Southeast Brazilian Sipo

description

Description of the holotype (Fig. 7). Adult male; left and right hemipenes everted; head distinct from body; total length 1381 mm; SVL 845 mm; CL 536 mm; head length 287 mm; head width at broadest point 126 mm; snout length 86 mm; snout width 78 mm; body width at midbody 89 mm; body height at midbody 169 mm. Length / width of rostral (4.4 / 2.6 mm); prenasal (2.4 / 2.5 mm); postnasal (1.6 / 1.8 mm); internasal (3.5 / 2.9 mm); loreal (2.8 / 1.3 mm); prefrontal (3.8 / 3.9 mm); prefrontal suture 2.7 mm; preocular (2.5 / 3.4 mm); supraocular (7.2 / 3.8 mm); frontal (7.3 / 6.0 mm); frontal-supraocular suture 5.9 mm; parietal (9.6 / 5.9 mm); parietal suture 6.2 mm; anterior temporal (5.9 / 2.6 mm); posterior upper temporal (5.7 / 4.2 mm); posterior temporals fused; first pair of chin shields (7.4 / 2.9 mm); second pair of chin shields (9.7 / 3.3 mm); horizontal eyes diameter 5.3 mm; vertical eyes diameter 4.0 mm. Loreal longer than high, separated from orbit by preocular; loreal contacting postnasal anteriorly, preocular posteriorly, prefrontal dorsally, and second and third supralabials ventrally; preocular single, separated from frontal by suture between supraocular and prefrontal; pup

Taxonomic revision of Chironius flavolineatus (Jan, 1863) with description of a new species (Serpentes: Colubridae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Chironius brazili can be distinguished from all congeners by the following unique combination of states of characters: first third of body black or dark gray; vertebral stripe yellowish or creamish white, distinct from dorsals of nape and extending throughout almost whole body length; head dorsum tan to brown, distinct from background color of first third of body; cloacal shield frequently divided (96 %); two to four rows of keeled dorsal scales at midbody; ventral ground color gradually darkening towards cloaca; region of medial constriction of hemipenis slightly covered with spinules separating calyces of apex from spines below region of constriction; in lateral view, sulcus spermaticus positioned on convex face of hemipenis; ascending process of premaxilla oblique anteroposteriorly to longitudinal axis of skull; optic fenestra not exceeding frontoparietal suture; posterior border of supratemporal exceeding braincase; dorsoventral axis of quadrate oblique mesolaterally, moving away from longitudinal axis of skull. Comparisons. Chironius brazili is distinguished from all currently recognized congeners, except C. flavolineatus and C. diamantina, by having first third of

Taxonomic revision of Chironius flavolineatus (Jan, 1863) with description of a new species (Serpentes: Colubridae)

etymology

Etymology. The epithet " brazili " is a patronymic honoring Vital Brazil Mineiro da Campanha (1865 – 1950), Brazilian scientist who discovered the specificity of snakebite serum and founded two centers of excellence in research and production of strategic biological products for public health: Instituto Butantan in 1899 and Instituto Vital Brazil in 1919. Despite being a doctor by training, Vital Brazil was among the first Brazilian researchers to be concerned with the correct identification of the snakes received at that time at Instituto Butantan. Vital Brazil was honored with some species of snakes, such as Rachidelus brazili Boulenger, 1908, Drymoluber brazili (Gomes, 1918), and Bothrops brazili Hoge, 1954, which we can say that is still a modest honor given his great contribution to the science. Geographic distribution and natural history (Figs. 6, 11). Chironius brazili is distributed in Cerrado biome of Brazil throughout the states of Goiás, Federal District, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo, from 70 up to 1360 m asl (generally 700 – 900 m asl). An apparently disjunct population of C. brazili occurs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A female (IVB 3290; total length 995 m

Taxonomic revision of Chironius flavolineatus (Jan, 1863) with description of a new species (Serpentes: Colubridae)

materials_examined

Holotype. Adult male, MNRJ 17480, collected by A. C. A. Lopes in October 2008 at RPPN Santuário do Caraça (20 º 05 ’, 43 º 29 ’ W, 1262 m asl), municipality of Catas Altas, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Paratypes. Eight specimens all from Brazil: adult female, IVB 3290, collected by T. Filadelfo in February 2013 at Poço Azul waterfall (15 º 36 ’ 03 ’’ S, 48 º 03 ’ 16 ’’ W, 1220 m asl), Parque Nacional de Brasília, municipality of Brasília D. C.; adult female, CHUNB 19699, collected at municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás (14 º 12 ’ S, 47 º 41 ’ W, 1250 m asl), state of Goiás; juvenile male, MNRJ 18936, collected by A. C. A. Lopes in April 21 2009 same data as the holotype; adult female, IVB 3342, collected by G. A. Cotta on January 1997 at district of Vila Del Rey (20 º 00 ’ S, 43 º 56 ’ W, 1050 m asl), municipality of Nova Lima, state of Minas Gerais; adult female, MZUFBA 2448, collected by O. M. Sampaio in November 1986, municipality of Rio Acima (20 º 05 ’ S, 43 º 47 ’ W, 740 m asl), state of Minas Gerais; adult female, MCNR 2790, collected at municipality of Conceição do Mato Dentro (19 º 02 ’ S, 43 º 25 ’ W, 685 m asl), state of Minas Gerais; adult male, MCNR 3384, collected

Taxonomic revision of Chironius flavolineatus (Jan, 1863) with description of a new species (Serpentes: Colubridae)