Omar Machado Entiauspe-Neto

Herpetofauna of the Northwest Amazon forest in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, with remarks on the Gurupi Biological Reserve

Abstract Understanding the biodiversity of an area is the first step for establishing effective interventions for conservation, especially when it comes to herpetofauna, since 4.1% and 9.2%, respectively, of Brazilian amphibians and reptiles are endangered. The aim of this study is to identify the composition of the herpetofauna occurring in the Northwest Amazonian state of Maranhão, with a focus on the Gurupi Biological Reserve and surrounding areas. Samples were collected between May 2012 and October 2013 (18 months), through pitfall traps, time constrained active search, and opportunistic encounters, and these records were supplemented by specimens collected by third parties and by bibliographic records. A total of 131 species were recorded: 31 species of amphibians and 100 species of reptiles (six testudines, 30 lizards, two amphisbaenas, 60 snakes and two alligators), including some species new to the state of Maranhão and the northeast region of Brazil. This inventory contributes to the knowledge of the herpetofauna for the Belém Endemism Center, the most devastated region of the Brazilian Amazon, and considered poorly sampled.

Apostolepis intermedia Koslowsky, 1898 (Serpentes: Xenodontinae: Elapomorphini): first records for Paraguay

The fossorial snake Apostolepis intermedia is an Elapomorphini species currently known by two specimens from Brazil. In this study, we report the first records of the species in Paraguay, based on two female specimens from the Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro, Paraguay. These records occurred 376 km south from the previously southernmost record, in Anastacio, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We also provide data on the species morphological variation.

A New and Microendemic Species of Ophiodes Wagler, 1828 (Sauria: Diploglossinae) from the Lagoa dos Patos Estuary, Southern Brazil

Abstract Ophiodes Wagler, 1828, is a poorly known legless lizard genus, widely distributed across South America east of the Andes, and composed of five described species and other additional taxa that have not been formally described but are widely referred to in recent publications. After reviewing major herpetological collections in Rio Grande do Sul and conducting fieldwork for more than 2 decades in the Lagoa dos Patos Estuary, we came across a new species of Ophiodes, herein described. The new species is diagnosed from its congeners based on the combination of a dorsum with three wide, dark brown longitudinal stripes and two pairs of conspicuous light yellow stripes, one pair paravertebral and another dorsolateral; dark vertebral line absent; background coloration of sides light gray with four to five pale and narrow longitudinal stripes; ventral region uniformly light gray; hind limb extending to the posterior vent scale margin; small eyes, smaller than half of snout–ocular distance; supralabials with well-defined, although small, supralabial blotches, restricted to their outer margins. We also provide comments on its distribution range and propose that a “Critically Endangered” CR B1b (i,ii,iii) extinction risk classification should be officially assessed and given. Resumo Ophiodes Wagler, 1828, é um gênero de lagartos ápodos pouco conhecido, amplamente distribuído na América do Sul à leste dos Andes. O gênero é composto de cinco espécies e outros taxons ainda não formalmente reconhecidos, embora referenciados em publicações recentes. Após revisar coleções herpetológicas no Rio Grande do Sul e conduzir trabalho de campo por mais de duas décadas no Estuário da Lagoa dos Patos encontramos uma nova espécie de Ophiodes, aqui descrita. A nova espécie é diferenciada de seus congêneres com base na combinação de um dorso com três largas listras longitudinais marrom escuras e duas listras conspícuas amarelo-claras, um par composto de uma paravertebral e outra dorsolateral; linha vertebral escura ausente; coloração de fundo nos lados cinza claro, com quatro à cinco listras longitudinais e estreitas; região ventral cinza claro uniforme; membro posterior estendendo-se até a margem posterior da escama cloacal; olhos pequenos, menores que metade da distância entre focinho e olho; supralabiais com manchas bem definidas e pequenas, restritas à suas margens exteriores. Também apresentamos comentários sobre sua distribuição, e propomos que o seu status de conservação seja definido oficialmente como “Criticamente em Perigo” CR B1b (i,ii,iii).

A new record of Rondonops biscutatus (Reptilia, Sauria, Gymnophthalmidae) from Mato Grosso, Brazil

Rondonops biscutatus is a Iphisini species known from the southwestern portion of the Brazilian Amazon forest, in the states of Mato Grosso, Pará and Rondônia. In this study, we report the second known locality for the species in Mato Grosso, extending the distribution of the species approximately 545 km.

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.

Hydrops martii (Wagler, 1824) (Serpentes, Dipsadidae): first record in Amapá state, northern Brazil

Hydrops martii is a poorly known water snake of the tribe Hydropsini, which has been extensively found across northern South America. In this study, we present the first record in Amapá, based on a single specimen from the municipality of Macapá (0.0333, –51.0666), in the tropical moist broad-leafed forests of northern Brazil. This record extends the species range ca 195 km north from its nearest known record, on Marajó Island, in Pará, in the same ecoregion.

First record of leucism for Atractus reticulatus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

aLaboratório de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Av. Itália, Km 8, Vila Carreiros, CEP 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil bLaboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, CEP 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil cLaboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, CEP 97105-000, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil dLaboratório de Sistemática, Entomologia e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, CEP 97105-000, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil *e-mail: arthur_abegg@hotmail.com

Snakes of Cerrado localities in western Bahia, Brazil

We present a list of snake species found in 10 municipalities in the Cerrado of western Bahia state, Brazil. One hundred and twenty individuals of 46 species from seven families were examined. We also present a new state record for the genus Phalotris Cope, 1862 and a candidate new species for the genus Thamnodynastes Wagler, 1830.

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 Capao do Leao, 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.