[Herpetology • 2016] Tantilla tjiasmantoi • A Large and unusually Colored New Snake Species of the Genus Tantilla (Squamata; Colubridae) from the Peruvian Andes

Tantilla tjiasmantoi  

 Koch & Venegas, 2016 

DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2767 

       

Abstract  

A new colubrid species of the genus Tantilla from the dry forest of the northern Peruvian Andes is described on the basis of two specimens, which exhibit a conspicuous sexual dimorphism. Tantilla tjiasmantoi sp. nov. represents the third species of the genus in Peru. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by the combination of scalation characteristics and the unusual transversely-banded color pattern on the dorsum. A detailed description of the skull morphology of the new species is given based on micro-computed tomography images. The habitat of this new species is gravely threatened due to human interventions. Conservation efforts are urgently needed in the inter-Andean valley of the Maranon River.

 Keywords: Dry forest, Endemic, Skull morphology, Osteology, Hemipenes morphology, La Libertad, Inter-Andean valley, Phylogenetic relationship, Serpentes, Reptilia, Micro-computed tomography

   

Etymology: The species is dedicated to Wewin Tjiasmanto (Indonesia) in recognition of his support of nature conservation and taxonomic research through the BIOPAT initiative

Figure 5: Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of the species of Tantilla fom Peru:
Tantilla tjiasmantoi sp. nov. female holotype CORBIDI 7726 (A, B) and male paratype ZFMK 95238 (C, D);
 T. melanocephala (E, F) from Bahuaja-Sonene, Madre de Díos (photographs by Roy Santa Cruz); T. capistrata (G, H) from near Santa Catalina de Chongoyape, Lambayeque.    

Claudia Koch and Pablo J. Venegas. 2016. A Large and unusually Colored New Snake Species of the Genus Tantilla (Squamata; Colubridae) from the Peruvian Andes.

 PeerJ. 4; e2767. DOI:  10.7717/peerj.2767

ResearchGate.net/publication/311588477_A_large_and_unusually_colored_new_snake_species_of_the_genus_Tantilla_Squamata_Colubridae_from_the_Peruvian_Andes

[Herpetology • 2016] Stenocercus omari • A New Species of Iguanid Lizard, Genus Stenocercus (Squamata, Iguania), from the Central Andes in Peru

Stenocercus omari  

Venegas, Echevarría, García-Burneo & Koch,  2016

   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4205.1.4 

 Abstract

We describe a new species of Stenocercus from the montane forest of the right margin of the Marañón river in the northern portion of the Central Andes in northern Peru (Amazonas and La Libertad departments), at elevations ranging from 2300 to 3035 m. Stenocercus omari sp. nov. differs from other Stenocercus species, with the exception of S. amydrorhytus, S. chrysopygus, S. cupreus, S. johaberfellneri, S. latebrosus, S. melanopygus, S. modestus, S. ornatissimus, S. orientalis, and S. stigmosus, by having granular scales on the posterior surfaces of thighs, a conspicuous antehumeral fold and by lacking a vertebral crest. However, Stenocercus omari sp. nov. is easily distinguished from the aforementioned species, except S. orientalis, by the presence of prominently keeled dorsal head scales. The new species differs from S. orientalis by lacking a prominent oblique neck fold and by having a distinct deep postfemoral mite pocket.

Keywords: Reptilia, Amazonas department, Central Andes, clutch size, Marañón river, La Libertad department

Pablo J. Venegas, Lourdes Y. Echevarría, Karla García-Burneo and Claudia Koch.  2016. A New Species of Iguanid Lizard, Genus Stenocercus (Squamata, Iguania), from the Central Andes in Peru.
Zootaxa. 4205(1); 52–64.   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4205.1.4