Chironius fuscus (Serpentes: Colubridae): predação sobre anuros em reprodução explosiva

Anurans compose an important part of the diet of several species of Neotropical snakes. Here we report a predator-prey interaction involving Chironius fuscus and Ololygon argyreornata. A young individual of C. fuscus preyed three specimens of O. argyreornata, in soil, while occurred explosive reproduction of frogs. This contribution reinforces ecological data that C. fuscus forages mainly on the ground. We believe that this interaction can occur with relative frequency and that eventually arboreal frogs can compose important sample in C. fuscus’ diet, which is based on terrestrial amphibians.Keywords: anurophagy, Colubrinae, diet, feeding habits.Os anuros compõem uma parcela importante da dieta de diversas espécies de serpentes neotropicais. Neste trabalho, relatamos uma interação de predador-presa envolvendo Chironius fuscus e Ololygon argyreornata. Um indivíduo jovem de C. fuscus apresou três espécimes de O. argyreornata, no solo, enquanto ocorria reprodução explosiva dos anuros. Essa contribuição reforça os dados ecológicos de que C. fuscus forrageia, principalmente, no chão. Acreditamos que essa interação possa ocorrer com relativa frequência e que, eventualmente, os anuros arborícolas possam compor importante amostra na dieta de C. fuscus, a qual é baseada em anfíbios terrestres.Palavras-chave: anurofagia, Colubrinae, dieta, hábitos alimentares

Taxonomic status of Apostolepis barrioi Lema, 1978, with comments on the taxonomic instability of Apostolepis Cope, 1862 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)

Apostolepis is a diverse neotropical snake genus, which has been historically subjected to poor taxonomic descriptions, largely based on either a small type series or subjective diagnoses. We evaluate the case of Apostolepis barrioi Lema, 1978 and its intricate taxonomic history, suggesting its synonymization with Apostolepis dimidiata (Jan, 1862), and providing brief commentary on the taxonomic instability that has been plaguing the genus

Redescription, geographic distribution and ecological niche modeling of Elapomorphus wuchereri (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

The original description of Elapomorphus wuchereri Günther, 1861 included a drawing and brief comments about the morphology of three specimens; two of the latter belong to another species and the holotype is lost. Based on the discovery of new specimens, we redescribe Elapomorphus wuchereri and designate a neotype. We discuss the variation and the taxonomic history of the species, and based on the results of a species distribution model analysis (SDM), we describe the distribution, extent of occurrence, and conservation status.A descrição original de Elapomorphus wuchereri Günther, 1861 continha um desenho e comentários breves acerca da morfologia de três espécimes; dois destes pertencem a outra espécie e o holótipo está perdido. Com base na descoberta de novos espécimes, redescrevemos Elapomorphus wuchereri e designamos um neótipo. Discutimos a variação e o histórico taxonômico da espécie e, com base nos resultados de uma modelagem de nicho ecológico (SDM), descrevemos sua distribuição, extensão de ocorrência e status de conservação

Inclusão, exclusão e reinclusão: Chironius brazili (Serpentes, Colubridae) no Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil

Although Chironius brazili Hamdan and Fernandes, 2015, was recently described, its occurrence in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, has been discussed for at least three decades. In this work, we evaluate the occurrence of C. brazili in Rio Grande do Sul, presenting three new records, a distribution extension and comments in its available literature records. In the Pampa biome, all records are near areas of Atlantic Forest, in grassywoody steppes with gallery forest, in western Rio Grande do Sul. Our records suggest that C. brazili might occur in the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay and adjacent areas to the Western portion of Rio Grande do Sul.Keywords: geographical distribution, gallery forest, Pampa, Southern Brazil.Embora Chironius brazili Hamdan and Fernandes, 2015, tenha sido recentemente descrita, sua ocorrência no Rio Grande do Sul tem sido discutida há, pelo menos, três décadas. Neste trabalho, avaliamos a ocorrência de C. brazili no Rio Grande do Sul, apresentando três novos registros, uma extensão de distribuição e comentários sobre seus registros disponíveis em literatura. No bioma Pampa, todos os registros estão perto de áreas de Mata Atlântica, em estepes gramíneo-lenhosas com mata ciliar, no oeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Nossos registros indicam que C. brazili pode ocorrer na Depressão Central do Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguai e áreas adjacentes à porção ocidental do Rio Grande do Sul.Palavras-chave: distribuição geográfica, floresta de galeria, Pampa, Sul do Brasil

Evolutionary dynamics shape two passive defensive mechanisms in Neotropical snake radiations

We mapped the distribution of two defensive behaviors (balling and head hiding) of Neotropical snakes to evaluate its distribution in distinct phylogenetic groups. Balling behavior was observed in 58 out of the 167 examined species across seven families. Head hiding was observed in a total of 100 species across nine families. From the high prevalence of balling behavior in basal groups of snakes, such as Anomalepididae, Boidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Tropidophiidae, and Typhlopidae, and the low prevalence among species of recent diversification radiations, such as Elapidae and Viperidae, we suggest that this behavior evolved in basal groups and persisted in some derived taxa. Balling was not observed in association with other defensive strategies, while head hiding can occur in combination with caudal elevation, caudal vibration, and body flattening. Therefore, head hiding, in contrast to balling behavior, presents itself as putatively more flexible, as it should allow for an escalated degree of defensive displays

Citizen science and online data: Opportunities and challenges for snake ecology and action against snakebite

The secretive behavior and life history of snakes makes studying their biology, distribution, and the epidemiology of venomous snakebite challenging. One of the most useful, most versatile, and easiest to collect types of biological data are photographs, particularly those that are connected with geographic location and date-time metadata. Photos verify occurrence records, provide data on phenotypes and ecology, and are often used to illustrate new species descriptions, field guides and identification keys, as well as in training humans and computer vision algorithms to identify snakes. We scoured eleven online and two offline sources of snake photos in an attempt to collect as many photos of as many snake species as possible, and attempt to explain some of the inter-species variation in photograph quantity among global regions and taxonomic groups, and with regard to medical importance, human population density, and range size. We collected a total of 725,565 photos—between 1 and 48,696 photos of 3098 of the world's 3879 snake species (79.9%), leaving 781 “most wanted” species with no photos (20.1% of all currently-described species as of the December 2020 release of The Reptile Database). We provide a list of most wanted species sortable by family, continent, authority, and medical importance, and encourage snake photographers worldwide to submit photos and associated metadata, particularly of “missing” species, to the most permanent and useful online archives: The Reptile Database, iNaturalist, and HerpMapper.ISSN:2590-171

Apostolepis christineae Lema, 2002 (Serpentes: Xenodontinae: Elapomorphini): first record for Bolivia

The fossorial snake Apostolepis christineae is an Elapomorphini species known only from a single specimen in Brazil. In this study, we report its occurrence to Bolivia, based on a male (BMNH 1907.10.31.62) from Puerto Suarez, Provincia German Busch, Departamento Santa Cruz, which was previously misidentified as Apostolepis vittata. This record extends the species distribution ca. 576 km west from its type locality. We also provide data on its morphological variation

Apostolepis christineae Lema, 2002 (Serpentes: Xenodontinae: Elapomorphini): first record for Bolivia

The fossorial snake Apostolepis christineae is an Elapomorphini species known only from a single specimen in Brazil. In this study, we report its occurrence to Bolivia, based on a male (BMNH 1907.10.31.62) from Puerto Suarez, Provincia German Busch, Departamento Santa Cruz, which was previously misidentified as Apostolepis vittata. This record extends the species distribution ca. 576 km west from its type locality. We also provide data on its morphological variation

New record and distribution extension of Atractus paraguayensis Werner, 1924 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) [with erratum]

The dipsadid ground snake, Atractus paraguayensis, occurs in Southern Brazil, Southern Paraguay and Argentina. In this study, we report the most austral record of the species in Brazil, based on a specimen captured in Capão do Leão, in the campus of the Universidade Federal de Pelotas. This extends the species geographical distribution 354 km – south, of Colorado, Brazil, the most austral record of the species until now

Mussurana quimi (Franco, Marques & Puorto, 1997) (Serpentes: Dipsadidae): first records for Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

Mussurana quimi is a species of Pseudoboini known from central, southeastern, and southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. We report the occurrence of this species in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, based on two specimens from Santa Maria municipality. This report extends this species’ distribution about 950 km south from its type locality and 330 km south from the nearest previous locality record (Posadas, Argentina). It also represent new southernmost records for M. quimi. We also provide brief comments on coloration and morphological variation of this species as well as an updated distribution map.