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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examines the distribution, morphology and natural history of Caaetebioa amarali in Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Researchers found that C. amarali is poorly represented in herpetological collections due to apparent rarity in nature or undersampling of its secretive habitat. It states that Hemidactylus mabouia is frequently associated with human habitations and well-known for utilizing areas around artificial light sources as hunting grounds. It suggests that C. amarali might be active in forage and twilight in arboreal environment.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Atractus is described from Serra de Baturité, an Atlantic Forest enclave in the semiarid Caatinga of the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody, long loreal, two postoculars, seven upper and lower labials, first four infralabials in contact with chinshields, seven maxillary teeth, moderate body and tall sizes, slightly bilobed and semicapitate hemipenis with lateral-tip projections, light dorsal color pattern uniformly scattered with small dark brown dots, and ventral color pattern uniformly creamish white. The new species shares most of the external morphology and hemipenis characters with A. pantoslictus, differing from this taxon by general color pattern and number of subcaudal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Leptotyphlops dulcis group is described from the central Brazilian Cerrado, which is diagnosed by rostral shape, general colour pattern, and number of middorsal and subcaudal scales. This taxon has been commonly misidentified as L. koppesi in some Brazilian collections and by some authors. Leptotyphlops koppesi was described from the municipality of Terenos, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, based on a single specimen. Since its original description, only three subsequent records appear in the literature reporting additional specimens of L. koppesi. We redescrib the holotype of Leptotyphlops koppesi, defining its geographic range and diagnose this from all species of L. dulcis group. Data on morphometric and meristic variation are reported for the new species and L. koppesi as well. Comparisons are made between the new species and all other South American species of the L. dulcis group. The hemipenis of the new species has a narrow basal portion and a series of lateral flounces. This general hemipenial morphology is unique among Neotropical leptotyphlopids, otherwise known only from Atlantic Rainforest species L. salgueiroi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of highways is responsible for access to previously protected areas, resulting in changes in landscape and dynamics of the animal populations that live in these areas. These enterprises are the major responsible for the mortality of wild animals, surpassing hunting and even the trafficking of animals. The objective of this study was to make a list that reflects the diversity of amphibians and reptile’s road-killed along the BR-040, a highway that crosses the threaten lowland Atlantic Forest in Southeastern region of Brazil, including the use of microhabitats, lifestyle, activity pattern, reproductive cycles, and possible rare or endangered species. The study area consists of 180,4 km of highways. Monitoring began in 2006 and continues to the present day. A total of 1,410 individuals from 60 species were recorded in this study. The reptiles were more frequent in number of individuals and species. The commonest species recorded were Crotalus durissus and Dipsas mikanii. We have registered a single endangered species: Ranacephala hogei. The highest rates of road-kill were recorded during the wet season. Road-kills of fauna is a major threat to species, studies are of great importance to define plans that seek to mitigate the effects generated by these enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of specimens of an unidentified species of the genus Lygodactylus from Fernando de Noronha Island were found in the herpetological collections of the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). No species of this genus were known to occur in the archipelago. A review of the historical reports regarding the herpetofauna of the island failed to provide evidence regarding the presence of the species in the last centuries. Morphological comparisons with the two other species of the genus occurring in South America, L. klugei and L. wetzeli, allowed us to confidently confirm that the Fernando de Noronha population belonged to a putatively new species. Here we describe this population as a new species and discuss its possible extinction causes in the archipelago. We also debate the importance of historical natural history collections to the study of biodiversity.

Atractus badius has a long and controversial nomenclatural history due to both its antiquity and the brevity of its original description. This species was described based on two syntypes from Java. Later, a lectotype was designated and the distribution range restricted to the Guiana Shield. Although this species has been repeatedly recorded throughout Amazonia and the Andes, these records have been erroneously assigned to A. badius because of a considerable level of confusion in the literature. We found 13 additional specimens of this poorly known snake, expanding our knowledge on its morphological variability, phylogenetic relationships and distribution. In this paper, we report new localities and data on meristic, morphometric, coloration, scales micro-ornamentation, osteology and hemipenial morphology to A. badius. We also determine the phylogenetic position of A. badius as nested in a composite Guiana Shield clade. In addition, we discuss recent advances on the systematics of Atractus and comment on some 'new arrangements' with respect to previously recognized species groups and available morphological evidence. Finally, we highlight the importance of accurate voucher identification before promoting taxonomic changes or implementing nomenclatural acts derived from new phylogenetic hypotheses, and notably propose the synonymy of the recently described A. pyroni with A. roulei.

As currently understood Atractus latifrons is widely distributed in South America, occurring from Suriname to the east of the Andes in Bolivia. Throughout this widespread distribution, at least three distinct color patterns were previously reported in the literature. Here, we test whether quantitative variation and qualitative distribution of morphological characters are correlated with any color pattern displayed by the species along its range. We recognize three aposematic color patterns (bicolor in monads, tricolor in dyads, and tricolor in tetrads) for A. latifrons. We found no obvious correspondence between these patterns and any character systems analyzed herein. Additionally, we redescribe the holotype of A. latifrons and report on morphological variability (meristics, morphometrics, color patterns, and hemipenis) and geographical distribution (extending its distribution to the state Roraima, Brazil) of the species.

Atractus caxiuana was recently described based on three specimens (two males and one female) from the Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, municipality of Melgaço, state of Pará, in the eastern portion of the Brazilian Amazon. Apart from the type series, no additional samples are known for the species. In this study, we report new specimens of A. caxiuana, providing new morphological data (meristic, morphometric, pholidosis, colour pattern, and hemipenis) and localities. We relate the variability displayed by the characters analyzed to sexual dimorphism, geographic variation, and ontogeny. Additionally, we provide detailed comparisons with A. collaris and putative sister species, and propose a new species group to accommodate this distinct and possible monophyletic assemblage.