A new species of Erythrolamprus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontini) from the savannas of northern South America

Abstract

Erythrolamprus Boie, 1826 is a highly diverse dipsadid snake genus, ranging from Central America south to Argentina and Uruguay. In this work, we reassess the taxonomic status of specimens previously identified as Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus schotti (Schlegel, 1837) from the savannah habitats of Roraima state, northern Brazil, Guyana, and Bolívarstate, Venezuela. Based on novel molecular and morphological evidence, we conclude that these specimens represent a distinct, diagnosable and reciprocally monophyletic taxon. We here describe it as a new species. Furthermore, we comment on the taxonomy of other Erythrolamprus spp