Generic recognition for a neglected lineage of South American pitvipers (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae), with the description of a new species from the Colombian Chocó. American Museum novitates ; no. 3316

Abstract

The name Bothrops campbelli Freiere-Lascano (1991) is currently applied to two distinct species. We restrict use of the name campbelli to the species that occurs on the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador, and we describe the species that occurs in the Chocoan rainforest of western Colombia. Besides B. campbelli, the closest living relatives of the new species appear to be B. hyoprora and B. microphthalmus of the Atlantic slopes and lowlands of northern South America. Together these four species comprise a distinctive clade for which we propose the new generic name Bothrocophias.