Does the rattle of Crotalus durissus terrificusreveal its dietary history?

Background: environmental devastation threatens the survival of many species,including venomous snakes such as the south american rattlesnakecrotalus durissus terrificus. this observation is based on the decrease of snakes collected and donated to brazilian research institutes. nevertheless,some individuals have managed to survive and procreate. the question is how these snakes are adapting in these new environmental conditions.methods: to answer it,the carbon-13 level of rattlesnakes and their feed (either laboratory or wild mice) was evaluated by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. thus,rattle segments from 16 adults and 15 offspring of captive snakes,and of three wild newbornc. d. terrificuswere evaluated as well as 17mus musculusmice captured in traps,four live feeder mice and the ration offered to mice at animal houses.results: the isotopic exchange time of the captive adult snakes (n = 16) varied between 33 and 37 months and of captive-born animals (n = 15),until reaching a plateau of equilibrium,varied from 18 to 24 months. regarding the capturedmus musculus(n = 17),88.23% (n = 15) were from a c4environment. of the six rattle rings from offspring of capturedc. d. terrificus,five were from a c4environment,whereas of the 170 rattle rings studied,60% originated from a c3environment and 40% from a c4.the same carbon-13 values were found in captive snakes.conclusions: based on the present results,it can be inferred that mostc. d. terrificussnakes (60%) fed animals from a c3environment; birds consist of an alimentary alternative for snakes,as well as rodents,small reptiles and amphibians; different venom compositions among snakes from the same region may be related to the food type; the primary rattle of offspring reflects the maternal diet during gestation; and,finally,the different rattle rings indicate the alimentary history of these animals. © 2014 martinez et al.