title: A new species of blunt-headed vine snake (Colubridae, Imantodes) from the Chocó region of Ecuador.
abstract: We describe a new species of Imantodes from the Chocó region of northwestern Ecuador. The new species differs most significantly from all other congeners in lacking a loreal scale. We analyze the phylogenetic relationships among species of Imantodes based on two mitochondrial genes, and postulate that the new species and Imantodes lentiferus are sister taxa. A key to the species of Imantodes from Ecuador is presented.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Torres-Carvajal
authors.forename: Mario H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yánez-Muñoz
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quirola
authors.lastname: Eric N Smith
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almendáriz
keywords: Chocó; Dipsadinae; Ecuador; Imantodes; snakes; systematics