A New Species of Snake in the Genus Atractus (Colubridae: Xenodontinae) from Northeastern Brazil

• DOI: 10.2307/1564992
• Publication Date: 2006-05-05T21:22:52Z
• Authors: Ronaldo Fernandes
• Keywords: Colubridae; Ophidia

-A new species of Atractus is described from the Atlantic Forest states Sergipe and Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. It can be distinguished other by combination a long loreal, temporal formula 1 + 2, 7 supralabials, dorsal scales in 15 rows, color pattern small transverse brown bands on reddish ground color. Comparisons are made with all scale but lack data precludes finding its precise relationships. RESUMO.-Uma nova especie de e descrita para regiao Floresta Atlantica dos estados do nordeste Brasil. Pode ser distinguida das demais especies pela combinacao uma loreal longa, supralabiais, fileiras escamas dorsais em volta corpo, um padrao coloraqao composto por finas faixas transversais castanho sobre cor fundo avermelhada. Comparacoes sao feitas com todas as dorsais, mas falta dados impede definikao prescisa suas relaoqes. l erpetology, Vol. 29, No. 3, p. 416-419, 1995 i t Society for Study Amph bians Reptiles ecies Snake Genus Herpetologically, portion Brazil (an area roughly defined north 15?S east 46?W) poorly known. Recently, there have been several studies herpetofauna interior regions this (e.g., Vanzolini, 1974, 1976; Vanzolini et al., 1980; Rodrigues, 1991). However, no comprehensive herpetological study has ever coastal region. Such most urgent owing rapid ongoing destruction Forest. Although snakes , d p orly ave wide distributions, not true genus Atractus, hich restricted ranges therefore more sensitive to human disturbance. Most represented museum collections and, despite efforts Savag (1960) Hoogmoed (1980), who dealt geographic regions, complete revision still needed. While examining A. reticulatus, I found some misidentified specimens that repr ent taxon, which propose call: 416 This content downloaded 207.46.13.149 Wed, 28 Sep 2016 04:13:01 UTC All use subject http://about.jstor.org/terms NEW ATRACTUS FROM BRAZIL FIG. 1. Dorsal potschi. potschi sp. n. (Figs. 2) Holotype.-Instituto Butantan, IB 48438, an adult male Maceio, State Brazil, collected 19 July 1985, Adilton Jose Santos. Paratypes.-Museu Zoologia da Universidade Sao Paulo, MZUSP 7196, female, 7001,7195,7197, males, Salgado, Sergipe, 29 April 1978 I.M. Freire; 7275,7276, 7278, 7280, 7281, 7277 7279, females, between September November Freire. Diagnosis.-An others seven 7-8 maxillary teeth, rows around body (refer Table diagnostic features likely occur at same area). Description Holotype.-An male, snout-to-vent length (SVL) 255 mm; tail 35 mm (13.7% SVL); head 9.6 (3.76% SVL) rostral posterior tip mandible, width 7.0 (72.9% length) broadest point; distance across eye 1.1 snout 3.0 (2.72 times eye); barely distinct body, about 1.6 broader than high; internasals broad long; prefrontals 1.3 frontal 2. Holotype potschi, 48438. Dorsal, lateral ventral aspects head. ng; parietals 1.5 longer wide; nasal divided; 4.1 small, pupil round; postocular 2; temporals supralabials 7, 3 4 contacting orbit; mental 1.7 wider long, separated chinshields first pair infralabials; infralabials chinshields; anterior twice absent. Maxillary teeth 7. 15-15-15 smooth without apical pits. Ventrals 147; anal single; paired subcaudals 35. Hemipenis extending level seventh subcaudal scale, bilobed, bifurcation occurring sixth subcaudal. Variation (12 Specimens).-Maximum SVL 351 females 312 males; 8.6-11.7% (X = 9.9, s2 1.33, N 3) 8.8-14.7% 13.0, 2.10, 9) males. In 7276, 8 right side, 5 con5mm 417