On 08 Jun 2005, we found one female (577 mm SVL, 177 mm tail length, 36 g) and three male (514, 533, and 473 mm SVL; 188, 187, and 176 mm tail length; 24, 23, and 19 g, respectively) L. annulata in a pitfall trap at Floresta Nacional de Carajás, eastern Brazilian Amazônia (06°02'S, 50°15'W). The snakes were forming a breeding ball and were releasing a strong odor. When handled, males discharged fetid cloacal secretions and the female expelled a large amount of sperm from the vent. This observation suggests that, although this species is primarily arboreal, mate searching occurs in the ground, perhaps because tracking pheromone trails in the discontinuous arboreal substratum is difficult. This observation was supported by Compahia Vale do Rio Doce. |