Helicop leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837)

Schoeneberg, Yannis & Koehler, Gunther, 2022, Distribution and identification of the species in the genus Helicops Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes, Colubridae, Xenodontinae), Biodiversity Data Journal 10, pp. 69234-69234 : 69234

Helicop leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837)

Materials

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: MTKD 15506 ; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Columbia; Record Level: institutionID: MTKD Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: MTKD 27443 ; recordedBy: Strauss-Hiller leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Cordoba; locality: San Franciso ; Record Level : institutionID: MTKD Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: MTKD 28115 ; recordedBy: Strauss-Hiller leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Cordoba; locality: San Franciso ; Record Level : institutionID: MTKD Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: MTKD 28716 ; recordedBy: Strauss-Hiller leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; locality: Central Chaco ; Record Level : institutionID: MTKD Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: MTKD 29825 ; recordedBy: Strauss-Hiller leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Chaco; locality: Resistencia ; Record Level : institutionID: MTKD Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: SMF 100015 ; recordedBy: M. Jansen leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Bolivia; stateProvince: Santa Cruz; locality: Velasco , Campamento ; verbatimLocality: 185; verbatimLatitude: -15°10.493; verbatimLongitude: -61°0.968; Event : year: 2007; Record Level : institutionID: SMF Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: SMF 17807 ; recordedBy: I. Schumacher leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Brazil; stateProvince: Mato Grosso; locality: Cujapa ; Event : year: 1885; Record Level : institutionID: SMF Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: SMF 17809 ; recordedBy: O. Boettger leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Brazil; locality: Northern Brazil ; Event : year: 1897; Record Level: institutionID: SMF Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: SMF 67860 ; recordedBy: M. Schetty leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; Event : year: 1972; Record Level: institutionID: SMF Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: SMF 67861 ; recordedBy: M. Schetty leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; Event : year: 1972; Record Level: institutionID: SMF Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: SMF 67862 ; recordedBy: W.v.d. Wall leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; Event : year: 1972; Record Level: institutionID: SMF Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZFMK 36339 ; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Brazil; Record Level: institutionID: ZFMK Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZFMK 59774 ; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Asunción; locality: Pilcomayo ; Record Level : institutionID: ZFMK Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZFMK 59775 ; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Asunción; locality: Pilcomayo ; Record Level : institutionID: ZFMK Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZFMK 60153 ; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location: country: Bolivia; stateProvince: Santa Cruz; locality: between Florida & Meura, Rio Paraguay ; Record Level: institutionID: ZFMK Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZFMK 62836 ; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Bolivia; stateProvince: Beni; locality: Campamento Encanto ; Record Level : institutionID: ZFMK Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 10749 ; recordedBy: R. Rohde leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; Record Level: institutionID: ZFMK Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 20611 A ; recordedBy: R. Hauthal leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; Record Level: institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 20611 B ; recordedBy: R. Hauthal leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; Record Level: institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 26040 A ; recordedBy: Neumayer leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Salta; locality: Tartagal ; Record Level : institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 26040 B ; recordedBy: Neumayer leg.; individualCount: 1; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Salta; locality: Tartagal ; Record Level : institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 7545 ; recordedBy: O. Wucherer leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Brazil; stateProvince: Bahia; Record Level : institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZMB 89665 ; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Record Level: institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1026/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZMB Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1027/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1028/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1029/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1030/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1031/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1032/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1033/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1034/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1035/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1036/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1037/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1038/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1039/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1040/2010 ; recordedBy: G. Walter leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Paraguay; stateProvince: Alto Paraguguay ; locality: Puerto Sastre ; Event : year: 1931; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 134/1947 ; recordedBy: Zimmermann leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Bolivia; stateProvince: Departamento Beni; locality: Rio Madre de Dios ; Event : year: <1923?; Record Level : institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 1523/0 ; recordedBy: Spix & Martius leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: male; Taxon : scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Brazil; Event : year: 1817-1820; Record Level: institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 172/1929 ; recordedBy: I. Deutsche Chaco-Expedition leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Bolivia; stateProvince: Santa Cruz; locality: San Fermin (100 km noerdlich Puerto Suarez) ; Event : year: 1926; Record Level : institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 268/2017 ; recordedBy: K. König leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Santa Fe; locality: Rosario de Santa Fe ; Event : year: 1903-1906; Record Level : institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 269/2017 ; recordedBy: von Stromer leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Santa Fe; locality: Rosario de Santa Fe ; Event : year: 1907; Record Level : institutionID: ZSM Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSM 270/2017 ; recordedBy: von Stromer leg.; individualCount: 1; sex: female; Taxon: scientificName: Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837); Location : country: Argentina; stateProvince: Santa Fe; locality: Rosario de Santa Fe ; Event : year: 1907; Record Level : institutionID: ZSM

Diagnosis

Helicops leopardinus is distinguished from all its congeners, except H. danieli and H. gomesi by the combination of a greyish-olive to greyish-brown dorsum with 4-5 series of alternating dark spots, absent intergenials and 18-22 dorsal scale rows at mid-body (versus 23-26 in H. polylepis ). From H. danieli , it differs in having a cream, yellow or red venter, checkered or banded black or both (versus cream venter with two medial rows of black semi-lunar marks). From H. gomesi , it differs in having no subcaudal keels; (for information on references, see Suppl. material 3).

Distribution

Helicops leopardinus records range from north-western Argentina to the Estuary of the Amazon and from Ecuador to the Brazilian State Bahia. There are nearly no records in the south-eastern provinces of Brazil (Fig. 2 c).

Morphology remark

ZSM 134/1947, a female, possesses 109 subcaudals (versus 53-88 in females of H. leopardinus ). We interpret this as an abnormality (see also Tables 1 , 2 ).