New record of Bothriopsis bilineata (Wied, 1825) (Serpentes, Viperidae) in the Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, with a discussion on its conservation

Abstract

This study details a new area of occurrence for Bothriopsis bilineata in the Atlantic Forest of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. This is the most inland record for the species in southeastern Brazil and increases the species’ known distribution by nearly 250 km to the West and 340 km to the South of the only other record in the state. The occurrence of this species in preserved fragments underlines the relevance for the conservation of large remnants of this habitat and to the urgency of including this snake in the state endangered-species list. Keywords: Bothriopsis bilineata, Viperidae, geographic distribution, conservation, Atlantic Forest.