ACTIVITY PATTERN OF CROTALUS-DURISSUS (VIPERIDAE, CROTALINAE) - FEEDING, REPRODUCTION AND SNAKEBITE

One hundred and seventy-three adults and twenty-six juveniles of Crota lus durissus were examined by removing the stomach contents and faecal material. Rattlesnakes were most active between April and May (autumn ) (unimodal type), but most intensive feeding occurred during summer a nd autumn (February to May). Juveniles were observed to feed from late autumn (May) through the winter. Prey consisted of rodents (Cavia ape rea, Rattus norvegicus and Mus sp.) and no ontogenetic change was obse rved in the diet. Feeding peaks precede vitellogenesis (autumn - winte r). Mated females continue feeding until ovulation (spring). It was ob served that the biggest number of accidents were caused by snakes with stomach contents, especially males.