Friday, December 6, 2019

[Herpetology • 2019] Sibon ayerbeorum • A New Species of Sibon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Southwestern Colombia


Sibon ayerbeorum
 Vera-Pérez, 2019

Ayerbes’ Snail-eater • Caracolera de los Ayerbe || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.5.4 

Abstract
A new species of the genus Sibon is described based on four specimens from Parque Nacional Natural Munchique, department of Cauca, Colombia. The new species differs from all members of the S. annulatus and S. nebulatus groups because it has an ocellate pattern, which places it into the S. argus species group. It differs from S. argus by having non-protuberant eyes, fewer ventrals, subcaudals, and total segmental counts; and it differs from S. longifrenis by having fewer segmental counts in males and females, only six supralabials and postmentals absent. Additionally, it differs from both species due to its smaller body size.

Keywords: Reptilia, Sibon ayerbeorum sp. nov., snail-eating snakes, Dipsadini, Parque Nacional Natural Munchique, Cauca, endemic species

Coloration in life of adults paratype MHNUC-He-Se-000660 (upper) and holotype MHNUC-He-Se-000659 (lower) of Sibon ayerbeorum.

Sibon ayerbeorum sp. nov. 
 Sibon cf. lamari: Ayerbe et al. (2007). 

Proposed common name: Ayerbes’ Snail-eater 
Proposed common Spainish name: Caracolera de los Ayerbe

Etymology. Named in honor of Santiago Ayerbe González and his sons Fernando and Santiago José (R.I.P). Dr. Ayerbe is a renowned Colombian pediatrician and toxinologist who has devoted most of his life in favor of prevention, treatment and management of snakebites, and has also contributed to the knowledge of the reptiles of the department of Cauca. Fernando is a renowned ornithologist and scientific illustrator, author of the most recent book about the birds of Colombia. Santiago José died in the earthquake which affected the city of Popayán in March, 1983.

Luis Enrique Vera-Pérez. 2019. A New Species of Sibon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Southwestern Colombia. Zootaxa. 4701(5); 443–453. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.5.4


Resumen: Se describe una nueva especie del género Sibon a partir de cuatro especímenes del Parque Nacional Natural Munchique, departamento del Cauca, Colombia. La nueva especie difiere de todos los miembros de los grupos S. annulatus y S. nebulatus por tener un patrón ocelado, que la coloca dentro del grupo de especies S. argus. Se distingue de S. argus por tener ojos no protuberantes, menos escamas ventrales, subcaudales y conteos de segmentos totales; y difiere de S. longifrenis por tener menos conteos de segmentos en machos y hembras, solo seis supralabiales y ausencia de postmental. Además, difiere de ambas especies por su tamaño corporal menor.