RECORDS OF SNAKES IN SAN BORJA (BENI-BOLIVIA) FROM THE HUMAN-SNAKE CONFLICT

Abstract

The vulnerability of snakes to climate change, the loss of natural habitats and the conflict with humans make it imperative to know more about their diversity in the Bolivian territory. In addition, due to the fear that people have of snakes, many of them are intentionally eliminated and many others are killed by cars on the roads, so these specimens are an important source for the registration of species. This information was obtained mainly in the surroundings of the city of San Borja in Beni-Bolivia and the quantity and richness of recorded species was compared with extrapolation studies and previous records. In total, 82 individuals of 43 species belonging to five families were collected and identified. From comparisons with other studies, we can be sure that there are 54 confirmed species of snakes in this region. This study not only contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of snakes in the southwest of the department of Beni, but also highlights the importance of collections from the human-snake conflict.