades Cove (esp. Rich Mt.), Cherokee Or- chard (nr. Gatlinburg), and in the vicinity of rts. Tenn. 73 and U. S. 441. The majority of the snakes were captured during the day- time hours. Although a number of the cop- perheads received were under 2 ft long, only 2 were in the "yellow-tail" stage; only 1 rat- tlesnake was under 2 ft. As soon as possible after receipt, the stomach contents were re- moved and preserved for identification. No attempt was made to identify the contents of the lower digestive tract. The stomachs of 53 copperheads (56%) and 20 rattlesnakes

may have led to that locality becoming as- sociated with this toad.

In any event Bufo politus Cope, 1862, is a junior synonym of Bufo boreas Baird and Girard, 1852, and is based on an apparently mislabeled specimen. The name B. politus should be removed from any list of Central American amphibians. B. boreas, of course, is known only from the western United States and Canada and northern Baja California, Mexico, and is not a member of the tropical American herpetofauna.

LITERATURE CITED

BAILEY, H. M. AND A. P. NASATIR. 1960. Latin America, the development of its civilization. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N. J.

BAIRD, S. F. AND C. GIRARD. 1852. Descriptions of new species of reptiles, collected by the U. S. Exploring Expedition under the command of Capt. Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 6:174-177.

COPE, E. D. 1862. On some new and little known American Anura. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 14:151-159.

JAMES, P. 1959. Latin America. The Odyssey Press, New York, N. Y.

JAY M. SAVAGE, Department of Biological Sciences and Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California, Los Ange- les, California.

THE DIET OF RATTLESNAKES AND COPPERHEADS IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.-During May through September 1963 and 1964, 92 copperheads, Agkistrodon contortrix moke- son, and 45 timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus h. horridus, were brought to me by various employees of the U. S. National Park Service. In addition, Arthur Stupka provided me with data on 19 rattlesnakes and 3 copperheads which he had gathered while Park Naturalist. All of these snakes came from within the Park's boundaries. Common localities were: Cades Cove (esp. Rich Mt.), Cherokee Or- chard (nr. Gatlinburg), and in the vicinity of rts. Tenn. 73 and U. S. 441. The majority of the snakes were captured during the day- time hours. Although a number of the cop- perheads received were under 2 ft long, only 2 were in the "yellow-tail" stage; only 1 rat- tlesnake was under 2 ft. As soon as possible after receipt, the stomach contents were re- moved and preserved for identification. No attempt was made to identify the contents of the lower digestive tract. The stomachs of 53 copperheads (56%) and 20 rattlesnakes

226 226

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HERPETOLOGICAL NOTES HERPETOLOGICAL NOTES

TABLE 1. DIET OF CROTALIDS FROM THE GREAT

SMOKY MOUNTAINS. TABLE 1. DIET OF CROTALIDS FROM THE GREAT

SMOKY MOUNTAINS.

Cicada Unidentified insects Plethodon glutinosus Diadophis punctatus Carphophis amoenus

Sceloporus undulatus

Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Unidentified birds Blarina brevicauda talpoides Unidentified moles and shrews Mustela sp. Tamias striatus Sciurus sp. Glaucomys volans

Peromyscus sp. Clethrionomys carolinensis Microtus chrotorrhinus

carolinensis

Pitymys pinetorum scalopsoides

Napaeozapus insignis roanensis

Sylvilagus floridanus mallurus

Unidentified small mammals Total

Cicada Unidentified insects Plethodon glutinosus Diadophis punctatus Carphophis amoenus

Sceloporus undulatus

Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Unidentified birds Blarina brevicauda talpoides Unidentified moles and shrews Mustela sp. Tamias striatus Sciurus sp. Glaucomys volans

Peromyscus sp. Clethrionomys carolinensis Microtus chrotorrhinus

carolinensis

Pitymys pinetorum scalopsoides

Napaeozapus insignis roanensis

Sylvilagus floridanus mallurus

Unidentified small mammals Total

(31%) were empty. This re] the contents of the stomachs o 42 copperheads and 44 rattle

Table 1 summarizes the di

quency of food items found stomachs. The 2 species of share 3 categories of food ite mals, reptiles and amphibia The remaining 2 categories i

equally. The copperheads pi and cold-blooded animals; t

preyed on warm-blooded ani 2 species of snakes may be c

preying jointly upon small birds. Thus, of the total (59), rattlesnakes took 78' heads, 22%; of the birds took 75% and copperheads, mammals appear as an impor diet of the rattlesnake, muc

copperhead. Since the majori were taken in July and Augu are most common, the high

(31%) were empty. This re] the contents of the stomachs o 42 copperheads and 44 rattle

Table 1 summarizes the di

quency of food items found stomachs. The 2 species of share 3 categories of food ite mals, reptiles and amphibia The remaining 2 categories i

equally. The copperheads pi and cold-blooded animals; t

preyed on warm-blooded ani 2 species of snakes may be c

preying jointly upon small birds. Thus, of the total (59), rattlesnakes took 78' heads, 22%; of the birds took 75% and copperheads, mammals appear as an impor diet of the rattlesnake, muc

copperhead. Since the majori were taken in July and Augu are most common, the high

Agkis- rotalus trodon orridus contortrix (44) (42)

0 29 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 1 6 1 0 4 0 5 0 1 0

21 0 1 0

Agkis- rotalus trodon orridus contortrix (44) (42)

0 29 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 1 6 1 0 4 0 5 0 1 0

21 0 1 0

cadas must be considered a seasonal effect. It is expected that when cicadas are not

available, small mammals make up a larger part of the copperhead diet.

A study carried out by Uhler, Cottam, and Clarke (1939) in a similar manner yielded somewhat higher numbers of stomachs for

analysis. In spite of additions to the diets of the rattlesnake (amphibians and bird eggs) and the copperhead (caterpillars, moths, and

chipmunks), the conclusions were essentially the same: "The food . . . consisted almost

entirely of small mammals and birds." (rat- tlesnakes); the most important items for the

copperhead were mice, shrews, and moth larvae.

LITERATURE CITED

UHLER, F. M., C. COTTAM AND T. E. CLARKE. 1939. Food of the snakes of the George Wash- ington National Forest, Virginia. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. 4:605-22.

cadas must be considered a seasonal effect. It is expected that when cicadas are not

available, small mammals make up a larger part of the copperhead diet.

A study carried out by Uhler, Cottam, and Clarke (1939) in a similar manner yielded somewhat higher numbers of stomachs for

analysis. In spite of additions to the diets of the rattlesnake (amphibians and bird eggs) and the copperhead (caterpillars, moths, and

chipmunks), the conclusions were essentially the same: "The food . . . consisted almost

entirely of small mammals and birds." (rat- tlesnakes); the most important items for the

copperhead were mice, shrews, and moth larvae.

LITERATURE CITED

UHLER, F. M., C. COTTAM AND T. E. CLARKE. 1939. Food of the snakes of the George Wash- ington National Forest, Virginia. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. 4:605-22.

THOMAS SAVAGE, Florida Board of Conserva- 8 1 tion, P. 0. Drawer F, St. Petersburg, Fla.

0 4 TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON BREED-

9 0 ING OF THE TOAD, BUFO VARIEGA- TUS, IN SOUTHERN CHILE.-The region

3 0 of southern Chile near the Straits of Magellan 6 1 has been well characterized by Darwin (1839)

63 50 as "one of the most inhospitable parts of the

globe." It was this statement, plus Darwin's

description of the thinly-clad natives, which

port deals with led a group of physiologists in 1959 to the

f the remaining Magellanes region north of the straits, there

snakes. to study reactions of the Alacaluf Indians to

versity and fre- cold exposure (Hammel, 1960). in the snakes' The mean annual temperatures are low,

snakes did not and the nearly constant precipitation and

ms: large mam- frequent winds contribute heavily to the raw

ns, and insects. environment. Fig. 1 is a monthly plot of the

were shared un- mean minimum and mean maximum tem-

reyed on warm- peratures, taken from the weather station

the rattlesnakes maintained by the Chilean Air Force at

imals only. The Puerto Eden. Maximum temperature during

onsidered to be the five year period was 270 C, absolute

mammals and minimum was -10.6? C. The total average

small mammals annual precipitation is 235 cm, fairly evenly o and copper- distributed throughout the year.

4), rattlesnakes Puerto Eden is near the middle of the east

25%. The small side of Isla Wellington, at the north border

rtant part of the of Magellanes Province about the center of

h less so of the the Chilean Archipelago. It lies at 49?08' S

ity of the snakes Lat and 74?25' W Long, and is 900 km 10?

ist, when cicadas W of S of Puerto Montt, and twice that i number of ci- distance 5? W of S of Santiago. The "canali"

THOMAS SAVAGE, Florida Board of Conserva- 8 1 tion, P. 0. Drawer F, St. Petersburg, Fla.

0 4 TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON BREED-

9 0 ING OF THE TOAD, BUFO VARIEGA- TUS, IN SOUTHERN CHILE.-The region

3 0 of southern Chile near the Straits of Magellan 6 1 has been well characterized by Darwin (1839)

63 50 as "one of the most inhospitable parts of the

globe." It was this statement, plus Darwin's

description of the thinly-clad natives, which

port deals with led a group of physiologists in 1959 to the

f the remaining Magellanes region north of the straits, there

snakes. to study reactions of the Alacaluf Indians to

versity and fre- cold exposure (Hammel, 1960). in the snakes' The mean annual temperatures are low,

snakes did not and the nearly constant precipitation and

ms: large mam- frequent winds contribute heavily to the raw

ns, and insects. environment. Fig. 1 is a monthly plot of the

were shared un- mean minimum and mean maximum tem-

reyed on warm- peratures, taken from the weather station

the rattlesnakes maintained by the Chilean Air Force at

imals only. The Puerto Eden. Maximum temperature during

onsidered to be the five year period was 270 C, absolute

mammals and minimum was -10.6? C. The total average

small mammals annual precipitation is 235 cm, fairly evenly o and copper- distributed throughout the year.

4), rattlesnakes Puerto Eden is near the middle of the east

25%. The small side of Isla Wellington, at the north border

rtant part of the of Magellanes Province about the center of

h less so of the the Chilean Archipelago. It lies at 49?08' S

ity of the snakes Lat and 74?25' W Long, and is 900 km 10?

ist, when cicadas W of S of Puerto Montt, and twice that i number of ci- distance 5? W of S of Santiago. The "canali"

227 227

C1 ht C1 ht

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