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Type: Article
Published: 2014-09-03
Page range: 64–80
Abstract views: 24
PDF downloaded: 1

Morphological variation and taxonomy of Atractus latifrons (Günther, 1868) (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia da Universidade Federal do Pará/Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi & Departamento de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Avenida Perimetral, 1901. Caixa Postal 399, Terra Firme, Belém, Pará, 66017-970, Brazil
Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, Rua 232 nº 128, 3º andar, Área V, Setor Leste Universitário, CEP 74605-140, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, São Cristovão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia da Universidade Federal do Pará/Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi & Departamento de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Avenida Perimetral, 1901. Caixa Postal 399, Terra Firme, Belém, Pará, 66017-970, Brazil
Amazon Basin Morphometry Polychromatism Aposematic color patterns Mimetism

Abstract

As currently understood Atractus latifrons is widely distributed in South America, occurring from Suriname to the east of the Andes in Bolivia. Throughout this widespread distribution, at least three distinct color patterns were previously reported in the literature. Here, we test whether quantitative variation and qualitative distribution of morphological characters are correlated with any color pattern displayed by the species along its range. We recognize three aposematic color patterns (bicolor in monads, tricolor in dyads, and tricolor in tetrads) for A. latifrons. We found no obvious correspondence between these patterns and any character systems analyzed herein. Additionally, we redescribe the holotype of A. latifrons and report on morphological variability (meristics, morphometrics, color patterns, and hemipenis) and geographical distribution (extending its distribution to the state Roraima, Brazil) of the species.