Oxybelis aeneus (Wagler, 1824)

Rivas, Luis R., Rey-Ortíz, Gustavo, Eversole, Cord B., Powell, Randy L., Navarro-Cornejo, Gonzalo, Cortez, Edson, Ocampo, Mauricio, Callapa, Gabriel & Muñoz, Arturo, 2024, Vine snakes (Oxybelis) and Sharpnose snakes (Xenoxybelis) (Squamata, Serpentes) from lowlands of Bolivia, with first records of Oxybelis inkaterra for the country, Herpetozoa 37, pp. 201-211 : 201-211

Oxybelis aeneus (Wagler, 1824)

Fig. 1 A, B

Specimens examined.

One subadult female ( CIRAH - 201) collected at 2307 h on 14 June 2015 from the community of Exaltación. One adult ( CIRAH - 290) collected at 0225 h on 26 June 2015 and one juvenile female ( CIRAH - 408) collected at 2312 h on 22 June 2016 from Totaizal community. One adult female ( CBF - 0948) collected at 1100 h on 07 August 1992 from El Trapiche, Estación Biológica del Beni (EBB). One adult ( MNKR - 302) collected on 14 April 1990 from Perseverancia. One adult ( MNKR - 1414) collected on 17 October 1997 from Reserva El Chore. One adult ( MNKR - 1579) collected on 11 July 1997 from Comunidad en Maque. One adult ( MNKR - 3396) collected on 07 August 2002 from Santa Rosa del Sara. One adult ( MNKR - 5682) collected on 05 February 2022 from Potrerillo de Guenda (Table 1 , Fig. 3 ).

Morphometric and meristic characters.

Snout-vent length 575–843 mm (adults> 500 mm, n = 7). Tail length 345–520 mm (n = 7). Smooth dorsal scales 17-17 - 13 rows (100 %), without apical pits. Ventral scales 182–192 (x ̅ = 187). Subcaudal scales 152–168 (x ̅ = 158). Divided cloacal plate (100 %). Loreal absent (100 %). Preocular 1 (100 %). Postoculars 2 (100 %). Temporals 1 + 2 (100 %). Supralabials 8–9 (9 / 9 in 66 % of specimens, 8 / 9 in 22 % and 8 / 8 in 11 %); fourth and fifth contact the orbit (33 %), fourth, fifth and sixth contact the orbit (56 %), and fifth and sixth contact the orbit (11 %). Infralabials 9–10 (9 / 10 in 56 % of specimens and 10 / 10 in 44 %); the first four in contact with the first pair of chin shields (89 %) and the first five contact the first pair of chin shields (11 %) (Table 2 ); and usually the fourth, fifth and sixth contact the second pair of chin shields.

Coloration pattern.

Upper region of head golden brown to tan; supralabials and ventral surface of head uniform cream color, the color transition is separated by a dark brown preocular line that extends from the nasal scale, under the eye, and toward the anterior region of the body. Black bars or spots present in the anterior region of the body; dorsal and ventral surface of the rest of the body relatively uniform light brown with scattered small black spots (Fig. 1 A, B ).

Ecological notes.

The specimens ( CIRAH - 201, 290, 408) were found resting on herbaceous plants and tree branches at a height between 0–4 m from the ground during nocturnal searches between 2307–0225 h. The localities where they were found are best described as riparian forests (secondary and tertiary forests) of the Mamoré River sub-basin.

Figures

Figure 1. Vine snakes from Bolivia. A, B. Dorsal (CIRAH - 408) and ventral (CIRAH - 290) view Oxybelis aeneus, Totaizal community, Yacuma, Beni; C, D. Dorsal and ventral view Oxybelis fulgidus (CIRAH - 929), Buen Retiro community, Vaca Diez, Beni. Photos by Cord Eversole (A – D).

Figure 3. Distribution of the vine snakes in Bolivia. Oxybelis aeneus (points), Oxybelis fulgidus (triangles), and Oxybelis inkaterra (blue stars, first records). Red symbols correspond to additional records.