Correlação entre comportamento de gaping e coloração da mucosa oral em serpentes: análise de dependência do habitat, produção de veneno e coloração da pele

Abstract

In snakes, the use of colors, for the most part, is associated with antipredatory behaviors. One of these features involves the oral mucosa, which usually has a rosy color, but may present changes. Snakes have a range of anti-predatory behaviors, including gaping behavior, where the animal displays the palate. The objective of this work is to test the dependence between these two variables and the relationship of both attributes with morphological and behavioral. characters. We performed bibliographical research and tested the data using a G test. We observed significant relationships between gaping behavior and oral mucosal alteration; change in oral mucosa and skin color and both characters with habitat type. The results suggest an evolutionary relationship between the mentioned characters, the oral mucosa may have emerged to intensify the gaping behavior and act as a warning sign in cryptic species.