Galvarinus chilensis
| Galvarinus chilensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Galvarinus |
| Species: | G. chilensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Galvarinus chilensis (Schlegel, 1837)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Galvarinus chilensis, the Chilean slender snake, is a species of snake belonging to the family Colubridae. This species is found in southern South America.
Taxonomy
Galvarinus chilensis was first formally described as Coronella chilensis in 1837 by the German ornithologist, herpetologist and ichthyologist Hermann Schlegel, with its type locality given as Chile. In 1854 Charles Frédéric Girard reclassified C. chilensis into the genus Tachymenis,[2] and in 2022, Trevine et al. proposed the new genus Galvarinus for the T. chilensis species group, the trans-Andean clade within Tachymenis, and Tachmymenis chilensis was designated as the type species of the new genus. The genus Galvarinus is classified within the tribe Tachymenini of the subfamily Dipsadinae in the family Colubridae.[3]
Subspecies
There are two subspecies of G. chilensis:[4]
- G. c. chilensis (Schlegel, 1837) - Talca south to 44°S
- G. c. coronellinus (Werner, 1898) - Copiapo south to Talca
Etymology
Galvarinus chilensis is the type species of the genus Galvarinus, a name that is derived from the famous Mapuche warrior Galvarino, who fought against the Spanish in the 16th century. The specific name refers to the type locality, Chile.[2]
Description
Galvarinus chilensis is a medium sized snake, maximum length is 41 cm (16 in), with a pointed head which is not clearly defined from the neck. It has vertical pupils in its eyes and the snout is rounded. The back is rufous-grey or brownish with a pale grey stripe down the spine with black margins. The head is grey brown with three bands radiating from the eye. The underside is grey with black edges.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Galvarinus chilensis is mostly found in Chile, where its range extends from the Atacama Desert south to Chiloé Island; it also occurs in the Argentine provinces of Neuquén, Chubut, and Río Negro. This species occurs from sea level to 2,800 m (9,200 ft) in deserts, Mediterranean and Temperate scrub, forests, Puna grassland and temperate forests.[1]
Biology
Galvarinus chilensis is an ovoviviparous snake. It feeds mostly on frogs and lizards. This a back-fanged venomous species which has a proteolytic-hemolytic venom.[5]
References
- ^ a b Ortiz, J.C.; Victoriano, P.; Avilés, R.; et al. (2019). "Tachymenis chilensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T177567A61320360. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T177567A61320360.en. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Galvarinus chilensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 July 2025.
- ^ Trevine, V. C.; Grazziotin, F. G.; Giraudo, A.; et al. (2022). "The systematics of Tachymenini (Serpentes, Dipsadidae): An updated classification based on molecular and morphological evidence". Zoologica Scripta. 51: 643–663. doi:10.1111/zsc.12565.
- ^ Ruiz De Gamboa, Margarita (2016). "Lista actualizada de los reptiles de Chile" (PDF). Boletín Chileno de Herpetología (in Spanish). 3: 7–12.
- ^ a b "Galvarinus chilensis". Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad de la Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 July 2025.