Tropidophis_cacuangoae
Tropidophis cacuangoae
Snake species discovered in 2023
Tropidophis cacuangoae is a dwarf boa species in the genus Tropidophis, described in 2022.[1]
| Tropidophis cacuangoae | |
|---|---|
| A-C. ♂ holotype, D-F. ♀ paratype | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Tropidophiidae |
| Genus: | Tropidophis |
| Species: | T. cacuangoae |
| Binomial name | |
| Tropidophis cacuangoae Ortega-Andrade, Bentley, Koch, Yánez-Muñoz and Entiauspe-Neto, 2022 | |
T. cacuangoae usually grows to a length of 20 centimeters. These snakes have a skin coloring similar to those of the boa constrictor.[2]
The snakes are endemic to South America, more precisely in Ecuador.[3]
The species was discovered in 2022 in Ecuadorian Amazon by multi-organization researchers that included Mauricio Ortega Andrade, Alexander Bentley, Claudia Koch, Mario Yánez-Muñoz and Omar Entiauspe Neto.[4] Two specimens were found in the Colonso Chalupas national reserve and in the private Sumak kawsay park, the discoverers reported.[5] The specific epithet honors early 20th century indigenous rights activist Dolores Cacuango.[1]
- H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrad; Alexander Bentley; Claudia Koch; Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz; Omar M. Entiauspe-Neto (29 December 2022). "A time relic: a new species of dwarf boa, Tropidophis Bibron, 1840 (Serpentes: Amerophidia), from the Upper Amazon Basin". European Journal of Taxonomy. 854: 1–107. doi:10.5852/EJT.2022.854.2021. ISSN 2118-9773. Wikidata Q116142810.
- AFP (2023-01-06). "New dwarf boa found in Ecuadoran Amazon". Digital Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- "Strange New Snake Species Dubbed Primitive 'Relic of Time'". MSN. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- "New dwarf boa found in Ecuadoran Amazon". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-01-07.