Sexual dimorphism in venom of Bothrops jararaca(Serpentes: Viperidae)

Toxicon. 2006 Sep 15;48(4):401-10. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.06.005. Epub 2006 Jun 28.

Abstract

Bothrops jararaca is an abundant snake in Brazil, and its venom has been studied exhaustively. The species exhibits adult size dimorphism in which female are larger. We registered the growth in Snout-Vent Length and weight of one litter (with 11 females and 12 males). We compared growth curves and venom profile between male and female of B. jararaca in order to establish the relationship of those characters and sex. Their venoms were analyzed when they were 36 months old, concerning SDS PAGE, protein content, proteolytic, hyaluronidasic, phospholipasic, blood-clotting, edematogenic, hemorrhagic, myotoxic activities, and lethality. Differences in the growth curves of the females and the males were significantly different after the 12th month of age, with the females growing faster. Females produced five times more venom than males. The electrophoretic patterns were variable: the venom from males had more protein bands than females. Venom composition varied significantly between males and females. Venom from females is more potent for hyaluronidasic, hemorrhagic, and lethality activities, whereas venom from males is more potent for coagulant, phospholipasic, and myotoxic activities. The variability of proteolytic and edematogenic activities were not significant. The important sexual dimorphism in body size and mass, amount of venom produced, and venom composition in B. jararaca may reflect a divergence in niche partitioning.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Size
  • Bothrops / growth & development*
  • Crotalid Venoms / analysis
  • Crotalid Venoms / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sex Characteristics

Substances

  • Crotalid Venoms