Dipsas vagrans (DUNN, 1923)
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Dipsas vagrans
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Dunn's Tree Snake |
| Synonym | Pseudopareas vagrans DUNN 1923: 187 Pseudopareas vagrans — MARX 1958 Sibynomorphus vagrans — PETERS 1960: 161 Sibynomorphus vagrans — CADLE 2007: 233 Sibynomorphus vagrans — WALLACH et al. 2014: 671 Dipsas vagrans — ARTEAGA et al. 2018 |
| Distribution | Peru (Cajamarca) Type locality: Bellavista, Peru |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MCZ 17284, adult female |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Sibynomorphus vagrans is a brownish or grayish snake with a variable number (5–10) of broad dark crossbands anteriorly, much wider than the interspaces, and a posterior pattern consisting of an obscure network-like pattern, irregular flecks, or narrow, somewhat indistinct, irregular crossbands (much narrower than interspaces) (Fig. 28). The venter is unmarked (most specimens) or has a few dark spots that never form dense arrays. This species has a relatively low number of ventrals (149–155 in males, 154–159 in females) and relatively high number of subcaudals (80–87 in males, 72–79 in females). The top of the head is ornately patterned and the nape has a narrow pale collar with a characteristic obtuse angular shape. Sibynomorphus vagrans is distinguished from all other species of the genus in northern South America by its combination of relatively low ventral counts and high subcaudal counts (Table 1). Sibynomorphus vagus is similar to S. vagrans in ventral counts but lacks well-defined crossbands anteriorly (and they are narrower than interspaces when present), lacks a pale nape collar, and has fewer subcaudals (60–65 in males, 56–60 in females). In addition, S. vagrans has a longer tail on average (25–29% of total length in males, 23–26% of total length in females) than S. vagus (23–24% in males, 20–21% in females). Distinct broad anterior crossbands similar to those of S. vagrans are found only in S. oligozonatus and S. williamsi. Sibynomorphus oligozonatus differs from S. vagrans in having a foreshortened snout (compare Fig. 4 and Figs. 30, 31), fewer subcaudals, and fewer supralabials (6–7 vs. 8–9 in S. vagrans). Sibynomorphus williamsi differs from S. vagrans in having 6 supralabials (3–4 touching the eye) compared with 8 (usually) with 4–5 touching the eye in S. vagrans, higher ventral counts (173–188), lower subcaudal counts (56–73), and in S. williamsi, the dorsal crossbands are distinct virtually the entire length of the body (sometimes dorsal saddles and alternating lateral blotches posteriorly). Sibynomorphus oneilli differs from S. vagrans in having more ventrals (≥152 in males, ≥160 in females), fewer subcaudals (62–77 in males, 57–64 in females), a shorter tail (22–26% of total length in males, 20–22% in females), a less ornately patterned head, narrower anterior dorsal crossbands, and a venter heavily marked with bold black spots. Sibynomorphus petersi differs from S. vagrans in having more ventrals (>160), a primarily brown dorsum with narrower crossbands (when present), interspaces brown (compared with whitish in S. vagrans), and a venter densely patterned with dark brown markings. (Cadle 2007) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 5568 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Sibynomorphus vagrans is known only from the type series (n=27) collected by G. K. Noble, fide Cadle 2007. Diet: primarily molluscs (T. de Lema, pers. comm., 16 Oct 2015). Distribution: See map in Cadle 2007: 229 (Fig. 25) Habitat: fully arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018). |
| Etymology | Dunn (1923: 187) did not elaborate on the meaning of his species epithet, saying only that Sibynomorphus vagrans was ‘‘a species closely allied to [S. vagus] but quite distinct.’’ To reflect his supposition that the two species were closely related, Dunn might have used the name vagrans (originally of Anglo-French and Germanic origin) because it is a latinized cognate associated with the Latin word vagus (meaning wandering or roaming or indefinite; from vagor, to wander). However, the color pattern of S. vagrans bears little resemblance to that of S. vagus. |
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