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 Genus Synophis Peracca, 1896 Synophis bicolor Peracca, 1896 (type species by monotypy) Synophis calamitus Hillis, 1990 Synophis lasallei ( Niceforo-Maria , 1950) Synophis plectovertebralis Sheil & Grant, 2001 Synophis zaheri Pyron, Guayasamin, Penafiel , Bustamante, & Arteaga, 2015 Etymology. None given by Peracca (1896) ; presumably from the Greek syn- for "with" or "together" and ophis for "snake," though the intended meaning of "with snake" is unclear. Description. Relatively small-sized (~300mm SVL) dipsadine snakes of the Andes and Choco of Colombia and Ecuador, with 16-27 maxillary teeth, 7-11 infralabials, 7-9 supralabials, fused prefrontals, loreal present, 1 or 2 postoculars, 144-184 ventrals, 88-138 subcaudals, dorsal scales in (19 -21)-(17-21)-(17- 20) rows, neural spine expanded and flattened, laterally expanded zygapophyses, and hemipenes slightly bilobed, semicalyculate, and semicapitate, relatively stout and bulbous, covered in large spines or hooks. Notes. On the basis of similar scale counts, but apparently without examining specimens, Amaral (1929) considered the holotype of Synophis bicolor (at the time, the only known specimen from the only known species) to be synonymous with Diaphorolepis wagneri . These snakes are extremely rare, accounting for the paucity of knowledge and unclear species-boundaries. Numerous undescribed species from many new localities are known, and await description (pers. comm., T. Grant, E. Meneses-Pelayo, O. Torres-Carvajal, and J. Arredondo).