Systematics of Nothopsini (Serpentes, Dipsadidae), with a new species of Synophis from the Pacific Andean slopes of southwestern Ecuador Author Pyron, R. Alexander Author Guayasamin, Juan M. Author Penafiel, Nicolas Author Bustamante, Lucas Author Arteaga, Alejandro text ZooKeys 2015 541 109 147 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.541.6058 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.541.6058 1313-2970-541-109 C336A3C4DBCB49C5898C8FA38BDFF0C0 Taxon classification Animalia Squamata Colubridae Synophis calamitus Hillis, 1990 Holotype. KU 197107, 4 km SE Tandayapa, Pichincha Province, Ecuador. Paratype. KU 164208, 9km SE Tandayapa, Pichincha Province, Ecuador. Etymology. From the Latin for "calamity," referring to accidents that befell the original collectors ( Hillis 1990 ). Description . A group of relatively small (~450mm SVL) dipsadine snakes of the cloud forests of the Pacific versant of the Andean highlands of Ecuador diagnosable by 9-11 infralabials, 7-9 supralabials, fused prefrontals, internasals separated, loreal present, 1 or 2 postoculars, 163-166 ventrals, 110-125 subcaudals, dorsal scales in (21-23)-19-17 weakly keeled rows, neural spine expanded and flattened, and laterally expanded zygapophyses. Known from middle to high-elevation (~1900-2200m) cloud forests north of the Rio Toachi. Nothing is known of diet or reproduction. Notes . A detailed description was also provided by Hillis (1990) . The hemipenes have likely not been examined. Easily confused with Synophis bicolor ; at least one specimen (QCAZ 11931) from near the type locality was originally mis-identified (O. Torres-Carvajal, pers. comm.). We suggest that all populations north of the Rio Toachi are likely to represent Synophis calamitus . As mentioned above, one specimen apparently matching Synophis bicolor (BMNH 1940.2.30.31) is known from Rio Soloya near Mindo north of Rio Toachi, but this may have been mis-labeled, or mis-referenced geographically . The specimen of " Synophis bicolor " examined by Zaher (1999) , QCAZ 452, cannot be located (O. Torres-Carvajal, pers. comm.), but originates from Chiriboga, Pichincha Province, Ecuador, north of Rio Toachi, and thus may represent an Synophis calamitus . If this is the case, the hemipenes of Synophis calamitus and Synophis lasallei are nearly identical ( Zaher 1999 ; Martinez 2011 ). Finally, one specimen sequenced here from Tambo Tanda (MZUTI 3694) appears to have aberrantly subdivided head scales, possessing one extra postocular, and 2 extra supralabials and infralabials (Fig. 8), which are misshapen and abnormally small. The badly damaged paratype also appears to have two postoculars on one side (O. Torres-Carvajal, pers. comm.). Thus, we concur with Hillis (1990) that one postocular, 7 or 8 supralabials, and 9 infralabials (along with the divided internasals and smooth anterior dorsal scale-rows) are generally diagnostic of the species, but with rare individual variation.