David Salazar-Valenzuela

A New Species of Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from the Andes of Ecuador

Abstract:  A new species of Atractus is described from cloud forests of the extreme northern Ecuadorian Andes, Tulcán County, Carchi Province. Atractus savagei sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of 17 dorsal scale rows, long loreal, six supralabials (third and fourth contacting orbit), seven infralabials (first four contacting chinshields), 5–8 maxillary teeth, 161–165 ventrals in females and 149–154 in males, 23–26 subcaudals in females and 28–33 in males, a brown dorsum with black specks on the margins of scales, two black longitudinal stripes on each side of the body, yellow ventral color of head gradually changing to orange and red toward the back of the body, venter with lateral and median series of black blotches arranged in conspicuous longitudinal stripes, moderate body size, a long tail in males, and a moderately bilobed, barely capitate, and slightly calyculate hemipenis. Based on shared morphological characters, especially hemipenial features, we propose to tentatively allocate the new species to the A. paucidens group. Resumen:  Se describe una nueva especie de Atractus de los bosques nublados del extremo norte de los Andes ecuatorianos, Cantón Tulcán, Provincia de Carchi. Atractus savagei sp. nov. se distingue de otras especies del género por la combinación de 17 filas de escamas dorsales, loreal larga, 6 supralabiales (tercera y cuarta contactando la órbita), 7 infralabiales (primeras cuatro en contacto con las geneiales), 5–8 dientes maxilares, 161–165 ventrales en hembras y 149–154 en machos, 23–26 subcaudales en hembras y 28–33 en machos, dorso café con manchas negras en los márgenes de las escamas, dos líneas longitudinales negras en cada lado del cuerpo, color ventral de la cabeza amarillo que cambia gradualmente a naranja y rojo hacia atrás del cuerpo, vientre con series laterales y medias de manchas negras dispuestas en líneas longitudinales conspicuas, tamaño del cuerpo moderado, cola larga en machos, y un hemipene moderadamente bilobular, muy poco capitado y un poco caliculado. Con base en caracteres morfológicos compartidos, especialmente asociados a los hemipenes, se propone incluir tentativamente a esta nueva especie en el grupo A. paucidens.

Real-time DNA barcoding in a rainforest using nanopore sequencing: opportunities for rapid biodiversity assessments and local capacity building

Abstract Background Advancements in portable scientific instruments provide promising avenues to expedite field work in order to understand the diverse array of organisms that inhabit our planet. Here, we tested the feasibility for in situ molecular analyses of endemic fauna using a portable laboratory fitting within a single backpack in one of the worlds most imperiled biodiversity hotspots, the Ecuadorian Chocó rainforest. We used portable equipment, including the MinION nanopore sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) and the miniPCR (miniPCR), to perform DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and real-time DNA barcoding of reptile specimens in the field. Findings We demonstrate that nanopore sequencing can be implemented in a remote tropical forest to quickly and accurately identify species using DNA barcoding, as we generated consensus sequences for species resolution with an accuracy of >99% in less than 24 hours after collecting specimens. The flexibility of our mobile laboratory further allowed us to generate sequence information at the Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica in Quito for rare, endangered, and undescribed species. This includes the recently rediscovered Jambato toad, which was thought to be extinct for 28 years. Sequences generated on the MinION required as few as 30 reads to achieve high accuracy relative to Sanger sequencing, and with further multiplexing of samples, nanopore sequencing can become a cost-effective approach for rapid and portable DNA barcoding. Conclusions Overall, we establish how mobile laboratories and nanopore sequencing can help to accelerate species identification in remote areas to aid in conservation efforts and be applied to research facilities in developing countries. This opens up possibilities for biodiversity studies by promoting local research capacity building, teaching nonspecialists and students about the environment, tackling wildlife crime, and promoting conservation via research-focused ecotourism.

Systematics of South American snail-eating snakes (Serpentes, Dipsadini), with the description of five new species from Ecuador and Peru

Abstract A molecular phylogeny of the Neotropical snail-eating snakes (tribe Dipsadini) is presented including 43 (24 for the first time) of the 77 species, sampled for both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Morphological and phylogenetic support was found for four new species of Dipsas and one of Sibon, which are described here based on their unique combination of molecular, meristic, and color pattern characteristics. Sibynomorphus is designated as a junior subjective synonym of Dipsas. Dipsas latifrontalis and D. palmeri are resurrected from the synonymy of D. peruana. Dipsas latifasciata is transferred from the synonymy of D. peruana to the synonymy of D. palmeri. A new name, D. jamespetersi, is erected for the taxon currently known as Sibynomorphus petersi. Re-descriptions of D. latifrontalis and D. peruana are presented, as well as the first photographic voucher of an adult specimen of D. latifrontalis, along with photographs of all known Ecuadorian Dipsadini species. The first country record of D. variegata in Ecuador is provided and D. oligozonata removed from the list of Peruvian herpetofauna. With these changes, the number of Dipsadini reported in Ecuador increases to 22, 18 species of Dipsas and four of Sibon.