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| Bothrops jabrensis Barbo, Grazziotin, Pereira-Filho, Freitas, Abrantes & Kokubum, 2022 Jabre’s Lancehead | jararaca-do-jabre || DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0131 |
Abstract
Here we describe a new species of Lancehead (Bothrops jabrensis sp. nov.) based on three individuals sampled from a previously unknown population from Pico do Jabre, an isolated and small Caatinga moist-forest enclave (CMFE) located in northeastern Brazil. Although this new species has an external morphology resembling those found in representatives of the Bothrops jararaca (Wied-Neuwied, 1824) species group, B. jabrensis can be diagnosed by a combination of meristic and color characters. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates the new species represents a unique and highly divergent lineage within Bothrops revealing the existence of a previously unknown phylogenetic lineage that has been evolving as an independent unit for more than 8 million years. Additionally, the estimated divergence time of this lineage conflicts with some proposed scenarios of historical processes associated with the evolution of CMFEs. Finally, the uniqueness of this species indicates its relevance for the maintenance of the phylogenetic diversity of Lanceheads in South America. Like other CMFEs, Pico do Jabre is consistently threatened by poaching, illegal fires, deforestation for agricultural purposes, and illegal logging. The restricted distribution of B. jabrensis, in a small and disturbed CMFE, strongly suggests that this species is critically endangered and is likely approaching extinction as a natural population.
Key words: Bothrops jabrensis, Lancehead, Pico do Jabre, Caatinga moist-forest enclave, brejo de altitude, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, snake taxonomy.
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| Bothrops jabrensis sp. nov. female, holotype, IBSP 92904 from Pico do Jabre, state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Photo by M.N.C. Kokubum. IBSP - Coleção Herpetológica Alfonse R. Hoge, Instituto Butantan |
Bothrops jabrensis sp. nov.
ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet jabrensis is a noun in reference to the type locality where the new species was found, Pico do Jabre, an altitudinal Caatinga moist-forest enclave located at state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil.
We suggest here the common name Jabre’s Lancehead (jararaca-do-jabre, in Portuguese).
Fausto E. Barbo, Felipe G. Grazziotin, Gentil A. Pereira-Filho, Marco A. Freitas, Stephenson H.F. Abrantes and Marcelo N. de C. Kokubum. 2022. Isolated by Dry Lands: Integrative Analyses unveil the Existence of A New Species and A previously unknown Evolutionary Lineage of Brazilian Lanceheads (Serpentes: Viperidae: Bothrops) from A Caatinga Moist-forest Enclave. Canadian Journal of Zoology. DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0131
Espécie de jararaca descoberta na Caatinga revela história evolutiva até então desconhecida
A descoberta da espécie Bothrops jabrensis trouxe também uma revelação surpreendente: uma nova linhagem evolutiva, até então desconhecida pela ciência, dentro do gênero jararacas
Pesquisadores da UFCG descobrem nova espécie de jararaca
Serpente foi encontrada no Pico do Jabre, ponto culminante da Paraíba. Artigo foi publicado na última terça-feira pela Canadian Science Publishing
