Generales

The eggs of a venomous viper of the genus Lachesis, otherwise known as verrugoso, hatched into snakes this week at the UdeA Serpentarium. A big win for both the mother and caregivers since there are very few reports on captive breeding worldwide.

It may be surprising, but few snakes lay eggs since most of them give birth to live young. 

Lachesis is a genus of venomous snakes found in forested areas of Central and South America. Verrugoso, as it is popularly known in Colombia, is the only species of egg-laying snakes so far known in the country. In January 2016, a snake of the genus Lachesis acrochorda laid eggs at the UdeA serpentarium. Unlike other snake species, this one took care of its babies as any good mother would do.   

“We could observe how the mother remained near the eggs, and how it looked for them busily when the eggs were intentionally rearranged during the 86th and 88th days of gestation,” says Sergio Cubides, a biologist and herpetologist at the UdeA Serpentarium.          

“Captive breeding is more likely to occur when the captive environment mimics elements of an animal’s natural surroundings in the wild: temperature and humidity levels, and above all, a diet that is appropriate for females”, says Cubides.

During the first three months of life, the newborns will be weighed and measured on a weekly basis. The first venom extraction is performed on the 8th day after birth, before feeding process starts. “Initially, their diet consists mainly of 3-4 day old mice (in order to prevent the young from being bitten by mice) since in captivity baby snakes may be shy and can be seriously injured by live prey,” Cubides said. 

Repeated captive breeding is an unusual event which may lead to significant advances in biological and toxicological research, contribute to the development of better antivenoms, and allow researchers to better understand this species. 

Lachesis, dangerous and elusive

Researchers named this species after Lachesis, one of the Three Moirai (Fates) in Greek mythology who was responsible for deciding how much time for life was to be allowed for each person. Although Lachesis is among the most venomous snakes in the world, they are timid and vulnerable.

“Lachesis are timid and usually avoid human contact. They only attack humans when they feel threatened or when they defend their lairs,” says Sebastián Estrada, coordinator of the UdeA Venom Research Group. These snakes were responsible for only five of the more than 400 cases of snake bite poisoning (none of them fatal) reported in Colombia in 2014.

Although these snakes are found throughout the country and in tropical regions of the Americas, Lachesis are an increasingly rare sight in the wild. “This is largely due to the destruction of their natural habitat by factors such as deforestation and mining. Climate change has also been associated with the decline of this species since an increase in evaporation may lead to a drop in the levels of humidity they need to survive,” Estrada said.

These snakes are considered as endangered species. “Ignorance and common beliefs about snakes are responsible for much of the bad reputation of these animals,” Cubides said.  

The UdeA Serpentarium is equipped with food and plenty of water, proper temperature and humidity levels to mimic the conditions found in the wild, as well as a skilled veterinary staff, which increases the likelihood that the young will survive to adulthood to allow researchers to advance research aimed at reducing the risk of snakebites and related complications.

Researchers analyze aspects such as growth and development, feeding habits, and the frequency of skin shedding. Venom samples are also collected to carry out bioassays and taxonomic surveys.

Understanding the behavior of Lachesis in captivity provides Venom Research Group members with the skills to better understand snakebites and dispel myths about this species.

“It is well known that these snakes are slow and quiet as long as they feel comfortable. They have not been documented as transmitters of diseases and do not emit foul odors,” says Cubides. And he added “this information can be extremely useful for those who live in tropical areas with high presence of venomous snakes, as it will help them better understand these animals.”       

Research not only aims to help develop better antivenoms but it is also aimed at gaining a better understanding of the ecosystems these creatures inhabit since two million years ago, long before the first humans arrived in South America.