Ten species of coralsnakes are known from Bolivia, and the ranges of an additional four approach Bolivia's northeastern border. Ranges of several species are expanded to accommodate recently collected material. Coralsnakes with characteristics thought to be diagnostic of Micrurus tricolor do not occur in Bolivia, and this species is considered to be a junior synonym of Micrurus pyrrhocryptus. Micrurus frontifasciatus is returned to the synonymy of M. lemniscatus. Some specimens previously referred to M. frontifasciatus, are described as the new species Micrurus serranus, which is apparently restricted to dry intermontane valleys of the Andes above 1200 m. Putative subspecies of M. spixii occur in sympatry within Bolivia and differ from one another by a suite of morphological characters. Accordingly, we recognize M. spixii and M. obscurus as distinct species. Characteristics used to define M. s. princeps appear to be clinal, and this taxon is considered to be synonymous with M. obscurus. Micrurus corallinus, M. ibiboboca, and M. tschudii do not occur in Bolivia, despite earlier reports to the contrary. Claims that melanism increases with age in some species are not supported by our observations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-15164 |
| Date | 25 February 2003 |
| Creators | Harvey, Michael B., Aparicio E., James, Gonzalez A., Lucindo |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | ETSU Faculty Works |
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