Atractus gigas MYERS & SCHARGEL, 2006
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Atractus gigas?
Atractus gigas
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Atractus gigas MYERS & SCHARGEL 2006 Atractus gigas — WALLACH et al. 2014: 73 Atractus gigas — ARTEAGA et al. 2022 |
| Distribution | Ecuador (Bosque Protector Rio Guajalito, Pichincha, Pacific versant of the Andes), 600-2300 m elevation. Type locality: Bosque Protector Río Guajalito, Pichincha, Ecuador (00° 14’ S, 78° 49’ W). |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: USFQ 194 (was FHGO, Fundación Herpetológica ‘‘Gustavo Orcé́s’’), an adult female, Collected by Vlastimil Zak in January 1990. |
| Diagnosis | DIAGNOSIS: Atractus gigas is distinguished from all species of Atractus by its unparalleled large size (> 1 m) and robust body (fig. 5). It differs from adult specimens of other large species (≥ 700 mm) in having pale dorsal crossbars (indistinct in the only known spec- imen) rather than a false coral snake pattern (A. obesus) or definite dark markings on a brown ground color (A. depressiocellus, A. major, A. torquatus). See Comparisons for further comments. Although the juvenile color pattern of Atractus gigas is unknown, young specimens conceivably might be confused with a few much smaller species of Atractus from the Pacific versant of Ecuador. Atractus dunni has fewer ventrals (125–136 in males, 138–150 in females) than A. gigas (170 in one female) and small dark spots dorsally (Cisneros-Heredia, 2005). Atractus multicinctus differs from A. gigas in having 5 or 6 maxillary teeth (8 in gigas) and a mostly white venter (mostly grayish brown in gigas). Atractus paucidens also differs from A. gigas in having 5 or 6 maxillary teeth, and it has 4 infralabials in contact with the genials (3 in gigas). Atractus multicinctus and A. paucidens are rather slender snakes, whereas A. gigas juveniles are expected to have relatively stout bodies. |
| Comment | Distribution: not in NE Peru fide Arteaga et al. 2022; reports from there appear to represent A. atlas. |
| Etymology | The species name gigas (a giant) is a Latin noun of Greek origin. (The gigantes or giants, born of Mother Earth, were enormous beings who had thick serpents for legs. They fought a losing battle with the gods and man.) |
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