 |
| 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
