Water collection by the body in a viperid snake, Bothrops moojeni

We describe a previously unreported behavior for water collection in juveni les of a neotropical viperid snake. Bothrops moojeni. When sprayed over, th is snake displays a stereotyped coiling, bringing its body loops in close c ontact with each other, so that water is retained between the loops and ove r the body surface. This water is continuously ingested during and after it s collection. The functional significance of the water collecting behavior is suggested to be related with the acquisition of water from short rainfal ls, and with the special climatic and geologic conditions of B. moojeni hab itat. Rates of evaporative water loss did not differ between juvenile and a dult snakes, but since juveniles have a greater surface-to-volume ratio, th ey were significantly more sensitive to desiccation than the adults.