A new species of Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Serra do Cipó, Espinhaço Range, Southeastern Brazil, with proposition of a new species group to the genus

Abstract

We describe a new species of

Redescription ofAtractus punctiventrisand Description of Two NewAtractus(Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

“…9), as found in the members of A. pantostictus group (Passos et al 2010b). Passos et al (2013d) highlighted that the alary spines mentioned in the description of A. ronnie (Passos et al 2007b) and A. altagratiae likely represent a particular condition for the development of transverse walls of the calyces. In other words, this structure may be homologous to the calyces, having extreme reduction of their horizontal fringe and the complete loss of the vertical walls.…”

“…Fully everted and maximally expanded hemipenis (MPEG 17908) moderately bilobed, noncapitate, and slightly calyculate; lobes attenuated, centrifugally oriented, and lobular region wider than hemipenial body; lobes ornamented on their bases by poorly defined calyces, more evident on asulcate side of hemipenis; calyces replaced by conspicuous papillae toward apices of lobes; tip of lobes uniformly scattered with vertically oriented robust papillae; intralobular area with median projection somewhat directed upward, ornamented with robust papillae; distal portion of hemipenial body from both sides of organ ornamented with few alary spines (sensu Passos et al 2013d); region inside sulcus spermaticus branches with three longitudinal series of alary spines; spines arranged with five longitudinal series on center and with three on each lateral row; central area from asulcate side of organ almost nude, with very few and poorly developed spines; hemipenial body with irregular flounce (apparently caused by connection of basal region of alary spines) for about half of their length; capitular groove indistinct in both sides of organ, and hemipenis lacking change in ornamentation (¼ absence of capitulum, see discussion for more details); hemipenial body at level of first irregular flounce to its proximal region uniformly scattered with hooked spines large at their bases; larger spines located laterally below sulcus spermaticus bifurcation; sulcus spermaticus bifurcates for about half of organ with each branch centrifugally oriented, running to tip of lobes; sulcus spermaticus margins relatively narrow, deep, and smooth; sulcus spermaticus bordered by papillae from base to apices of lobes; basal naked pocket restricted to most basal region of organ; proximal region of hemipenis with longitudinal plicae and dispersed small spines (Fig. 9).…”

Two new species of Atractus from Colombia (Reptilia, Squamata, Dipsadidae)

“…The dipsadine genus Atractus Wagler 1828 constitutes the most diverse snake genus in the world with over 140 currently recognized species (Passos et al 2013a). Although the genus is widely distributed, ranging from Panama to northeastern Argentina (Giraudo & Scrocchi 2000;Myers 2003), most of the species are endemic to small geographical ranges (Myers 2003;Passos et al 2010;Prudente & Passos 2008;Passos et al 2013c;Silva et al 2005). The species of this genus inhabit different types of tropical forests, either primary or secondary, and there are even records of species in banana plantations or urban areas (Esqueda & La Marca 2005;Passos et al 2007b).…”

Morphological variation and affinities of the poorly known snake Atractus caxiuana (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

“…The genus is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, occurring from Panama to Argentina, primarily on mainland portions from sea level to about 4,000 meters elevation, along most of South American biomes (Passos et al 2010c). Atractus is a highly speciose genus closely related to Geophis Wagler, 1830 (Savage 1960;Downs 1967;Grazziotin et al 2012) that comprises about 140 valid species, most of them known only from their type specimens Prudente & Passos 2008;Passos et al 2009a,b,c,d,e;Passos & Lynch 2011;Passos et al 2013b).…”