The Influence of Diet on the Composition and Function of Gut Microbiota in Four Snake Species

Diet plays an important role in shaping the intestinal flora, especially as demonstrated in non-mammalian studies. However, the precise associations underlying the interaction between the snake gut microbiota and diet remain poorly understood. Our findings indicate that the gut microbiomes of four snake species exhibit distinct characteristics influenced by their dietary preferences. Significant variations in gut microbial composition were observed among snakes with different diets. Similarities were noted between the gut microbiomes of Jerdon's pitviper (<i>Protobothrops jerdonii</i>: PJ) and Black-browed ratsnake (<i>Elaphe taeniura</i>: ET), which share similar food preferences. Chinese slug-eating snake (<i>Pareas chinensis</i>: PC), which primarily feeds on snails and slugs, displayed the highest gut microbiota diversity, suggesting a higher level of functional specificity associated with its specialized diet. Chiwen keelback (<i>Rhabdophis chiwen</i>: RC), which consumes fireflies and earthworms, exhibited a significantly higher abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) compared to other snake groups. Opportunistic pathogens such as <i>Plesiomonas</i>, <i>Aeromonas</i>, and <i>Salmonella</i> were relatively abundant in RC, ET, and PJ. The results of this study provide comprehensive data to differentiate the gut microbiota composition structures among four snake species with distinct dietary preferences, explore their potential functions, and identify possible correlations between gut microbial composition and diet. Furthermore, it provides a foundation for the analysis of the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the evolution of gut microbial communities.