Galvarinus chilensis (SCHLEGEL, 1837)
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Galvarinus chilensis?
Galvarinus chilensis
We have no photos, try to find some by Google images search: 
| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | Tachymenis chilensis chilensis (SCHLEGEL 1837) Tachymenis chilensis coronellina WERNER 1898 |
| Common Names | E: Chilean Slender Snake |
| Synonym | Coronella chilensis SCHLEGEL 1837: 70 Dipsas chilensis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1854: 1159 Tachymenis chilensis — GIRARD 1854: 226 Tachymenis chilensis chilensis — WALKER 1945: 28 Tachymenis peruviana assimilis (Jan) - DONOSO-BARROS 1966: 403 Tachymenis peruviana chilensis — PETERS & OREJAS-MIRANDA 1970: 291 Tachymenis chilensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 695 Galvarinus chilensis — TREVINE et al. 2022 Tachymenis chilensis coronellina WERNER 1898 Tachymenis peruviana var. coronellina WERNER 1898: 259 Tachymenis peruviana var. catenata WERNER 1898: 259 Tachymenis chilensis coronellina — RUIZ DE GAMBOA 2016 |
| Distribution | Chile (Antofagasta, Cachapoal, Talca), Argentina (Chubut, Neuquén, Río Negro) Type locality: Chile catenata: Type locality: Coquimbo Chile chilensis: C Chile (from Talca south to 44°) coronellina: C Chile (from Copiapo south to Talca) |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Syntypes: MNHN-RA 2475, MNHN-RA 6837, MNHN-RA 6837A, MNHN-RA 6838, MNHN-RA 6838A unlocated (two specimens 388 and 450 mm; Lesson and Garnot; present location unknown fide V. Wallach, pers. comm.) Holotype: NMW, cat. no. unknown, collected by Dr. L. Plate [coronellina] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus Galvarinus). Hemipenis with short lobes and predominantly deep papillate calyces on apex; capitulum with deep spinulate calyces extending into the body; six to nine body spines on the first row slightly enlarged; and sulcus spermaticus divided at the base of the capitulum (Figure S5, Trevine et al. 2022). Synapomorphies (genus Galvarinus). The distal portion of hemipenial body covered in calyces on the asulcate side; parallel position of anterior-lateral margins of parietal bone to the posterior margins of the frontal bone; conchal process of prefrontal bone surpasses half of the orbital lamina of prefrontal; maxillary process of palatine bone longer than larger (Trevine et al. 2022, incl. Appendices S4 and S5). Description (total N=124). Smooth dorsal scales in 19/19/15 (79%, N=93) or 19/19/17 rows (13%, N=14), one single specimen of G. tarmensis with 19/19/13; subcaudals 69−75 in males and 63−65 in females of G. attenuatus, 40−56 in males and 34−51 in females of G. chilensis, 53−55 in females and 58 in males of G. tarmensis; divided cloacal scale; apical pit present, usually more evident on the first third of the body; supralabials 8−10, except for G. chilensis (supralabials 7); preoculars 1 or 2, predominantly 2 in G. chilensis (85%, N=93); G. tarmensis has the smallest SVL and TL for the genus: SVL 321 mm for one male and SVL 243−310 mm for females, TL 114 mm for the male and 82−83 mm for females; SVL 371−524 mm, TL 105−183 mm in G. attenuatus and SVL 285−526 mm, TL 55−117 mm in G. chilensis; maxillary teeth 8−15 in G. attenuatus, and 4−7 in G. chilensis; dentary teeth 11−16 in in G. attenuatus, and 6−14 in G. chilensis. General body coloration usually dark grey or brown, frequently showing melanism. Head and body blotches variable, with specimens with an overall cryptic coloration, in a marbled dorsal pattern, composed by dorsal blotches on the body formed by several scales bordered in black (mostly on the neck area), and bordered in white through the rest of the body, also with two pairs of inconspicuous longitudinal ventral stripes in some specimens, evident on the first third of the body, and progressive darkening of the venter towards the tail (G. attenuatus) (Fig. S8); or species with dorsal longitudinal black stripes on the paravertebral scales, delineating a lighter (white or beige or light grey) longitudinal stripe on the vertebral row, with black or dark brown blotches (sometimes triangular shaped), on each ventral scale, forming a sometimes ill-defined longitudinal stripe, more evident on some areas of the body venter (G. chilensis) (Fig. S9); or species with an overall dark brown or black pattern of coloration (almost melanic), with venter of the body usually darkened towards the tail, with no visible blotches or spots (G. tarmensis). Characteristic postocular stripe present, with a black or brown stripe bordering the parietal scale, descending the supratemporal region to the quadrate. Labials with small black or dark brown blotches, usually with a more preeminent blotch under the eye. Distribution. Elevated regions of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru (Appendix S1), except for G. chilensis, which can reach coastal regions in Chile, and up to 1.500 m.a.s.l. in Chile and Argentina. (Trevine et al. 2022: Appendix 3). Diagnosis (species). A Tachymenis which resembles peruviana in general body proportions and consequently in scale counts, but resembles attentwta in penial characters. Its supralabials are normally 7(3-4). This form has been placed into a separate species complex for these reasons as has been pointed out in the introduction. This particular race differs from the other two in the chilensis complex primarily in having a dorsal color pattern that is distinctly lineate,yet the dark dorsal linesarequite narrow (not over 1 scale wide). T. c. chilensis also tends to have more , abdominals, caudals, and total ventrals than either assimilis or melanura (Walker 1945: 29). |
| Comment | Venomous! Diet: mostly frogs and lizards (Walker 1945: 48) Type species: Coronella chilensis SCHLEGEL 1837: 70 is the type species of the genus Galvarinus TREVINE et al. 2022. |
| Etymology | Named after the type locality. The generic epithet Galvarinus (noun, gender masculine) is derived from “Galvarino,” a famous Mapuche warrior who fought the invasion and attempt of servitude of the Mapuche people by the colonial Spaniards in Chile during the sixteenth century. The Mapuche are indigenous people from Chile and some parts of Argentina, who had most of their territory diminished by Spanish colonization. The name is in reference to the distribution of the genus type species Galvarinus chilensis, restricted to Chile and Argentina. |
| References |
|
| External links |