Ultrasonographic and radiographic evaluation of gestation in golden lanceheads (Bothrops insularis) in ex situ breeding programs.

The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) is a critically endangered snake endemic to Queimada Grande Island, southeastern Brazil. Captive breeding programs are vital for the conservation of this species. This study evaluates the gestation of two females golden lanceheads using radiography and ultrasonography.

Morphological and structural differences between the hemipenes and hemiclitores of golden lancehead snakes, Bothrops insularis (Amaral, 1922), revealed by radiography.

The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) is a critically endangered and island endemic snake. A remarkable characteristic of golden lanceheads is the high frequency of females showing hemiclitores. Here, we use radiography to identify morphological and structural differences between the hemipenes and hemiclitores in captive individuals.