[Herpetology • 2024] Amphisbaena amethysta • A New four-pored Amphisbaena Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae) from the north of Espinhaço Mountain Range, Brazil

 

Amphisbaena amethysta

Ribeiro, Santos, Martins, Oliveira, Graboski, Barbosa Da Silveira, Benício & Vaz-Silva, 2024

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1213.122265

Abstract

A new species of Amphisbaena is described from the north of Espinhaço Mountain Range, municipality of Caetité, state of Bahia, Brazil. Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) snout convex in profile, slightly compressed not keeled; (2) pectoral scales arranged in regular annuli; (3) four precloacal pores; (4) distinct cephalic shields; (5) 185–199 dorsal half-annuli; (6) 13–16 caudal annuli; (7) conspicuous autotomic site between 4th–6th caudal annuli; (8) 16–21 dorsal and ventral segments at midbody; (9) 3/3 supralabials; (10) 3/3 infralabials; and (11) smooth and rounded tail tip. The new species is the 71st species of genus with four precloacal pores, and the 22nd species from the Caatinga morphoclimatic domain. The identification of Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov. indicates that the reptile fossorial fauna in the Espinhaço Mountain Range region is far from being completely known and that it may harbour a much greater diversity of endemic taxa.

Key words: Morphology, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy

Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov. in life (not identified specimen of type series)
A lateral view and B dorsal.

Photograph by Thiago Barbosa Da Silveira.

Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov. (Holotype, CEPB 2311)
A dorsal B lateral, and C ventral views of head.

Scale bar: 3 mm.

 Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov.

Diagnosis and comparisons with other south American amphisbaenians: 

Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov. is a medium-sized amphisbaenid (258 mm maximum snout-vent length), and can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters (see details in Table 1): (1) snout convex in profile view, slightly compressed not keeled; (2) pectoral scales arranged in regular annuli; (3) four precloacal pores; (4) distinct cephalic shields; (5) 185–199 dorsal half-annuli; (6) 13–16 caudal annuli; (7) conspicuous autotomic site between 4th–6th caudal annuli; (8) 16–21 dorsal and ventral segments at midbody; (9) 3/3 supralabials; (10) 3/3 infralabials; and (11) smooth and rounded tail tip.

Amphisbaena amethysta sp. nov. differs from Amphisbaena acrobeles (Ribeiro, Castro-Mello & Nogueira, 2009), A. bilabialata (Stimson, 1972), A. kingi (Bell, 1833), A. anomala, Mesobaena huebneri Mertens, 1925; M. rhachicephala Hoogmoed, Pinto, Rocha & Pereira, 2009; and all Leposternon species, mainly in having the snout convex in profile ...

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the mineral amethyst that is a type of quartz and also the name of the region of the type locality “Brejinho das Ametistas”, a district located south of the municipality of Caetité, state of Bahia. This region has been an amethyst mining centre since the beginning of the 20th century. Spix and Martius (1938) defined the mineral from the “Brejinho das Ametistas” mines as “the beautiful amethysts” on their trip through the “Alto Sertão” of Bahia at the beginning of the 19th century (Cotrim 2015). The region currently has an economy based on mining and energy activities focused on wind energy production. The type series was collected during the execution of environmental programs within the scope of Bahia Mineração (BAMIN), which operates in the exploration of iron ore in the “Brejinho das Ametistas” region.

 Síria Ribeiro, Alfredo P. Santos Jr, Isabelly G. Martins, Elaine C. S. Oliveira, Roberta Graboski, Thiago Barbosa Da Silveira, Matheus H. M. Benício and Wilian Vaz-Silva. 2024. A New four-pored Amphisbaena Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae) from the north of Espinhaço Mountain Range, Brazil. ZooKeys. 1213: 1-27. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1213.122265

[Herpetology • 2021] Amphisbaena elbakyanae • A New Species of Amphisbaena (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from the Orinoquian Region of Colombia

Amphisbaena elbakyanae 

Torres-Ramírez, Angarita-Sierra & Vargas-Ramírez, 2021

DOI: 10.3897/vertebrate-zoology.71.e59461

Abstract

In northern South America, amphisbaenians are rarely seen among the herpetofauna.Thus, general knowledge about them is very poor. During a herpetological survey in 2012 at Casanare, Colombia, we found two specimens of an unusual Amphisbaena. A third specimen sharing the same morphotype labeled Amphisbaena sp. from Vichada department was found deposided in an Colombian reptile collection. Based on morphological analyses together with phylogenetic analyses of 1029 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we describe a new species of Amphisbaena that inhabits in the Orinoquian region of Colombia. The new species is part of a phylogenetic clade together with A. mertensii and A. cunhai (central-southern Brazil), exhibiting a great genetic distance (26.1–28.9%) between the newly identified lineage versus those taxa, and versus the sympatric taxa A. alba and A. fuliginosa. Morphologically, this new Amphisbaena can be distinguished from their congeners by characters combination of number of preocloacal pores, absence of malar scale, postgenial scales and body and caudal annuli counts. Amphisbaena gracilis is on morphology grounds the most similar species. However, the new species can be distinguished from it by having higher body annuli counts, angulus ories aliegned with the edges of the ocular scales and center of frontal scales, less number of large middorsal segments of the first and second body annulus, and rostral scale visible from above. The description of this new Amphisbaena species points out the urgent need to increase the knowledge of worm lizards in Colombia

Keywords: burrowing habits, cryptic species, fossorial, integrative taxonomy, mtDNA, worm lizard, South America

Figure 4. Color in life of Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov.
(A) Holotype of A. elbakyanae sp. nov., recently euthanized (MLS 1901, male).
(B) Specimen in life of A. elbakyanae sp. nov. from paratype locality: Bojonawi Natural Reserve, Fundación Omacha, municipality of Puerto Carreño, Vichada Department, Colombia (N 6.097997222, W - 67.48321667; elevation 54 m. a.s.l.). Photo by Beiker Castañeda.

Figure 2. Holotype Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov. in preservation (MLS 1901, male).
 (A) Doral view of the head; (B) Lateral view of the head; (C) Ventral view of the head; (D) Ventral view of the tail (tail is autotomized).

Figure 3. Comparison of the head scuttelation between the holotypes of Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov. and A. gracilis.
(A, C, E) Dorsal, lateral and ventral view of the head of A. elbakyanae sp. nov. (B, D, F) Dorsal, lateral and ventral view of the head of A. gracilis. (G) Lateral view of the caudal scuttelation of A. elbakyanae sp. nov.
Scales: 1 = nasals, 2 = prefrontals, 3 = frontals, 4 = oculars, 5 = rostral, 6 = supralabials, 7 = posoclulars, 8 = temporals, 9 = parietals, 10 = middorsals segments of the body annulus, 11 = first, second and third body annulus, 12 = infralabials, 13 = mental, 14 = postmentals, 15 = postgenials, 16 = postmalars, 17 = precloacal annulus, 18 = cloacal annuli, 19 = postcloacal annulus, 20 = autotomus annulus, 21 = postclocal lip, 22 = precloacal lip.

Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov.

 

Chresonymy: Amphisbaena sp. (ICN-TAS 700): Pedroza-Banda et al. (2014).

 

Generic placement: Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov. belong to the genus Amphisbaena Linnaeus, 1758 (sensu Mertens 1925; Vanzolini 1951; Gans and Alexander 1962) by having the following characters: (1) Snout rounded, flattened or slightly convexed above; (2) upper head scales paired; (3) rostral scale short, subtriangular, ventrally expanded and posteriorly without contact with prefrontal scales; (4) nasal scales in broad contact; (5) six premaxillary teeth; (6) ten maxillary teeth.

Diagnosis: Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov., can be distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) three supralabial scales; (2) three infralabial scales; (3) second supralabial scale longer than first and third supralabial scales, contacting first and third supralabial, temporal, ocular and prefrontal scales; (4) angulus oris lies in transverse plane passing through the posterior edges of the ocular scales and the center of the frontal scales; (5) second infralabial scale in contact with postmental scales; (6) six premaxillar teeth; (7) ten maxillar teeth; (8) one temporal scale; (9) absence of malar scale; (10) a single postgenial scale row with four segments; (11) postmalar scale rows with six to seven segments; (12) first body annulus includes one large segment on each side lying immediately posterior to inner parietal scales, abutting onto posterolateral edge of the outer parietal scales; (13) middorsal segments of second and third body annulus non-enlarged; (14) 245–257 body annuli; (15) 13–15 dorsal segments per annulus at midbody; (16) 16–18 ventral segments per annulus at midbody; (17) four precloacal pores; (18) autotomy sites located on sixth to eighth caudal annuli, (19) 20–24 caudal annuli, (20) rostral scale visible from above, (21) dorsal and ventral surfaces homogeneusly dark brown or dark brown-reddish, (22), and small body size 211–237 mm (Fig. 3).

Etymology: We dedicate this species to the Kazakhstani scientist Alexandra Asanovna Elbakyan (Russian: Алекса́ндра Аса́новна Элбакя́н), creator of the web site Sci-Hub, for her colossal contributions for reducing the barriers in the way of science, as well as her reclamation that “everyone has the right to participate and share in scientific advancement and its benefits, freely and without economic constraints”.

Distribution and natural history: The known localities of Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov., are distributed in the flooded savanna ecosystem of the Orocué and Ariporo River basin, as well as in the drained savanna ecosystem of the Bita River basin in the department of Vichada (Fig. 5). Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov. seems to be highly associated with the leaf litter of the savanna flood forest dominated by moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa), which are commonly known as “morichales” or “cananguchales” in Colombia (Fig. 6). The new species was found in sympatry with A. alba and A. fuliginosa.

Figure 6. Habitat of Amphisbaena elbakyanae sp. nov.
(A) Panoramic view of savanna flood forest dominated by moriche palm at the Bita River, Department of Vichada, Colombia. (B) Microhabitats inside of moriche palm’s forest. (C) Moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa).

 Juan José Torres-Ramírez, Teddy Angarita-Sierra and Mario Vargas-Ramírez. 2021. A New Species of Amphisbaena (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from the Orinoquian Region of Colombia. Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 55-74. DOI: 10.3897/vertebrate-zoology.71.e59461

[Herpetology • 2019] Redescription of Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851), with An Identification Key for Brazilian Leposternon species (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae), Remarks on Meristic Methodology, and A Proposal for Pholidosis Nomenclature

Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851)

in Barros-Filho, Freitas, Silva, et al., 2019. 

   DOI: 10.11609/jott.3597.11.1.13058-13086

ABSTRACT

The amphisbaenian Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851) is redescribed based on newly collected material from the state of Bahia, Brazil. Species validity was confirmed, and comparisons made to other Leposternon species and to the scarce literature available on Leposternon octostegum taxonomy. Aspects of meristic annuli methodology are reviewed, and nomenclatural adjustments for some scales are proposed. To place this information in its taxonomic context, a species identification key for the Brazilian species of the genus Leposternon is provided.  The present redescription contributes to a better understanding of Amphisbaenia taxonomy, thus also enabling the design of more adequate conservation and management strategies for the species belonging to this group.

Keywords: Amphisbaenia, Bahia, Brazil, Leposternon octostegum, meristic methodology, pholidosis nomenclature, taxonomy

Image 23. Leposternon octostegum. Coloration. (A) Live coloration of newly captured specimen from Aterro Metropolitano Centro, near Salvador City, State of Bahia, Brazil; without scale; (B) MNHN 7055 holotype and (C) MNHN 2007.0023, color in preservative. (D) ZUFRJ 1714, (E) ZUFRJ 1715 and (F) ZUFRJ 1716 from Municipality of Camaçari, Arembepe County, color in preservative. Scale bars = 5mm. 

Leposternon octostegum (Duméril)

Amphisbaena octostega (Duméril)

Lepidosternon octostegum Duméril, 1851, p. 150–151. 

Terra typica: “Brésil”. Holotype: MNHN 7055.

Diagnosis: A species of Leposternon with an enlarged, polygonal azygous shield atop the head, which, however, does not exclude the discrete prefrontals, oculars and first temporals shields of the dorsal cephalic area posterior to the rostronasal; one large supralabial and one large infralabial shield on each side of mouth; a large mental shield (postmental shield absent, probably fused with the mental shield); 353–382 ventral, postpectoral half-annuli.

Definition: A slender, medium-sized (388mm maximum adult total length) form of Leposternon, with an enlarged, polygonal azygous shield atop the head; in dorsal view, the rostronasal, the prefrontals, the oculars, the first temporals and a small pair of occipitals are also clearly discernible; one large supralabial and one large infralabial; mental and postmental shields, probably fused; three pairs of enlarged shields along the midline, with left and right asymmetries: the anterior pair forms a rough stretched pentagon pointing backwards, the second pair has irregular polygons tending to a medial suture in an “X” disposition and the posterior pair showing polygonal transversely elongated shields, larger caudad than rostrad; 353–382 ventral, 357–397 dorsal postpectoral half-annuli; 24–33 dorsal half-annuli scales; 23–29 ventral half-annuli scales; 12–15 caudal annuli; a short, cylindrical and round ending tail; 121–142 precloacal vertebrae; absent precloacal pores and autotomy.  Living specimens have a pale grizzled background coloration, with none or inconspicuous sparse, diminute and irregularly distributed dorsal brownish pigments, more concentrated in the second half of the body (Image 23A).  Alcohol preserved specimens display a more pale brown (beige) brownish or whitish background coloration, and the pigments are more subtle. The sample from Municipality of Camaçari exhibited a different coloration, with marked brownish blotches or dorsal pigment dots evident along most of the body and in the tail.

José Duarte de Barros-Filho, Marco Antonio de Freitas, Thais Figueiredo Santos Silva, Mariana Fiuza de Castro Loguercio and Maria Celeste Costa Valverde. 2019. Redescription of Leposternon octostegum (Duméril, 1851), with An Identification Key for Brazilian Leposternon species, Remarks on Meristic Methodology, and A Proposal for Pholidosis Nomenclature (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae).  Journal of Threatened Taxa. 11(1); 13058-13086.  DOI: 10.11609/jott.3597.11.1.13058-13086

 twitter.com/Threatened_Taxa/status/1090504161412603905

[Herpetology • 2018] Amphisbaena hoogmoedi • A New Four-pored Amphisbaena Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae) from Brazilian Amazon

Amphisbaena hoogmoedi

Oliveira, Vaz-Silva, Santos-Jr, Graboski, Teixeira, Dal Vechio & Ribeiro,  2018

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4420.4.1

Abstract

A new species of Amphisbaena is described from the Brazilian Amazon, within the area impacted by the Teles Pires hydroelectric power plant, Jacareacanga municipality, State of Pará. Amphisbaena hoogmoedi sp. nov. can be diagnosed from its congeners by the following combination of characters: snout convex in profile view, sligthly compressed not keeled; pectoral scales arranged in regular annuli; conspicuous autotomic site between 7th–8th caudal annuli; 247–252 dorsal half-annuli; 27 caudal annuli; tail length 9.5–10.4% of snoutvent length; four precloacal pores arranged in sequence; three supralabials; a rounded tail; 22–24 dorsal segments in midbody annulus; postmalar row absent; head length 2.1–2.9% of snout-vent length; prefrontals length 46.6–49.5% of head length; prefrontals suture length 38–44.6% of head length; small malar length 10.6–13.4% of ventral length of head ; second infralabial length 33.8–38.5% of head length; ventral length of head 2.7–2.9% of snout-vent length; mouth length 80.2–81.8% of head length; third infralabial length 16.4–19.6% of head length; snout length 62.5–78.6% of head length; ocular length 23.4–26.2% of head length; mental length 23.2–25.4% of ventral length of head; postmental length 27.2–31.3% of ventral length of head; frontals suture length 23.4–32.3% of head length; postocular width 25–31.9% of maximun width of head; first supralabial length 24.9–30.6% of head length; second supralabial length 27.7–30% of head length and second supralabial height 26.9–28.8% of maximun head height. The hemipenis is bilobed, capitate and with lateral lamellae on the lobes; with a centrally-positioned spermatic groove, bifurcated at the base of the lobes, and with each branch extending to the tip of organ.

Keywords: Reptilia, taxonomy, morphology, hemipenis, osteology, skull

Amphisbaena hoogmoedi sp. nov. (holotype, MZUSP 106219). Dorsal view. 

Amphisbaena hoogmoedi sp. nov.

Etymology. Amphisbaena hoogmoedi sp. nov. is named in honor of Dr. Marinus S. Hoogmoed (National Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden, the Netherlands, currently at the Goeldi Museum, Belém, Pará, Brazil), for his contribution to the knowledge of the Neotropical herpetofauna especially to the amphisbaenian taxonomy.

 Distribution and habitat. Amphisbaena hoogmoedi sp. nov. is known so far only for the type locality in Jacareacanga municipality, on the right bank of the Teles Pires River, State of Pará, Brazil (Figs. 7 and 8). According to WWF (2016), the region covering the area of the Teles Pires hydroelectric power plant consists of Tropical and Subtropical Moist deciduous forests, an eco-region of Tropical Dry Forest with a variety of habitats (alluvial forests and patches of open areas). The new species was collected in the Rain Forest Submontane, Rain Forest Alluvial, and semideciduous forest Submontane.

Elaine C. S. Oliveira, Wilian Vaz-Silva,  Alfredo P. Santos-Jr, Roberta Graboski, Rocha Jr. Teixeira,  Francisco Dal Vechio and Síria Ribeiro.  2018. A New Four-pored Amphisbaena Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae) from Brazilian Amazon. Zootaxa. 4420(4); 451–474.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4420.4.1

[Herpetology • 2016] Amphisbaena filiformis • A New Two-pored Species of Amphisbaena (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado, with A Key to the Two-pored Species of Amphisbaena

Amphisbaena filiformis 

Ribeiro, Gomes, Silva, Cintra & Silva, 2016

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4147.2.2   

Abstract

A new species of Amphisbaena is described from municipalities of Babaçulândia, State of Tocantins, and Estreito, State of Maranhão, northern Brazilian Cerrado. The new species differs from other two-pored species of the genus, by presenting mainly slender body shape; snout rounded in profile and dorsal view; high number of body annuli (328–342); 12–14 dorsal segments and 14–16 ventral in midbody half-annulus; autotomic site between 9–10th caudal annuli; absence of chevron-shaped anterior dorsal half-annuli; 20–23 caudal annuli; postmalar row absent; and precloacals pores arranged in a continuous series of the precloacal half-annuli. Additionally, we present a key for two-pored species of Amphisbaena.

Keywords: Reptilia, Amphisbaenia, morphology, dicotomic key, taxonomy

FIGURE 6.  Amphisbaena filiformis sp. nov. in life (not identified specimen of type series) from Babaçulândia municipality, State of Tocantins, Brazil.

Photo by C.E.D. Cintra 

Diagnosis. (1) snout rounded; (2) 328–342 body annuli; (3) absence of major fusion of head shields, being shields of dorsal, lateral and ventral head portion distincts; (4) two precloacal pores; (5) 12–14 dorsal and 14–16 ventral segments per midbody annulus; (6) autotomic site between 9–10th caudal annuli; (7) absent of chevron- 126 RIBEIRO ET AL. · Zootaxa 4147 (2) © 2016 Magnolia Press shaped anterior body annuli; (8) precloacals pores arranged in a continuous series of the precloacal half-annuli; (9) 20–23 caudal annuli; (10) distinct dorsal sulci; (11) head slightly thiner than trunk; (12) tail tip slightly compressed; and (13) postmalar row absent. 

Etymology. The specific epithet filiformis is formed from the Latin words filum (= thread) and forma (= shape) in reference to the slender body shape characteristic of the new species.

Distribution and habitat. Amphisbaena filiformis has been collected only in Babaçulândia and Estreito municipalities, States of Tocantins and Maranhão, respectively, in the northern Brazilian Cerrado (Fig. 1). The specimens from Babaçulândia municipality were collected in the left margin of the Corrente river, and the specimens from Estreito municipality were collected in the right margin of the Tocantins river on sandy soil. Babaçulândia and Estreito municipalities are located in a complex phytogeographic region, with three distinct vegetational formations: open lowland rainforest (floresta ombrófila aberta de terras baixas), seasonal forest (floresta estacional), and Cerrado. However, on the margins of Corrente river and Tocantins river, the main vegetational formation is the open lowland rainforest, locally characterized by the babaçu palm tree (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex. Spreng). The large presence of this species in a region is known as "palm forest" (Fig. 7) (IBGE 1992). It was in this vegetation that the specimens of A. filiformis were found. 

Ribeiro, Síria, Jerriane O. Gomes, Helder L. R. D. Silva, Carlos E. D. Cintra and Nelson J. Da Silva Jr. 2016. A New Two-pored Species of Amphisbaena (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado, with A Key to the Two-pored Species of Amphisbaena.
Zootaxa. 4147(2); 124–142.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4147.2.2 

Resumo: Uma nova espécie de Amphisbaena é descrita dos municípios de Babaçulância, estado do Tocantins, e Estreito, estado do Maranhão, no norte do Cerrado brasileiro. A nova espécie difere das outras espécies do gênero com dois poros principalmente por apresentar forma do corpo delgada, focinho arredondado em vistas dorsal e de perfil; alto número de anéis corporais (328–342); 12–14 segmentos dorsais e 14–16 ventrais em um anel do meio do corpo; anel autotômico entre o 9o e 10o anel caudal; ausência de anéis corporais em forma de “V” na parte anterior do corpo; 20–23 anéis caudais; fileira de pós-malar ausente; e poros pré-cloacais arrajandos em uma série continua do meio anel pré-cloacal. Adicionalmente, nós apresentamos uma chave para as espécies de Amphisbaena com dois poros. 

Palavras chave: Amphisbaenia, morfologia, chave dicotômica, taxonomia

[Herpetology • 2010] Amphisbaena carli • A new two-pored Amphisbaena (Family: Amphisbaenidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado biome

Amphisbaena carli

Abstract

Amphisbaena carli sp. nov. is described from a Cerrado region in the southwestern of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The new species is diagnosable by having: small and separated nasal scales; two pre-cloacal pores separated from each other; 221–242 body annuli; 10–13 caudal annuli; 21–23 dorsal and 21–23 ventral segments to a midbody annulus; and tail without visible autotomic constriction. A proposition of standardization of head scalation nomenclature for amphisbaenids and comments on the current status of the genus Amphisbaena are also provided.

Key words: Amphisbaenia, Bahia, Brazil, Head scalation nomenclature, worm lizard

Pinna et al. 2010. A new two-pored Amphisbaena Linnaeus from the endangered Brazilian Cerrado biome (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae). Zootaxa 2569: 44-54. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02569p054f.pdf