Researchers have described a brand new species of parrot snake that was discovered within the Cerrado eco area of Brazil. The colubrid snake is of the genus Leptophis, that are often known as the parrot snakes. The genus is thought to exist in Mexico, Central and South America. A complete of 19 snakes are within the genus and are diurnal in nature, arboreal and terrestrial.
The snake, the mustache parrot snake (Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov.) inhabits the Cerrado, which has ecosystems that vary from open grasslands to rocky outcrops and shrublands and forested areas. It’s inexperienced in coloration with a black lateral stripe that ends on the neck, and a yellowish stomach. The pupils are massive rounded and black with farmed by a yellow ring. The biggest feminine holotype measured 868 mm snout to vent whereas the biggest male holotype measured 738 mm SVL.
Determine 7: Comparative coloration in life among the many Leptophis species from the South American dry diagonal. (A) Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov., (ZUFMS-REP 4702) from Pium, Tocantins, Brazil, (B) L. marginatus from Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and (C) L. dibernardoi from Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Picture credit score: L. A. Silva (A), S. Keuroghlian-Eaton (B) and W. Pessoa (C)
“The precise identify is derived from the Greek mystax (transliteration of μύσταξ), that means ‘higher lip’ or ‘mustache’, and the Latin suffix -inus, denoting ‘likeness’ or ‘belonging to’,” the researchers wrote of their paper. “The black pigmentation overlaying the rostral scale of Leptophis mystacinus is distinct in most people, giving the looks of a mustache.”
Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov was collected in Brazil. The researchers in contrast the brand new species with 1,625 specimens of Leptophis spp. utilizing extracted complete genomic DNA evaluating that of Leptophis mystacinus with L. ahaetulla and L. marginatus to assist decide that Leptophis mystacinus was certainly a brand new species.
The whole paper, “A brand new species of parrot snake, Leptophis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Brazilian Cerrado” will be learn on the PeerJ Journal of Zoological Science.
Albuquerque NR, Martins RH, Carvalho PS, Shepard DB, Santana DJ. 2025. A brand new species of parrot snake, Leptophis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Brazilian Cerrado. PeerJ 13:e18528 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18528
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