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Campos PF, Oliveira L, Grazziotin F, Oliveira UC, Zaher H, Junqueira-de-Azevedo IL. Transcriptomic analysis of snake infralabial glands highlights a plasticity in the site of expression of venom genes. Toxicon 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.10.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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de Sá RO, Tonini JFR, Huss H, Long A, Cuddy T, Forlani MC, Peloso PLV, Zaher H, Haddad CFB. Corrigendum to: "Multiple connections between Amazonia and Atlantic Forest shaped the phylogenetic and morphological diversity of Chiasmocleis Mehely, 1904 (Anura: Microhylidae: Gastrophryninae)" [Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Volume 130, January 2019, Pages 198-210]. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 132:321. [PMID: 30686403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Ribeiro SÍ, Sá VÂ, Santos-Jr AP, Graboski R, Zaher H, Guedes AG, Andrade SP, Vaz-Silva W. A new species of the Amphisbaena (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado with a key for the two-pored species. Zootaxa 2019; 4550:301-320. [PMID: 30790847 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4550.3.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Here, we describe a new species of Amphisbaena with two precloacal pores from open Cerrado areas of the municipality of Arenópolis, in the Brazilian state of Goiás. The new species differs from other South American amphisbaenids by the folllowing combination of characters: (1) snout rounded in dorsal view and slightly convex in lateral view; (2) two precloacal pores; (3) 161-176 dorsal half-annuli; and (4) 12-15 tail annuli. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis retrieved a monophyletic Amphisbaena silvestrii group, with A. silvestrii positioned as the sister-group of a clade formed by Amphisbaena anaemariae and the new species described herein. Members of the A. silvestrii group including A. neglecta and A. crisae not added in our phylogenetic analysis are characterized by a relatively small body, two precloacal pores, body coloration with dark and light areas, and lack of specializations on the cephalic or caudal shields. We present a key for two-pored species of Amphisbaena.
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de Sá RO, Tonini JFR, van Huss H, Long A, Cuddy T, Forlani MC, Peloso PL, Zaher H, Haddad CF. Multiple connections between Amazonia and Atlantic Forest shaped the phylogenetic and morphological diversity of Chiasmocleis Mehely, 1904 (Anura: Microhylidae: Gastrophryninae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 130:198-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Graboski R, Arredondo JC, Grazziotin FG, da Silva AAA, Prudente ALC, Rodrigues MT, Bonatto SL, Zaher H. Molecular phylogeny and hemipenial diversity of South American species ofAmerotyphlops(Typhlopidae, Scolecophidia). ZOOL SCR 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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FranÇa DPF, Barbo FE, Silva-jÚnior NJ, Silva HLR, Zaher H. A new species of Apostolepis (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Elapomorphini) from the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Zootaxa 2018; 4521:438-552. [PMID: 30486142 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
We describe a new species of the genus Apostolepis found near São Salvador Hydroelectric Power Plant, municipality of São Salvador do Tocantins, in the central Cerrado ecoregion. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of eleven dorsolateral stripes, five infralabial scales and the lack of preoculars scales. The new species shares some external characteristics mainly with A. arenaria, A. gaboi and A. nelsonjorgei, with which it is compared.
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Zaher H, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Rodrigues MT, Graboski R, Machado FA, Altamirano-Benavides M, Bonatto SL, Grazziotin FG. Origin and hidden diversity within the poorly known Galápagos snake radiation (Serpentes: Dipsadidae). SYST BIODIVERS 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2018.1478910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Silva FM, Prudente ALDC, Machado FA, Santos MM, Zaher H, Hingst-Zaher E. Cover Image, Volume 56, Issue 3. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Guedes TB, Barbo FE, FranÇa D, Zaher H. Morphological variation of the rare psammophilous species Apostolepis gaboi (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Elapomorphini). Zootaxa 2018; 4418:469-480. [PMID: 30313571 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4418.5.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Apostolepis gaboi was described based only on the holotype found in the Queimadas, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Since its original description, no additional specimens were reported in literature and the species was considered to be rare and poorly known. Here, we provide a detailed description for the species based on the examination of the holotype and 34 additional specimens from the type locality and adjacent areas. Additional information is also provided on intraspecific color variation and hemipenial morphology.
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Costa H, Señaris J, Rojas-Runjaic F, Zaher H, Garcia P. Redescription of the rare South American worm lizard Amphisbaena rozei (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae). AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00003136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Amphisbaena rozeiis endemic to the Caura River basin in Venezuela, and known only from the holotype and one paratype. Its original description is very brief, lacking relevant information used by taxonomists today. Additionally,A. rozeiappears to be similar toA. spurrelli, a species from northwestern Colombia and southern Panama. We present a redescription ofA. rozeibased on the examination of the type specimens and compare this taxon to the other known South American amphisbaenids, especiallyA. spurrelli. We concludeA. rozeiis a valid name, and the species is diagnosed mainly by the presence of four precloacal pores, a lateral sulcus, 205–209 body annuli, 20 caudal annuli, 15–16 dorsal and 14 ventral segments on a midbody annulus, and dorsal surface of tail covered by strong tubercles.
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Silva FM, Prudente ALDC, Machado FA, Santos MM, Zaher H, Hingst-Zaher E. Aquatic adaptations in a Neotropical coral snake: A study of morphological convergence. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Forlani MC, Tonini JF, Cruz CA, Zaher H, de Sá RO. Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3005. [PMID: 28243531 PMCID: PMC5322761 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil are described. Two of these species occur in the northeastern states of Sergipe and Bahia, whereas the third species is found in the southeastern state of São Paulo. The new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the molecular data, as evidenced in the phylogeny, and by a combination of morphological characters including: size, foot webbing, dermal spines, and coloration patterns. Chiasmocleis species differ in osteological traits, therefore we also provide an osteological description of each new species and comparsions with data reported for other species in the genus.
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Oliveira LD, Guerra-Fuentes RA, Zaher H. Embryological evidence of a new type of seromucous labial gland in neotropical snail-eating snakes of the genus Sibynomorphus. ZOOL ANZ 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Wilson JA, Pol D, Carvalho AB, Zaher H. The skull of the titanosaurTapuiasaurus macedoi(Dinosauria: Sauropoda), a basal titanosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Zool J Linn Soc 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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40
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Barbo FE, Gasparini JL, Almeida AP, Zaher H, Grazziotin FG, Gusmão RB, Ferrarini JMG, Sawaya RJ. <p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>Fausto E. Barbo, João Luiz Gasparini, Antonio P. Almeida, Hussam Zaher, Felipe G. Grazziotin,Rodrigo B. Gusmão, José Mário G. Ferrarini & Ricardo J. Sawaya (2016)Another new and threatened species of lancehead genus <em>Bothrops</em> (Serpentes, Viperidae) from Ilha dos Franceses, Southeastern Brazil. <em>Zootaxa </em>4097 (4): 511–529.</strong></p>. Zootaxa 2016; 4105:500. [DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4105.5.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Barbo FE, Gasparini JL, Almeida AP, Zaher H, Grazziotin FG, Gusmão RB, Ferrarini JMG, Sawaya RJ. Another new and threatened species of lancehead genus Bothrops (Serpentes, Viperidae) from Ilha dos Franceses, Southeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 2016; 4097:511-29. [PMID: 27394563 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4097.4.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A new insular species of the genus Bothrops is described from Ilha dos Franceses, a small island off the coast of Espírito 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.
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Dal Vechio F, Teixeira Jr. M, Recoder RS, Rodrigues MT, Zaher H. The herpetofauna of Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões, state of Piauí, Brazil, with a regional species list from an ecotonal area of Cerrado and Caatinga. BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2016. [DOI: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2015-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Different physiognomies at Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões (PNSCo) were intensively sampled aiming to access the distribution pattern of its herpetofauna. Sixty six species were found in the park (47 reptiles and 19 amphibians); the rarefaction curve for lizards, although not fully stabilized in an asymptote, indicates that the sampling effort was enough to reveal most lizard species occurring in the area; and richness estimators recovered values close to observed. For amphibians, the curve shows a weak tendency to stabilization with richness estimators indicating that additional records could be done. Field work carried out at PNSCo has highlighted an unique herpetofauna: five new species were described and there are three candidates as new species. The regional list including Cerrados's units - Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins (EESGT) and Estação Ecológica de Uruçuí-Una (EEUU) with Caatinga's ones - PNSCo and Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara (PNSCa), shows a high herpetofaunal diversity (191 species) to the region. The cluster analysis recovered the Cerrados's units and Caatinga's ones, in separate clusters evidencing a species turnover between domains, despite its geographical proximity. Thus, although there is widespread fauna throughout region shared by the units, each reserve holds its own faunal identity, harboring a singular assemblage of species.
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Oliveira EF, Gehara M, São-Pedro VA, Chen X, Myers EA, Burbrink FT, Mesquita DO, Garda AA, Colli GR, Rodrigues MT, Arias FJ, Zaher H, Santos RML, Costa GC. Speciation with gene flow in whiptail lizards from a Neotropical xeric biome. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:5957-75. [PMID: 26502084 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the diversification of the Caatinga biota. The riverine barrier hypothesis (RBH) claims that the São Francisco River (SFR) is a major biogeographic barrier to gene flow. The Pleistocene climatic fluctuation hypothesis (PCH) states that gene flow, geographic genetic structure and demographic signatures on endemic Caatinga taxa were influenced by Quaternary climate fluctuation cycles. Herein, we analyse genetic diversity and structure, phylogeographic history, and diversification of a widespread Caatinga lizard (Cnemidophorus ocellifer) based on large geographical sampling for multiple loci to test the predictions derived from the RBH and PCH. We inferred two well-delimited lineages (Northeast and Southwest) that have diverged along the Cerrado-Caatinga border during the Mid-Late Miocene (6-14 Ma) despite the presence of gene flow. We reject both major hypotheses proposed to explain diversification in the Caatinga. Surprisingly, our results revealed a striking complex diversification pattern where the Northeast lineage originated as a founder effect from a few individuals located along the edge of the Southwest lineage that eventually expanded throughout the Caatinga. The Southwest lineage is more diverse, older and associated with the Cerrado-Caatinga boundaries. Finally, we suggest that C. ocellifer from the Caatinga is composed of two distinct species. Our data support speciation in the presence of gene flow and highlight the role of environmental gradients in the diversification process.
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Ribeiro S, Santos AP, Zaher H. A new species of Leposternon Wagler, 1824 (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) from northeastern Argentina. Zootaxa 2015; 4034:309-24. [PMID: 26624443 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4034.2.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A new species of Leposternon is described from the Humid Chaco biome in Argentina. The species is known only from its type locality, at El Bagual Ecological Reserve, a conservation unit located in the province of Formosa. The new species can be distinguished from all its congeners by the presence of rostral processes in the maxillae and nasals that contact each other on the facial portion of the skull. Additionally, we present a key for the species of Leposternon.
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Feitosa DT, Da Silva NJJ, Pires MG, Zaher H, Prudente ALDC. A new species of monadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus (Serpentes, Elapidae) from western Amazon. Zootaxa 2015; 3974:538-54. [PMID: 26249923 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3974.4.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
We described a new species of monadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus from the region of Tabatinga and Leticia, along the boundaries of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The new species can be distinguished from the other congeners by the combination of the following characters: absence of a pale nuchal collar; black cephalic-cap extending from rostral to firstdorsal scale and enclosing white tipped prefrontal scales; upper half of first to four supralabials and postoculars black; tricolor body coloration, with 27-31 black rings bordered by narrower white rings and 27-31 red rings; tail coloration similar to body, with alternating black rings bordered by irregular narrow white rings, red rings of the same width as the black rings; ventral scales 205-225; subcaudal scales 39-47.
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Graboski R, Pereira Filho GA, Da Silva AAA, Prudente ALDC, Zaher H. A new species of Amerotyphlops from Northeastern Brazil, with comments on distribution of related species. Zootaxa 2015; 3920:443-52. [PMID: 25781259 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3920.3.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
We describe a new species of Amerotyphlops from an upland forest enclave in the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from the other seven South American species of Amerotyphlops by the combination of the following characters: nasal suture incomplete; rostral scale oval and yellowish cream with some dark brown spots; four supralabial scales; three infralabial scales; rows of scales around the body 18/18/18; middorsal scales from 204 to 225; dorsum with twelve to thirteen rows of scales dark brown and belly with four to five rows of scales immaculate yellowish cream; caudal spine dark brown; subcaudal scales 8-10 in female and 11-13 in males; maximum total length 233 mm. The new species is morphologically similar to A. amoipira and A. paucisquamus, sharing 18/18/18 rows of scales around the body and a small overlap of counts of middorsal scales.
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Klaczko J, Montingelli GG, Zaher H. A combined morphological and molecular phylogeny of the genusChironius Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae). Zool J Linn Soc 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Pires MG, Da Silva NJ, Feitosa DT, Prudente ALDC, Filho GAP, Zaher H. A new species of triadal coral snake of the genus Micrurus Wagler, 1824 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 2014:569-84. [PMID: 24943187 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3811.4.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The genus Micrurus comprises 123 currently recognized taxa (species and subspecies) that are traditionally arranged in four species groups diagnosable mainly by color pattern characteristics. Here, we describe a new species of triadal coral snake from northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from other sympatric triadal congeners (M. lemniscatus carvalhoi, M. ibiboboca and M. brasiliensis) mainly by the entirely black parietals and by a suite of external characters and hemipenial morphology. The new species appears to be restricted to tropical ombrophilous lowland coastal forests of northeastern Brazil and all recently collected specimens are known to occur in small forest patches surrounded by periurban environment, which calls for an urgent evaluation on its conservation status.
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Zaher H, Arredondo JC, Valencia JH, Arbeláez E, Rodrigues MT, Altamirano-Benavides M. A new Andean species of Philodryas (Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae) from Ecuador. Zootaxa 2014; 3785:469-80. [PMID: 24872238 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
We describe a new species of Philodryas from the highlands of southern Ecuador. The new species is distinguished from all known species of Philodryas by a unique combination of coloration, scalation, and hemipenial characters. The new species resembles Philodryas simonsii in color pattern. However, they differ notoriously by their hemipenial morphology. The three other trans-Andean members of the genus (Philodryas simonsii, Philodryas chamissonis, and Philodryas tachymenoides), along with the new species, compose a probably monophyletic group that may be characterized by the presence of ungrooved postdiastemal teeth in the maxilla. Unlike most species of the genus Philodryas, the new species shows a restricted distribution, being apparently endemic to a small region of high-altitude (3150-4450m) grasslands in the southern Andes of Ecuador.
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Pol D, Nascimento PM, Carvalho AB, Riccomini C, Pires-Domingues RA, Zaher H. A new notosuchian from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil and the phylogeny of advanced notosuchians. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93105. [PMID: 24695105 PMCID: PMC3973723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A new notosuchian crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous Bauru Group found in the southeastern State of São Paulo (Brazil) is described here. The new taxon, Caipirasuchus stenognathus, is referred as a new species of the recently erected genus Caipirasuchus within the clade Sphagesauridae based on a phylogenetic analysis of basal mesoeucrocodylians. Caipirasuchus stenognathus is represented by an almost complete skull and lower jaw that has autapomorphic characters that distinguish it from other species of Sphagesauridae. These autapomorphies include: maxilla forming part of the orbital margin (absence of lacrimal-jugal contact), nasal with smooth depressions on the posterior region close to the contact with the maxilla and lacrimal, postorbital with posterior palpebral facet that extends posteriorly underneath the ear-flap groove, and a distinct anterior process of the medial flange of the retroarticular process. Additionally, the new taxon lacks autapomorphic features described in other sphagesaurids. The phylogenetic analysis results in a monophyletic genus Caipirasuchus, that is the sister group of a clade fomed by Sphagesaurus huenei, Caryonosuchus pricei, and Armadillosuchus arrudai. Sphagesaurids also include a basal clade formed by Adamantinasuchus navae and Yacarerani boliviensis. Other notosuchian taxa, such as Mariliasuchus amarali, Labidiosuchus amicum, Notosuchus terrestris, and Morrinhosuchus luziae are successive sister taxa of Sphagesauridae, forming a clade of advanced notosuchians that are restricted to the Late Cretaceous of South America. These results contrast with most previous phylogenetic hypotheses of the group that depicted some members of Sphagesauridae as more closely related to baurusuchids, or found Asian (e.g., Chimaerasuchus) or African (Malawisuchus, Pakasuchus) forms nested within advanced notosuchians that are, according to our analysis, endemic of the Late Cretaceous of South America.
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