Oxybelis transandinus TORRES-CARVAJAL, MEJÍA-GUERRERO & TERÁN, 2021
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Oxybelis transandinus
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae, Colubrinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Oxybelis transandinus TORRES-CARVAJAL, MEJÍA-GUERRERO & TERÁN 2021 |
| Distribution | Ecuador (Guayas) Type locality: Ecuador, Guayas, Bosqueira Protected Forest (2.009ºS, 79.979ºW), 57 m elevation |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: QCAZ 17097, adult male collected by A. Achig on 3 October 2018 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Among species of the Oxybelis aeneus complex (Jadin et al. 2020, 2021), O. transandinus can be distinguished from O. acuminatus, O. aeneus, and O. inkaterra (character states in parentheses) by having the second pair of chin shields in contact with each other for most of their length (mostly separated) and a distinct midventral stripe on first quarter of venter (absent). It further differs from O. acuminatus in having usually four infralabials (see Variation below) in contact with anterior chin shields (five) and second supralabial not in contact with preocular (in contact); from O. aeneus in having supraoculars longer than prefrontals (supraoculars equal in length or slightly longer than prefrontals), ventrals in females 176–187, mean = 182.2 ± 3.74 SD (184–203, mean = 192.1 ± 9.54 SD), subcaudals in females 147–168, mean = 160 ± 7.96 SD (146–184, mean = 168.2 ± 19.08 SD), ventrals in males 178–190, mean = 183 ± 5.09 (179–197, mean = 188.8 ± 9.00 SD); from O. inkaterra in having supraoculars longer than prefrontals (equal in length), immaculate cream chin (heavily mottled), and in lacking eyespot markings on the posterior ventral surface of the body and tail (eyespot markings present). O. transandinus differs from O. koehleri in having a conspicuous midventral stripe (variable); last supralabial longer than first temporal (similar in length); immaculate cream chin in both sexes (medial red-brown stripe in females); ventrals 176–187 in females, mean = 182.2 ± 3.74 SD (184–191, mean = 187.57 ± 2.26 SD); subcaudals in females 147–168, mean = 160 ± 7.96 SD (176–189, mean = 184.8 ± 5.91 SD); from O. microphthalmus in having the preocular shorter than eye diameter (eye diameter shorter that preocular); ventrals 178–190 in males, mean = 183 ± 5.1 SD (184–202, mean = 192 ± 5.92 SD), 176–187 in females, mean = 182.2 ± 3.74 SD (184–204, mean = 193.58 ± 5.2 SD); subcaudals 147–168 in females, mean = 160 ± 7.96 SD (170–183, mean = 177.2 ± 4.22 SD); from O. potosiensis in having usually three supralabials in contact with orbit (two); conspicuous midventral stripe (variable); TL/SVL 0.59–0.66, mean = 0.62 ± 0.03 in females (0.7); ventrals 176–187 in females, mean = 182.2 ± 3.74 SD (186–195, mean = 191.67 ± 4.03 SD); from O. rutherfordi in having usually three supralabials in contact with orbit (two); usually nine supralabials (eight); posterior border of internasal extending beyond posterior border of supralabial I (posterior borders of both scales nearly aligned); subcaudals 147–168 in females, mean = 160 ± 7.96 SD (162–171, mean = 166.33 ± 3.25 SD); and from O. vittatus in having usually nine supralabials (eight); posterior border of internasal extending beyond posterior border of supralabial I (posterior borders of both scales nearly aligned); slightly constricted snout (tapered and terminally rounded); ventrals 176–187 in females, mean = 182.2 ± 3.74 SD (182–193, mean = 186.83 ± 4.02 SD); TL/SVL in males 0.65–0.73, mean = 0.67 ± 0.04 SD (0.73–0.76, mean = 0.74 ± 0.01 SD) and 0.59–0.66, mean = 0.62 ± 0.03 SD in females (0.62–0.84, mean = 0.74 ± 0.01 SD). (TORRES et al. 2021) |
| Comment | Behavior: Active during the day, either on the ground or 1.5 m above it; sleeping at night on leaves or branches up to 4 m above the ground. When disturbed, this species exhibits its dark purple mouth mucosa with a gaping mouth defensive behavior. (Torres-Carvajal et al. 2022). |
| Etymology | The specific epithet transandinus is an adjective in the nominative singular and derives from the Latin words trans (=beyond) and andinus (=Andean). Oxybelis transandinus is the only South American species within the Oxybelis aeneus complex known to occur west of the Andes (i.e. trans-Andean). |
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