[Herpetology • 2019] Might Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray, 1834) (Squamata: Colubridae) present in India?

 Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray, 1834)

in Patel, Vyas & Dudhatra, 2019. 

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4571.2.9 

  facebook.com/HarshilPatel3760

The colubrid snake genus Dendrelaphis comprises of 45 species (Uetz et al. 2018) of which eleven currently occurs in India (Aengals et al. 2018). A member of this genus, Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray, 1834), was once considered a wide-ranging species in Southeast Asia, the Philippines and the Indo-Australian Archipelago, until Van Rooijen & Vogel (2012) resolved taxonomy of this species complex. Now its range is restricted from southern Thailand to Sundaland (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Billiton and Borneo; presence doubtful in Java of Indonesia) (Van Rooijen & Vogel 2012).

....

 Harshil Patel, Raju Vyas and Bhautik Dudhatra. 2019. Might Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray, 1834) (Squamata: Colubridae) present in India? Zootaxa. 4571(2); 278–280. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4571.2.9  

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Slithering Through Sea Routes: New Snake Species Finds its Way to Gujarat Port City news18.com/news/india/slithering-through-sea-routes-new-snake-species-finds-its-way-to-gujarat-port-city-2080693.html

[Herpetology • 2007] Naja ashei • Get An Eyeful of This: A New Species of Giant Spitting Cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja) from eastern and north-eastern Africa

 Naja ashei 

Wüster & Broadley, 2007

  mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01532p068.pdf  

twitter.com/WolfgangWuster

We describe a new species of giant spitting cobra, Naja ashei sp. nov., from eastern and north-eastern Africa. The species was previously regarded as a colour phase of the black-necked spitting cobra, N. nigricollis. However, mtDNA sequence data show it to be more closely related to N. mossambica than N. nigricollis. The new species is diagnosable from all other African spitting cobras by the possession of a unique clade of mtDNA haplotypes and a combination of colour pattern and scalation characteristics. Its distribution includes the dry lowlands of northern and eastern Kenya, north-eastern Uganda, southern Ethiopia and southern Somalia.

Key words: Naja ashei sp. nov., Naja nigricollis, Naja mossambica, Serpentes, Elapidae, Africa, mitochondrial DNA, phylogeny, multivariate morphometrics

FIGURE 4. Holotype of Naja ashei (NMK S/3993) in life.

Naja ashei sp. nov.

 Ashe’s spitting cobra

Diagnosis. Naja ashei differs from all other African spitting cobras in possessing a unique clade of mtDNA haplotypes. From the data presented here, we identified 12 fixed nucleotide differences that differentiate N. ashei from the other eastern African spitting Naja. These correspond to positions 105, 169 and 315 of the ND4 sequence of the holotype (DQ897706), and to positions 60, 108, 153, 201, 348, 381, 507, 630 and 676 of the cytochrome b sequence of the same specimen (DQ897749), the diagnostic bases at these positions being C, T, G, C, G, T, T, T, A, C, T and A, respectively.

Morphologically, N. ashei differs from East African N. nigricollis in a number of characters relating to adult colour pattern and scalation. In particular, its midbody and posterior ventral colour is predominantly light, with dark pigment encroaching mostly from the sides of the body (venter normally largely or entirely dark in N. nigricollis), it lacks any red, orange or pink pigment under the throat (usually pronounced in N. nigricollis), and the head is the same olive-brown colour as the rest of the body (often black above and below in East African N. nigricollis). Scalation does not provide any absolutely diagnostic characters for N. ashei, but mean scale counts and the range differ clearly from those of East African N. nigricollis (Table 4). In particular, N. ashei can be distinguished from most eastern African N. nigricollis by the combination of high ventral scale and dorsal scale row counts. Most N. ashei have over 195 ventrals and at least 21 and typically more scale rows around the neck, whereas most N. nigricollis with 195 or more ventrals have at most 21, and usually 19 or fewer scale rows around the neck, whereas higher scale row counts around the neck tend to be found in specimens with fewer ventral scales.

....

Etymology. We dedicate this species to the memory of the late James Ashe (1925–2004), in recognition of his contributions to East African herpetology, of the inspiration he gave to others working on the herpetofauna of this part of the world (see Spawls, 2004), of his early recognition of the distinctiveness of the species that now bears his name, and in gratitude for his support for this work.

Wolfgang Wüster and Donald G. Broadley. 2007. Get An Eyeful of This: A New Species of Giant Spitting Cobra from eastern and north-eastern Africa (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja). Zootaxa. 1532(1); 51–68. 

 mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01532p068.pdf 

 twitter.com/WolfgangWuster/status/1107959599523606530

[Herpetology • 2017] Intra-population Color Dimorphism of Ahaetulla prasina (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Northeastern Thailand

Fig. 1. Color morphs of Ahaetulla prasina.
A grey adult from the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve (SBR) (A); an orange-yellow adult from the SBR (B, photo credit: Daniel Worthren); a sub-adult with a grey body and yellow on the head from the SBR (C); a juvenile with a brownish-grey body and dull yellow anterior from the SBR (D); a green adult from Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand (E, photo credit: Jannico Kelk); a brown adult from Khao Yai National Park, northeastern Thailand (F, photo credit: Thai National Parks, thainationalparls.com); a green juvenile from Khao Nan/Khao Luang National Park, southern Thailand (G, photo credit: Michael Cota); and a brown juvenile from Chiang Mai, northern Thailand (H, photo credit: Montri Sumontha).

Abstract 
Although Ahaetulla prasina is typically a cryptic green color, they have also been observed in brown, grey and orange-yellow morphs. We recorded observations of the A. prasina color morphs found in a population within the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve (SBR), northeastern Thailand, between 2013 and 2017. We did not detect any green or brown morphs, showing that this population is dimorphic between grey (54%) and orange-yellow (46%) adults. We did not discern any geographic separation of the color morphs within this population, and sex did not determine color. We found four juveniles, all with brownish-grey bodies and yellow on their anterior dorsals. We observed one sub-adult, which was solid grey except for yellow on the top of the head. Our results suggest that this population may be genetically isolated due to the rapid development surrounding the SBR. Furthermore, color does not likely have a strong influence on adult fitness within this population. Our juvenile and sub-adult observations may indicate ontogenetic color shifts in this population of A. prasina. We recommend additional investigations into the relationship between color and A. prasina ecology. We further reason that the SBR A. prasina may be a good model population for snake genetic research in developing areas.
Keywords: Ahaetulla, Color, Colubridae, Dimorphism, Intra-population

Evan D. Amber, Colin T. Strine, Pongthep Suwanwaree and Surachit Waengsothorn. 2017. Intra-population Color Dimorphism of Ahaetulla prasina (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Northeastern Thailand. Current Herpetology. 36(2); 98-104.  DOI: 10.5358/hsj.36.98

ResearchGate.net/publication/319294092_Color_Dimorphism_of_Ahaetulla_prasina_in_Northeastern_Thailand

[Herpetology • 2019] Bothrops sonene • A New Species of Bothrops (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from Pampas del Heath, southeastern Peru, with Comments on the Systematics of the Bothrops neuwiedi species group

Bothrops sonene 

Carrasco, Grazziotin, Farfán, Koch, Ochoa, Scrocchi, Leynaud & Chaparro, 2019.

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4565.3.1

Abstract

We describe a new species of pitviper of the genus Bothrops from the Peruvian Pampas del Heath, in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. Pampas del Heath is an area of seasonally flooded savannas and a northwestern extension of the Gran Chaco Boliviano-Paraguayo. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by the exclusive combination of dorsal color pattern of body consisting of small C-shaped blotches, postocular stripe originating posteriorly to the eye, covering posterior supralabials, dorsum of the head with paired markings arranged symmetrically, venter cream heavily speckled with brown, prelacunal scale discrete in contact with second supralabial, three to five prefoveals, subfoveal single usually present, postfoveals absent to two, canthals two, seven intersupraoculars, one or two suboculars, two or three postoculars, seven or eight supralabials, nine to eleven infralabials, 26–27 interrictals, 23–25 middorsal scales, 172 ventrals in the female and 169–173 in males, 45 subcaudals in the female and 50 in males. We performed separate and combined phylogenetic analyses based on morphology and five mitochondrial genes and recovered the new species as a member of the Bothrops neuwiedi species group. All lineages of this clade inhabit the South American dry diagonal. This novel species of pitviper increases the known diversity of the genus Bothrops and adds to the number of described taxa from the unique and scarcely known ecosystem of Pampas del Heath.

Keywords: Reptilia, Bothrops mattogrossensis, species delimitation, molecular phylogeny, morphological characters, total evidence

Bothrops sonene

Paola A. Carrasco, Felipe G. Grazziotin, Roy Santa Cruz Farfán, Claudia Koch, José Antonio Ochoa, Gustavo J. Scrocchi, Gerardo C. Leynaud and Juan C. Chaparro. 2019. A New Species of Bothrops (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from Pampas del Heath, southeastern Peru, with Comments on the Systematics of the Bothrops neuwiedi species group. Zootaxa. 4565(3); 301–344. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4565.3.1

[Herpetology • 2019] Atractaspis branchi • A New Stiletto Snake (Lamprophiidae, Atractaspidinae) from Liberia and Guinea, West Africa

Atractaspis branchi 

Rödel, Kucharzewski, Mahlow, Chirio, Pauwels, Carlino, Sambolah & Glos, 2019

Branch’s Stiletto Snake  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.31488

Abstract

We describe a new stiletto snake, Atractaspis, from western Liberia and southeastern Guinea. The new species shares with morphologically similar western African Atractaspis species, A. reticulata and A. corpulenta, the fusion of the 2nd infralabial with the inframaxillary. From A. corpulenta the new species differs by a more slender body (276–288 ventrals and 19 or 20 dorsal scale rows versus 178–208 ventrals with 23–29 dorsal scale rows), a divided anal plate and divided subcaudal scales (both non-divided in A. corpulenta). The new species differs from most A. reticulata by having 19 or 20 dorsal scale rows at midbody (versus 21–23, rarely 19), and a lower ventral count (276–288 versus 304–370). The new species thus has a relatively longer tail: snout-vent-length / tail-length in the female holotype (15.7) and paratype (21.5) versus a mean of 23.6 in seven female A. reticulata. The new Atractaspis likely is endemic to the western part of the Upper Guinea forest zone and thus adds to the uniqueness of this diverse and threatened biogeographic region.

Key Words: Biodiversity hotspot, biogeography, rainforest, Reptilia, Squamata, species delimitation, Upper Guinea forest

Figure 1. Life coloration of the Atractaspis branchi sp. n. holotype (ZMB 88529). 

Figure 3. Holotype of Atractaspis branchi sp. n. (ZMB 88529) 1 head scalation in dorsal (a), lateral (b), and ventral (c) views 2 ct-scan of skull in dorsal (a), lateral (b), and ventral (c) views; lower jaw virtually removed; green: pterygoid, yellow: palatine, orange: vomer. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Atractaspis branchi sp. n.

Diagnosis: External morphology, skull anatomy and molecular data (see below) clearly supports the position within the genus Atractaspis. The new species can be only mistaken morphologically with species from Laurent’s (1950) section ‘D’, his reticulata-group. In particular it differs from all other species of the genus, except A. reticulata and A. corpulenta (including the West African A. c. leucura), by the fusion of the 2nd infralabial with the inframaxillary. From A. corpulenta it differs by a much higher ventral count (276–288 vs 178–208), lower number of dorsal scale rows at midbody (19 vs 23–29), divided anal plate and subcaudals, and the absence of a white colored tail tip (present in A. c. leucura); from A. reticulata it can be distinguished by a lower ventral count (276–288 vs 304–370), and 19 (the paratype has mostly 19 scale rows, but 20 at midbody) dorsal scales rows at midbody (19 scale rows present in the A. reticulata holotype, other vouchers having 21–23 rows) (Table 1). The new species further differs from A. corpulenta by a more slender body and from A. reticulata by a longer tail compared to body length.

Figure 6. Type locality of Atractaspis branchi sp. n. in north-western Liberia. The holotype specimen was found at night. It was moving along the steep slope on the left bank of the small creek.

 Figure 7. Localities of Atractaspis branchi sp. n. and A. reticulata ssp.
Records are based on museum specimens, literature and database (GBIF) records; large closed symbols represent the type localities of the different taxa, stars: A. branchi sp. n., circles: A. reticulata records without reference to subspecies; triangles: A. r. reticulata; quadrats: A. r. heterochilus; diamonds: A. r. brieni; country borders indicted as white lines; background of map: major biomes based on Olson et al. (2001).

Natural history: We found the holotype at night. It was slowly moving along the steep slope of the bank of a small rocky creek in primary lowland evergreen rainforest (Fig. 6). When handled, the snake first tried to hide its head below body loops; the head was bend down at an almost right angle and with fangs partly visible outside of the mouth. In this head position, the snake repeatedly tried to strike. Either it tried to move slowly away from the human observers or it abruptly coiled and uncoiled, often jumping distances equaling almost its entire body length, similar to wolf snakes of the genus Lycophidion (Rödel et al. 1995; Greene 1997). The two snakes from south-eastern Guinea were collected in plantations of banana, manioc and coffee, which were planted under the few remaining high trees of the former forest. No other data on biology and ecology of the new species are known.

Distribution: So far the new species is known from the type locality and two additional sites in south-eastern Guinea. These latter two sites are about 27 km apart (Fig. 7).

Etymology: We name this new snake to honor our recently deceased friend and colleague, William Roy “Bill” Branch, for his outstanding contributions to African herpetology. MOR and OSGP are particularly pleased to name the species in memory of Bill. We remember our outstanding field trips with him, unforgettable discussions with a large portion of special humor, and his friendship. The dedication of this species of stiletto snake to Bill is particularly appropriate. After Bill turned from cancer research to herpetology (see “William R. Branch” in Li Vigni 2013), the subject of his first herpetological research, on the serotaxonomy and hemipeneal morphology of stiletto snakes, was presented in two contributions at a symposium of herpetology and ichthyology in Kruger National Park in 1975 (Branch 1975a, b). As the vernacular name, we suggest Branch’s Stiletto Snake.

 Mark-Oliver Rödel, Christoph Kucharzewski, Kristin Mahlow, Laurent Chirio, Olivier Pauwels, Piero Carlino, Gordon Sambolah and Julian Glos. 2019. A New Stiletto Snake (Lamprophiidae, Atractaspidinae, Atractaspis) from Liberia and Guinea, West Africa. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 95(1): 107-123.  DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.31488

[Herpetology • 2019] Aspidura desilvai • A New Species of Aspidura Wagler, 1830 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Knuckles, World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka

Aspidura desilvai

Wickramasinghe, Bandara, Vidanapathirana & Wickramasinghe, 2019

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4559.2.3 

Abstract

We describe a new species, Aspidura desilvai sp. nov., closely resembling A. trachyprocta and the last addition to the genus A. ravanai, from Knuckles massif, Matale District, of Sri Lanka. The species represents the ninth species of the genus known from Sri Lanka, and is readily distinguished from all other congeners by its colour pattern, the scale nature in the ischiadic region, and morphometric characteristics specially from its ratio between the snout to eye distance to its eye width. The species is currently known only from the type locality.

Keywords: Reptilia, Aspidura ravanai, A. trachyprocta, central highlands, Knuckles, Roughside snakes, South Asia, systematics

FIGURE 2. Dorsal aspect of Aspidura desilvai sp. nov., the holotype male (NMSL-NH 2019.01.02) in life.

Aspidura desilvai sp. nov.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Pilippu Hewa Don Hemasiri de Silva (Dr. P. H. D. H. de Silva), a former Director (1965-1981) of the National Museums of Sri Lanka. In recognition of his tireless services to the country, while in service and through his many publications specially as the author of the book titled “Snake Fauna of Sri Lanka, with special reference to skull, dentition and venom in snakes”. The species epithet desilvai is a noun in the genitive case. 

Suggested common names. desilvage madilla, and de Silva’s Rough-Side Snake in native Sinhala language and English language respectively. [මැඩිල්ලන්]

L. J. Mendis Wickramasinghe, Imesh Nuwan Bandara,  Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana and Nethu Wickramasinghe. 2019. A New Species of Aspidura Wagler, 1830 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Knuckles, World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka. Zootaxa. 4559(2); 265–280. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4559.2.3

facebook.com/SnakesofSL/photos/325296628123226

[Herpetology • 2019] Hebius lacrima • A New Species of the Snake Genus Hebius Thompson (Squamata: Natricidae) from Northeast India

Hebius lacrima 

 Purkayastha & David, 2019

 Crying Keelback  || DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4555.1.6 

Abstract

A new species of the family Natricidae Bonaparte is described from a single specimen obtained in Arunachal State, northeastern India. On the basis of its external morphology and of its dentition on the upper maxilla, i.e. 24 + 3 distinctly enlarged teeth separated by a short diastema, it is referred to the genus Hebius Thompson. Hebius lacrima spec. nov. is distinguished from other species of the genera Hebius, Amphiesma Duméril, Bibron & Duméril and Herpetoreas Günther, by the combination of an elongate body, 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody, a distinctive broad, white band on the supralabials interrupted by a dark blotch below the eye, absence of dorsolateral stripes replaced by series of transversally elliptical or divided dorsolateral spots, a cream venter with lateral dark blotches, and scales of the first dorsal scale row entirely smooth. The interrupted, broad, lateral stripe of the head differentiates Hebius lacrima spec. nov. from all other species of the genera Hebius and Herpetoreas inhabiting the Indo-Himalayan and Indochinese Regions. This new species is compared in detail with other Asian species of Natricidae having 19 dorsal scale rows.

Keywords: Reptilia, Arunachal Pradesh, India, Hebius, Herpetoreas

Hebius lacrima spec. nov.

Etymology. The species nomen derives from the Latin noun lacrima (-ae), meaning “a tear”, a reference to the dark area under the eye looking like a black tear which interrupts the white supralabial stripe. This species nomen is a noun in apposition and not an adjective.We suggest the following common names: Crying Keelback (English).

Ecological notes. The single known specimen was obtained from a rice field alongside a hill slope (Fig. 3) in the outskirt of the city of Basar (Fig. 4), so in a heavily disturbed area. A small stream was flowing adjacent to this field. An indigenous agricultural practice called Jhum (shifting) cultivation was done in the hills adjacent to the rice field.

 Jayaditya Purkayastha and Patrick David. 2019. A New Species of the Snake Genus Hebius Thompson from Northeast India (Squamata: Natricidae).  Zootaxa. 4555(1); 79–90. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4555.1.6

Zoologist discovers ‘crying’ snake in Arunachal Pradesh thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/zoologist-discovers-crying-snake-in-arunachal/article26251819.ece

[Herpetology • 2019] Xylophiinae subfam. nov. • A New Subfamily of Fossorial Colubroid Snakes from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Geographic distribution of Xylophiinae subfam. nov. (green) 

and approximate distribution of subfamily Pareinae (blue).

Deepak, Ruane & Gower, 2019. 

DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1557756  

 twitter.com/DeepakVeerappan

ABSTRACT

We report molecular phylogenetic and dating analyses of snakes that include new mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data for three species of the peninsular Indian endemic Xylophis. The results provide the first molecular genetic test of and support for the monophyly of Xylophis. Our phylogenetic results support the findings of a previous, taxonomically restricted phylogenomic analysis of ultraconserved nuclear sequences in recovering the fossorial Xylophis as the sister taxon of a clade comprising all three recognised extant genera of the molluscivoran and typically arboreal pareids. The split between Xylophis and ‘pareids’ is estimated to have occurred on a similar timescale to that between most (sub)families of extant snakes. Based on phylogenetic relationships, depth of molecular genetic and estimated temporal divergence, and on the external morphological and ecological distinctiveness of the two lineages, we classify Xylophis in a newly erected subfamily (Xylophiinae subfam. nov.) within Pareidae.

KEYWORDS: Asia, classification, Pareidae, Pareinae, phylogenetics, Xylophis, taxonomy

Figure 4. (a) Geographic distribution of Xylophiinae subfam. nov. (green) and approximate distribution of subfamily Pareinae (blue).
 Photographs show representative taxa of the two subfamilies within Pareidae: (b) Xylophis perroteti from Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India (Photo: Achyuthan N. Srikanthan); (c) Pareas monticola from Barail, Assam, India (Photo: V. Deepak).

Approximate distribution drawn based on locations provided in Srinivasulu et al. (2014) and Wallach et al. (2014).

DIAPSIDA Osborn, 1903

Superorder LEPIDOSAURIA Haeckel, 1866

Order SQUAMATA Oppel, 1811

Suborder SERPENTES Linnaeus, 1758

Infraorder CAENOPHIDIA Hoffstetter, 1939

Superfamily COLUBROIDEA Oppel, 1811

Family PAREIDAE Romer, 1956

Subfamily Xylophiinae subfam. nov.

Type genus: Xylophis Beddome, 1878

Content A single genus with three currently recognised species: X. stenorhynchus (Günther, 1875); X. perroteti Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854; X. captaini Gower and Winkler, 2007. 

Xylophis indicus Beddome, 1878 has been considered a synonym of X. stenorhynchus (e.g. Smith 1943; Wallach et al. 2014) but might also be valid (Gower and Winkler 2007). Xylophis perroteti includes the synonyms Rhabdosoma microcephalum Günther, 1858 (e.g. Smith 1943; Wallach et al. 2014).

Diagnosis Colubroid snakes with first (anteriormost) three pairs of infralabial shields reduced to narrow strips, together much smaller than large pair of anterior chin (genial) shields.

 Distribution The Western Ghats region of peninsular India. ...

V. Deepak, Sara Ruane and David J. Gower. 2019. A New Subfamily of Fossorial Colubroid Snakes from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Journal of Natural History.   52(45-46)  DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1557756  

 twitter.com/DeepakVeerappan/status/1086419144260472834

      

[Herpetology • 2019] Polemon ater • A Cryptic New Species of Polemon (Squamata: Lamprophiidae, Aparallactinae) from the Miombo Woodlands of Central and East Africa

Polemon ater

Portillo, Branch, Tilbury, Nagy, Hughes, Kusamba, Muninga, Aristote, Behangana & Greenbaum, 2019

  DOI:  10.1643/CH-18-098

 twitter.com/ASIHCopeia   twitter.com/EliGreenbaumPhD 

Abstract

African snake-eaters of the genus Polemon are cryptic, fossorial snakes that mainly inhabit the forests of central, eastern, and western Africa. Molecular results from a previous study demonstrated that Polemon christyi is not monophyletic—two distinct lineages were recovered from Uganda (the type locality) and southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Genetic data indicated differences in sequence divergence and encoded amino acids between these lineages. Based on these molecular differences and diagnostic differences in morphology, we describe the lineage from southeastern DRC as a new species. Literature records indicate that it likely occurs in adjacent Tanzania and Zambia. It is the first species of Polemon to be described in over 70 years.

  the holotype of Polemon ater, PEM R20734 (254 mm SVL), subadult male from Fungurume, Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in life.

photo: Colin R. Tilbury

Polemon ater, new species 

Black Snake-eater  

Etymology.— Derived from the Latin atrum in reference to the grayish black or black dorsal and ventral coloration that is present in all known specimens of P. ater.

Frank Portillo, William R. Branch, Colin R. Tilbury, Zoltán T. Nagy, Daniel F. Hughes, Chifundera Kusamba, Wandege M. Muninga, Mwenebatu M. Aristote, Mathias Behangana and Eli Greenbaum. 2019. A Cryptic New Species of Polemon (Squamata: Lamprophiidae, Aparallactinae) from the Miombo Woodlands of Central and East Africa. Copeia. 107(1); 22-36. DOI:  10.1643/CH-18-098

 twitter.com/ASIHCopeia/status/1088520488706605057  twitter.com/EliGreenbaumPhD/status/1088526597131587587

[Herpetology • 2019] Rhadinaea eduardoi • A New Species of Forest Snake of the Genus Rhadinaea (Squamata, Dipsadidae) from Tropical Montane Rainforest in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca, Mexico

Rhadinaea eduardoi 

Mata-Silva, Rocha, Ramírez-Bautista, Berriozabal-Islas & Wilson, 2019

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.813.29617 

Abstract

Content of the dipsadid genus Rhadinaea has changed considerably since Myers’ 1974 revision. Three species groups are recognized currently in the genus. Our fieldwork in Oaxaca in June 2018 produced a single specimen of Rhadinaea considered to represent a new taxon. This new species is described from converted Premontane Wet Forest in the municipality of Santa Catarina Juquila in the Sierra Madre del Sur of southern Oaxaca, Mexico. It is most closely related to Rhadinaea laureata, from which it can be distinguished easily by color pattern and scutellation, and represents a species group distinct from the other three occupying the genus.

Keywords: Morphology, new serpent species, Santa Catarina Juquila municipality, Southern Mexico, taxonomy

Figure 2. Head and anterior portion of body of holotype of Rhadinaea eduardoi.

Figure 3. Holotype of Rhadinaea eduardoi in life. 

Rhadinaea eduardoi sp. n. 

Common name: English: Eduardo’s forest snake. 

Spanish: Hojarasquera de Eduardo

Diagnosis: A snake of the genus Rhadinaea that can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of morphological features: supralabials 7, with 3rd and 4th entering orbit; 120 ventrals; 71 subcaudals; one subpreocular (lower preocular); 17 dorsal scales throughout body; a head pattern lacking postorbital pale markings but having a pale line extending from the lower rear quadrant of the eye to the ultimate supralabial and slightly beyond, and a midbody dorsal color pattern of a lateral series of black dots in the lower apex of the scales of row V and a middorsal line confined to the middorsal scale row consisting of a series of disjunct spots on the posterior apex of otherwise dark brown scales.

Etymology: This species is named in honor of Eduardo Mata-Silva, collector of the holotype. Eduardo is the younger brother of the senior author of this paper, is a resident of Río Grande, Oaxaca, and is a highly valued member of our field crew working in Oaxaca. He also outshines the rest of the crew when it comes to finding snakes, as evidenced by his discovery of the holotype of the snake described herein.

Habitat and natural history observations: Rhadinaea eduardoi is resident in an area of converted Premontane Wet Forest, which presently supports a plantation of shade-grown coffee (Fig. 5). The holotype was found active at 1800 hrs on leaf litter approximately 10 m from a stream after a very light rain. Other herpetofaunal species encountered at this site were the anurans Craugastor pygmaeus, Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei, and Exerodonta sumichrasti, and the lizards Norops sp. and Holcosus undulatus.

Figure 5. Habitat where holotype of Rhadinaea eduardoi was found.

 Vicente Mata-Silva, Arturo Rocha, Aurelio Ramírez-Bautista, Christian Berriozabal-Islas and Larry David Wilson. 2019. A New Species of Forest Snake of the Genus Rhadinaea from Tropical Montane Rainforest in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca, Mexico (Squamata, Dipsadidae).  ZooKeys. 813: 55-65. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.813.29617

Resúmen: La conformación del género Rhadinaea ha cambiado considerablemente desde la revisión de Myers en 1974. Tres grupos de especies son reconocidos actualmente en el género. Nuestro trabajo de campo en Oaxaca en junio de 2018 produjo un espécimen de Rhadinaea que consideramos que representa un nuevo taxón. Describimos esta nueva especie de bosque húmedo premontano en el Municipio de Santa Catarina Juquila en la Sierra Madre del Sur en el sur de Oaxaca, México. Esta especie está más estrechamente relacionada con Rhadinaea laureata, de la cual se puede distinguir fácilmente por medio del patrón de color y escutelación, y representa un grupo distinto a los tres que forman parte del género.

Palabras claves: Morfología, nueva especie de serpiente, municipalidad de Santa Catarina Juquila, el sur de México, taxonomía

[Herpetology • 2018] Apostolepis adhara • A New Species of Apostolepis (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Elapomorphini) from the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Apostolepis adhara

França, Barbo, Silva-Júnior, Silva & Zaher, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.3 

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Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Apostolepis found near São Salvador Hydroelectric Power Plant, municipality of São Salvador do Tocantins, in the central Cerrado ecoregion. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of eleven dorsolateral stripes, five infralabial scales and the lack of preoculars scales. The new species shares some external characteristics mainly with A. arenaria, A. gaboi and A. nelsonjorgei, with which it is compared.

Keywords: Reptilia, Apostolepis arenaria, A. gaboi, A. nelsonjorgei, Color pattern, Pholidosis, Skull osteology, Taxonomy

FIGURE 1. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views of the body; ventral (C), dorsal (D) and (E) lateral views of the head; dorsal (F), lateral (G) and middle views of the body; and dorsal (H) and ventral (I) views of the holotype (CEPB 6554) of Apostolepis adhara. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Apostolepis adhara sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific epithet “adhara” refers to the name of the star Epsilon Canis Majoris (ε CMa), from the constellation of Canis Major, which means “maidens” or "(the) virgins" in Arabic (Al ʽAdhārā) (Allen 1963). In the Brazilian flag, this star represents the state of Tocantins. Curiously, Adhara is the second brightest star of its constellation, as well as the Cerrado, corresponds to the second largest biome in South America. 

We suggest the vernacular name "São Salvador burrow-snake".

Daniella França, Fausto E. Barbo, Nelson J. Silva-Júnior, Helder L. R. Silva and Hussam Zaher. 2018. A New Species of Apostolepis (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Elapomorphini) from the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Zootaxa. 4521(4); 438–552. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.3

 twitter.com/herpgirls/status/1063395807481745409   

twitter.com/DaniMoojeni/status/1064969036835028994

Resumo: Descrevemos uma nova espécie do gênero Apostolepis, encontrada próxima à Hidrelétrica de São Salvador, Município de São Salvador do Tocantins, no centro da Ecoregião Cerrado. A nova espécie distingue-se de seus congêneres pelas seguinte combinação de caracteres: presença de onze estrias dorsolaterais, cinco escamas infralabiais e ausência das escamas preoculares. A espécie nova compartilha algumas características externas principalmente com A. arenaria, A. gaboi e A. nelsonjorgei, com as quais é detalhadamente comparada. 

Palavras-chave: Apostolepis arenaria, A. gaboi, A. nelsonjorgei, folidose, padrão de coloração, taxonomia

[Herpetology • 2018] Cenaspis aenigma • Caudals and Calyces: The Curious Case of a Consumed Chiapan Colubroid

Cenaspis aenigma 

Campbell, Smith & Hall, 2018

DOI:  10.1670/18-042 

  twitter.com/am_durso 

Abstract

A new genus and species of colubroid snake is described from the isolated highlands of western Chiapas. This enigmatic little snake possesses a unique suite of characters that defies placing it in any known genus and clearly distinguishes it from all known genera. Several of the most unusual features include subcaudals undivided throughout the length of the tail and a simple hemipenis completely adorned with calyces and having a sulcus spermaticus that remains unbifurcated until the apical portion of the organ. Neither of these characteristics is known for any other colubroid of the Western Hemisphere. Consideration of morphology places the new snake in the Dipsadidae and suggests that Adelphicos, Atractus, Geophis, and Chapinophis are among its closest relatives.

FIG. 1. Cenaspis aenigma (holotype, UTA R-10544, 258 mm total length),
drawing reconstructing species in life. 

Cenaspis, new genus

Etymology.— The generic name is derived from the Latin cena, meaning dinner, and aspis, meaning a kind of snake, in reference to predation on the single known individual of this snake. The name taken literally means ‘‘dinner snake.’’ 

Cenaspis aenigma, new species 

Etymology.— From the Latin aenigma meaning a riddle or mystery.

Jonathan A. Campbell, Eric N. Smith and Alexander S. Hall. 2018. Caudals and Calyces: The Curious Case of a Consumed Chiapan Colubroid. Journal of Herpetology. 52(4); 459-472. DOI:  10.1670/18-042  

 twitter.com/am_durso/status/1070252471249977344

Resumen: Se describe un nuevo género y especie de serpiente colubrina de las montañas aisladas del oeste de Chiapas. Esta enigmática y pequeña serpiente posee un conjunto único de caracteres que impide su asignación a cualquier otro género y claramente la distingue de cualquier género conocido. Varios de las características inusuales incluyen subcaudales no divididas a lo largo de toda la cola y un hemipene simple, completamente cubierto de cálices, y con un surco espermático que permanece no bifurcado hasta el ápice del órgano. Ninguna de estas características es conocida de cualquier colúbrido en el hemisferio occidental. Examen de morfología sugiere que la nueva serpiente pertenece a la familia Dipsadidae y su afinidad esta con Adelphicos, Atractus, Geophis, y Chapinophis.

[Herpetology • 2018] Macrovipera razii • Molecular and Morphological Analyses have revealed A New Species of Blunt-nosed Viper of the Genus Macrovipera in Iran

  Macrovipera razii 

Oraie, Rastegar-Pouyani, Khosravani, Moradi, Akbari, Sehhatisabet, Shafiei, Stümpel & Joger, 2018

SALAMANDRA. 54(4)

Abstract

 A new species of blunt-nosed viper of the genus Macrovipera is described from the central and southern parts of Iran on the basis of morphological and molecular examination. The mitochondrial Cytb gene was used to investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the Iranian species of the genus Macrovipera. A dataset with a final sequence length of 1043 nucleotides from 41 specimens from 18 geographically distant localities across Iran was generated. The findings demonstrated that two major clades with strong support can be identified within the genus Macrovipera in Iran. One clade consists of individuals belonging to a new species, which is distributed in the central and southern parts of Iran; the second clade includes two discernible subclades. The first subclade is distributed in western and northwestern Iran, Macrovipera lebetina obtusa, and the second subclade consists of northeastern populations, representing Macrovipera lebetina cernovi. The new species, Macrovipera razii sp. n., differs from its congeners by having higher numbers of ventral scales, elongated anterior chin-shields, and lower numbers of canthal plus intersupraocular scales.

Key words. Squamata, Serpentes, Viperidae, Macrovipera, new species, mitochondrial Cytb, phylogeny, taxonomy, Iran.

Macrovipera razii 

Figure 8. Macrovipera razii sp. n., paratype (adult female ERP 1941) from Pariz, 50 km north of Sirjan, Kerman Province (Photo: N. Moradi). 

Figure 9. Macrovipera razii sp. n. (ERP 1981) in its natural habitat in the Bamoo National Park, Fars Province, southern Iran (Photo: H. Oraie).

Macrovipera razii sp. n. 

Differential diagnosis: The newly described species differs from M. schweizeri by its higher number of mid-dorsal scales (25 vs. 23), which however overlaps the counts in other M. lebetina subspecies. Macrovipera razii sp. n. differs from M. lebetina by possessing a higher count of ventrals (172–175 vs. 160–170), and by having elongated anterior chin-shields, which are more than three times longer than the posterior ones. In contrast, M. lebetina has square anterior chin-shields, which are less than twice as long as the posterior chin-shields (Fig. 6). Compared to M. lebetina, the new species has a lower number of canthal + intersupraocular scales. More comparisons are provided in Table 4. Interestingly, Macrovipera razii sp. n. and M. lebetina cernovi are similar in both possessing one large supraocular scale, which is absent in M. lebetina obtusa (Fig. 5). Outside Iran, the subspecies M. lebetina euphratica (Schmidt, 1939) differs by having supraoculars that are split up into five scales, making it clearly distinguishable from Macrovipera razii sp. n., which has one large supraocular scale. The latter can be distinguished from Macrovipera lebetina lebetina (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea (Nilson & Andrén 1988) by the higher number of ventrals (172– 175 vs. 146–163 and 150–164, respectively), from Macrovipera lebetina turanica (Chernov, 1940) by the latter’s semidivided supraoculars and a dorsal colour pattern that consists of a dark ground colour with a lighter, orange zigzag pattern.

....

Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case, in honour of Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi (854–925 CE), a Persian polymath, physician, alchemist, philosopher, and important figure in the history of medicine. Macrovipera is one of the most medically important snakes in Iran, and historically, physicians like him have been involved in snake bite therapy. We propose “Razi’s Viper” as a standard English name.

Distribution: All our specimens of Macrovipera razii sp. n. were collected from localities in central and southern Iran (Table 1, Fig. 1). This species might occur in other provinces of Iran, too, however. It is at present considered to be endemic to Iran.

Figure 8. Macrovipera razii sp. n., paratype (adult female ERP 1941) from Pariz, 50 km north of Sirjan, Kerman Province (Photo: N. Moradi).
Figure 9. Macrovipera razii sp. n. (ERP 1981) in its natural habitat in the Bamoo National Park, Fars Province, southern Iran (Photo: H. Oraie).

Figure 10. Various types of natural habitats of Macrovipera razii sp. n., type locality, 105 km on the road from Jiroft to Bam near Babgorgi village and Valley, Kerman Province (A); at the Fill Spring in Bamoo National Park, Fars Province (B); at Tolombeh Badi, Bakhtegan Lake protected area, Fars Province (C); at Ghatroyeh, Bahrame Goor National Park, Fars Province (D). (Photos: H. Oraie).

Hamzeh Oraie, Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani, Azar Khosravani, Naeim Moradi, Abolfazl Akbari, Mohammad Ebrahim Sehhatisabet, Soheila Shafiei, Nikolaus Stümpel and Ulrich Joger. 2018. Molecular and Morphological Analyses have revealed A New Species of Blunt-nosed Viper of the Genus Macrovipera in Iran. SALAMANDRA. 54(4); 233-248.