Elapomorphini (Serpentes, xenodontinae) from southwestern Brazil

Abstract

Specimens of Elapomorphini from southwestern Brazil, housed in the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Brazil, were examined herein. Most specimens were sampled during a faunal rescue before the construction of river dams, in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. In addition, some specimens from Bolivia were also studied. The largest samples were from Amolar Hill and Manso River hydroelectric power plants. About fifty specimens, belonging to six different species, were studied and redetermined. At least, five species may be unknown. Specimens similar to Apostolepis borellii allowed to revalidate this species, which was considered synonymous junior of A. nigroterminata. In addition, we conclude that A. borellii should be included into a new group named borellii, differently from A. nigroterminata, which belongs to nigrolineata group. The differentiation between A. borellii e A. nigroterminata was possible mainly due to different morphologies and procedences, being the borellii group from Cerrado, and nigrolineata group from Amazonian Forest.