Atractus spinalis PASSOS, TEIXEIRA Jr, RECODER, DE SENA, DAL VECHIO, ARRUDA-PINTO, MENDONÇA, CASSIMIRO & RODRIGUES, 2013
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Atractus spinalis
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Atractus spinalis PASSOS, TEIXEIRA Jr, RECODER, DE SENA, DAL VECHIO, ARRUDA-PINTO, MENDONÇA, CASSIMIRO & RODRIGUES 2013 Atractus spinalis — NOGUEIRA et al. 2019 |
| Distribution | SE Brazil (Minas Gerais) Type locality: Alto do Palácio (19°15’35.5”S, 43°31’55.2”W; 1357 m elevation), Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó, municipality of Morro do Pilar, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. |
| Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: MZUSP 20760, adult male, collected by M.T. Rodrigues and collaborators (all authors except the senior one) on March 26, 2011 (field number MTR 20280). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Atractus spinalis is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) 15-15-15 smooth dorsal scale rows; (2) two postoculars; (3) moderate loreal; (4) temporals 1+2; (5) seven supralabials, third and fourth contacting orbit; (6) seven infralabials, first four contacting chin shields; (7) usually nine maxillary teeth; (8) usually three gular scale rows; (9) three or four preventrals; (10) 149 ventrals in the single female, 136-142 in males; (11) 24 subcaudals in the female, 27-33 in males; (12) dorsum red, except for first dorsal scale rows that is red on its upper area, becoming lighter towards venter, occasionally forming conspicuous dorsolateral lines along body; (13) ventral ground color creamish white; (14) small body size, females (199 mm SVL) and males (268 mm maximum SVL); (15) moderate tail in the female (11.6%) and moderate to long in males (13.6-16.6% SVL); (16) hemipenis slightly bilobed, semicapitate, and semicalyculate. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The specific epithet “spinalis” is a Latin adjective derived from Spina, meaning the vertebrate backbone. The use of spina referring to backbone dates back to the Roman poet Virgil (70-19 before Christ). This name is herein used in reference to the Espinhaço Mountains Range (= Cadeia do Espinhaço), where the type series of Atractus spinalis was collected and the species appears to be endemic. |
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