Snake identification from Colombia

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south_londoner
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Joined: October 10th, 2014, 6:43 am

Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

This is my first post so I hope it is ok.
This is a snake from the El Dorado Reserve Colombia


ImageIMG_8394 by davholla2002, on Flickr
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John Delgado
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Location: Ukiah, CA

Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by John Delgado »

I'm only a new guy here... also new to field herping. Therefore I would like to confirm with someone here at FHF who is IN THE KNOW.

So... anyway... what I have found searching the internet for snakes of Columbia South America

What you have there is (common name) Thickhead Ground Snake / (scientific name) Atractus crassicaudatus

Nice looking snake... fabulous iridescent colors :)

Go here ---► http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/sp ... sicaudatus

Here is a picture I found on Flickr.com ---► http://www.flickr.com/photos/whawha88/1 ... otostream/

And this ---► http://www.flickr.com/photos/whawha88/1 ... otostream/

Main search found this ---► http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/atractus/Recent
south_londoner
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

Are you sure? A) The colours look wrong and B) according to Wikipedia in Spanish it is from Cundimarca and this I saw in Magdalena which is quite far apart.
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John Delgado
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by John Delgado »

Did you have a look at the habitat map in one of the links I posted above?

Magdalena borders on the natural habitat map.

Whatever the case... Like I said... I'm new here so... let's wait until some of the experts can have a look.

I gave it the old newb give'r a go type thing... and I'm just being honest in my observation is novice at best.

Sure is fun looking it up tho... I'll check back in the morning... very interesting.
south_londoner
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Joined: October 10th, 2014, 6:43 am

Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

ZirconJohn wrote:Did you have a look at the habitat map in one of the links I posted above?

Magdalena borders on the natural habitat map.

Whatever the case... Like I said... I'm new here so... let's wait until some of the experts can have a look.

I gave it the old newb give'r a go type thing... and I'm just being honest in my observation is novice at best.

Sure is fun looking it up tho... I'll check back in the morning... very interesting.
Thanks a lot for your help, in the UK it is much easier we only have 3 snakes. Colombia has 295.
I wondered if it could be Atractus sanctaemartae as that is from the Sierra Magdalena but I can't find any images of it.
Anyway lets see what an expert says
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intermedius
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by intermedius »

El Dorado is out of range for crassicaudatus. This species is Atractus sanctaemartae. The color pattern matches the descriptions of the species, and it's in range. The species exhibits a lot of sexual dimorphism, and the males were previously considered a distinct species. Males have a dark dorsum with small light traversing bands (this specimen), while females have a creamish dorsum with thin black bands. As far as I know, this is the first live photograph of a male (and perhaps of the species period).

Oh, and welcome to FHF!

- Intermedius
south_londoner
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Joined: October 10th, 2014, 6:43 am

Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

intermedius wrote:El Dorado is out of range for crassicaudatus. This species is Atractus sanctaemartae. The color pattern matches the descriptions of the species, and it's in range. The species exhibits a lot of sexual dimorphism, and the males were previously considered a distinct species. Males have a dark dorsum with small light traversing bands (this specimen), while females have a creamish dorsum with thin black bands. As far as I know, this is the first live photograph of a male (and perhaps of the species period).

Oh, and welcome to FHF!

- Intermedius
Thank you for the welcome
And thanks for that. I am amazed that this is the first live photograph. That is amazing, loads of people interested in wildlife go there, although most of them are birders I am still surprised.
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John Delgado
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by John Delgado »

intermedius wrote:El Dorado is out of range for crassicaudatus. This species is Atractus sanctaemartae. The color pattern matches the descriptions of the species, and it's in range. The species exhibits a lot of sexual dimorphism, and the males were previously considered a distinct species. Males have a dark dorsum with small light traversing bands (this specimen), while females have a creamish dorsum with thin black bands. As far as I know, this is the first live photograph of a male (and perhaps of the species period).

Oh, and welcome to FHF!

- Intermedius
Nice job Intermedius... really great info.

So... did the OP discover a rare find or a new and totally undiscovered find?

And as for me... I'll have to look up the exact locations... south_londoner can you please give me exact locations... towns etc. I'd like to map this out and see exactly where you found this Atractus sanctaemartae on Google Map. Or, if you have time... can you drop a pin on Google Map and post the coordinates link here? - That is if it's okay with you.
south_londoner
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

I couldn't find it on google maps. However here the website about the reseve
http://www.conservationbirding.org/abouteldorado.htm. It wasn't that far from the ecocenter, it was sunbathing on the road (nice and warm) so after I took the photos then my guide moved it to a safer place.
Here are all the photos if anyone is interested
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14586608@ ... 287489052/
south_londoner
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

ZirconJohn wrote:
Nice job Intermedius... really great info.

So... did the OP discover a rare find or a new and totally undiscovered find?
PS Intermedius I am amazed by your quick identification.
If I have found something so rare it was because of a combination of luck and apathy among the native population not doing so themselves.
One last before I put on Facebook how happy I am, can someone please confirm that this is not a hoax you do on newbies.
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John Delgado
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by John Delgado »

south_londoner wrote:I couldn't find it on google maps. However here the website about the reseve
http://www.conservationbirding.org/abouteldorado.htm. It wasn't that far from the ecocenter, it was sunbathing on the road (nice and warm) so after I took the photos then my guide moved it to a safer place.
Here are all the photos if anyone is interested
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14586608@ ... 287489052/
I believe I've found the area on Google Maps... I'm thinking the area near the top of the green section of the map in Magdalena Valley - please confirm..., In this MAP ---► https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sierr ... ee78?hl=en
south_londoner
Posts: 16
Joined: October 10th, 2014, 6:43 am

Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

ZirconJohn wrote:
south_londoner wrote:I couldn't find it on google maps. However here the website about the reseve
http://www.conservationbirding.org/abouteldorado.htm. It wasn't that far from the ecocenter, it was sunbathing on the road (nice and warm) so after I took the photos then my guide moved it to a safer place.
Here are all the photos if anyone is interested
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14586608@ ... 287489052/
I believe I've found the area on Google Maps... I'm thinking the area near the top of the green section of the map in Magdalena Valley - please confirm..., In this MAP ---► https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sierr ... ee78?hl=en
That looks about right.
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intermedius
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by intermedius »

This is indeed Atractus sanctaemartae. The genus is the largest in the snake world, with around 137 known species, most being fossorial burrowers. Many also have very small distributions. While many are rare in a statistical and numerical matter, they may not be as rare as we think due to their secretive nature and limited surveying and herping in their small distribution. There just hasn't been too much herpetological fieldwork in that area (at least snake-wise).
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John Delgado
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Joined: June 29th, 2014, 11:10 am
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Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by John Delgado »

intermedius wrote:This is indeed Atractus sanctaemartae. The genus is the largest in the snake world, with around 137 known species, most being fossorial burrowers. Many also have very small distributions. While many are rare in a statistical and numerical matter, they may not be as rare as we think due to their secretive nature and limited surveying and herping in their small distribution. There just hasn't been too much herpetological fieldwork in that area (at least snake-wise).
Well... let's get to packin' and we head out in the morning...!!! - Dear God in my wildest of dreams, if only I had a solid opportunity I would not hesitate... not one second and I would be there, what an adventure that could be.

I have enough trouble just trying to get up on my rattlesnake cornucopia for just a day only 8 miles away... let alone travel out of the Country... but ohhhhhh if only "sweet tonnato" :lol:

Thank you Intermedius - Nice job :)
south_londoner
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Joined: October 10th, 2014, 6:43 am

Re: Snake identification from Colombia

Post by south_londoner »

intermedius wrote:This is indeed Atractus sanctaemartae. The genus is the largest in the snake world, with around 137 known species, most being fossorial burrowers. Many also have very small distributions. While many are rare in a statistical and numerical matter, they may not be as rare as we think due to their secretive nature and limited surveying and herping in their small distribution. There just hasn't been too much herpetological fieldwork in that area (at least snake-wise).
I have family by marriage in Colombia (I am not Colombian myself) and the number of people interested in wildlife there is very small, it is quite sad. Which explains why no one has taken photos of this before.
One example the RSPB (bird society in the UK) has over a million members, Pro-Aves (bird society in Colombia) about 10,000.

BTW it isn't that far from the US from Miami (an awful airport, sorry but it is true) you can get direct flights to Cartagena and then a six hour bus ride to the wildlife paradise of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
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