Atractus ukupacha MELO-SAMPAIO, PASSOS, PRUDENTE, VENEGAS & TORRES-CARVAJAL, 2021
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Atractus ukupacha?
Atractus ukupacha
We have no photos, try to find some by Google images search: 
| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Atractus ukupacha MELO-SAMPAIO, PASSOS, PRUDENTE, VENEGAS & TORRES-CARVAJAL 2021 Atractus snethlageae – SCHARGEL et al. 2013 (partim) Atractus snethlageae – MAYNARD et al. 2017 |
| Distribution | Ecuador (Napo) Type locality: Ecuador, Napo, El Chaco (0.371°S, 77.821°W), 1606 m elevation. |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: QCAZ 12504, adult male, collected by P. Medrano, on 16 April 2014. Paratopotype (n = 1): QCAZ 4047, adult male collected by R. Cárdenas on 2 November 2006. Paratypes (n = 20): Ecuador: Napo: El Reventador (0.041°S, 77.526°W), 1543 m asl, QCAZ 444, adult female collected by G. Onore on 10 January 1985 and MNRJ 24596 (formerly QCAZ 205) adult male collected by G. Onore on 1 January 1986; San Francisco de Borja (0.424°S, 77.837°W; 1500 m asl), MNRJ 24597, (formerly QCAZ 1320), adult female collected by G. Scacco on 18 April 1992, QCAZ 1606, adult male collected by V. Utreras on 4 January 1992 and QCAZ 12490, adult male collected by P. Medrano on 12 March 2014, QCAZ 12596, adult male by P. Medrano on 17 April 2014 and DHMECN 80, adult male collected by E. Asanza on September 1980; Sardinas (0.340°S, 77.810°W), 1300 m asl, QCAZ 1494, adult female collected by G. Onore on 18 October 1992; Santa Rosa, Quijos (0.394°S, 77.822°W), 1623 m asl, QCAZ 12715, adult female collected by P. Medrano on 24 April 2014. San Rafael, San Rafael stream (0.103°S, 77.580°W), 1190 m asl, QCAZ 0004 and QCAZ 3256, adult males collected by G. Onore on 10 January 1984 and 7 April 1996; Puerto Misahuallí, Reserva Biológica Jatún Sacha (1.050°S, 77.590°W), 406 m asl, QCAZ 3476, adult male and QCAZ 3477 juvenile collected by G. Vigle on 20 September 1986; Cosanga (0.574°S, 77.867°W), 2600 m asl, QCAZ 11202, juvenile collected by E. Tapia on 28 March 1996; Piedra Fina (0.128°S, 77.609°W), 1299 m asl, QCAZ 4812, QCAZ 4942, QCAZ 4943 and QCAZ 4944, juveniles collected by M. Wilkinson on 18 March 2012. Orellana: San José de Payamino (0.464°S, 77.297°W), 370 m asl, QCAZ 11651 and QCAZ 11652, juveniles collected by R. Lynch on 8 June 2013. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Atractus ukupacha can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) smooth dorsal scale rows 17/17/17; (2) postoculars two; (3) loreal moderately long; (4) temporal formula 1+2; (5) supralabials seven, third and fourth contacting eye; (6) infralabials eight, first four contacting chinshields; (7) maxillary teeth seven; (8) gular scale rows three; (9) preventrals two; (10) ventrals 161–170 in females, 153–165 in males; (11) subcaudals 23–33 in females, 38–42 in males; (12) in preservative, dorsum dusky brown with olive-brown bands; (13) in preservative, venter olive-brown with small cream white dots; (14) body moderately long in females (maximum 464 mm SVL) and males (maximum 390 mm SVL); (15) tail moderately long in females (9.9–12.7% of SVL) and long in males (15.5%–20.6% of SVL); and (16) hemipenes strongly bilobed (≥ length of capitulum), semicapitate, and semicalyculate (Melo-Sampaio et al. 2021). |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | According to Inca mythology, Uku Pacha represents the underworld, containing the dead and everything that was under terrestrial or aquatic surface. The general legend considers the fountains, caves, volcanoes, and any opening in the Earth's crust as a means of communication between Uku Pacha and Kay Pacha. The word Pacha in Quechua Indian language means “time and space”, but into a more general sense means “Earth”. Thus, the specific epithet allows inference to this semi-fossorial lifestyle. |
| References |
|
| External links |