A New Species of <i>Tachymenoides</i> (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Tachymenini) from Peru with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of <i>Galvarinus tarmensis</i> (Walker, 1945)
2025
Edgar Lehr | Mikael Lundberg | Juan Carlos Cusi | Jack W. Sites | Claudia Torres | César Aguilar-Puntriano
We describe a new species of snake of the genus <i>Tachymenoides</i> using molecular and morphological evidence. The description is based on 21 specimens (4 females, 17 males) obtained in the regions of Pasco, Junín, and Puno between 2190 and 3050 m elevation. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on two mitochondrial (12S and cyt-b) genes and one nuclear (c-<i>mos</i>) gene shows that the new species is the sister taxon of <i>T. affinis</i> and distinct from <i>Galvarinus tarmensis</i>, which we transfer back to <i>Tachymenis.</i> The new species has smooth dorsal scales without apical pits usually in 19/17/15 series, 1 preocular, 2 postoculars, 1 loreal undivided nasal scale, 8 supralabials (4th and 5th in contact with the eye), 9 infralabials, 1–2+2–3 temporals, 139–157 ventrals, 52–67 subcaudals, and a divided cloacal scale. The longest specimen, a male, had a total length of 559 mm. Two females contained six and five eggs with small embryos. In life, the dorsum and flanks are olive brown to pale grayish brown with scattered black and cream flecks and no longitudinal stripes. Ventral coloration is highly variable, nearly uniformly black, mottled gray and dark-gray, mottled pale gray and tan, or pale grayish tan. Usually, three irregularly shaped, narrow, longitudinal ventral stripes are present. The iris is brown with a distinct yellowish-tan ringlet.
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