Another new and threatened species of lancehead genus Bothrops (Serpentes, Viperidae) from Ilha dos Franceses, Southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

Barbo, Fausto E. ^[1] ; Gasparini, Joao Luiz ^[2] ; Almeida, Antonio P. ^[3] ; Zaher, Hussam ^[1] ; Grazziotin, Felipe G. ^[1] ; Gusmao, Rodrigo B. ^[4] ; Ferrarini, Jose Mario G. ^[4] ; Sawaya, Ricardo J. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool, PB 42494, BR-04218970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Ecol & Oceanog, Vitoria 29075910, Espirito Santo - Spain

^[3] ICMBIO, Reserva Biol Comboios, PB 105, BR-29900970 Linhares, Espirito Santo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Cencias Biol, BR-09972270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 4097, n. 4, p. 511-529, APR 4 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

A new insular species of the genus Bothrops is described from Ilha dos Franceses, a small island off the coast of Espirito Santo State, in southeastern Brazil. The new species differs from mainland populations of B. jararaca mainly by its small size, relative longer tail, relative smaller head length, and relative larger eyes. The new species is distinguished from B. alcatraz, B. insularis and B. otavioi by the higher number of ventral and subcaudal scales, relative longer tail and smaller head. The new species is highly abundant on the island, being nocturnal, semiarboreal, and feeding on small lizards and centipeds. Due its unique and restricted area of occurrence, declining quality of habitat, and constant use of the island for tourism, the new species may be considered as critically endangered. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/50206-9 - Origin and evolution of snakes and their diversification in the Neotropics: a multidisciplinary approach
• Grantee: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Support type: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants