Alopoglossus atriventris

Pertinent taxonomic references. Duellman (1973, 1978), Ávila-Pires (1995), Pellegrino et al. (2001), Castoe et al. (2004), K ӧhler et al. (2012), Lobos (2013), Torres-Carvajal & Lobos (2014), Goicoechea et al. (2016). Taxonomic remarks. The molecular phylogeny of Alopoglossus species from Ecuador presented by Lobos (2013) revealed paraphyletism of A. atriventris. In two distinct subclades, the author presented at least three different candidates of possible new species in A. atriventris. Preliminary results of a phylogeographical study of Alopoglossus species, by F. Werneck, MAR-J, and team, suggest two different lineages of A. atriventris in Brazil.

Distribution and habitat. Alopoglossus atriventris is endemic to western Amazonia, with its eastern distribution delimited by the Negro and Tapajós rivers, occurring in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (Fig. 1). In Brazil, it is known from the states of Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia. Alopoglossus atriventris is terrestrial and diurnal, inhabits terra firme forest (primary forest and forest disturbed due to logging — Duellman 1973, 1978; Ávila-Pires 1995), where it is mainly found among leaf litter, in shaded or partially shaded spots (Vitt et al. 2007). Dixon & Soini (1986) reported it " associated with slopes of small hills surrounding temporary or permanent swampy areas ". Vitt et al. (2007) reported two individuals climbing the base of tree trunks (about 0.6 m above ground).