Galvarinus chilensis

Galvarinus chilensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Galvarinus
Species:
G. chilensis
Binomial name
Galvarinus chilensis
(Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms: 118 
  • Coronella chilensis
    Schlegel 1837
  • Dipsas chilensis
    (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Mesotes chilensis
    (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Tachymenis chilensis
    (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Psammophylax assimilis
    Jan, 1866
  • Tachymenis peruviana var. coronellina
    F. Werner, 1898: 259
  • Tachymenis peruviana var. catenata
    F. Werner, 1898
  • Tachymenis chilensis coronellina
    F. Werner, 1898

Galvarinus chilensis, commonly known as the Chilean slender snake, is a species of venomous snake belonging to the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Taxonomy

Galvarinus chilensis was first formally described as Coronella chilensis in 1837 by the German ornithologist, herpetologist and ichthyologist Hermann Schlegel, with its type locality given as Chile. In 1854, Charles Frédéric Girard reclassified C. chilensis into the genus Tachymenis, and in 2022, Trevine et al. proposed the new genus Galvarinus for the T. chilensis species group, the trans-Andean clade within Tachymenis, and Tachmymenis chilensis was designated as the type species of the new genus. The genus Galvarinus is classified within the tribe Tachymenini of the subfamily Dipsadinae in the family Colubridae.

Subspecies

Two subspecies of Galvarinus chilensis are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

Etymology

Galvarinus chilensis is the type species of the genus Galvarinus, a name that is derived from the famous Mapuche warrior Galvarino, who fought against the Spanish in the 16th century. The specific name, chilensis, refers to the type locality, Chile.

Description

Galvarinus chilensis is a medium-sized snake. Maximum total length (tail included) is 41 cm (16 in), with a pointed head which is not clearly defined from the neck. It has a vertical pupil in its eye, and the snout is rounded. The back is rufous-grey or brownish, with a pale grey stripe with black margins down the spine. The head is grey brown with three dark streaks radiating from the eye. The underside is grey with black edges.

Geographic distribution and habitat

Galvarinus chilensis is mostly found in Chile, where its range extends from the Atacama Desert south to Chiloé Island; it also occurs in the Argentine provinces of Neuquén, Chubut, and Río Negro. This species occurs from sea level to 2,800 m (9,200 ft) in deserts, Mediterranean and temperate scrub, forests, puna grassland and temperate forests.

Biology

Galvarinus chilensis is an ovoviviparous snake. It preys predominately upon frogs and lizards. It is a rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) venomous species which has a proteolytic-hemolytic venom.

References

  1. 1 2 Ortiz, J.C.; Victoriano, P.; Avilés, R.; Garin, C.; Nunez, J.; Sallabery [sic], N.; Vidal, M.; Nunez, H. (2019). "Galvarinus chilensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T177567A61320360. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T177567A61320360.en. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Galvarinus chilensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 July 2025.
  3. ↑ Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII.
  4. ↑ Trevine, V.C.; Grazziotin, F.G.; Giraudo, A.; Sallaberry-Pinchera, N.; Vianna, J.A.; Zaher, H. (2022). "The systematics of Tachymenini (Serpentes, Dipsadidae): An updated classification based on molecular and morphological evidence". Zoologica Scripta. 51 (6): 643–663. doi:10.1111/zsc.12565. (Galvarinus chilensis, new combination).
  5. ↑ Ruiz De Gamboa, Margarita (2016). "Lista actualizada de los reptiles de Chile" (PDF). Boletín Chileno de Herpetología (in Spanish). 3: 7–12.
  6. 1 2 "Galvarinus chilensis". Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad de la Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 July 2025.

Further reading