Metlapilcoatlus olmec (PEREZ-HIGAREDA, SMITH, JULIA-ZERTUCHE, 1985)
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Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Olmecan Pit Viper S: Mano de Piedra |
Synonym | Porthidium olmec PEREZ-HIGAREDA, SMITH, JULIA-ZERTUCHE 1985 Atropoides olmec — WERMAN 1992 Atropoides olmec — LINER 1994 Bothrops olmec Porthidium olmec — WELCH 1994: 101 Atropoides olmec — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 241 Atropoides olmec — JADIN et al. 2009 Atropoides olmec — WALLACH et al. 2014: 85 Metlapilcoatlus olmec — CAMPBELL et al. 2019 |
Distribution | Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca, S Veracruz: Sierra de los Tuxtlas), Guatemala Type locality: crest of Cerro Egega, 1100 m elevation, municipality of Catemaco. |
Reproduction | viviparous |
Types | Holotype: CAR-EBTT (= IBH-LT = UNAM-LT) 1300. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis. A member of the nummifer superspecles of Porthidium, dlfferlng from all other members In a lower number of ventrals (103-115 vs. 120-155); and from all except P. picadoi by a hlgher number of anterIor scale rows (27-28 vs. 21-25) [PEREZ-HIGAREDA et al. 1985]. |
Comment | Venomous! A. olmec appears to be paraphyletic with respect to A. nummifer (CASTOE et al. 2003). The situation could be resolved by relegating olmect to subspecis status of A. nummifer or by raising some of the subspecies of nummifer to species status. However, CASTOE et al. 2003 refrained from suggesting any taxonomic rearrangements until additional data becomes available. Habitat: terrestrial |
Etymology | named after the ancient Olmec tribe of southern Veracruz. |
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