ABSTRACT
We describe a specimen of Apostolepis phillipsi Harvey, 1999, from Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, Mato Grosso, establishing the first unambiguous record of the species in Brazil. The new locality is ca. 120 km from the type locality, in Bolivia. We present an updated species diagnosis, the first image of a living specimen, and the first description of A. phillipsi coloration in life. Even though the Brazilian range of A. phillipsi lies within a protected area (Parque Estadual Serra Ricardo Franco-PESRF), it is threatened by cattle raising, logging and agriculture. PESRF lacks formal delimitation and a management plan, and the Mato Grosso State Legislature is considering a decree to extinguish PESRF, which could cause the extirpation of the Brazilian range of several endemic species.
Subject(s)
Snakes , Agriculture , Animals , Bolivia , Brazil , CattleABSTRACT
The colubrid snake Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 was described from a holotype from Kanthali (= Kantalai) and paratypes from Kurunegala, both localities in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) (Smith 1943). Since its description, literature pertaining to Sri Lankan snake fauna considered this taxon to be endemic to the island (Taylor 1950, Deraniyagala 1955, de Silva 1980, de Silva 1990, Somaweera 2004, Somaweera 2006, de Silva 2009, Pyron et al. 2013). In addition, earlier efforts on the Indian peninsula (e.g. Das 1994, 1997, Das 2003, Whitaker & Captain 2004, Aengals et al. 2012) and global data compilations (e.g. Wallach et al. 2014, Uetz & Hosek 2015) did not identify any record from mainland India until Guptha et al. (2015) recorded a specimen (voucher BLT 076 housed at Bio-Lab of Seshachalam Hills, Tirupathi, India) in the dry deciduous forest of Chamala, Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, India in November 2013. Guptha et al. (2015) further mentioned an individual previously photographed in 2000 at Rishi Valley, Andhra Pradesh, but with no voucher specimen collected. Guptha's record, assumed to be the first confirmed record of C. taprobanica in India, is noteworthy as it results in a large range extension, from northern Sri Lanka to eastern India with an Euclidean distance of over 400 km, as well as a change of status, i.e., species not endemic to Sri Lanka. However, at least three little-known previous records of this species from India evaded most literature and were overlooked by the researchers including ourselves.
Subject(s)
Animal Distribution , Colubridae/anatomy & histology , Animals , Colubridae/classification , India , MaleABSTRACT
Apresentamos aqui, com base em exemplares depositados em coleções científicas, uma lista das espécies de serpentes do Município de Viçosa, localizado em uma porção da Mata Atlântica do Estado de Minas Gerais, Sudeste do Brasil. Trinta e quatro espécies foram confirmadas em Viçosa. Outras duas possuem registros duvidosos e cinco espécies que foram registradas em municípios vizinhos poderiam também ocorrer em Viçosa. Informações sobre distribuição e história natural das serpentes são apresentadas, baseadas em dados da literatura científica e observações esporádicas na área de estudo. Podemos considerar que de maneira generalizada a fauna de serpentes de Viçosa é constituída por espécies com condições de utilizar ambientes antropizados, mas algumas são dependentes dos fragmentos florestais ainda existentes. Estudos de campo ainda são necessários para aprimorar o conhecimento sobre a riqueza de espécies de serpentes nos fragmentos florestais, para confirmar a presença das espécies com registros incertos e ocorrência potencial em Viçosa, e para investigar a possibilidade de declínio populacional daquelas espécies sem registros há mais de uma década.
Based on specimens housed in scientific collections, we present here a list of snake species from the Municipality of Viçosa, which is located in an Atlantic Forest portion of the State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Thirty four species were confirmed in Viçosa. Two others have uncertain reports and five that were registered in neighboring municipalities could also occur in Viçosa. Information concerning snakes distribution and natural history is also presented, based on scientific literature data and sporadic field observations in the study area. In general, we can consider that the snake fauna of Viçosa is comprised of species which are able to use environments modified by human action, though some of them are dependent on the remaining forest fragments. Fieldwork is still required to improve the knowledge of snake species richness in forest fragments, to confirm the presence of species with uncertain records and potential occurrence in Viçosa, and to investigate the possibility of population declines of those species without records from the last decade.
