Abstract:
This study examines the biology of the Florida Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti, in the Alapahoochee watershed, Lowndes and Echols Counties, Georgia. Included is a biogeographical investigation incorporating population genetics, a diet survey, analysis of length/weight relationships, analysis of sex ratios, and observations on reproductive ecology. Collections occurred over a two year period in 2008 and 2009. Data recorded in the field and laboratory included location, sex, snoutvent length, weight, gut contents and condition of the snake at time of collection. DNA was extracted and analyzed based on published microsatellite primer pairs for Crotalus contortix and cross amplified in Agkistrodon piscivorus that were tested for use in our study. Overall sex ratios did not deviate from those expected in this study but, the ratios were definitely skewed relative to the year collected and location from which they were collected. The majority of guts examined had no contents, and the remainder had small meals suggesting snakes were foraging at the time of capture. Length-weight relationships were comparable for both males and females. Presence of eggs and embryos showed that ovulation occurs in May followed by a 3 to 4 month gestation period with birth occurring by end of August. The genetic analyses in this study involve only three microsatellite loci and limited numbers of individuals per population. One locus, CH4B, was highly divergent between populations indicating that the populations sampled may be exhibiting restricted gene flow.