Notes on Variation and Range of the Louisiana Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni Stull (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae)

1976 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Thomas ◽  
Billy J. Davis ◽  
M. R. Culbertson
Keyword(s):  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Pine Snake

scholarly journals Cone-like rhodopsin expressed in the all cone retina of the colubrid pine snake as a potential adaptation to diurnality

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihar Bhattacharyya ◽  
Benedict Darren ◽  
Ryan K. Schott ◽  
Vincent Tropepe ◽  
Belinda S.W. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Types ◽  
Rhodopsin Gene ◽  
Cone Opsin ◽  
Retinal Photoreceptor ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Summary Statement ◽  
Potential Adaptation ◽  
Pine Snake ◽  
Cone Opsins

AbstractColubridae is the largest and most diverse family of snakes, with visual systems that reflect this diversity, encompassing a variety of retinal photoreceptor organizations. The transmutation theory proposed by Walls postulates that photoreceptors could evolutionarily transition between cell types in squamates, but few studies have tested this theory. Recently, evidence for transmutation and rod-like machinery in an all cone retina has been identified in a diurnal garter snake (Thamnophis), and it appears that the rhodopsin gene at least may be widespread among colubrid snakes. However, functional evidence supporting transmutation beyond the existence of the rhodopsin gene remains rare. We examined the all cone retina of another diurnal colubrid,Pituophis melanoleucus, distantly related toThamnophis. We found thatP. melanoleucusexpresses two cone opsins (SWS1, LWS) and rhodopsin (RH1) within the eye. Immunohistochemistry localized rhodopsin to the outer segment of photoreceptors in the all-cone retina of the snake and all opsin genes produced functional visual pigments when expressedin vitro. Consistent with other studies, we found thatP. melanoleucusrhodopsin is extremely blue-shifted. Surprisingly,P. melanoleucusrhodopsin reacted with hydroxylamine, a typical cone opsin characteristic. These results support the idea that the rhodopsin-containing photoreceptors ofP. melanoleucusare the products of evolutionary transmutation from rod ancestors, and suggests that this phenomenon may be widespread in colubrid snakes. We hypothesize that transmutation may be an adaptation for diurnal, brighter-light vision, which could result in increased spectral sensitivity and chromatic discrimination with the potential for colour vision.Summary StatementThe all cone retina of the colubrid snake,Pituophis melanoleucuscontains a blue-shifted rhodopsin with cone opsin-like properties, which may have been adaptive in diurnal snakes.

Home Range Size and Habitat Selection in the Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus)

Copeia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (4) ◽  
pp. 706-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel J. Miller ◽  
Lora L. Smith ◽  
Steve A. Johnson ◽  
Richard Franz
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Pine Snake

A paradigm for information needed to protect at-risk species: northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the pine barrens as a case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 422-435
Author(s):  
Joanna Burger ◽  
Robert T. Zappalorti ◽  
Michael Gochfeld ◽  
Christian Jeitner ◽  
Emile DeVito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Pine Barrens ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Pine Snake

Pine Snake (Pituophis Ruthveni and Pituophis Melanoleucus Lodingi) Hibernacula

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 560-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Rudolph ◽  
R. R. Schaefer ◽  
S. J. Burgdorf ◽  
M. Duran ◽  
R. N. Conner
Keyword(s):  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus Lodingi ◽  
Pine Snake

Reproductive Traits of the Louisiana Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni (Serpentes: Colubridae)

1990 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven B. Reichling
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Pine Snake

Effect of experience with pine (Pituophis melanoleucus) and king (Lampropeltis getulus) snake odors on Y-maze behavior of pine snake hatchlings

1991 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Burger ◽  
William Boarman ◽  
Lynn Kurzava ◽  
Michael Gochfeld
Keyword(s):  
Y Maze ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Pine Snake
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