Taxonomic key to the snakes (Squamata: Ophidia) species of the Itajaí Valley, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

Snakes represent the richest Reptile group in Brazil, amounting to 412 species and 40% of them are endemic for the country. This great richness combined with the poor taxonomic knowledge makes the identification a difficult process. To correctly identify a specimen, guides, taxonomic revisions, identification keys, and consulting specialists are the most used methods. Identification keys are based on separation and segregation of characters, where the chosen paths lead to the appropriate taxa. These tools are normally used by students and non-taxonomists. Also, they can be very helpful with the general public, where they can identify the species with simple characters. This study aims to develop keys for the snakes from the State of Santa Catarina state, Brazil, focusing on the Itajaí Valley species. We surveyed 351 specimens deposited in Universidade Regional de Blumenau Zoological Collection (CZFURB), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (CHUFSC), and Natural History Museum of Capão da Imbuia (MHNCI) herpetological collections. Characters including pholidosis, dentition, and coloration patterns were examined from the 46 snake species registered from Itajaí Valley.