Summary: 1093
Accepted by S. Carranza: 13 Oct. 2005; published: 8 Dec. 2005 61
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 1093: 61­68 (2005)
www.mapress.com/zootaxa/
Description of a new Geodipsas snake from northern Madagascar
(Squamata: Colubridae)
VINCENZO MERCURIO & FRANCO ANDREONE 1
Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, I-10123, Torino, Italy;
e-mails: vincenzomercurio@gmx.de and f.andreone@libero.it
Abstract
We describe a new species of the colubrid snake genus Geodipsas from the rainforests of the
Anjanaharibe-Sud and Tsaratanana massifs, northern Madagascar. Geodipsas fatsibe n. sp. differs
from the other described species of the genus in the following characteristics: 21 rows of dorsal
scales at midbody, high number of ventral (198) scales and by the presence of very large hooked
spines on the hemipenis. Geodipsas fatsibe is most similar to Geodipsas infralineata. Most likely
they are sister species, with a vicariant northern vs. central southern distribution.
Key words: Geodipsas; Colubridae; new species; Madagascar

Source: Andreone, Franco - Zoology Department, Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino

Collections: Biology and Medicine; Environmental Sciences and Ecology