Dendrophidion graciliverpa CADLE, 2012
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Higher Taxa | Colubridae, Colubrinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | |
Synonym | Dendrophidion graciliverpa CADLE 2012: 296 Drymobius dendrophis — BOULENGER 1894: 16 (part) Dendrophidion percarinatum — DUNN 1944: 477 (part) Dendrophidion graciliverpa — WALLACH et al. 2014: 225 |
Distribution | Ecuador Type locality: 3 km E Pasaje, 30 m elevation, El Oro province, Ecuador [03°20’S, 79°49’W]. |
Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
Types | Holotype: AMNH 110584 (Figs. 20, 21, 23, 26A in Cadle 2012). |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Dendrophidion graciliverpa is characterized by (1) dorsocaudal reduction from 8 to 6 occurring anterior to subcaudal 28 (range, 7–27); (2) divided anal plate; (3) subcaudal counts >=120 in males and females; (4) subadults with narrow pale bands (<1 dorsal scale width on the neck) or transverse rows of ocelli; adults retain bands or become predominantly brown or green (pale bands usually separated by fewer than three dorsal scale rows on the neck; total number of pale bands on the body >55); (5) ventrals immaculate or with narrow transverse dark lines across the anterior border of each ventral plate; (6) in life, head greenish brown to green and body brownish, olive, or grayish; and (7) everted hemipenis of the ‘‘gracile’’ morphology, with an exceptionally long, slender hemipenial body proximal to an expanded distal portion, which bears spines, calyces, and other apical ornamentation (retracted hemipenis nearly always to subcaudal 10 or greater); total number of enlarged spines on hemipenis >80 (81, 84, and 116 in three studied organs). Additional details (2414 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
Comment | Distribution: (Fig. 27 in Cadle 2012) Dendrophidion graciliverpa occurs in the lowlands of western Ecuador from Esmeraldas and Imbabura provinces in the north to Loja province in the south. The upper elevational record, 1,750 m, is based on a juvenile male and female from Cotopaxi province (MCZ 163968–69, referred specimens). These specimens have typical graciliverpa banding patterns, and the retracted hemipenis of the male extends to the proximal suture of subcaudal 15 (potential confusion with D. brunneum is possible in this area, but gracile hemipenial morphology is decisive for identification). Habitat: partly arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018). |
Etymology | The specific name is a feminine noun in apposition derived from the Latin words gracilis (slender or gracile) + verpa (penis). The name refers to the long, slender hemipenis of this species in comparison specifically to Dendrophidion percarinatum, with which it has been confused, but also more generally to hemipenes of most other species of Dendrophidion. |
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