Movements and home range of the gaboon adder, Bitis gabonica gabonica, in Zululand, South Africa
Abstract
Gaboon adders are active throughout the year, but are largely sedentary. In their prime habitat of forest–thicket–grassland mosaic in Zululand their normal foraging movements are short range, punctuated by long periods of inactivity. Occasional long distance movements suggest changes in foraging area, but these movements take place within a home range, to which the snakes show long-term fidelity. The snakes breed during the southern autumn, March to May. A male adder tracked during the breeding season performed a long, looping excursion well outside its home range. During this sally, through marginal to poor habitats and prime terrain, movements were rapid, with only short spells of inactivity, and little apparent foraging behaviour. This excursion is interpreted as mate-seeking with males actively searching for sedentary females.
Keywords
movements, range, gaboon adder, Bitis gabonica gabonica.
Full Text:
PDFRefbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Add comment
|
ISSN 2224-073X (online) ; ISSN 1562-7020 (print) |
|
Powered by OJS and hosted by Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service since 2011. |
Disclaimer: This journal is hosted by the SU LIS on request of the journal owner/editor. The SU LIS takes no responsibility for the content published within this journal, and disclaim all liability arising out of the use of or inability to use the information contained herein. We assume no responsibility, and shall not be liable for any breaches of agreement with other publishers/hosts. |