Argentinian snakes

15
Misiones. According to Peters´ (1960) key, the Chaco specimen was identified as Dipsas indica cisticeps,
because of the presence of a large dark dot that extends from the frontal and preoculars to the distal end of
the parietals. Peters (1960) considers this dot to be diagnostic of the subspecies. Some characters of
scutelation are slightly different from those given by Peters (1960) for cisticeps: the individual is a male and
has 176 ventrals (183 -192 in Peters) and 83 subcaudals (89 - 99 in Peters). However, Peters (1960) studied
few individuals, all from Bolivia, and the variation is not completely known.
We include Dipsas indica cisticeps in the Argentinian fauna based on the specimen from Chaco. However,
results obtained by Brazilian authors and further knowledge on the variation of populations from Argentina
and bordering countries could change the identification of this specimen.
Drymarchon Fitzinger, 1843
Drymarchon Fitzinger, 1843. Syst. Rept. : 26.
Georgia Baird & Girard, 1853. Cat. N. Amer. Rept.: 92.
Geoptyas Steindachner, 1867. Sitz. Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. Akad. Wiss. Wien. 55 (1): 271, pl. 3, figs.4-7.
Type species: Coluber corais Boie, 1827, by original designation.
Drymarchon corais corais (Boie 1827)
Coluber corais Boie, 1827. Isis von Oken: 537.
Geoptyas flaviventris Steindachner, 1867. Sitz. Math. Naturwiss. Kl. Akad. Wiss. Wien 55 (I):
272, pI. 4, Figs. 1-4.
Phrynonax angulifer Werner, 1923. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien. 36: 162.
Drymarchon corais corais Serié, 1936 Inst. Mus. Univ. La Plata, Obra Cincuentenario: 40.
Type locality: America.
Distribution: Chaco and Formosa (Bergna et al., 1992) and Salta. Chaqueña province.
Comments: Although mentioned from Formosa by Bergna, Rey & Alvarez (1992) based on a voucher
specimen (UNNEC 175) from La Rinconada, the third author did not include the species in a later list of the
herpetofauna of Formosa, Chaco and Corrientes (Alvarez et al., 1996). This study mentions the species in
Salta for the first time based on a voucher specimen FML 07960 from around Santa Victoria Este, Rivadavia
department and FML 07961 from 10 km before Hickman, General San Martín department.
Echinantera Cope, 1894
Echinantera Cope, 1894. Amer. Nat. 28: 841.
Echinantera Di Bernardo, 1992. Comun. Mus. Cienc. PUCRS, ser. zool. 5 (13): 228.
Type species: Aporophis cyanopleurus Cope, 1885. Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 22: 191.
Comments: This genus was revalidated by Di Bernardo (1992) for the species of the Rhadinaea brevirostris
group and three species considered incertae sedis at that moment. Myers & Cadle (1994), revalidated
Taeniophallus for R. brevirostris group and T. nicagus. Di Bernardo & Di Bernardo (1996), in a new
revision, demonstrated that there were more synapomorphic traits within Echinantera and the species of R..
brevirostris group than among this group and Taeniophallus (sensu stricto). Based on the conclusions of Di
Bernardo & Di Bernardo (1996), we consider that the Argentinian species should be included in Echinantera.
Echinantera cyanopleura (Cope, 1885)
Aporophis cyanopleurus Cope, 1885. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 22: 191.
Dromicus melanostigma Boulenger, 1885. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 15: 195.
Liophis melanostigma Boulenger, 1894 (partim). Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) 2:142.
Echinanthera cyanopleura Cope, 1894. Amer. Nat. 28: 841.
Leimadophis melanostigma Amaral, 1930 (partim). Mem. Inst. Butantan 4: 86.
Incertae sedis melanostigma Dixon, 1980 (partim). Milwaukee Publ. Mus. Contrib. Biol. Geol. 31: 7.
Dromicus melanostigmus Lema; Fabian-Beurmann; Araújo; Alves & Vieira, 1980. Iheringia
(zool.) (55): 30.
Leimadophis melanostigmus Lema; Vieira & Araújo, 1985. Rev. Bras. Zool. 2 (4): 211.
Liophis (?) melanostigma Lema, 1987. Acta Biol. Leopoldensia 9 (2): 230.