Bothrops sazimai BARBO, GASPARINI, ALMEIDA, ZAHER, GRAZZIOTIN, GUSMÃO, FERRARINI & SAWAYA, 2016
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Bothrops sazimai
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Franceses island-Lancehead |
| Synonym | Bothrops sazimai BARBO, GASPARINI, ALMEIDA, ZAHER, GRAZZIOTIN, GUSMÃO, FERRARINI & SAWAYA 2016 Bothrops sazimai — NOGUEIRA et al. 2019 |
| Distribution | Brazil (Espírito Santo: Ilha dos Franceses) Type locality: Ilha dos Franceses (20°55'36"S, 40°45'15"W), municipality of Itapemirim, Itaoca beach, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: MZUSP 22228, An adult male, collected by Barbo et al. on May 14, 2013 (Figs. 2–3). Paratypes. Fourteen specimens: IBSP 86673 (female), IBSP 86674–75 (males), MBML 3319 (male with hemipenis prepared), MBML 3320–21 (females), MBML 3322 (male), MBML 3323 (female), MZUSP 22229 (male), MZUSP 22230 (female), MZUSP 22231 (male), MZUSP 22232 (female), ZUEC 3383 (male), ZUEC 3883, 3384 (female). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Bothrops sazimai is distinguished from other species of B. jararaca group by the following combination of characters: (1) larger eyes; (2) shorter and higher head; (3) slender body; (4) relative longer tail; (5) dorsum predominantly grayish and/or brownish; (6) venter creamish white, speckled in gray; (7) postorbital stripes with the same color of lateral saddles; (8) usually two postoculars; (9) 22–25 interictals; (10) 20–24 anterior dorsals; (11) 20–23 midbody dorsals; (12) 198–214 ventrals in females, 193–206 in males; (13) 54–65 subcaudals in females, 62–70 in males. Bothrops sazimai differs from the mainland populations of B. jararaca by its smaller adult size (SVL), relative longer tail (RTL), slender body, and larger eyes (Fig. 1; Table 1). The new species can be easily distinguished from the other three species of the B. jararaca group (B. alcatraz, B. insularis, and B. otavioi) by a higher number of ventrals and subcaudals (Table 1). B. sazimai differs from B. insularis by its grayish or brownish ground color pattern, smaller length of adults, relative smaller head, and relative smaller tail. The new species is also distinguished from B. alcatraz and B. otavioi, by its larger adult size, presence of conspicuous yellowish tail tip in juveniles, and additionally from the latter species by the presence of two postoculars and higher number of intersupraocular scales (Table 1). |
| Comment | Diet: lizards (Gymnodactylus darwinii and Hemidactylus mabouia, n = 14), centipedes Scolopendromorpha (n = 6), and a conspecific snake (n = 1). Distribution: see map in Barbo et al. 2022: 149 (Fig. 1). |
| Etymology | The specific epithet sazimai represents a patronymic name dedicated to the friend and professor Ivan Sazima, for his invaluable contribution to the study of natural history and conservation of Brazilian fauna, and for his inspiring and pioneering field studies on Bothrops jararaca. Professor Ivan advised and mentored various generations of students and researchers that presently work with diverse systems and organisms, including snakes, amphibians, fishes, mammals, birds, and plants. He published hundreds of scientific contributions, among articles, book chapters, and educational texts. |
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