Citizen science and color pattern analysis indicate unreported Batesian mimicry between Neotropical snakes

• Published in: Biotropica 2024-11, Vol.56 (6), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Serrano, Filipe C., Farhat, Carolina, Díaz‐Ricaurte, Juan C., Martins, Marcio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batesian mimicry; Bothrops; Bothrops brazili; Centroids; Color; Colour; Cores; Dipsadidae; ecology; geographical distribution; Interspecific relationships; Lachesis muta; Micrurus; Mimicry; Neotropical region; Pattern analysis; Platforms; Predation; Quantitative analysis; Snakes; Sympatric populations; Venomous snakes; Viperidae; vipers; Xenodon; Xenodon severus; Xenodontinae
• ISSN: 0006-3606; 1744-7429
• DOI: 10.1111/btp.13380

Batesian mimics decrease their chance of predation by their resemblance to different, dangerous or unpalatable species but this relationship is often inferred without quantitative approaches. Snakes are notorious Batesian mimics, especially the Neotropical genus Xenodon, which comprises species that are putative mimics of venomous snakes such as coral snakes (genus Micrurus) and lanceheads (or “fer‐de‐lance,” genus Bothrops). Herein, we propose that Xenodon severus is a batesian mimic of the sympatric and highly venomous Amazonian bushmaster (Lachesis muta), the longest viper in the world, and not of lanceheads (Bothrops spp.). We compiled all available photographs of X. severus from citizen science platforms and published literature to test this mimicry through a quantitative dorsal color pattern analysis between this species and both L. muta and a lancehead Bothrops brazili. We classified georeferenced photographs as potential “mimic” or “non‐mimic” and tested whether “mimics” were found on average closer to L. muta's range centroid than “non‐mimics.” The color pattern analysis showed that X. severus is more similar to L. muta than to B. brazili. Furthermore, “mimics” were significantly closer to the centroid of L. muta. Our results suggest that X. severus is likely a mimic of L. muta and that this relationship may vary across their distribution. Our findings highlight the significant role of citizen science platforms in assessing ecological relationships and the importance of using quantitative methods such as dorsal color pattern analysis to test mimicry. in Portuguese is available with online material. Resumo Espécies com mimetismo batesiano diminuem sua chance de predação por possuirem características que as assemelham com outras espécies perigosas ou desagradáveis. No entanto esse tipo de relação é frequentemente inferido sem abordagens quantitativas. As serpentes são notórias mímicas batesianas, especialmente o gênero neotropical Xenodon, que inclui espécies que são supostas mímicas de serpentes venenosas, como as cobras corais (gênero Micrurus) e as jararacas (gênero Bothrops). Neste trabalho, propomos que Xenodon severus é um espécie com mímetismo batesiano da simpátrica e altamente venenosa Lachesis muta, a mais longa víbora do mundo, e não de Bothrops spp. Compilamos todas as fotografias disponíveis de X. severus de plataformas de ciência cidadã e da literatura publicada para testar esse mimetismo por meio de uma análise quantitativa do padrão