Dixon's ground snake

Dixon's ground snake (Erythrolamprus atraventer) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Southeastern Brazil.

Dixon's ground snake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Dipsadinae
Genus:	Erythrolamprus
Species:	E. atraventer
Binomial name
Erythrolamprus atraventer (Dixon & Thomas, 1985)
Synonyms[2]
Liophis atraventer Dixon & Thomas, 1985[3]

Classification

Erythrolamprus atraventer belongs to the genus Erythrolamprus, which contains over 50 species. The genus Erythrolamprus belongs to the subfamily Dipsadinae, which is sometimes referred to as the family Dipsadidae. The relationships of Erythrolamprus species located in northern South America can be shown in the cladogram below, based on molecular DNA analysis:^[4]

	E. poecilogyrus (paraphyletic) E. ceii E. poecilogyrus (paraphyletic)
	E. miliaris E. miliaris E. typhlus (Brazil) (paraphyletic) E. reginae (paraphyletic) E. reginae (paraphyletic) E. zweifeli E. breviceps E. epinephalus (Peru) (paraphyletic) E. epinephalus (Costa Rica) (paraphyletic) E. pseudoreginae E. melanotus Erythrolamprus atraventer E. jaegeri E. almadensis E. juliae E. cursor E. typhlus (French Guiana) (paraphyletic) E. cobella E. aesculapii (Brazil) (paraphyletic) E. ocellatus E. aesculapii (French Guiana & Guyana) (paraphyletic) E. bizona E. mimus

Geographic range

E. atraventer is found in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.^[1][2]

Habitat

E. atraventer occurs in the upland areas of the Atlantic Forest, forest edges, in wet areas, and in both forested and open areas. It is terrestrial and diurnal.^[1]

Description

The holotype, a male, measures 505 mm (19.9 in) in total length, which includes 108 mm (4.3 in) tail. Female topotypes had relatively shorter tails. The belly is black, as indicated by its specific name (from Latin atra (=black) and venter (=belly)).^[3] Later studies indicate a maximum length of 800 mm (31 in).^[1]

Reproduction

E. atraventer is oviparous.^[1][2]

Conservation status

The IUCN did not identify any overt threats affecting E. atraventer, and lists the species as "Least Concern". It is locally common, e.g., in the Serra do Mar State Park.^[1]