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Atractus discovery ARTEAGA, QUEZADA, VIEIRA & GUAYASAMIN, 2022

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Higher TaxaColubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Discovery Ground Snake.
Spanish: Culebra tierrera de Discovery 
SynonymAtractus discovery ARTEAGA, QUEZEDA, VIEIRA & GUAYASAMIN 2022: 182 
DistributionEcuador

Type locality: at Amaluza, Azuay province, Ecuador (S2.61582, W78.56537; 2002 m).  
Reproduction 
TypesHolotype. ZSFQ 4937 (Figs 3, 4), adult male collected by Alejandro Arteaga and Amanda Quezada. Paratypes. ZSFQ 4936 (Fig 5d), adult female collected by Alejandro Arteaga and Amanda Quezada at the type locality. MZUA.Re.466, adult female collected on 16 November 2018 at Campamento Arenales, Morona Santiago province, Ecuador (S2.59253, W78.56507; 2057 m). 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Atractus discovery is placed in the genus Atractus, as diagnosed by Savage (1960), based on phylogenetic evidence. The species is diagnosed based on the following combination of characters: (1) 17/17/17 smooth dorsals; (2) one postocular; (3) loreal 2.5–3 × longer than high; (4) temporals 1+2; (5) eight supralabials, fourth and fifth contacting orbit; (6) seven infralabials, first four contacting chinshields; (7) six or seven maxillary teeth; (8) one row of gular scales; (9) three preventrals; (10) 168 ventrals in the male holotype and 170–172 ventrals in females; (11) 27 subcaudals in the male holotype and 17–18 subcaudals in females; (12) dorsal ground color light brown with faint stippling of a darker shade; (13) venter yellow with a brown ventral stripe; (14) 284 mm SVL in the male holotype and 308–328 mm SVL in females; (15) 28 mm TL in the male holotype and 19–24 mm TL in females (Arteaga et al. 2022).


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CommentDistribution: see map in Arteaga et al. 2022: 184 (Fig. 2) 
EtymologyThe specific epithet discovery is used as a noun in apposition and honors ‘The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grants’ (https://www.explorers.org/ grants) initiative, a program seeking to foster scientific understanding for the betterment of humanity and all life on Earth and beyond. The grant program supports researchers and explorers from around the world in their quest to mitigate climate change, prevent the extinction of species and cultures, and ensure the health of the Earth and its inhabitants. ‘The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grants’ program funded the expedition that resulted in the discovery of this new species of snake. 
References
  • Arteaga A, Quezada A, Vieira J, Guayasamin JM 2022. Leaving no stone unturned: three additional new species of Atractus ground snakes (Serpentes, Colubridae) from Ecuador discovered using a biogeographical approach. ZooKeys 1121: 175–210 - get paper here
  • Kwet, A. 2023. Liste der im Jahr 2022 neu beschriebenen Reptilien. Elaphe 2023 (3): 48-73
 
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