Species New to Science: Boidae

Showing posts with label Boidae. Show all posts

Thursday, April 18, 2024

[Herpetology • 2024] Boa atlantica • The Good, the Bad and the Boa: An unexpected New Species of A True Boa revealed by morphological and molecular evidence

Boa atlantica

Gonzalez, Bezerra de Lima, Passos & Silva, 2024

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298159

Abstract

Snakes of the genus Boa are outstanding elements of the New World biota with a broad sociological influence on pop culture. Historically, several taxa have been recognized in the past 300 years, being mostly described in the early days of binomial nomenclature. As a rule, these taxa were recognized based on a suite of phenotypic characters mainly those from the external morphology. However, there is a huge disagreement with respect to the current taxonomy and available molecular phylogenies. In order to reconcile both lines of evidence, we investigate the phylogenetic reconstruction (using mitochondrial and nuclear genes) of the genus in parallel to the detailed study of some phenotypic systems from a geographically representative sample of the cis-Andean mainland Boa constrictor. We used cyt-b only (744bp) from 73 samples, and cyt-b, ND4, NTF3, and ODC partial sequences (in a total of 2305 bp) from 35 samples, comprising nine currently recognized taxa (species or subspecies), to infer phylogenetic relationships of boas. Topologies recovered along all the analyses and genetic distances obtained allied to a unique combination of morphological traits (colouration, pholidosis, meristic, morphometric, and male genitalia features) allowed us to recognize B. constrictor lato sensu, B. nebulosa, B. occidentalis, B. orophias and a distinct lineage from the eastern coast of Brazil, which we describe here as a new species, diagnosing it from the previously recognized taxa. Finally, we discuss the minimally necessary changes in the taxonomy of Boa constrictor complex; the value of some usually disregarded phenotypic character system; and we highlight the urgency of continuing environmental policy to preserve one of the most impacted Brazilian hotspots, the Atlantic Forest, which represents an ecoregion full of endemism.

Dorsal (A), ventral (B), and lateral (C) views of the head of the holotype of Boa atlantica sp. nov.(MNRJ 27242) from Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic coast of Brazil.

Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views of the holotype of Boa atlantica sp. nov. (MNRJ 27242) from Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic coast of Brazil.

Boa atlantica sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Boa atlantica sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other congeners by the following unique combination of characters: (i) ventrals 228–243; (ii) subcaudals 47–58 in males, and 31–56 in females; (iii) anterior dorsal scale rows 51–66; (iv) midbody dorsal scale rows 69–90; (v) posterior dorsal scale rows 42–54; (vi) dorsal body spots 17–23; (vii) tail spots 4–6 in males, 2–6 in females; (viii) longitudinal head stripe usually continuous; (ix) head stripe without lateral projections; (x) elliptical, circular or double-oval dorsal interspots; (xi) posterior dorsal interspots not blotched; (xii) no change in dorsal spots towards the tail; (xiii) lateral ocelli dark brown, black or faint reddish, white bordered; (xiv) belly cream with tones of orange, brown and black, scattered of black dots and large groups of black spots; (xv) belly with progressive darkening towards the tail; (xvi) black spots on ventral surface of tail.

Etymology: The species epithet atlantica is a Latin adjective that refers to the Atlantic coast but mainly the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, the homeland of several endemic species, including this new Boa. The preservation of this biome is crucial for conservation, nonetheless, it has been suffering deforestation since the colonial times and only 12% of it remains standing. This situation is under serious threat since the past Brazilian policies lack empathy for conservation issues and seem to foster deforestation even further.

Pre-cloacal region and tails of mainland South-American boas.
B. atlantica sp. nov. (MNRJ 27243): a) superior view, b) lateral view; B. constrictor (USNM 566533): c) superior view, d) lateral view;
B. amarali (UFG 134): e) superior view, f) lateral view; B. occidentalis (FML28405): g) superior view, h) lateral view.

Rodrigo Castellari Gonzalez, Lorena Corina Bezerra de Lima, Paulo Passos and Maria José J. Silva. 2024. The Good, the Bad and the Boa: An unexpected New Species of A True Boa revealed by morphological and molecular evidence. PLoS ONE. 19(4): e0298159. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298159

Sunday, February 25, 2024

[Herpetology • 2024] Eunectes akayima • Disentangling the Anacondas: Revealing a New Green Species and Rethinking Yellows

Eunectes murinus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Eunectes akayima Rivas, De La Quintana, Mancuso, Pacheco, Rivas, Mariotto, Salazar-Valenzuela, Tepeña Baihua, Baihua, Burghardt, Vonk, Hernandez, García-Pérez, Fry & Corey-Rivas, 2024

E. notaeus Cope, 1862

DOI: 10.3390/d16020127

Abstract

Anacondas, genus Eunectes, are a group of aquatic snakes with a wide distribution in South America. The taxonomic status of several species has been uncertain and/or controversial. Using genetic data from four recognized anaconda species across nine countries, this study investigates the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Eunectes. A key finding was the identification of two distinct clades within Eunectes murinus, revealing two species as cryptic yet genetically deeply divergent. This has led to the recognition of the Northern Green Anaconda as a separate species (Eunectes akayima sp. nov.), distinct from its southern counterpart (E. murinus), the Southern Green Anaconda. Additionally, our data challenge the current understanding of Yellow Anaconda species by proposing the unification of Eunectes deschauenseei and Eunectes beniensis into a single species with Eunectes notaeus. This reclassification is based on comprehensive genetic and phylogeographic analyses, suggesting closer relationships than previously recognized and the realization that our understanding of their geographic ranges is insufficient to justify its use as a separation criterion. We also present a phylogeographic hypothesis that traces the Miocene diversification of anacondas in western South America. Beyond its academic significance, this study has vital implications for the conservation of these iconic reptile species, highlighting our lack of knowledge about the diversity of the South American fauna and the need for revised strategies to conserve the newly identified and reclassified species.

Keywords: cryptic diversity; Boidae; South America; Llanos; Pebas system; Orinoco basin; redundant species

Eunectes akayima sp. nov.

Etymology:

We propose the common name, Northern Green Anaconda, for Eunectes akayima sp. nov. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, northern Venezuela was occupied by various Indigenous nations, among which the Caribs were an important group. Several Carib nations remain including the Kariña, Panare, Yekuana, Pemones, and Akawaio. The word for anaconda in various Cariban languages is a variant of akayima/okoyimo/okoimo, in which akayi/okoyi/okoi means “snake” and the suffix -ima/-imo means “large”. The suffix -ima/-imo does not necessarily mean ‘large’ in a physical sense. Rather, it is used to denote the kind of largeness that indicates a different category of being. The literal translation of akayima is “The Great Snake” (S. Gildea pers. comm.). The species name akayima is pronounced as follows: əkəyimə in standard dictionary pronunciation font; ŭkŭyēmŭ using the phonics; and uh-kuh-yee-muh using the Plotkin method for English-like writing to capture Cariban language pronunciations [Plotkin, 1994]. The word akayima is also used to refer to the rainbow, probably associated with a feathered serpent in their belief system that came out after rains to dry its feathers [Gumilla, 1740]. We, therefore, acknowledge the culture of these Indigenous people who share their territories with this species by adopting their word for anaconda as the specific epithet for this new species. We propose the common name for E. murinus as Southern Green Anaconda, to promote taxonomic stability for the most widely distributed species and avoid confusion. Table 6 provides a comparison between the E. akayima sp. nov. holotype, one of its paratypes, and the E. murinus lectotype.

Previous work had identified other candidate species and subspecies of the anaconda in the Orinoco basin with somewhat similar distribution to E. akayima [Dunn & Conant, 1936]. However, all of these differences have been found to be inconsistent [Dirksen, 2002; Dirksen & Henderson, 2002; Dirksen & Bohme, 1998]; therefore, these synonyms are all invalid. In addition, the word “akayima” has been indigenously used to designate this species for at least hundreds (and perhaps even thousands) of years before the use of any of the other synonyms. It was certainly in use in 1758 when the Code started counting names as valid; so, akayima is clearly the senior synonym. This is, admittedly, an unorthodox position regarding the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature [1999], which prefers the names that have been published in Western science as “valid”. However, it is well due time that Western science starts recognizing the ancestral knowledge and cultural legacy of non-Westernized society. If we respect and honor the culture of these original nations, accepting akayima as the senior synonym is unavoidable.

Conclusions:

This study provides the most extensive sampling of anacondas to date and raises new questions about the distinctive lineages, geological history, and conservation status of the Eunectes group. Historical, geographic, and landscape-scale events may have shaped the current distribution and composition of the species. Looking at the ecology of present-day anacondas, it would seem that the entire Amazon/Orinoco basin would be an area of free dispersal for anacondas. However, the presence of a new cryptic species in the north and the E. murinus in the south tells us that we still know very little about the gene flow dynamics of a large vertebrate in the world’s most diverse terrestrial ecosystem. The idea that there could be a population of E. notaeus living throughout the Amazon basin that has managed to evade detection thanks to a coloration that superficially resembles that of E. murinus is puzzling, and speaks loudly to the need for thorough sampling to better document the diversity we still have.

Jesús A. Rivas, Paola De La Quintana, Marco Mancuso, Luis F. Pacheco, Gilson A. Rivas, Sandra Mariotto, David Salazar-Valenzuela, Marcelo Tepeña Baihua, Penti Baihua, Gordon M. Burghardt, Freek J. Vonk, Emil Hernandez, Juán Elías García-Pérez, Bryan G. Fry and Sarah Corey-Rivas. 2024. Disentangling the Anacondas: Revealing a New Green Species and Rethinking Yellows. Diversity. 16(2), 127. DOI: 10.3390/d16020127

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DNA Barcoding for Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration)

Thursday, September 16, 2021

[Herpetology • 2021] Chilabothrus ampelophis • A Small New Arboreal Species of west Indian Boa (Serpentes: Boidae) from southern Hispaniola

Chilabothrus ampelophis

Landestoy, Reynolds & Henderson, 2021

DOI: 10.3099/MCZ67.1

Researchgate.net/publication/353956032

Abstract

Thirteen species of West Indian boas (Chilabothrus) are distributed across the islands of the Greater Antilles and Lucayan Archipelago. Hispaniola is unique among this group of islands in having more than two species of Chilabothrus—three are currently recognized. Here we describe a fourth species from Hispaniola, a newly discovered distinctive species of small boa from the dry forest of the Barahona Peninsula, southwestern Dominican Republic, near the border with Haiti. This new species resembles in body size and in other aspects its closest relative Chilabothrus fordii (Günther 1861), with which it appears to be allopatric. The new species, which we describe as Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov., differs from C. fordii in body, head, and snout shape; in scalation; in both coloration and color pattern; and in phylogenetic uniqueness. Some relevant meristic characters from C. ampelophis sp. nov. fall between C. fordii and C. gracilis (Fischer, 1888), accentuating the morphological and likely ecological differences from its sister species C. fordii. The discovery of this new species is especially important as it appears to be among the smallest boid (Boidae) species, has an arboreal specialization, and is found in a very restricted and highly threatened habitat.

Figure 5. Head shape and scutellation in dorsal view of
A, Chilabothrus fordii (MNHNSD 23.3904).
B-F, type series of Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov.: MNHNSD 23.3900, KUH 352337, MNHNSD 23.3902, MNHNSD 23.3901, MCZ R-197400, respectively.
Head-scale formula is indicated by light shading (intersupraocular or frontal scales) and numbers (3-1-2; F = frontal); dark shading highlights supraocular scales. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Figure 2. Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov.
Clockwise from top: KUH 352337 (5 December 2020), MNHSD 23.3901 (19 November 2020), MNHSD 23.3901 (19 November 2020).

Figure 6. Head and snout profiles of left, Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov. (MCZ R-197400) and right, C. fordii (MNHNSD 23.3906).

Note the flat head and protruding eyes and supraoculars above the level of frontal region in C. ampelophis; this region is convex with a gradually tapering snout in C. fordii.

Figure 7. Dorsal patterns of A, Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov. (MNHNSD 23.3901) and B, C. fordii (MNHNSD 23.3906).

Note the differences in coloration and shape of the primary elements: basically and predominantly a zigzag in C. ampelophis and ovate to subcircular blotches in C. fordii. Sizes are not to scale.

Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov.

Hispaniolan Vineboa

Etymology. The epithet is from ancient greek ampelos, meaning vine, in allusion to the slender body and head shape, which is rather unusual for the genus, and for the relative abundance of vines in the dry rocky habitat at the type locality. The suffix -ophis refers to a snake, hence the epithet is translated as ‘‘vinesnake.’’

Figure 8. Habitat of Chilabothrus ampelophis sp. nov. in the southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic.
A, aerial drone photo from March 2021 showing general habitat consisting of forested rolling hills from 200-to 400-m elevation where all specimens of C. ampelophis sp. nov. were found.
B and C, photos showing habitat characteristics of the type locality for C. ampelophis sp. nov.
D, agricultural encroachment along the foothills of the type locality.

Miguel A. Landestoy T., R. Graham Reynolds and Robert W. Henderson. 2021. A Small New Arboreal Species of west Indian Boa (Boidae; Chilabothrus) from southern Hispaniola. Breviora. 571(1):1-20. DOI: 10.3099/MCZ67.1

Researchgate.net/publication/353956032_A_NEW_CHILABOTHRUS_FROM_HISPANIOLA

unca.edu/events-and-news/stories/unc-asheville-professor-partners-with-milwaukee-public-museum-researcher-and-naturalist-to-announce-discovery-of-small-boa-species-in-the-dominican-republic/

https://mcz.harvard.edu/news/new-species-boa-dominican-republic

Friday, March 30, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Rediscovery and a Redescription of the Crooked-Acklins Boa, Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975)

Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975)

in Reynolds, Puente-Rolón, Burgess & Baker, 2018.

DOI: 10.3099/MCZ46.1

twitter.com/CaribbeanBoas

Abstract

The Crooked-Acklins Bank, a component of the southern Bahamas Archipelago, supports a terrestrial herpetofauna largely in common with other islands in the region, including a boid snake. This boa, Chilabothrus chrysogaster schwartzi (Buden, 1975), was considered a subspecies of the Southern Bahamas Boa complex (Chilabothrus chrysogaster), although the original description was based on limited specimen material. As the author of the original description used recently deceased specimens collected by locals, no description of living animals exists. Since its description in 1975 and the associated collection of four type specimens, no additional boas from Crooked-Acklins have been reported in the literature. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no photographs of live specimens have been published, and no juveniles have been described. For these reasons, it has been suggested that the subspecies is either extremely rare or possibly extirpated from the bank. Here we report the first four living boas from the Crooked-Acklins Bank, including both juveniles and an adult. We present the first photographs of and morphological data from live wild specimens, including habitat descriptions and natural history observations. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of these boas using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches, as well as divergence time analyses, finding that the Crooked-Acklins Boa is a distinct species sister to the recently described Silver Boa (C. argentum), and is not closely related to C. chrysogaster populations. The distinctness of this taxon is also supported by known morphological and meristic characters. We describe the species as the Crooked-Acklins Boa, elevating the epithet C. schwartzi (Buden, 1975) comb. nov. to refer to boas of this genus from the Crooked and Acklins banks, Bahamas—the 13th species of Chilabothrus. We further assess the systematics of the Southern Bahamas Boa (C. chrysogaster) and the central Bahamas boas (C. strigilatus, C. argentum, and C. schwartzi) with novel sequence data for these lineages.

Keywords: Boidae, Caribbean, Chilabothrus, mtDNA, phylogenetics, systematics

Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975) comb. nov.

Crooked-Acklins Boa

Figure 6. A, close-up view of the head of a juvenile Chilabothrus schwartzi. Photo by Joseph P. Burgess.
B, in-situ photo of a juvenile C. schwartzi as discovered. Photo by Alberto R. Puente-Rolón.

R. Graham Reynolds, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón, Joseph P. Burgess and Brian O. Baker. 2018. Rediscovery and a Redescription of the Crooked-Acklins Boa, Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975), Comb. Nov. Breviora. 558; 1-16. DOI: 10.3099/MCZ46.1

twitter.com/CaribbeanBoas/status/971853453923364865

Sunday, September 11, 2016

[Paleontology • 2016] Fossil Snake, Palaeopython fischeri, Preserving Three Trophic Levels and Evidence for An Ontogenetic Dietary Shift

Abstract

We report a fossil snake from the middle Eocene (48 Ma) Messel Pit, in whose stomach is a lizard, in whose stomach is an insect. This is the second known vertebrate fossil containing direct evidence of three trophic levels. The snake is identified as a juvenile of Palaeopython fischeri on the basis of new characters of the skull; the lizard is identified as Geiseltaliellus maarius, a stem-basilisk; and the insect, despite preserved structural colouration, could not be identified more precisely. G. maarius is thought to have been an arboreal species, but like its extant relatives may have foraged occasionally on the ground. Another, larger specimen of G. maarius preserves plant remains in the digestive tract, suggesting that omnivory in this species may have been common in larger individuals, as in extant Basiliscus and Polychrus. A general picture of the trophic ecology of P. fischeri is not yet possible, although the presence of a lizard in the stomach of a juvenile individual suggests that this snake could have undergone a dietary shift, as in many extant boines.

Keywords: Messel, Middle Eocene, Palaeopython fischeri, Geiseltaliellus maarius, Gut contents, Food chain

Fig. 1 SMF ME 11332a, comprising a juvenile specimen of the snake Palaeopython fischeri and its prey. Arrow points to the tip of the snout of the lizard inside the snake

Conclusions

In conjunction with dietary data on extant basilisks (Corytophaninae) and phylogenetic position, the consumption of plant matter by larger individuals of G. maarius, an early stem relative of Corytophaninae (Smith 2009), suggests that this propensity might be primitive for Corytophaninae or Corytophaninae + (Polychrus + Anolis) as a whole. This interpretation would be strengthened if Conrad’s (2015) view of the relationships of Geiseltaliellus is correct. Available data suggest dietary shift from insectory to omnivory in G. maarius.

Similarly, in conjunction with the presence of a crocodile in the large boid specimen from Messel studied by Greene (1983), the presence of an arboreal lizard in the alimentary canal of a juvenile individual of P. fischeri indicates that this dietary preference during juvenile stages and perhaps an ontogenetic dietary shift was present in boid snakes since the middle Eocene.

Krister T. Smith and Agustín Scanferla. 2016. Fossil Snake Preserving Three Trophic Levels and Evidence for An Ontogenetic Dietary Shift. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. DOI: 10.1007/s12549-016-0244-1

Amazing ‘Nesting Doll’ Fossil Reveals Bug in Lizard in Snake https://t.co/Do3D4ggFdl via @NatGeo A Messel Turducken!!

Thursday, May 26, 2016

[Herpetology • 2016] Chilabothrus argentum • Discovery of A Remarkable New Boa from the Conception Island Bank, Bahamas

Chilabothrus argentum

Reynolds, Puente-Rolón, Geneva, Aviles-Rodriguez & Herrmann. 2016
DOI: 10.3099/brvo-549-00-1-19.1

Abstract

The Bahamas Archipelago is currently known to support three of the 11 recognized species of West Indian boas (genus Chilabothrus) on the Little Bahama Bank, Great Bahama Bank, and four of the southern Bahamas banks. Here we report the discovery of a new species occurring on the Conception Island Bank, located 25 km ENE of Long Island and the Great Bahamas Bank. We describe Chilabothrus argentum sp. nov. (Conception Bank Silver Boa) on the basis of morphometric and genetic data obtained from six individuals. This new boa has a greatly reduced coloration relative to other Bahamian boas, is highly arboreal, and is 3.3% (pairwise) divergent from other West Indian boas in a mitochondrially encoded protein. We estimated a mitochondrial coalescent time of 2.7 million years for this species, and phylogenetic analysis suggests that it is sister to the C. strigilatus/C. striatus/C. exsul clade. The existence of this new boa provides greater resolution of the historical biogeography of the West Indian boas in the Bahamas Archipelago, further supporting multiple colonization of this region from Hispaniola as well as speciation and divergence events dating to the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene. We additionally discuss conservation implications and concerns for this new boa, which we have assessed as being critically endangered on the basis of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List criteria and hence find it to be one of the most endangered boid snakes globally.

Keywords: Boidae, Caribbean, Chilabothrus, mtDNA, phylogenetics, systematics

The Conception Bank silver boa (Chilabothrus argentum) is named for its color and the fact it was first found on a silver palm tree.

R. Graham Reynolds, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón, Anthony J. Geneva, Kevin J. Aviles-Rodriguez and Nicholas C. Herrmann. 2016. Discovery of A Remarkable New Boa from the Conception Island Bank, Bahamas. Breviora. 549; 1-19. DOI: 10.3099/brvo-549-00-1-19.1

UNC Asheville Biology professor discovers new species of snake
http://mountainx.com/blogwire/unc-asheville-biology-professor-discovers-new-species-of-snake

New Species of Silver Snake Is Extremely Endangered http://on.natgeo.com/1TDuiao via @NatGeo

Reynolds, R. G., M. L. Niemiller, S. B. Hedges, A. Dornburg, A. R. Puente-Rolón, and L. J. Revell. 2013. Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of West Indian boid snakes (Chilabothrus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 68: 461–470. http://faculty.umb.edu/liam.revell/pdfs/Reynolds_etal_2013.MPE.pdf