DIET AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF AN ENIGMATIC MEXICAN SNAKE: THE CAPE STRIPED RACER, Masticophis aurigulus (COPE, 1861)

Sahamara Andrea Ruiz Ornelas; Jorge H. Valdez-Villavicencio; Adam G. Clause; Patricia Galina-Tessaro; Bradford D. Hollingsworth

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2026.1.1601

Autores/as

Sahamara Andrea Ruiz Ornelas San Diego Natural History Museum https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3607-6866
Jorge H. Valdez-Villavicencio https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9612-0303
Adam G. Clause https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4605-4368
Patricia Galina-Tessaro
Bradford D. Hollingsworth https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3942-771X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2026.1.1601

Palabras clave:

Colubridae, depredación, ecología trófica, Phrynosomatidae, Región del Cabo, Sphingidae

Resumen

La chirrionera del Cabo (Masticophis aurigulus) es una serpiente endémica y poco conocida de Baja California Sur, México. Los reportes previos sobre su dieta carecen de verificación, y su distribución geográfica y rango altitudinal han sido documentados de manera inconsistente. Aquí presentamos evidencia verificable de la ingestión por parte de M. aurigulus de una pupa de polilla Erinnyis y de la lagartija Petrosaurus thalassinus, las únicas presas confirmadas para la especie. Además, documentamos nuevos registros que amplían su distribución a la Sierra Las Cacachilas, Sierra La Gata, Sierra El Novillo y el oeste de la Sierra La Laguna. Estos hallazgos muestran que la especie no está restringida a las elevaciones más altas de la Sierra La Laguna, aunque los límites superior e inferior siguen siendo imprecisos (desde el nivel del mar hasta aproximadamente 1750 m). Subrayamos la necesidad de que la información ecológica y de distribución se base en evidencia verificable de manera independiente.

Citas

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