Venezuelan Guayana, with the description of five new species
Author
Barrio-Amorós, César L.
Fundación AndígenA, Apartado Postal 210, 5101 - A Mérida, Venezuela. E-mail: atelopus @ andigena. org Fundacion Manoa, Apartado Postal 51322 Caracas 1050 - A. Venezuela Corresponding author
Author
Brewer-Carías, Charles
text
Zootaxa
2010
2008-11-26
1942
1
68
http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.195474
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.195474
11755334
Pseustes poecilonotus polylepis
(Peters 1867)
Neotropical bird snake, Cazadora selvática, Wasaihiudei
Locality
VI
.
20 April 2002
.
EBRG 4257
(subadult female)
.
The senior author observed
two specimens
in two successive days in nearby locations in the same creek at the Sarisariñama foothills. The first specimen was immobile along a branch above the creek. It was easily approached and captured and subsequently released. It measured approx.
150 cm
in total length. The other specimen (
EBRG 4257
) was shorter (935 +
355 mm
), and was resting at evening beside the creek shore. This specimen has 198 ventral scales, 121 subcaudals, and 21-23-19-15 dorsals, with uniform dorsal olive brown coloration. This species is well known and believed to be a protector of the tribe against venomous snakes such as viperids. It is highly respected by the Ye’kwana
.