Hábitat, actividad diurna y morfometría de cuatro especies de ofidios (Reptilia: Squamata) de Cuba

Abstract

Snakes are the second most diverse reptile group in the West Indies, however the ecology of these species have been rarely studied so far. Our purpose is to publish some aspects of the natural history of four Cuban ophidians (families Dipsadidae and Tropidophiidae), gather together along eight years and observations at 27 localities and 11 habitat types. Every species used most of the habitats, including some human-altered types; the exception was Tropidophis wrighti, living only in the 45.4% of the habitats, using altered environments in less proportion. The four snakes were found on terrestrial microhabitats, only Cubophis cantherigerus and T. melanurus were sometimes found in bushes and trees. Two species (family Dipsadidae) are diurnal and sun lovers, the other species (family Tropidophiidae) had little diurnal activity and are considered herein as shade lovers. We detected two morphological groups unrelated to microhabitat or diet of these snakes, and appearing to have phylogenetic bases.