Phalotris shawnella

description

Description of holotype. An adult male in two pieces, SVL 260 + 140 (= 400) mm; TL 65 mm (16.25 % of SVL); one preocular, two postoculars; temporals 0 + 1 / 0 + 1; loreal absent; supralabials 6 (2 - 3) / 6 (2 - 3), fifth supralabial broadly contacts parietal; infralabials 7 (1 - 5) / 7 (1 - 5), 1 st to 4 th contacting the anterior pair of chinshields and 4 th to 5 th contacting the posterior pair of chinshields; posterior chinshields longer and thinner than anterior chinshields; dorsal scale rows 15 - 15 - 15; scales smooth lacking apical pits; 185 ventrals; anal plate divided; 35 paired subcaudals. Yellow nuchal collar two to three scales wide and posterior black collar one to two scales wide. Slight trace of incomplete anterior black collar, most evident laterally. Rostral prominent and wider than it is long (1.9 x 2.6 mm); nasal complete, twice as long as greatest width (2.2 x 1.1 mm), contacting the rostral anteriorly, the 1 st and 2 nd supralabial ventrally, the preocular posteriorly, and the internasal and frontal dorsally; paired internasals slightly wider than they are long (1.4 x 2.2 mm); the second temporal longer than wide (3.1 x 1.4 mm); preocular longer than wide (1.3

A new species of Phalotris (Serpentes, Colubridae, Elapomorphini) from Paraguay

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Phalotris shawnella sp. nov. is assigned to the Phalotris nasutus group on account of the pointed snout with prominent rostral shield and the fusion of the second and third temporal plates (Fig. 3 A). The new species can be distinguished from all other members of the Phalotris nasutus group by the combination of the following characters: 1) fifth supralabial in contact with parietal, 2) vertebral stripe present, 3) yellowish nuchal collar (2 or 3 dorsal scales long), 4) dull reddish color of head in adults, 5) broad, solidly or near solidly dark lateral bands, 6) red-orange ventral scales lightly and irregularly spotted with black, mainly on the posterior half of the body, and 7) a bilobed, extremely asymmetrical hemipenis, with enlarged, curved, lateral spines. Phalotris shawnella sp. nov. is differentiated from the individual members of the Phalotris nasutus group and the only species known to occur sympatrically with it (P. multipunctatus) as follows. (The characteristics of Phalotris shawnella sp. nov. are given first, followed by the comparison species in parentheses): Phalotris nasutus Gomes, 1915: 1) broad black lateral bands running the length of the body (absent

A new species of Phalotris (Serpentes, Colubridae, Elapomorphini) from Paraguay

etymology

Etymology. The species name is a combination of the first names of two remarkable young people who were born around the same time as Fundacion Para La Tierra, and who inspired its founders to work towards the study and conservation of the Paraguayan fauna, so that one day they might inherit a better world: Shawn Ariel Smith Fernandez and Ella Bethany Atkinson. The epithet is not Latin, is invariable (word in apposition) and is made up of elements of both of their names.

A new species of Phalotris (Serpentes, Colubridae, Elapomorphini) from Paraguay