Atractus iridescens PERACCA, 1896
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Iridescent Ground Snake |
| Synonym | Atractus iridescens PERACCA 1896 Atractus iridescens — PETERS et al. 1970: 30 Atractus iridescens — PASSOS et al. 2009 Atractus iridescens — WALLACH et al. 2014: 74 |
| Distribution | Colombia, Ecuador Type locality: South America |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MRSN (= MSNTO) R1830 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Atractus iridescens is distinguished from all congeners by combination of the following characters: (1) 17/17/17 smooth dorsal scale rows; (2) two postoculars; (3) loreal long; (4) temporals 1+2; (5) seven supralabials, third and fourth contacting orbit; (6) seven infralabials, first three or four contacting chinshields; (7) six or seven maxillary teeth; (8) generally four gular scale rows; (9) three preventrals; (10) 135–144 ventrals in females, 135–150 in males; (11) 25–37 subcaudals in females, 33–38 in males; (12) dorsum reddish brown scattered with small and irregular dark blotches; (13) venter beige with a median line comprised of small black dots; (14) moderate body size, single subadult female with 170 mm SVL, males reaching 353 mm SVL; (15) long tail in females (16.4–17.6% SVL) and males (14.2–18.9% SVL); (16) hemipenis moderately bilobed, slightly semicapitate, and non-calyculate [from PASSOS et al. 2009]. |
| Comment | Species group: Arteaga et al. 2017 defined the iridescens species group as derived from a molecular phylogeny, to contain Atractus cerberus sp. n., A. dunni, A. echidna, A. esepe sp. n., A. iridescens, A. microrhynchus and A. occidentalis. |
| Etymology | Named after Greek iridos (ἴριδος), rainbow + Latin -escens, participial ending denoting beginning of, becoming, incipiency, nascency. [“...Le parti superiori presenziano dappertutto degli splendidi ed intensi riflessi violacei-iridescenti... »]. (from Esteban Lavilla, pers. comm., May 2024) |
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