Journal of Animal Diversity

Journal of Animal Diversity

A case of unilateral anophthalmy in the Burmese python, Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae) from Nepal

Authors
Santosh Bhattarai 1
Babu Ram Lamichhane 1
Naresh Subedi 2
1 National Trust for Nature Conservation-Biodiversity Conservation Center, Ratnanagar-06, Sauraha, Chitwan-44204, Nepal
2 National Trust for Nature Conservation, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
‎10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.2
Abstract
Abnormalities in reptiles have been mostly reported from captive individuals. Here, we report a case of unilateral anophthalmy in the Burmese python Python bivittatus for the first time from Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Reptiles exposed to various pollutants, such as pesticides, can develop morphological abnormalities. The present report from a human-dominated landscape is an opportunistic observation of a rescued snake. We suggest a more systematic, collection-based, research program to reveal the possible causative agents and the degree of their effect on herpetofauna in Nepal.
Keywords
Absence of eye
Chitwan National Park
deformity
snake
1. Bhattarai, S., Pokheral, C. P. and Lamichane, B. R. (2017). Death feigning behavior in Burmese Python Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820 in Chitwan National Park. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 24 (4): 323–326.
2. Bhattarai, S., Pokheral, C. P., Lamichhane, B. R., Regmi, U. R., Ram, A. K. and Subedi, N. (2018). Amphibians and reptiles of Parsa National Park, Nepal. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, 12 (1): 35–48 (e155).
3. Bhattarai, S., Lamichhane, B. R. and Subedi, N. (2020). Tail bifurcation in a Yellow-bellied House Gecko, Hemidactylus flaviridis Rüppel 1835 in Chitwan, Nepal. Reptiles and Amphibians, 27 (1): 48–49.
4. Da Silva, M-A.O., Bertelsen, M. F., Wang, T., Pedersen, M. Lauridsen, H. and Heegaard, S. (2015): Unilateral microphthalmia or anophthalmia in eight pythons (Pythonidae). Veterinary Ophthalmology, 18: 23–29.
5. Devkota, K., Ghimire, A. Thapamagar, C., Wallach, V. and Wojnowski, D. (2020a). First record of dicephalism in the Common Krait, Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider 1801), from Nepal. Reptiles and Amphibians, 26: 226–229.
6. Devkota, K., Magar, S. B., Wallach, V. and Wojnowski, D. (2020b). First record of dicephalism in the Banded Kukri, Oligodon arnensis (Shaw 1802), from Nepal. Reptiles and Amphibians, 27 (1): 71–72.
7. Garcês, A., Pires, I. and Rodrigues, P. (2020). Teratological effects of pesticides in vertebrates: a review. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 55 (1): 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2019.1660562
8. Heimes, P. (1994). Morphologische Anomalien bei Äskulapnattern (Elaphe longissima) im Rheingau-Taunus. Salamandra, 30: 268-271.
9. Jablonski, D. and Mikulíček, P. (2015). Presumptive unilateral anophthalmia recorded in Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768. Herpetology Notes, 8: 459-460.
10. Khan, M. Z. and Law, F. C. P. (2005). Adverse effects of pesticides and related chemicals on enzyme and hormone systems of fish, amphibians and reptiles: a review. Proceedings of Pakistan Academic Sciences, 42 (4): 315-323.
11. Mester, B., Lengyel, S. and Puky, M. (2015). Low frequency of amphibian morphological anomalies in a large protected wetland and grassland complex in Hungary. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 10: 679–687.
12. Mingo, V., Lötters, S. and Wagner, N. (2016). Risk of pesticide exposure for reptile species in the European :union:. Environmental Pollution, 215: 164–169.
13. Rawat, Y. B., Bhattarai, S., Poudyal, L. P. and Subedi, N. (2020). Herpetofauna of Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12 (5): 15587–15611. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5611.12.5.15587-15611
14. Sabater, M. and Pérez, M. (2013): Congenital ocular and adnexal disorders in reptiles. Veterinary Ophthalmology, 16: 47-55.
15. Sant’Anna, S. S., Grego, K. F., Lorigados, C. A. B., Fonseca- Pinto, A. C. B. C., Fernandes, W., Sá-Rocha, L. C. and Cat˜ao-Dias, J. L. (2013). Malformations in Neotropical Viperids: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 149: 503–508. doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2013.06.001.
16. Wallach, V. (2007). Axial bifurcation and duplication in snakes. Part I. A synopsis of authentic and anecdotal cases. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society, 43: 57–95.
Journal of Animal Diversity
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Cover photo: The Redtail Pit Viper, Trimeresurus erythrurus (Cantor, 1839) from the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh state, India. Photo by Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh, 26 January 2014.
Winter 2021
Pages 6-10