Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov was collected in Brazil. The researchers compared the new species with 1,625 specimens of Leptophis spp. using extracted whole genomic DNA.
Researchers have described a new species of parrot snake that was found in the Cerrado eco region of Brazil. The colubrid snake is of the genus Leptophis, which are also known as the parrot snakes. The genus is known to exist in Mexico, Central and South America. A total of 19 snakes are in the genus and are diurnal in nature, arboreal and terrestrial.
The snake, the mustache parrot snake (Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov.) inhabits the Cerrado, which has ecosystems that range from open grasslands to rocky outcrops and shrublands and forested areas. It is green in coloration with a black lateral stripe that ends at the neck, and a yellowish belly. The pupils are large rounded and black with farmed by a yellow ring. The largest female holotype measured 868 mm snout to vent while the largest male holotype measured 738 mm SVL.
Figure 7: Comparative coloration in life among the Leptophis species from the South American dry diagonal. (A) Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov., (ZUFMS-REP 4702) from Pium, Tocantins, Brazil, (B) L. marginatus from Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and (C) L. dibernardoi from Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Photo credit: L. A. Silva (A), S. Keuroghlian-Eaton (B) and W. Pessoa (C)
“The specific name is derived from the Greek mystax (transliteration of μύσταξ), meaning ‘upper lip’ or ‘mustache’, and the Latin suffix -inus, denoting ‘likeness’ or ‘belonging to’,” the researchers wrote in their paper. “The black pigmentation covering the rostral scale of Leptophis mystacinus is distinct in most individuals, giving the appearance of a mustache.”
Leptophis mystacinus sp. nov was collected in Brazil. The researchers compared the new species with 1,625 specimens of Leptophis spp. using extracted whole genomic DNA comparing that of Leptophis mystacinus with L. ahaetulla and L. marginatus to help determine that Leptophis mystacinus was indeed a new species.
The complete paper, “A new species of parrot snake, Leptophis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Brazilian Cerrado” can be read on the PeerJ Journal of Zoological Science.
Albuquerque NR, Martins RH, Carvalho PS, Shepard DB, Santana DJ. 2025. A new species of parrot snake, Leptophis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Brazilian Cerrado. PeerJ 13:e18528 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18528
