DOCSLIB.ORG

A Giant on the Ground: Another Large-Bodied Atractus (Serpentes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Giant on the Ground: Another Large-Bodied Atractus (Serpentes Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2018) (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201820170976 www.scielo.br/aabc | www.fb.com/aabcjournal A giant on the ground: another large-bodied Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadinae) from Ecuadorian Andes, with comments on the dietary specializations of the goo-eaters snakes PAULO PASSOS1, AGUSTÍN SCANFERLA2, PAULO R. MELO- SAMPAIO1, JORGE BRITO3,4 and ANA ALMENDARIZ3 1Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 2CONICET, Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (IBIGEO), 9 de Julio 14 (A4405BBB), 4405, Rosario de Lerma, Salta, Argentina 3Museo de Historia Natural, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Escuela Politecnica Nacional, Av. Ladrón de Guevara, PB 17-01-2759, Quito, Ecuador 4Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Calle Rumipamba 341 y Av. de los Shyris, PB 17-07-8976, Quito, Ecuador Manuscript received on December 4, 2017; accepted for publication on January 12, 2018 ABSTRACT Body-size is significantly correlated with the number of vertebrae (pleomerism) in multiple vertebrate lineages, indicating that somitogenesis process is an important factor dictating evolutionary change associated to phyletic allometry and, consequently, species fitness and diversification. However, the role of the evolution of extreme body sizes (dwarfism and gigantism) remains elusive in snakes, mainly with respect to postnatal ontogeny in dietary preferences associated with evolution of gigantism in many lineages. We described herein a new species in the highly diversified and species-rich genus Atractus on the basis of four specimens from the southeastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. The new species is morphologically similar and apparently closely related to two other allopatric giant congeners (A. gigas and A. touzeti), from which it can be distinguished by their distinct dorsal and ventral coloration, the number of supralabial and infralabial scales, the number of maxillary teeth, and relative width of the head. In addition, we discuss on the ontogenetic trajectories hypotheses and dietary specializations related to evolution of gigantism in the goo-eaters genus Atractus. Key words: Atractus gigas, Atractus touzeti, dietary shift, goo-eater snakes, macrostomy, postnatal ontogeny. INTRODUCTION organismal function), being the key factor in generating ecological and genetic divergence Body-size is among the most important species (Peters 1983, LaBarbera 1986, Hanken and Wake attributes (depicting common ancestry and 1993, Nagel and Schluter 1998, Schluter 2000), Correspondence to: Paulo Passos and is also correlated with increasing of extinction E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] risk (Vilela et al. 2014). As such, the allometric * Contribution to the centenary of the Brazilian Academy of change in time is a primary axis for diversification Sciences. of many lineages, and can be important for An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 2 dictating niche parameters, creating reproductive strong body constriction (Henderson and Powell isolation, and structuring communities (Losos 2007). Although pleomerism has been established 1992, Nagel and Schluter 1998, Schluter 2000, as an effective process to the body size evolution Moen and Wiens 2008). Some lineages have in snakes (Lindell 1994), only more recently the experienced extreme, and often paradoxical—the correlation between body size and developmental occurrence of giant diggers when most of fossorial evolution (= somatic growth) of giant snakes was tetrapods tend to miniaturization, see Hanken and addressed using a phylogenetic framework (Meik Wake (1993)—evolutionary change in body size 2010, Head and Polly 2007, 2015). (gigantism and dwarfism) due to colonizing new regions such islands or deep seas, re-colonization On the other hand, snakes are gape-limited of mainland after mass extinctions, environmental predators that swallow their prey whole without shifts or stochastic evolutionary novelty (Bonnet mechanical reduction prior to prey ingestion, except et al. 2009 and references therein). The extrinsic for few very specialized Homalopsine snakes (see factors (selective) responsible for the evolution Jayne et al. 2002). As a rule, the basal lineages of of body size extremes in terrestrial vertebrates snakes (e.g., Scolecophidians and Henophidians) have been a recent topic of interest (Meik et al. occupying underground macrohabitats feed on 2010 and references therein), but the intrinsic small size prey, such as insects, earthworms and mechanisms (developmental) underlying body size tiny elongate vertebrates; while alethinophidian evolution still poorly understood and under dispute snakes developed extreme anatomical adaptations in the recent literature (Head and Polly 2015 and (macrostomy) to ingest prey with large cross- references therein). section area in relation to their head dimensions. Body size is significantly correlated with Remarkably, several clades of small cryptozoic number of vertebrae (pleomerism) in multiple macrostomatans reverse postnatal morphological vertebrate lineages (Alexander and Gans 1966, transformations correlated with gape increasing to Lindsey 1975, Lindell 1994, Müller et al. 2010, a phenotype constraining the diet to prey with low Head and Polly 2007), indicating that increasing cross-section area (Scanferla 2016). However, it not body segments in the course of somitogenesis plays clear how some lineages evolved and maintained an important role in body size evolution (Lindell gigantism while having diets specialized in prey 1994). Snakes show greater variability in vertebral with small size and low caloric value (Arnold number than other amniotes (Müller et al. 2010, 1993), as some mollusks and annelids in the case Head and Polly 2007). The axial regionalization of Neotropical goo-eaters snakes (e.g., the genus is reduced in snakes by expansion of expressions Atractus). domains for Hox genes that code for the dorsal Our aim in this study, beyond describing region of the vertebral column, suppressing a new giant species from southeastern slopes expression of a distinct cervical region (Cohn and of the Ecuadorian Andes, is to discuss some Tickle 1999) or, by contrast, there is a retention of aspects related to postnatal ontogeny and dietary standard vertebrate Hox domains with alteration specialization found in the highly diversified and of downstream expression that suppresses species-rich genus Atractus. development of distinct regions (Woltering 2012). Among snakes, gigantism is pronounced in the MATERIALS AND METHODS constrictor species of the families Boidae and Pythonidae, which forage through a sit-and-wait Specimens examined are deposited in the following strategy and kill their prey by asphyxia due to collections: División de Herpetología del Museo An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 NEW GIANT ATRACTUS FROM ECUADORIAN ANDES 3 Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales (DHMECN), the nearest 1 mm. Measurements and descriptions Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Quito of paired cephalic scales are strictly based on the Ecuador; Museo de Historia Natural de la Escuela right side of head. We measure the head length Politécnica Nacional (MEPN), Quito, Ecuador; from tip of rostral scale to the end of the quadrate- Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad mandibular joint, head width in the broadest Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ), Quito, Ecuador; and region and midbody diameter at mid-length of Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés (FHGO), SVL. Counts of body marks (blotches, spots, and Quito, Ecuador. Comparative material of Atractus dots), in some taxa, were performed separately on gigas and Atractus touzeti is listed in Appendix I, each side of the dorsum because these marks are while additional congeners examined are listed in not always transversally continuous or equivalent Passos et al. (2005), Passos et al. (2007a, b), Passos and Fernandes (2008), Passos and Arredondo along the sides of vertebral region. Herein, the term (2009), Passos et al. (2009a, b, c, d, e), Passos et “blotch” refers to broader (two or more scales long al. (2010a, b, c), Passos and Lynch (2011), Passos and wide) dorsal marks located on the vertebral and Prudente (2012), Passos et al. (2012), Prudente and paravertebral regions, the term “spot” refers to and Passos (2008, 2010), Passos et al. (2013a, b, small (less than two scales long and wide) marks c, d), Almeida et al. (2014), Salazar-Valenzuela throughout the dorsum or venter, whereas “dot” et al. (2014), Passos et al. (2016a, b), de Fraga et refers to any mark smaller than a scale. The color al. (2017), and Passos et al. (2017). We provide tones follow Köhler (2012). Sex was determined on the authorship and date only in the first mention of the basis of presence/absence of hemipenes verified each name. through a ventral incision at the base of the tail. We GEOGRAPHICAL DATA examined maxillae in situ under a stereomicroscopy, through a narrow lateromedial incision between the Coordinates of localities were acquired in the field supralabials and the maxillary arch. After removing with Global Positioning System devices (referenced tissues covering the maxillary bone, we counted to map datum WGS84), and by consulting data in teeth and empty sockets. We follow Passos et al. museum catalogues or databases. We refined, when (2009e) and Passos et al. (2010c) with respect to possible, the provenance of records
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Xenosaurus Tzacualtipantecus. the Zacualtipán Knob-Scaled Lizard Is Endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Eastern Mexico
    Xenosaurus tzacualtipantecus. The Zacualtipán knob-scaled lizard is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of eastern Mexico. This medium-large lizard (female holotype measures 188 mm in total length) is known only from the vicinity of the type locality in eastern Hidalgo, at an elevation of 1,900 m in pine-oak forest, and a nearby locality at 2,000 m in northern Veracruz (Woolrich- Piña and Smith 2012). Xenosaurus tzacualtipantecus is thought to belong to the northern clade of the genus, which also contains X. newmanorum and X. platyceps (Bhullar 2011). As with its congeners, X. tzacualtipantecus is an inhabitant of crevices in limestone rocks. This species consumes beetles and lepidopteran larvae and gives birth to living young. The habitat of this lizard in the vicinity of the type locality is being deforested, and people in nearby towns have created an open garbage dump in this area. We determined its EVS as 17, in the middle of the high vulnerability category (see text for explanation), and its status by the IUCN and SEMAR- NAT presently are undetermined. This newly described endemic species is one of nine known species in the monogeneric family Xenosauridae, which is endemic to northern Mesoamerica (Mexico from Tamaulipas to Chiapas and into the montane portions of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala). All but one of these nine species is endemic to Mexico. Photo by Christian Berriozabal-Islas. amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 01 June 2013 | Volume 7 | Number 1 | e61 Copyright: © 2013 Wilson et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Com- mons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted use for non-com- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 7(1): 1–47.
    [Show full text]
  • First Records of the Rare Snake Echinanthera Cephalomaculata Di-Bernardo, 1994 in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)
    Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 1005-1009 (2019) (published online on 17 October 2019) First records of the rare snake Echinanthera cephalomaculata Di-Bernardo, 1994 in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) Marco Antonio de Freitas1,*, Gessica Gomes Barbosa2, Karol Priscila Bernardino3, João Domingos Pinheiro Filho4, and Arthur Diesel Abegg5 The Atlantic rainforest is one of the most biodiverse The state of Pernambuco published a list of tropical forests, as well as the most threatened biome endangered reptile species in 2017, comprising eight in the world (Myers et al., 2000). The Pernambuco snake species (SEMAS, 2017): Bothrops bilineatus Endemism Center (CEP) comprises the northern portion (Wied, 1821) (vulnerable); Dipsas sazimai Fernandes, of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, delimited from the Marques, and Argôlo, 2010 (vulnerable); Drymoluber north of the São Francisco River to the southern region dichrous (Peters, 1863) (vulnerable); Erythrolamprus of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, with a considerable reginae (Linnaeus, 1758) (vulnerable); Lachesis muta number of animal and plant species occurring only in (Linnaeus, 1766) (vulnerable); Rodriguesophis iglesiasi this short and extremely fragmented and threatened (Gomes, 1915) (endangered); Siphlophis compressus forest stretch (Tabarelli and Santos, 2004). (Daudin, 1803) (vulnerable); and Xenopholis scalaris Five snake species threatened with extinction at (Wucherer, 1861) (vulnerable). the national level occur in the CEP: Amerotyphlops The genus Echinanthera comprises six species amoipira (Rodrigues and Juncá, 2002), Atractus caete known to occur in the Atlantic rainforests of Brazil Passos, Fernandes, Bérnils and Moura-Leite, 2010, (Di-Bernardo, 1992; Myers and Cadle, 1994; Costa and Bothrops muriciensis Ferrarezzi and Freire, 2001 and Bérnils, 2018).
    [Show full text]
  • De Los Reptiles Del Yasuní
    guía dinámica de los reptiles del yasuní omar torres coordinador editorial Lista de especies Número de especies: 113 Amphisbaenia Amphisbaenidae Amphisbaena bassleri, Culebras ciegas Squamata: Serpentes Boidae Boa constrictor, Boas matacaballo Corallus hortulanus, Boas de los jardines Epicrates cenchria, Boas arcoiris Eunectes murinus, Anacondas Colubridae: Dipsadinae Atractus major, Culebras tierreras cafés Atractus collaris, Culebras tierreras de collares Atractus elaps, Falsas corales tierreras Atractus occipitoalbus, Culebras tierreras grises Atractus snethlageae, Culebras tierreras Clelia clelia, Chontas Dipsas catesbyi, Culebras caracoleras de Catesby Dipsas indica, Culebras caracoleras neotropicales Drepanoides anomalus, Culebras hoz Erythrolamprus reginae, Culebras terrestres reales Erythrolamprus typhlus, Culebras terrestres ciegas Erythrolamprus guentheri, Falsas corales de nuca rosa Helicops angulatus, Culebras de agua anguladas Helicops pastazae, Culebras de agua de Pastaza Helicops leopardinus, Culebras de agua leopardo Helicops petersi, Culebras de agua de Peters Hydrops triangularis, Culebras de agua triángulo Hydrops martii, Culebras de agua amazónicas Imantodes lentiferus, Cordoncillos del Amazonas Imantodes cenchoa, Cordoncillos comunes Leptodeira annulata, Serpientes ojos de gato anilladas Oxyrhopus petolarius, Falsas corales amazónicas Oxyrhopus melanogenys, Falsas corales oscuras Oxyrhopus vanidicus, Falsas corales Philodryas argentea, Serpientes liana verdes de banda plateada Philodryas viridissima, Serpientes corredoras
    [Show full text]
  • Intrageneric Relationships Among Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Geophis Wagler
    MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, NO. 131 Intrageneric Relationships Among Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Geophis Wagler BY FLOYD LESLIE DOWNS College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio ANN ARBOR MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN JULY 26, 1967 MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN The publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, consist of two series-the Occasional Papers and the Miscellaneous Publications. Both series were founded by Dr. Bryant Walker, Mr. Bradshaw H. Swales, and Dr. W. W. Newcomb. The Occasional Papers, publication of which was begun in 1913, serve as a medium for original studies bascd principally upon the collections in the Museum. Thcy are issued separately. When a sufficient number of pages has been printed to make a volume, a title page, table of contents, and an index are supplied to libraries and indi- viduals on the mailing list for the series. The Miscellaneous Publications, which include papers on field and museum techniques, monographic studies, and other contributions not within the scope of the Occasional Papers, are published separtely. It is not intended that they be grouped into volumes. Each number has a title page and, when necessary, a table of contents. A complete list of publications on Birds, Fishes, Insects, Mammals, Mollusks, and Reptiles and Amphibians is available. Address inquiries to the Director, Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, Michigan. LISTOF MISCELLANEOUSPUBLICATIONS ON REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS No. The amphibians and reptiles of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colom- bia. By ALEXANDERG. RUTHVEN.(1922) 69 pp., 12 pls., 2 figs., 1 map ..
    [Show full text]
  • A Morphological and Molecular Study of Hydrodynastes Gigas (Serpentes, Dipsadidae), a Widespread Species from South America
    A morphological and molecular study of Hydrodynastes gigas (Serpentes, Dipsadidae), a widespread species from South America Priscila S. Carvalho1,2, Hussam Zaher3, Nelson J. da Silva Jr4 and Diego J. Santana1 1 Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil 2 Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio preto, São Paulo, Brazil 3 Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 4 Escola de Ciências Médicas, Farmacêuticas e Biomédicas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil ABSTRACT Background. Studies with integrative approaches (based on different lines of evidence) are fundamental for understanding the diversity of organisms. Different data sources can improve the understanding of the taxonomy and evolution of snakes. We used this integrative approach to verify the taxonomic status of Hydrodynastes gigas (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854), given its wide distribution throughout South America, including the validity of the recently described Hydrodynastes melanogigas Franco, Fernandes & Bentim, 2007. Methods. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of Bayesian Inference with mtDNA 16S and Cytb, and nuDNA Cmos and NT3 concatenated (1,902 bp). In addition, we performed traditional morphometric analyses, meristic, hemipenis morphology and coloration pattern of H. gigas and H. melanogigas. Results. According to molecular and morphological characters, H. gigas is widely Submitted 19 May 2020 distributed throughout South America. We found no evidence to support that H. Accepted 9 September 2020 gigas and H. melanogigas species are distinct lineages, therefore, H. melanogigas is a Published 25 November 2020 junior synonym of H.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Record of Xenopholis Scalaris (Wucherer, 1861) (Dipsadidae) for the State of Pernambuco, Brazil
    Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 57-59 (2019) (published online on 13 January 2019) A new record of Xenopholis scalaris (Wucherer, 1861) (Dipsadidae) for the state of Pernambuco, Brazil Rafaela C. França1,2,*, Mayara S. R. Morais3, Marco A. Freitas4, Geraldo J. B. Moura5, and Frederico G. R. França6 The genus Xenopholis Peters, 1869 currently Pernambuco (Roberto et al., 2017), with a distribution comprises three species restricted to South America, gap between these two biomes. including Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Xenopholis scalaris was described in the state of Brazil and French Guyana. In Brazil, Xenopholis Bahia, with the type localities in the municipalities of werdingorum Jansen, Álvarez and Köhler 2009 occurs Canavieiras and Mata de São João (Wucherer, 1861). in the states of Mato Grosso and Tocantins (Marques The species is small-sized, with approximately 300 mm et al., 2015; Powell et al., 2016), X. undulatus (Jensen, (Jansen et al., 2009), with terrestrial habit and it feeds 1900) occurs in part of the Southeast, Midwest and mainly on anuran amphibians (Martins and Oliveira, Northeast of Brazil and X. scalaris (Wucherer, 1861) 1998; Bernarde, 2010). This species differs from other occurs in the Amazon Rainforest, in the states of Mato congeners because it has only one pre-frontal scale, 17- Grosso (Rodrigues et al., 2011), Rondônia (Bernarde 17-17 dorsal scale rows, 127-144 ventrals and 28-35 and Abe, 2010), Acre (Silva et al., 2012), Amazonas subcaudals scales (Wucherer, 1861; Jansen et al., 2009). (Matins and Oliveira, 1998; Prudente et al., 2010) and Herein, we report a distribution extension of Xenopholis Pará (Cunha and Nascimento, 1993), and in the Atlantic scalaris and also provide a map with its currently known Forest, in the states of São Paulo (Zaher et al., 2011), geographic distribution (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Xenopholis Werdingorum, Jansen, Álvarez & Köhler, 2009 (Squamata: Dipsadidae): Range Extension with Comments on Distribution
    12 5 1985 the journal of biodiversity data 28 October 2016 Check List NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Check List 12(5): 1985, 28 October 2016 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/12.5.1985 ISSN 1809-127X © 2016 Check List and Authors Xenopholis werdingorum, Jansen, Álvarez & Köhler, 2009 (Squamata: Dipsadidae): range extension with comments on distribution Randy L. Powell1*, Cord Blake Eversole2, Ashton V. Crocker1, Dennis Lizarro3 and Reinaldo Cholima Bravo3 1 Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, 700 University Ave., MSC 158, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA 2 Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, 1150 Engineering Ave., MSC 218, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA 3 Centro de Investigación de Recursos Acuáticos (C.I.R.A.), Universidad Autónoma del Beni “José Ballivián”, Trinidad, Bolivia * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: We present a significant range extension of description of this species (Jansen et al. 2009), there Xenopholis werdingorum from Bolivia. There is a dearth have been an additional three specimens collected near of information on this recently described species, and the border of the departments of Santa Cruz and Beni, this account significantly contributes to knowledge of which were deposited in Museo Noel Kempff Mercado its geographic range. (MNK). Marques et al. (2005: 73) cited Xenopholis sp. from “Fazenda Cabaceiras, Poconé, Mato Grosso”, while Key words: Beni; Totaizal; Bolivia; primary rainforest; Marques et al. (2015, p. 89) cited X. werdingorum from Neotropics “UHE Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Palmas, Tocantins”. Moreover, due to the novelty of X. werdingorum, there is a paucity of information in the scientific literature The genus Xenopholis Peters, 1869 is a group of relative- regarding the distribution, life history, and general ly small (300–450 mm) Neotropical cryptozoic snakes ecology of this species.
    [Show full text]
  • Early German Herpetological Observations and Explorations in Southern Africa, with Special Reference to the Zoological Museum of Berlin
    Bonner zoologische Beiträge Band 52 (2003) Heft 3/4 Seiten 193–214 Bonn, November 2004 Early German Herpetological Observations and Explorations in Southern Africa, With Special Reference to the Zoological Museum of Berlin Aaron M. BAUER Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA Abstract. The earliest herpetological records made by Germans in southern Africa were casual observations of common species around Cape Town made by employees of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) during the mid- to late Seven- teenth Century. Most of these records were merely brief descriptions or lists of common names, but detailed illustrations of many reptiles were executed by two German illustrators in the employ of the VOC, Heinrich CLAUDIUS and Johannes SCHUMACHER. CLAUDIUS, who accompanied Simon VAN DER STEL to Namaqualand in 1685, left an especially impor- tant body of herpetological illustrations which are here listed and identified to species. One of the last Germans to work for the Dutch in South Africa was Martin Hinrich Carl LICHTENSTEIN who served as a physician and tutor to the last Dutch governor of the Cape from 1802 to 1806. Although he did not collect any herpetological specimens himself, LICHTENSTEIN, who became the director of the Zoological Museum in Berlin in 1813, influenced many subsequent workers to undertake employment and/or expeditions in southern Africa. Among the early collectors were Karl BERGIUS and Ludwig KREBS. Both collected material that is still extant in the Berlin collection today, including a small number of reptile types. Because of LICHTENSTEIN’S emphasis on specimens as items for sale to other museums rather than as subjects for study, many species first collected by KREBS were only described much later on the basis of material ob- tained by other, mostly British, collectors.
    [Show full text]
  • A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Upper Palumeu River Watershed (Grensgebergte and Kasikasima) of Southeastern Suriname
    Rapid Assessment Program A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Upper Palumeu River Watershed (Grensgebergte and Kasikasima) of Southeastern Suriname Editors: Leeanne E. Alonso and Trond H. Larsen 67 CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL - SURINAME CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ANTON DE KOM UNIVERSITY OF SURINAME THE SURINAME FOREST SERVICE (LBB) NATURE CONSERVATION DIVISION (NB) FOUNDATION FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION CONTROL (SBB) SURINAME CONSERVATION FOUNDATION THE HARBERS FAMILY FOUNDATION Rapid Assessment Program A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Upper Palumeu River Watershed RAP (Grensgebergte and Kasikasima) of Southeastern Suriname Bulletin of Biological Assessment 67 Editors: Leeanne E. Alonso and Trond H. Larsen CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL - SURINAME CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ANTON DE KOM UNIVERSITY OF SURINAME THE SURINAME FOREST SERVICE (LBB) NATURE CONSERVATION DIVISION (NB) FOUNDATION FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION CONTROL (SBB) SURINAME CONSERVATION FOUNDATION THE HARBERS FAMILY FOUNDATION The RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment is published by: Conservation International 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA USA 22202 Tel : +1 703-341-2400 www.conservation.org Cover photos: The RAP team surveyed the Grensgebergte Mountains and Upper Palumeu Watershed, as well as the Middle Palumeu River and Kasikasima Mountains visible here. Freshwater resources originating here are vital for all of Suriname. (T. Larsen) Glass frogs (Hyalinobatrachium cf. taylori) lay their
    [Show full text]
  • A New Species of Blunt-Headed Vine Snake (Colubridae, Imantodes) from the Chocó Region of Ecuador
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeysA 244:new 91–110 species (2012) of blunt-headed vine snake (Colubridae, Imantodes) from the Chocó region... 91 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.244.3950 RESEARCH ARTICLE www.zookeys.org Launched to accelerate biodiversity research A new species of blunt-headed vine snake (Colubridae, Imantodes) from the Chocó region of Ecuador Omar Torres-Carvajal1,†, Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz2,‡, Diego Quirola1,§, Eric N. Smith3,|, Ana Almendáriz4,¶ 1 Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre y Roca, Apartado 17–01–2184, Quito, Ecuador 2 Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, calle Rumipamba 341 y Avenida de los Shyris, Apartado 17–07–8976, Quito, Ecuador 3 Department of Biology and Amphibian & Reptile Diversity Research Center, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA 4 Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11–253, Quito, Ecuador † urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:EE1B0BD5-4C91-4AB4-98C3-8A7602BF0338 ‡ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:4F85DEF3-9AA1-4621-8566-1FE501361DA5 § urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:C908E3FA-0D77-4342-B0B6-E05DF6F75B0E | urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:2FA1D2DC-BF35-4FF1-B272-F9D30F3FD39D ¶ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:A6080521-DD0E-4020-8842-37BA772B1D65 Corresponding author: Omar Torres-Carvajal ([email protected]) Academic editor: N. Ananjeva | Received 4 September 2012 | Accepted 16 November 2012 | Published 27 November 2012 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3D17FC43-0134-484D-8FC4-77F201AE2C02 Citation: Torres-Carvajal O, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Quirola D, Smith EN, Almendáriz A (2012) A new species of blunt- headed vine snake (Colubridae, Imantodes) from the Chocó region of Ecuador.
    [Show full text]
  • ( 1 992) A. Reticulatus A. Atractus Paraguay
    HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Vol. 10, pp. 81-90 (2000) THE GENUS ATRACTUS (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE) IN NORTH-EASTERN ARGENTINA A. R. GIRAUD01 AND G. J. SCROCCHI 2 1/nstituto Nacional de Limnologia (INAL/), CONICET, Jose Macia 1933, 3016 Santo Tome, Santa Fe, Argentina 2lnstituto de Herpetologia, Fundaci6n Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251 4000, Tucuman, Argentina We present a revision of Atractus in north-eastern Argentina based on the examination of newly collected specimens and most of the material available in Argentinean museums. Four species are reported: A. snethlageae, A. paraguayensis, A. reticulatus and A. taeniatus. Atractus badius was erroneously cited as occurring in Argentina based on a specimen from Las Palmas, Chaco province which is reassigned to A. snethlageae. This record represents a considerable southern extension of the known range of the species. Atractus paraguayensis is redescribed based on three new specimens. This species was previously known only from the holotype reported from "Paraguay" without definite locality data. Adult and juvenile colour patterns in life are described. The validity of some diagnostic characters is discussed, and new diagnostic characters are given for A. reticulatus and A. paraguayensis. All species examined showed noteworthy variation in colour pattern. Sexual dimorphism is reported in all species. The distributional patterns and phytogeographic areas occupied by each species in Argentina are discussed. We also characterize morphological variation for each and provide a key for the Argentinean species. Key words: Atractus, snake, classification, distribution, taxonomy INTRODUCTION guished it from A. reticulatus using coloration pattern Atractus is a genus of fossorial snakes widely dis­ and high ventral scale counts.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Giant Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Ecuador, with Notes on Some Other Large Amazonian Congeners
    TERMS OF USE This pdf is provided by Magnolia Press for private/research use. Commercial sale or deposition in a public library or website is prohibited. Zootaxa 3721 (5): 455–474 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3721.5.2 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5E654B97-1FD1-4048-BEF2-02911CA5DDFC A new giant Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Ecuador, with notes on some other large Amazonian congeners WALTER E. SCHARGEL1,7, WILLIAM W. LAMAR2, PAULO PASSOS3, JORGE H. VALENCIA4,5, DIEGO F. CISNEROS-HEREDIA6 & JONATHAN A. CAMPBELL1 1Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA 2Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA 3Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil 4Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orces, Av. Amazonas 3008 y Rumipamba, Casilla 17 03 448, Quito, Ecuador 5Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre y Roca, Quito, Ecuador 6Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Calle Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, Quito, Ecuador 7Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract We describe a new species of Atractus from Cordillera de los Guacamayos in the Andes of Ecuador. This new species is the largest known species of Atractus, reaching almost 120 cm in total length with a robust habitus. We also use multivar- iate statistical analyses of morphometric data to look into the taxonomic confusion involving other large, banded/blotched, species of Atractus in Western Amazonia.
    [Show full text]