Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update:
July 22nd, 2024.
 
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Genus
Apostolepis
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Black-tailed Blackheads, South American Wormsnakes
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Schwarzschwänzige Schwarzkopfnattern
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Sorthalede Sorthovedsnoge
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1862 |  |
Apostolepis Cope (type species: Elapomorphus flavotorquatus Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril 1854) |
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1862 | |
Elapomojus Jan (type species: Elapomorphus dimidiatus Jan 1862; syn. Williams & Wallach 1989) |
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1869 | |
Rhynchonyx Peters (type species: Rhynchonyx ambiniger Peters 1869) |
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1930 | |
Parapostolepis Amaral (type species: Apostolepis polylepis Amaral 1922; syn. Williams & Wallach 1989) |
Contents:
35 species, of which 22 (62.9%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Remarks:
Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) regarded Parapostolepis as a valid genus, referring to pers. comm. with T. de Lema.
Distribution:
South America.
Reported from:
Argentina,
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Acre,
Alagoas,
Amapa,
Amazonas,
Bahia,
Ceara,
Distrito Federal,
Espirito Santo,
Goias,
Maranhao,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Para,
Paraiba,
Parana,
Pernambuco,
Piaui,
Rio de Janeiro,
Rio Grande do Norte,
Rio Grande do Sul,
Rondonia,
Roraima,
Santa Catarina,
Sao Paulo,
Sergipe,
Tocantins),
Colombia,
Ecuador,
French Guiana,
Guyana,
Paraguay,
Peru,
Surinam.
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Apostolepis adhara
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São Salvador Blackhead, São Salvador Burrow-snake
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São Salvador-Schwarzkopfnatter
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São Salvador-sorthovedsnog
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2018 | |
Apostolepis adhara França, Barbo, Silva-Júnior, Silva & Zaher |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Tocantins).
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Apostolepis albicollaris
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White-collared Blackhead
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Weisshals-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Hvidhalset Sorthovedsnog
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2002 | |
Apostolepis albicollaris Lema |
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2003 | |
Apostolepis cerradoensis Lema (syn. Entiauspe-Neto, Koch, Guedes, Paredero, Tiutenko & Loebmann 2022) |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Distrito Federal,
Goias,
Minas Gerais).
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Apostolepis ambiniger
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Paraguayan Blackhead, Southern South American Blackhead
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Paraguayische Schwarzkopfnatter
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Paraguayisk Sorthovedsnog
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1869 | |
Rhynchonyx ambiniger Peters |
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Apostolepis ambinigra Boulenger 1896 |
Remarks:
Previously included tenuis and vittatus.
Now considered endemic to Paraguay.
Records from Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil were based on misidentified or mislabelled specimens (Entiauspe-Neto, Koch, Harvey, Colli & Guedes 2021).
Distribution:
Paraguay.
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Apostolepis arenaria
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Bahia Blackhead, (Sand Dunes Blackhead)
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Bahia-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Bahia-sorthovedsnog
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1993 | |
Apostolepis arenarius Rodrigues [1992] |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Bahia).
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Apostolepis assimilis
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Common Red Blackhead
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Gewöhnliche Rote Schwarzkopfnatter
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Almindelig Rød Sorthovedsnog
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1861 | |
Elapomorphus assimilis Reinhardt |
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Elapomorphus affinis [lapsus] Cope |
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Apostolepis assimilis Boulenger 1896 |
Remarks:
Previously included tertulianobeui.
Following Entiauspe-Neto, Koch, Guedes & Tiutenko (2020), records from Bolivia, as well as the Brazilian states Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia,
and Tocantins (Ruschi 1966; Lema 2001; Lema 2002; Costa & Bérnils 2018) are regarded as erroneous or in need of confirmation.
Distribution:
Brazil
(Distrito Federal,
Goias,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Parana,
Rio de Janeiro,
Sao Paulo),
Paraguay.
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Apostolepis borellii
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Urucum Blackhead
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Urucum-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Urucum-sorthovedsnog
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1904 | |
Apostolepis borellii Peracca |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of nigroterminata (e.g., Harvey 1999; Lema 2001), but as a valid species by others
(e.g., Ferrarezzi 1993; Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014, referring to pers. comm. with T. de Lema).
Validity confirmed by Martins & Lema (2015).
Not mentioned for Mato Grosso do Sul by
Ferreira, Terra, Piatti, Delatorre, Strüssmann, Béda, Kawashita-Ribeiro, Landgref-Filho, Aoki, Campos, Souza, Ávila, Duleba, Martins, Rita & Albuquerque (2017).
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Mato Grosso do Sul).
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Apostolepis breviceps
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Chacoan Blackhead, Short-headed Blackhead
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Chaco-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Chaco-sorthovedsnog
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2001 | |
Apostolepis breviceps Harvey, Gonzales & Schrocchi |
Distribution:
Bolivia.
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Apostolepis cearensis
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Caatinga Blackhead
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Caatinga-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Caatinga-sorthovedsnog
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1915 | |
Apostolepis cearensis Gomes |
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1925 | |
Apostolepis amarali Werner (syn. Lema 2001) |
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2004 | |
Apostolepis freitasi De Lema (syn. Ferrarezzi, Barbo & Albuquerque 2005) |
Remarks:
Previously included sanctaeritae.
Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) treated freitasi as a valid species.
Distribution:
Brazil
(Alagoas,
Bahia,
Ceara,
Maranhao,
Paraiba,
Pernambuco,
Piaui,
Rio Grande do Norte,
Sergipe).
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Apostolepis christineae
|
Sierra das Araras Blackhead
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Araras-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Araras-sorthovedsnog
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2002 | |
Apostolepis christineae Lema |
Remarks:
Presence in Mato Grosso do Sul is considered doubtful (Costa & Bérnils 2018).
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Mato Grosso).
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Apostolepis dimidiata
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Common Bilineate Blackhead
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Gewöhnliche Zweistreifige Schwarzkopfnatter
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Almindelig Tostribet Sorthovedsnog
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1862 | |
Elapomorphus dimidiatus Jan |
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| |
Elapomoius dimidiatus Boulenger 1896 |
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Apostolepis dimidiata Lema 1984 |
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1880 | |
Elapomorphus erythronotus Peters (syn. Lema 1986) |
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Apostolepis erythronotus Cope 1887 |
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1897 | |
Apostolepis nigriceps Werner (syn. Giraudo & Scrocchi 2002) |
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1978 | |
Apostolepis barrioi Lema (syn. Entiauspe-Neto, Sena, Tiutenko & Loebmann 2019) |
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1978 | |
Apostolepis ventrimaculata Lema (syn. Lema 1986) |
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1978 | |
Apostolepis villaricae Lema (syn. Lema 1993) |
Remarks:
Previously included lineata.
A number of previous records lie outside the range shown by Cabral, Lema & Renner (2017) and are therefore disregarded herein.
These records include Bolivia (e.g., Lema 2001), Distrito Federal (e.g., Harvey 1999; Lema & Renner 2012 [as "cf. dimidiata"], and Goias (e.g., Lema 1993;
Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014).
Records from Rio de Janeiro are erroneous and refer to Elapomorphus quinquelineata (Costa & Bérnils 2018).
A. barrioi was previously regarded as a synonym of dimidiata (e.g., Lema 1993), then revalidated (Cabral, Lema & Renner 2017), and subsequently
synonymized again with dimidiata (Entiauspe-Neto, Sena, Tiutenko & Loebmann 2019).
Distribution:
Argentina,
Brazil
(Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Parana,
Sao Paulo),
Paraguay.
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Apostolepis dorbignyi
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Western Blackhead, (D'Orbigny's Blackhead)
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Westliche Schwarzkopfnatter
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Vestlig Sorthovedsnog
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1837 | |
Calamaria d'orbignyi Schlegel |
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| |
Elapomorphus orbignyi Duméril, Bibron & Duméril 1854 |
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Apostolepis orbignyi Cope 1861 |
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Elapomorphus d'orbignyi Jan 1862 |
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Apostolepis dorbignyi Boulenger 1896 |
Remarks:
The type locality ("Chile") is apparently in error. Presence in Brazil needs confirmation (Lema 2001), although listed for the country by some authors (e.g., Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970; Costa & Bernils 2014).
Distribution:
Bolivia.
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Apostolepis flavotorquata
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Yellow-collared Blackhead, Central Blackhead, (Cerrado Blackhead)
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Gelbhals-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Gulhalset Sorthovedsnog
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1854 | |
Elapomorphus flavotorquatus Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril |
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Apostolepis flavotorquata Cope 1962 |
Remarks:
Previously included nigrolineata.
Not mentioned for Mato Grosso do Sul by
Ferreira, Terra, Piatti, Delatorre, Strüssmann, Béda, Kawashita-Ribeiro, Landgref-Filho, Aoki, Campos, Souza, Ávila, Duleba, Martins, Rita & Albuquerque (2017).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Bahia,
Distrito Federal,
Goias,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Para,
Sao Paulo,
Tocantins).
|
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Apostolepis gaboi
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Oueimadas Blackhead, São Francisco Blackhead, (Sand Dunes Blackhead)
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Oueimadas-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Oueimadas-sorthovedsnog
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1993 | |
Apostolepis gaboi Rodrigues [1992] |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Bahia).
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Apostolepis goiasensis
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Goias Blackhead, (Prado's Blackhead)
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Goias-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Goias-sorthovedsnog
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1942 | |
Apostolepis goiasensis Prado |
Remarks:
Presence in Sao Paulo (e.g., Zaher, Barbo, Martínez, Nogueira, Rodrigues & Sawaya 2011) is considered doubtful (Costa & Bérnils 2018).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Distrito Federal,
Goias,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais).
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Apostolepis intermedia
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Mato Grosso Blackhead, (Koslowsky's Blackhead)
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Mato-Grosso-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Mato Grosso-sorthovedsnog
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1898 | |
Apostolepis intermedia Koslowsky |
Remarks:
A report from Bolivia (Harvey 1998), as well as its probable repetition by Tipton 2005), refer to phillipsii (Harvey 1999; Albuquerque & Lema 2012).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Goias,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul),
Paraguay.
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Apostolepis kikoi
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Guimarães Highland Blackhead, Chapada dos Guimarães Blackhead
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Guimarães-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Guimarães-sorthovedsnog
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2018 | |
Apostolepis kikoi Santos, Entiauspe-Neto, Silva Araújo, Souza, Lema, Strüssmann & Albuquerque |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Mato Grosso).
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Apostolepis lineata
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Hognosed Lined Blackhead
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Hakennasen-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Tryne-sorthovedsnog
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1887 | |
Apostolepis erythronotus lineatus Cope |
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Apostolepis lineata Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1972 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of erythronota (currently a synonym of dimidiata) (e.g., Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970). Later regarded as a synonym of dimidiata by Lema (1986), then as a valid species by same author (Lema 2001), along with Peters & Orejas-Miranda (1972), although Harvey (1999) retained it as a synonym of dimidiata.
Distribution:
Brazil
(Mato Grosso).
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Apostolepis longicaudata
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Piaui Blackhead, Santa Philomena Blackhead
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Piaui-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Piaui-sorthovedsnog
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1921 | |
Apostolepis longicaudata Gomes |
Remarks:
Status of records from Alagoas, Espirito Santo, and Paraiba is uncertain (Costa & Bérnils 2018).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Maranhao,
Para,
Paraiba,
Piaui,
Rio Grande do Norte,
Tocantins).
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Apostolepis multicincta
|
Many-banded Blackhead, Pampa Grande Blackhead, (Harvey's Blackhead)
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Vielbändige Schwarzkopfnatter
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Mangebåndet Sorthovedsnog
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1999 | |
Apostolepis multicincta Harvey |
Distribution:
Argentina,
Bolivia.
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Apostolepis nelsonjorgei
|
Minacu Blackhead
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Minacu-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Minacu-sorthovedsnog
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2004 | |
Apostolepis nelsonjorgei Lema & Renner |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Goias,
Para,
Tocantins).
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Apostolepis niceforoi
|
Colombian Blackhead, Amazon Blackhead, (Amazon Burrowing Snake)
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Kolumbianische Schwarzkopfnatter
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Colombiansk Sorthovedsnog
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1935 | |
Apostolepis niceforoi Amaral |
Remarks:
Restricted to Colombia (Entiauspe-Neto, Medina-Rangel, Barreto-Guedes & Tiutenko 2020), although reported also from Ecuador (Lema 2001).
The latter record needs confirmation.
The type locality of this species is in Colombia (Vanzolini 1986), not Brazil as stated by some authors (e.g., Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970).
Distribution:
Colombia.
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Apostolepis nigrolineata
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Para Blackhead, Rainforest Blackhead
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Para-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Para-sorthovedsnog
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1869 | |
Elapomorphus nigrolineatus Peters |
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Apostolepis nigrolineata Boulenger 1896 |
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1903 | |
Apostolepis pymi Boulenger (syn. Curcio, Nunes, Harvey & Rodrigues 2011) |
Remarks:
Regarded as a synonym of flavotorquata by Peters & Orejas-Miranda (1970), but as a valid species in most recent works
(e.g., Lema 2001; Ferrarezzi, Barbo & Albuquerque 2005; Avila-Pires, Hoogmoed & Rocha 2010; Lema & Albuquerque 2010).
Status of pymi has been disputed.
It has been regarded as a synonym of nigrolineatus (e.g., Lema 2001), or considered a valid species
(Vanzolini 1986; Lema & Renner 1998: Ferrarezzi, Barbo & Albuquerque 2005; Lema & Albuquerque 2010; Nogueira, Barbo & Ferrarezzi 2012; Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014).
However, Curcio, Nunes, Harvey & Rodrigues (2011) retained it as a synonym of nigrolineata, pending further studies.
Lema & Albuquerque (2010) regarded quinquelineata as a synonym of nigrolineata, which was followed by Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014).
Not included for Guyana and Surinam by Kuijpers (2024).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Maranhao,
Mato Grosso,
Para,
Rondonia),
Guyana,
Surinam.
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Apostolepis nigroterminata
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Peruvian Blackhead
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Peruvianische Schwarzkopfnatter
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Peruviansk Sorthovedsnog
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1896 | |
Apostolepis nigroterminata Boulenger |
Remarks:
Previously included borellii.
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Acre,
Mato Grosso),
Peru.
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Apostolepis phillipsae
|
Velasco Blackhead, (Phillips' Blackhead)
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Velasco-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Velasco-sorthovedsnog
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1999 | |
Apostolepis phillipsi Harvey |
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| |
Apostolepis phillipsae Michels & Bauer 2004 [justified emendation] |
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Mato Grosso).
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Apostolepis polylepis
|
Hawkbeak Blackhead, (Piaui Blackhead)
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Kleinschuppige Schwarzkopfnatter
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Mangeskællet Sorthovedsnog
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1922 | |
Apostolepis polylepis Amaral |
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Parapostolepis polylepis Amaral 1930 |
Remarks:
Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) regarded Parapostolepis as a valid genus, referring to pers. comm. with T. de Lema.
Correct publication year of the original description is 1922, not 1921 (Vanzolini 1977; Costa & Bérnils 2015).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Bahia,
Maranhao,
Piaui,
Tocantins).
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Apostolepis quinquelineata
|
Five-lined Blackhead, Guyana Blackhead, Western Amazonian Blackhead
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Fünfstreifige Schwarzkopfnatter
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Femstribet Sorthovedsnog
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1896 | |
Apostolepis quinquelineata Boulenger |
Remarks:
Regarded as a synonym of nigrolineata by Lema & Albuquerque (2010), followed by Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014), but as a valid species by
Curcio, Nunes, Harvey & Rodrigues (2011), pending further studies. Previously included rondoni.
Distribution:
Brazil
(Amapa,
Amazonas,
Ceara,
Para,
Roraima),
French Guiana,
Guyana,
Surinam.
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Apostolepis quirogai
|
Missiones Blackhead
|
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Missiones-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
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Missiones-sorthovedsnog
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|
1998 | |
Apostolepis quirogai Giraudo & Scrocchi |
Distribution:
Argentina,
Brazil
(Rio Grande do Sul).
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Apostolepis rondoni
|
Rondon Blackhead
|
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Rondon-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Rondon-sorthovedsnog
|
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1925 | |
Apostolepis rondoni Amaral |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of quinquelineata (e.g., Lema & Renner 1998; Lema 2001).
Considered a valid species herein, following Martins & Lema (2015).
Not mentioned by Entiauspe-Neto, Sena, Tiutenko & Loebmann (2019), nor by
Nogueira, Argôlo, Arzamendia, Azevedo, Barbo, Bérnils, Bolochio, Borges-Martins, Brasil-Godinho, Braz, Buononato, Cisneros-Heredia & Colli (2019).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Mato Grosso,
Rondonia).
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Apostolepis sanctaeritae
|
Tocantins Blackhead, Santa Rita Blackhead
|
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Tocantins-Schwarzkopfnatter
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Tocantins-sorthovedsnog
|
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1924 | |
Apostolepis sanctae-ritae Werner |
|
2005 | |
Apostolepis ammodites Ferrarezzi, Barbo & Albuquerque (syn. Entiauspe-Neto, Koch, Guedes & Tiutenko 2020) |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of flavotorquata (e.g., Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970), later revalidated as a separate species (Lema & Fernandes 1997; Lema 2001),
then synonymized with cearensis (Ferrarezzi, Barbo & Albuquerque 2005), but most recently revalidated again (Entiauspe-Neto, Koch, Guedes & Tiutenko 2020).
Records from Mato Grosso do Sul (as ammodites) are considered erroneous (Costa & Bérnils 2018).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Bahia,
Distrito Federal,
Goias,
Maranhao,
Mato Grosso,
Minas Gerais,
Tocantins).
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Apostolepis serrana
|
Pimentel Barbosa Blackhead
|
|
Pimentel-Barbosa-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Pimentel Barbosa-sorthovedsnog
|
|
2006 | |
Apostolepis serrana Lema & Renner |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Mato Grosso).
|
|
|
Apostolepis striata
|
Rondonia Blackhead
|
|
Rondonia-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Rondonia-sorthovedsnog
|
|
2004 | |
Apostolepis striata Lema |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Rondonia).
|
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Apostolepis tenuis
|
Bolivian Blackhead
|
|
Bolivianische Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Boliviansk Sorthovedsnog
|
|
1927 | |
Apostolepis tenuis Ruthven |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of ambiniger (e.g., Amaral 1930), but without discussion. The species was revalidated by Hartweg (1932) and Peters & Orejas-Miranda (1972). The latter authors had earlier (Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970) overlooked Hartweg's paper, though, and kept tenuis in the synonymy of ambiniger.
Distribution:
Bolivia.
|
|
|
Apostolepis tertulianobeui
|
Uberlândia Blackhead
|
|
Uberlândia-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Uberlândia-sorthovedsnog
|
|
2004 | |
Apostolepis tertulianobeui Lema |
|
2011 | |
Apostolepis parassimilis Lema & Renner (syn. Costa & Bérnils 2015) |
Remarks:
Regarded as a synonym of assimilis by Ferrarezzi, Barbo & Albuquerque (2005), but resurrected as a separate species by Lema & Renner (2007).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Bahia,
Minas Gerais).
|
|
|
Apostolepis thalesdelemai
|
Ubajara Blackhead
|
|
Ubajara-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Ubajara-sorthovedsnog
|
|
2017 | |
Apostolepis thalesdelemai Borges-Nojosa, Lima, Bezerra & Harris |
|
2017 | |
Apostolepis mariae Borges-Nojosa, Lima, Bezerra & Harris (syn. Entiauspe-Neto, Guedes, Loebmann & Lema 2020) |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Ceara).
|
|
|
Apostolepis underwoodi
|
Santa Cruz Blackhead
|
|
Santa-Cruz-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Santa Cruz-sorthovedsnog
|
|
2017 | |
Apostolepis underwoodi Lema & Campbell |
Distribution:
Bolivia.
|
|
|
Apostolepis vittata
|
Beaked Blackhead
|
|
Schnabel-Schwarzkopfnatter
|
|
Næbbet Sorthovedsnog
|
|
1887 | |
Rhynchonyx ambiniger vittatus Cope |
|
| |
Apostolepis ambinigra vittata Boulenger 1896 |
|
| |
Apostolepis vittata Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1972 |
|
2016 | |
Apostolepis roncadori Lema (syn. Entiauspe-Neto & Tiutenko 2020) |
Remarks:
Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) included Paraguay in the distribution of this species, but no other sources seem to support this.
It was not included by Cacciali, Scott, Aquino-Ortiz, Fitzgerald & Smith (2016) in their checklist for the country.
Distribution:
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Mato Grosso).
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