Rediscovery of a rare and endangered Apostolepis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae): reassessing species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships using integrative approaches

Author(s)

Entiauspe-neto, Omar m. ; Giraudo, Alejandro r. ; Guedes, Thais b. ; Tiutenko, Arthur ; Borges-martins, Marcio ; Koch, Claudia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SALAMANDRA; v. 61, n. 1, p. 28-pg., 2025-02-15.

Abstract

Apostolepis is a diverse genus of small and fossorial dipsadid snakes, comprising 34 species ranging from Colombia southwards into Argentina. Most species are known from small series and very little is known regarding their phylogenetic relationships, morphological variation and diagnoses, which has caused a widespread historical taxonomic instability for the genus. Its southernmost representative, Apostolepis quirogai, is known solely from three specimens from the Mesopotamian and Uruguayan Savannas, with no new records in the last two decades. Its rarity, puzzling external morphology, and unique coloration pattern have significantly contributed to an uncertain systematic relationship for this species. We report the rediscovery of A. quirogai, providing an integrative species delimitation based on multivariate analyses, external morphology and molecular systematics, a redescription, an updated account of its morphological variation, geographic distribution, and a description of its cranial osteology. We provide a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the Elapomorphini, where we consistently recover A. quirogai nested within the Apostolepis assimilis species group, which is redefined and discussed here. We also provide a comparative osteological analysis of skull morphology for Apostolepis, providing insights into diagnostic characters and cranial evolution for the group. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/09428-2 - Evolution and Biogeography of the herpetofauna: patterns, process and implications for conservation in a scenario of environmental and climate changes
• Grantee: Thaís Barreto Guedes da Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 16/50127-5 - Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: scales of biodiversity: integrated studies of snake venom evolution and function across multiple levels of diversity
• Grantee: Inácio de Loiola Meirelles Junqueira de Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/12660-4 - Recovering, modernizing and expanding the collection of herpetology at Butantan Institute through integrative studies on systematics and evolution of neotropical snakes
• Grantee: Felipe Gobbi Grazziotin
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/13671-7 - Fieldwork assistance for specimen collection, venom and glands - focused in extreme southern Brazil
• Grantee: Omar Machado Entiauspe Neto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 21/07161-6 - Evolution and biogeography of the herpetofauna: patterns, process and implications for conservation in a scenario of environmental and climate changes
• Grantee: Thaís Barreto Guedes da Costa
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants