Viviparous reptiles have been used as model species for many studies that seek to explain the evolution of viviparity. The vast majority of such studies have focused on the advantage viviparity provides with regards to maternal control of embryonic developmental temperature. However, viviparity may also allow increased control of nutrient transfer, such that mothers adaptively manipulate offspr...

The molecular events underlying the evolution of the Snake Venom Metalloproteinase (SVMP) family from an A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM) ancestor remain poorly understood. Comparative genomics may provide decisive information to reconstruct the evolutionary history of this multi-locus toxin family. Here, we report the genomic organization of Echis ocellatus genes encoding SVMPs from ...

Background: The global incidence of snakebite has become a major concern to the community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mango seed kernel methanol extract on metalloproteases in Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus) venom. Methods: Mango seed kernel methanolic extract was evaluated in vitro for its anti-venom activity and inhibition of metalloproteases of Carpet Viper's (Echis ocellatus...

We tested the effect of social isolation on the aggressiveness of an Amazonian fish: Astronotus ocellatus. Ten juvenile fishes were transferred from a group aquarium (60 x 60 x 40 cm) containing 15 individuals (without distinguishing sex) to an isolation aquarium (50 x 40 x 40 cm). Aggressiveness was tested by means of attacks on and displays toward the mirror image. The behavior was video-reco...

RNA:DNA ratios in individual red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were measured in laboratory-reared larvae and juveniles (6-20 mm standard length; age 16-40 days) to assess the effects of growth, starvation, and die1 periodicity on biochemical condition. RNA: DNA ratios were correlated positively with both absolute (mm day-') and instantaneous (% day-') growth rates. The effect of starvation was eva...

The neotropical cichlid genus Astronotus currently comprises two valid species: A. ocellatus Agassiz, 1831 and A. crassipinnis Heckel, 1840. The diagnosis is based on color pattern and meristics counts. However, body color pattern is highly variable between regions and the meristic counts show a considerable overlap between populations differing in color patterning. They do not represent true s...

Abstract Marine invertebrates serve as rich sources of secondary metabolites with intriguing chemical diversities and a wide spectrum biological activities. Particularly, marine shell-less sacoglossan mollusks have attracted much attentions due to the fact that apply complex defense agents against their predators. With purpose discovering bioactive develop marine-derived medicines from South Ch...