and Bentim , 2007 ( Squamata : Serpentes : Colubridae ) : Range extension and new state record

The genus Hydrodynastes Fitzinger, 1843 is easily diagnosed by the combination of the following external morphological characters: presence of subocular scales (supralabials do not contact the orbit), preocular, anal plate entire, rostral not modified, 2 internasals, 2 pairs of chinshields or more and dorsals in odd numbered rows with reduction (Starace 1998). The genus has semi-aquatic living habits (Cunha and Nascimento 1978) and currently comprises three species: H. gigas Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854, H. bicinctus Hermann, 1804, and the most recently described H. melanogigas Franco, Fernandes and Bentim, 2007 which can be distinguished from its congeners by having a general melanistic color pattern, two apical pits, and a creamish-brown venter outlining two lateral stripes that disappears gradually towards the tail. Hydrodynastes melanogigas is also the least known species of the genus being reported only from the State of Tocantins, Central Brazil (Franco et al. 2007). We hereby report a new record of Hydrodynastes melanogigas (Figure 1) and provide a geographic distribution map. Two specimens (a male and a female) were collected during a fieldwork in the municipality of Carolina, southwestern State of Maranhão (07°20’32” S, 47°28’20” W), in June 2010. The specimens were caught within gallery forests on the Tocantins River in altitudes of 175 and 190 m asl. Morphometric and scutelation data follows Dowling (1951) and Peters (1964). Measurements were taken using a digital caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm, except for snout–vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL), which were taken with a flexible ruler to the nearest millimeter. The collecting activity was legally permitted under the process IBAMA 02001.005151/2003-21 and permit IBAMA 0187/2009 CGFAU/LIC. The male has a total length of 2.092mm (SVL=1.580mm and TL=512mm) and the female 1.885mm (SVL=1.455mm and TL=430mm). Other data are included in Table 1. Abstract: Two specimens of the poorly known Colubridae snake Hydrodynastes melanogigas were collected in the municipality of Carolina, southwestern state of Maranhão in gallery forests on the Tocantins River. These records represent the northernmost locality for the species. 1 Systema Naturae Consultoria Ambiental Ltda. Rua 58 no 217, Jardim Goiás. CEP 74810-250. Goiânia, Goiás. Brazil. 2 Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia. Avenida Universitária, 1440 – Setor Universitário. CEP 74605-010. Goiânia, Goiás. Brazil. 3 Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, Mestrado em Ciências Ambientais e Saúde. Rua 232, no 128, 3o andar, Área V . CEP 74605-140. Goiânia, Goiás. Brasil. * Corresponding author. E-mail: brenohamdan@gmail.com Nelson Jorge da Silva Jr. 1,3, Breno Hamdan 1*, Itamar Jr. Tonial 1, Hélder Lúcio R. da Silva 1,2 and Carlos Eduardo D. Cintra 1,2 Hydrodynastes melanogigas Franco, Fernandes and Bentim, 2007 (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae): Range extension and new state record

The genus Hydrodynastes Fitzinger, 1843 is easily diagnosed by the combination of the following external morphological characters: presence of subocular scales (supralabials do not contact the orbit), preocular, anal plate entire, rostral not modified, 2 internasals, 2 pairs of chinshields or more and dorsals in odd numbered rows with reduction (Starace 1998).The genus has semi-aquatic living habits (Cunha and Nascimento 1978) and currently comprises three species: H. gigas Duméril, Bibron andDuméril, 1854, H. bicinctus Hermann, 1804, and the most recently described H. melanogigas Franco, Fernandes and Bentim, 2007 which can be distinguished from its congeners by having a general melanistic color pattern, two apical pits, and a creamish-brown venter outlining two lateral stripes that disappears gradually towards the tail.Hydrodynastes melanogigas is also the least known species of the genus being reported only from the State of Tocantins, Central Brazil (Franco et al. 2007).
We hereby report a new record of Hydrodynastes melanogigas (Figure 1) and provide a geographic distribution map.Two specimens (a male and a female) were collected during a fieldwork in the municipality of Carolina, southwestern State of Maranhão (07°20'32" S, 47°28'20" W), in June 2010.The specimens were caught within gallery forests on the Tocantins River in altitudes of 175 and 190 m asl.
Morphometric and scutelation data follows Dowling (1951) and Peters (1964).Measurements were taken using a digital caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm, except for snout-vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL), which were taken with a flexible ruler to the nearest millimeter.The collecting activity was legally permitted under the process IBAMA 02001.005151/2003-21and permit IBAMA 0187/2009 -CGFAU/LIC.
Abstract: Two specimens of the poorly known Colubridae snake Hydrodynastes melanogigas were collected in the municipality of Carolina, southwestern state of Maranhão in gallery forests on the Tocantins River.These records represent the northernmost locality for the species.
Nelson Jorge da Silva Jr.1,3 , Breno Hamdan 1* , Itamar Jr. Tonial 1 , Hélder Lúcio R. da Silva  Specimens were deposited at the herpetological collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG 24383 and 24384).This is the first record for the state of Maranhão and corresponds to the northernmost limit of this taxon, extending ca.350 km N-NE from the municipality of Lajeado, Tocantins state (Figure 2) (Franco et al. 2007).
) of the specimens of Hydrodynastes melanogigas collected at the municipality of Carolina.VE = number of ventrals; DO = number of dorsals; SC = number of subcaudals; SL = number of supralabials; IL = number of infralabials; HL = head length; SVL = snout-vent length; TL = tail length; MD = midbody diameter.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Geographic distribution of Hydrodynastes melanogigas indicating the previously known localities on Tocantins state (triangles) and the new record for Maranhão state (circle).