Ana Lúcia da Costa Prudente

New Species of Atractus Wagler, 1828 (Serpentes: Dipsadinae) from Guyana Plateau in Northern Brazil

Abstract A new species of Atractus is described from Serra do Surucucu, a mountain slope at 1,000 m in the Guyana Shield, State of Roraima, Brazil. This species, only known by females, is diagnosed from all congeners by the following combination of characters: 17/17/17 smooth dorsal scale rows, without apical pits; 200–207 ventral scales; 25–26 subcaudal scales; moderate sized loreal, contacting second and third supralabials; seven supralabials, third and fourth contacting orbit; seven infralabials, first three contacting chinshields; moderate size, 222–388 mm SVL; short tail (7.7–8.8% snout–vent length); dorsal color pattern, in preservative, uniform chocolate to dark brown, with two conspicuous light paraventral lines, and a light incomplete occipital collar; venter immaculate creamish-white; tail uniform black; five maxillary teeth. We compared the new species with all currently recognized cis-Andean Atractus, and its affinities with Atractus alphonsehogei, Atractus caxiuana, Atractus collaris, Atractus gaigeae, Atractus limitaneus, and Atractus zidoki are discussed on the basis of putative morphological synapomorphies.

New Cryptic Species of Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract A new species of Atractus, previously reported as a disjunct population of A. zidoki south of the Amazon River, differs from all congeners in having an undivided sulcus spermaticus. Herein, we restrict the concept of A. zidoki to populations north of the Amazon River, provide a detailed description of its everted hemipenis, and describe a new species to accommodate the population occurring to the south of the Amazon River. Additionally, we briefly discuss intraspecific variation and the systematic value of the hemipenis structure in snakes, mainly with respect to the genus Atractus.

Envenomation by Micrurus coral snakes in the Brazilian Amazon region: report of two cases

Two cases of proven coral snake bites were reported in Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The first case was a severe one caused by Micrurus surinamensis. The patient required mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure. The second case showed just mild signs of envenomation caused by Micrurus filiformis. Both patients received specific Micrurus antivenom and were discharged without further complications. Coral snake bites are scarcely reported in the Amazon region and there is a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, varying from extremely mild to those which may rapidly lead to death if the patient is not treated as soon as possible.

Food habits of Anilius scytale (Serpentes: Aniliidae) in the Brazilian Amazonia

Information on the diet of Anilius scytale is provided based on the analysis of 162 specimens from the Brazilian Amazonia. Amphisbaenians (Aulura anomala Barbour, 1914; Leposternon polystegumn [Dumeril, 1951] and Amphisbaena sp.), which are highly specialized for a fossorial life, accounted for 81.25% of the recorded items, followed by snakes - Anilius scytale (Linnaeus, 1758), and Tantilla melanocephala (Linnaeus, 1758): 12.5% - and caecilians - Caecilia cf. gracilis Shaw, 1802: 6.25%. We found a positive, although not significant, relationship between the snout-vent length of A. scytale and the total length of the prey and a tendency for smaller specimens to ingest proportionately larger prey. Anilius scytale forages mainly on the ground, at night, as well as in aquatic environments. The non-selective capture of either proportionately large or small prey by A. scytale may reflect the opportunistic nature of the encounters. A tendency of the juveniles of this species to ingest proportionately larger prey may be associated with either a low availability of prey with a size compatible to that of the juveniles, or with their inexperience in selecting prey. Ingestion of prey headfirst may be an attempt to minimize the risk of injury the prey could cause through their rigid, pointed and sharp structures or powerful bites.

INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION OF THE HEMIPENIS IN SIPHLOPHIS AND TRIPANURGOS

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Reproductive Biology of Tantilla Melanocephala (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes, Colubridae) from Eastern Amazonia, Brazil

Abstract The reproductive biology of Tantilla melanocephala was studied in eastern Amazonia, Pará, Brazil. Males and females attained sexual maturity at approximately twice the length (snout–vent length  =  SVL) of newborn snakes. Mature males had a larger tail length and more subcaudal scales than mature females, whereas females were larger (SVL) and had more ventral scales than males. Total length did not differ between mature males and females. Reproduction was not seasonal. There was no correlation between the number of vitellogenic follicles and oviductal eggs. The number of eggs was positively correlated with the female SVL. The data presented here indicate that the eastern Amazonia population differs from populations in southeastern Brazil in important morphological and reproductive aspects, including the mean number of eggs produced (mean  =  1.53), which was smaller in eastern Amazonian populations.

Serpentes da Bacia Petrolífera de Urucu, Município de Coari, Amazonas, Brasil

Um inventario estruturado de serpentes foi realizado na Base Operacional Geologo Pedro de Moura (BOGPM), localizada na Bacia Petrolifera de Urucu, Municipio de Coari, Amazonas, nos anos de 2003, 2004 e 2007. Nas quatro expedicoes realizadas (51 dias de coleta) foram registradas 47 especies de serpentes, pertencentes a sete familias e 33 generos. Foram utilizados quatro metodos complementares de amostragem de serpentes: armadilha de interceptacao e queda, encontros ocasionais, procura limitada por tempo a pe e procura limitada por tempo de carro. Das 47 especies coletadas, Liophis reginae (n= 14), Philodryas viridissima (n= 9), Philodryas boulengeri (n= 7) e Oxybelis fulgidus (n= 7) foram as mais abundantes em toda regiao. O maior numero de especies e especimes foi registrado pela procura limitada por tempo de carro (52,8%). Estudos anteriores indicam que as localidades ao sul do Rio Amazonas (como regiao Leste do Para, Usina Hidreletrica de Tucurui, Estado do Para, e de Samuel, Estado de Rondonia) apresentam maior riqueza quando comparadas as regioes ao norte do Amazonas (como Municipio de Manaus, Reserva do INPA-WWF e Usina Hidreletrica de Balbina, Estado do Amazonas). Desta forma, e possivel inferir que o levantamento das serpentes da regiao de Urucu ainda nao esteja completo, sendo necessario um maior esforco de coleta para que novos registros sejam adicionados para a area.

A new species of triadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus Wagler, 1824 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from northeastern Brazil

The genus Micrurus comprises 123 currently recognized taxa (species and subspecies) that are traditionally arranged in four species groups diagnosable mainly by color pattern characteristics. Here, we describe a new species of triadal coral snake from northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from other sympatric triadal congeners (M. lemniscatus carvalhoi, M. ibiboboca and M. brasiliensis) mainly by the entirely black parietals and by a suite of external characters and hemipenial morphology. The new species appears to be restricted to tropical ombrophilous lowland coastal forests of northeastern Brazil and all recently collected specimens are known to occur in small forest patches surrounded by periurban environment, which calls for an urgent evaluation on its conservation status.

The snake assemblage (Squamata: Serpentes) of a Cerrado-Caatinga transition area in Castelo do Piauí, state of Piauí, Brazil

This study records and analyzes the diversity and structure of a snake assemblage in a transition area between Cerrado and Caatinga, in the municipality of Castelo do Piaui, state of Piaui, comparing the distribution and similarity of the species composition with other open localities already studied in Brazil. We used three complementary sampling methods: time constrained search (TCS), pitfall traps with drift fences (PFT), and incidental encounters (IE). During the TCS and PFT, 912 hours/observer and 6,468 days/trap were used, respectively. We estimated 23 species of snakes for the locality, although only 19 species were recorded. Philodryas nattereri Steindachner, 1870 (n = 10), Liophis poecilogyrus (Schlegel, 1837) (n = 9), Liophis viridis Gunther, 1862 (n = 8) and Thamnodynastes sp. (n = 8) were the most abundant species. Terrestrial, cryptozoic, and diurnal snakes predominated in the assemblage (Boidae = 2 species, Dipsadidae = 12, Colubridae = 2, Elapidae = 1, Viperidae = 2). The results indicate that the fauna of the locality is similar with that of other open formations, especially the Caatinga, corroborating previous floristic studies. Comparisons between snake assemblages analyzed by different authors suggest structural differences between the assemblages of the Cerrado and the Caatinga, contradicting the hypothesis of mixed composition of fauna in these biomes.

Squamate Reptiles from municipality of Barcarena and surroundings, state of Pará, north of Brazil

We present the first species list of squamate reptiles of the municipality of Barcarena and surroundings, in state of Para, north of Brazil. The study area is dominated by secondary florest at different successional stages. The list was drawn up as a result of data obtained from specimens deposited in the Herpetological Collection of the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi and inventories of the herpetofauna conducted in the Barcarena region. This list comprises 17 families (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae; Sauria: Gekkonidae, Gymnophthalmidae, Iguanidae, Phyllodactylidae, Polychrotidae, Scincidae, Sphaerodactylidae, Teiidae, Tropiduridae; Serpentes: Aniliidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Dipsadidae, Elapidae, Typhlopidae and Viperidae), 44 genera and 59 species of squamate reptiles.