A New Species in the Geophis dubius Group (Squamata: Colubridae) from Northern Puebla, México (original) (raw)

Abstract

A new species of the colubrid genus Geophis from northern Puebla, Mexico, is described. The new species possesses most of the diagnostic characters of the G. dubius group but differs from all other species of Geophis by having the loreal shorter than the combined prenasal and postnasal length, one postocular scale, one supraocular scale, the fifth supralabial and parietal in contact, dorsal scales in 17 rows, dorsal scales smooth throughout the length of the body or, if keeled, not anteriorly to the posterior fourth of the body, 129-140 ventrals in females and 125-139 in males, 26-31 subcaudals in females and 34-39 in males, 159-170 ventrals plus subcaudals in females and 161-174 in males, 9 maxillary teeth, anterior tip of the maxilla toothless, an overall dark dorsum, a predominantly cream venter, and a short tail in males. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA sequences of the cytochrome b and tRNA Trn genes, including representatives of the new species, G. carinosus, G. dubius, and G. juarezi supported the distinctness of the new species.

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References (59)

  1. N , 97832.294
  2. W], 1345 m elevation; one [EBUAP 521] from 5.5 km SSW of Cuetzalan; one [MZFC 27253] from hillside in Xocoyolo, on road to Apulco River [19857 0 57.6 0 0 N, 97832 0 13.1 0 0 W];
  3. and one [EBUAP 1022] from La Loma del Chivo, on the road to Tacopix- acta [19858.410
  4. W], 1215 m elevation); four from the municipality of Tepango de Rodríguez (three [CNAR 6886- 6888] from Tepango de Rodríguez, and one [CNAR 6889] from 5 km S of Tepango de Rodríguez); one (KU 39642) from 16.09 km SW of Villa Jua ´rez (Xicotepec de Jua ´rez), and one (CNAR 8233) from 3 km N of Zacapoaxt- la, on road to Cuetzalan. Diagnosis.-Geophis turbidus differs from all of the species in the G. championi and G. semidoliatus groups, and from some species in the G. chalybeus (G. dugesi, G. nigrocinctus, and G. tarascae) and G. sieboldi (G. bellus, G. betaniensis, G. brachycephalus, G. damiani, G. hoffmanni, G. laticollaris, G. nigroalbus, G. petersii, G. russatus, G. ruthveni, G. sallei, G. talamancae, G. tectus, and G. zeledoni) groups, by having dorsals arranged in 17 rows (versus dorsals arranged in 15 rows in the aforementioned species); from all of the species in the G. latifrontalis group except for G. blanchardi, and all of the species in the G. omiltemanus group, by having the fifth supralabial and parietal in contact (versus fifth supralabial and parietal separated by one anterior temporal in the aforementioned species); and from some species in the G. dubius group (G. carinosus and G. juarezi) and the remaining species of the G. sieboldi group (G. dunni, G. nasalis, G. occabus, and G. sieboldi) by having dorsal scales smooth throughout the body or, if keeled, not anteriorly to the posterior 1/4 of the body (versus at least posterior half of the body keeled in the aforementioned species). Geophis turbidus differs from the remain- ing species in the G. chalybeus group (G. bicolor and G. chalybeus) as follows: from G. FIG.
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  48. N, 95814.178 0 W (MZFC 10552: GB KC917314). Geophis dubius: MEXICO: OAXACA: 2.6-3.1 km E La Cumbre, road to Yuvila, 16855 0 48 0 0 N, 96854 0 36 0 0 W (CNAR 6732);
  49. Sierra Monteflor, near Arroyo el Chorro (EBUAP 1966: GB KC917318);
  50. Xiacui, agroforestral area of the town (MZFC 13887); Cerro San Felipe, 17813 0 44 0 0 N, 96843 0 37 0 0 W (MZFC 16160, 16193);
  51. Road Santa María Guienagati-Lachidola, north slope of Cerro Las Flores, 16845 0 39.024 0 0 N, 95828 0 6.3114 0 0 W (MZFC 16547: GB KC917316);
  52. 4 km SE San Isidro Buenos Aires, 17856 0 4 0 0 N, 96851 0 52 0 0 W (MZFC 27256: GB KC917319); approximately 2 km from the deviation to San Martín Buenavista, coming from San Pedro Yolox, 17836 0 27.1 0 0 N, 96832 0 28.6 0 0 W (MZFC 27257);
  53. Ixtla ´n de Jua ´rez (MZFC 27258: GB KC917317). Geophis immaculatus: MEXICO: CHIAPAS: El Triun- fo (MZFC 27259); municipality of Motozintla de Mendo- za, 0.7 km S (by air) of Ejido Boquer ón, 15814 0 0 0 0 N, 92817 0 44 0 0 W (MZFC 27260). Geophis juarezi: MEXICO: OAXACA: municipality of
  54. Santiago Comaltepec, vicinity of Metates, Sierra de Jua ´rez, 17839 0 3 0 0 N, 96821 0 26 0 0 W (MZFC 2236: holotype);
  55. municipality of Santa María Alotepec, 2.39 km N of Santa María Alotepec, 1786 0 50.184 0 0 N, 95851 0 9.936 0 0 W (MZFC 27525: GB KC917315). Geophis latifrontalis: MEXICO: QUER ÉTARO: San Joaquín (RWB 7232: GB KC917322). Geophis occabus: MEXICO: GUERRERO: municipal- ity of Atoyac de Álvarez, El Molote, 17825 0 14.4 0 0 N, 100810 0 15.7 0 0 W (MZFC 25528: GB KC917323). Geophis turbidus: MEXICO: PUEBLA: municipality of
  56. Tepango de Rodríguez, Tepango de Rodríguez (CNAR 6886-6888); municipality of Tepango de Rodríguez, 5 km S Tepango de Rodríguez (CNAR 6889);
  57. 3 km N Zacapoaxtla, road to Cuetzalan (CNAR 8233); municipal- ity of Cuetzalan, 5.5 km SSW Cuetzalan (EBUAP 521);
  58. municipality of Cuetzalan, 2 km NW Xocoyolo, near Vista Hermosa, 19858.677
  59. municipality of Cuetzalan, La Loma del Chivo, on the road to Tacopixacta 19858.410 0 N, 97830.986 0 W (EBUAP 1022); 16.09 km SW Villa Jua ´rez, also known as Xicotepec de Jua ´rez (KU 39642); municipality of Cuetzalan, hillside in Xocoyolo, on road to Apulco River, 19857 0 57.6 0 0 N, 97832 0 13.1 00 W (MZFC 27253: GB KC917320); municipal- ity of Cuetzalan, 3.5 km W Xocoyolo, 19859.432 0 N, 97833.325 0 W (MZFC 27254: GB KC917321).