Inkaterra Vine Snake

description

Morphometric and meristic characters. Snout-vent length 580 – 810 mm (adults, n = 3). Tail length 385 – 544 mm (n = 3). Smooth dorsal scales 17 - 17 - 13 rows (100 %), without apical pits. Ventral scales 181 – 200 (x ̅ = 193). Subcaudal scales 160 – 170 (x ̅ = 164). Divided cloacal plate (100 %). Loreal absent (100 %). Preocular 1 (100 %). Postoculars 2 (100 %). Temporals 1 + 2 (100 %). Supralabials 8 – 9 (8 / 8 in 67 % of specimens and 9 / 9 in 33 %); fourth and fifth contact the orbit (33 %) and fourth, fifth and sixth contact the orbit (67 %). Infralabials 9 – 10; generally the first four contacting the first pair of chin shields (Table 2) and fourth, fifth and sixth contact the second pair chin shields. Supraocular and prefrontal of similar length; posterior border of internasals extends beyond posterior edge of first supralabial; and presence of small scales between the second pair of chin shields (Fig. 2 C).

Vine snakes (Oxybelis) and Sharpnose snakes (Xenoxybelis) (Squamata, Serpentes) from lowlands of Bolivia, with first records of Oxybelis inkaterra for the country

description

Description of the holotype. A male with everted hemipenes (Fig. 6), SVL 732 mm, tail length 498 mm. Rostral broader than high, barely visible from above; upper labials 9 / 9; internasals paired, not extending past the posterior border of the first upper labial; prefrontals paired, in contact with upper labials 2 and 3; frontal, paired parietals, and supraoculars elongated and about 6 mm long, and in contact with supraoculars and upper postocular; postoculars 2 / 2; upper labials in contact with the preocular; 4 - 5 - 6 enter the orbit; 7 - 8 - 9 contact the primary temporal; 9 interrictals; one preocular less than the diameter of the eye; lower labials 10 / 10, first four in contact with the first pair of chin shields; second pair of chin shields longest; five paired gulars. Dorsal scales smooth in 17 - 17 - 13 rows. Ventrals 182; 165 divided subcaudals; anal plate divided.

A new vine snake (Reptilia, Colubridae, Oxybelis) from Peru and redescription of O. acuminatus

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A vine snake with (1) three upper labials (4 - 5 - 6) bordering the orbit; (2) numerous bold black bars and spots present on the body; (3) ventral surface mottled with dense black spots; (4) preocular shorter than eye diameter; (5) second pair of chin shields separated by smaller scales posteriorly; (6) nine upper labials, three located behind the orbit; (7) snout from above relatively broad, tapered, and flat rostrum; (8) supraocular and prefrontal are about the same length; (9) last upper labial about same length as primary temporal; (10) much of the lower surface of the head infused with black pigment; (11) second upper labial not in contact with preocular.

A new vine snake (Reptilia, Colubridae, Oxybelis) from Peru and redescription of O. acuminatus

distribution

Distribution. This species occurs in the Amazonian rainforest of Peru in the departments of Huanuco, Loreto, and Madre de Dios. It is likely the species also occurs in Ucayali between these departments and possibly adjacent Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.

A new vine snake (Reptilia, Colubridae, Oxybelis) from Peru and redescription of O. acuminatus