Helicops aff. infrataeniatus (Jan, 1865)

Guedes, Thaís B., Nogueira, Cristiano & Marques, Otavio A. V., 2014, Diversity, natural history, and geographic distribution of snakes in the Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 3863 (1), pp. 1-93 : 41

Helicops aff. infrataeniatus (Jan, 1865) “Cobra-d’água”

(Fig. 28.2)

First record in the Caatinga. Recorded only in state of Paraíba, municipality of Campina Grande, based on a single specimen. This area is situated on the Borborema Plateau, 560 m elevation, with strong influence of the adjacent Atlantic Forest. After the analysis of 319 specimens of Helicops from Caatinga, we found only one specimen of Helicops aff. infrataeniatus , indicating that this species is probably rare and geographically restricted. The nominal species Helicops infrataeniatus is known from the Atlantic Forest and Pampas of Southern Brazil ( Scartozzoni 2009). The Borborema Plateau is covered with arboreal and bushy caatinga, being wetter than adjacent semi-arid lowlands, due to the topography and proximity to coastal Atlantic Forest in high altitudes (agreste). It is diurnal and nocturnal, and feeds on frogs and fishes ( Scartozzoni 2009).