New localities, expanded geographic distribution and updated distribution maps of the snakes of continental Chile (Squamata: Dipsadidae)

Abstract

I reviewed the historical and recent distribution history of snakes in continental Chile, both from the scientific literature and from the online platform iNaturalist. For the three northernmost species, registred in the Region of Arica and Parinacota (Incaspis simnosii, I. tachymenoides and Pseudalsophis elegans), there are few records, with four to five localities per species, and the Quebrada de Camarones is the southern limit of all of them. For Tachymenis peruviana there are 20 localities, from Visviri, in the Arica and Parinacota Region, to Quebrada de La Plata, in the Antofagasta Region, with an altitudinal range between 900 masl and 4,700 masl. For Galvarinus chilensis, 232 localities were obtained, from La Chimba National Reserve, in the Antofagasta Region, to Puerto Cisnes, in the Aysén Region, and with an altitudinal range from sea level to 3,350 masl, the new maximum value. In the case of Philodryas chamissonis, 326 localities were obtained, from Rinconada de Paposo, in the Antofagasta Region, to Isla Mancera, in the Los Ríos Region, and from sea level to a new altitudinal maximum, at 2,950 masl. With this information, an updated distribution map was prepared for the three most abundant species in Chile.