Scientists study the
hereditary molecular differences in the most species-rich snake genus in
attempt to shed light on problematic species delimitation
Date: March 22, 2017
Source: Pensoft
Publishers
With as many as 140
species, Atractus is the most diverse snake genus in the world, even though it
can be found exclusively in Central and South America. However, these colubrid
ground snakes seem largely under-researched, since there have been thirty-three
species discovered in the last ten years only.
As concluded by a team of
scientists, led by Alejandro Arteaga, Tropical Herping, Ecuador, this is the
result of a lack of DNA information in the original descriptions of many of these
species. Consequently, there have been a lot of specimens sitting in museum
collection that remain either misidentified, or anonymous.
To address the issue
around the problematic identification of these snakes and their correct
placement in the tree of life, the scientists have studied the hereditary
molecular differences in the genus using both newly collected specimens, as
well as previous publications on the species occurring in the Pacific lowlands
and the adjacent Andean slopes.
Their research results in
a new paper, published in the open access journal ZooKeys, which describes a
total of three new species from Ecuador. The authors also propose a new species
group and a redefinition of a previously established one.
Interestingly, one of the
new species is to be referred to as Cerberus Groundsnake, while in the books it
will appear under Atractus cerberus. It is predominantly brown in colour with
faint black longitudinal bands, and measures about 21 -- 31 cm in length. The
biologists justify the curious name of this species with the peculiar location
where they spotted the first known specimen. Found at the gates of the newly
formed "Refinería del Pacífico," a massive industrial oil-processing
plant, the authors were quick to recall the multi-headed monstrous dog
Cerberus, known to be guarding the gates of the underworld, according to Greek
mythology.
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