New Species of Apostolepis (Squamata: Colubridae) from the Gran Chaco in Southern Bolivia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2001

Description

A new species of Apostolepis is described from Izozog in the Gran Chaco of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It and Apostolepis dorbignyi are the only species known from the Gran Chaco morphoclimatic domain. The new species is one of the most distinctive members of the genus and can be easily distinguished from all congeners by a unique suite of characteristics. Only the third supralabial enters the orbit, and this characteristic is unknown in other elapomorphines. The new species and A. vittata share several apomorphic characters, and these species are hypothesized to be each other's closest relative.

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