Variação morfológica de Imantodes cenchoa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) na América do Sul, com a descrição de duas novas espécies

Abstract

Imantodes comprises a group of primarily arboreal snakes, with large Neotropical distribution, clustering seven species currently recognized, with great color variation. Imantodes cenchoa presents has the highest distribution (southern Mexico to northern Argentina). The need for studies on the morphological variation of I. cenchoa in South America has been attributed by some authors, who suggested the probable existence of more than one taxon distinguishable. Studies based on molecular data showed conflicting results regarding the genetic diversity of I. cenchoa. Assuming that genetic differentiation may reflect the morphological variation, the proposition barriers preventing gene flow I. cenchoa can be tested through a careful study of morphological variation in South American populations, addressing and verifying the population patterns and the structure of these patterns. Therefore, this study was organized into three sections: General Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2 In the General. General introduction presents information on chromatic polymorphism in the Imantodini and a brief taxonomic history from the Imantodes cenchoa. In Chapter 1 we discuss the external and internal morphological variation in populations of I. cenchoa (folidose, linear and geometric morphometry, coloration, pattern of saddles and hemipenes), within and between different vegetation types in Brazil, comparing it to the other populations of America South and describe a new species of the Atlantic Forest. In Chapter 2, after the comparative analysis of the material Imantodes South America cis-and trans-Andean, we describe a new species of Imantodes for the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia.