Videos of the new specimens of Helicops boitata (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Hydropsini), with data on morphological variation and behavior

We report information on morphological variation and behavior of the recently described watersnake Helicops boitata, previously known strictly from the holotype. Our data come from five new specimens fortuitously found in a private area near the type locality, in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands. The expanded sample revealed polymorphism in at least two scalation features assumed as diagnostic of the species (i.e., undivided condition of the cloacal plate and nasal scales) and confirmed the uniqueness of the ventral color pattern, as well as the divided condition of the foremost ventral shields. Besides, as reported for the holotype, three individuals collected alive also exhibited harmless behavior when handled, a rather unusual feature among snakes of the genus Helicops. Other new behavioral observations include a mostly nocturnal activity (in contrast with the previous data) and the ability to dig galleries in the soft substrate when attempting to escape. The finding of five individua..., We collected the new specimens of Helicops boitata and deposited them in the Coleção Herpetológica do Instituto de Biociências da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT-R) (see Sabaj 2020). Two snakes freshly killed by the bulldozer were collected on 15 (UFMT-R 12520) and 16 (UFMT-R 12521) October of 2019. UFMT-R 12520 was found by LVSC belly up (exposing its unique ventral pattern) on the bare surface of the soil. UFMT-R 12521 was found the next day, dead and deeply injured, together with many individuals of Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837) and other three individuals of H. boitata, alive and unharmed (UFMT-R 12504, 12505 and 12506) When arrived from the field, the alive specimens remained provisionally accommodated in a semi-aquatic terrarium to be euthanized after three days. The terrarium cube (101 cm length, 51 cm width, 61 cm height, Fig. 1) contained quartzitic sand as the main substrate and a fragment of peat soil obtained in the collection site with the snakes. The sand..., , # Videos of the new specimens of Helicops boitata (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Hydropsini), with data on morphological variation and behavior [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.s1rn8pkgn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.s1rn8pkgn) ## Description of the data and file structure Data was derived from the following sources: Videos of specimens of Helicops boitata exhibiting the behavior of the species throroughly described in the \"Results\" section of manuscript entitles \"New specimens of Helicops boitata (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Hydropsini), with data on morphological variation and behavior\" The behaviours illustrated in the videos represent some unique displays that deserve objective observation from the readers, beyond the simple text description. These behaviour include harmlessness during manipulation, specimens digging the substrate while fleeing, and specimens swimming and exploring the water in an aquarium. Three videos without mp4 format The first video (S1) shows a specimen in an entire...本研究报道了新近定名的博氏水蛇（Helicops boitata）的形态变异与行为学信息，该物种此前仅基于正模标本（holotype）被认知。本研究的新数据源自5份偶然采集于巴西潘塔纳尔湿地（Brazilian Pantanal wetlands）模式产地附近私人区域的新标本。扩大的样本量揭示了该物种至少两项被视为分类诊断特征的鳞被多态性：即肛鳞与鼻鳞的不分叉（单枚）状态，并证实了其腹面色斑的独特性，以及最前端腹鳞的分叉状态。此外，如同正模标本的记录，3份活体采集的标本在被触碰时亦表现出无攻击性的行为，这在水蛇属（Helicops）的蛇类中实属罕见。其余新记录的行为学特征包括：以夜行性为主（与此前的观测数据相悖），以及在试图逃逸时可在松软基质中挖掘洞穴的能力。本次共发现5份个体……本研究采集的博氏水蛇新标本均保存于马托格罗索联邦大学生物科学学院爬行动物标本馆（Coleção Herpetológica do Instituto de Biociências da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso，缩写UFMT-R）（参考Sabaj 2020）。 2份因推土机致死的标本分别于2019年10月15日（标本号UFMT-R 12520）与16日（标本号UFMT-R 12521）被采集。LVSC在裸露地表发现标本UFMT-R 12520时，其腹面朝上，暴露了独特的腹面色斑。次日发现的标本UFMT-R 12521已死亡且伤势严重，一同被发现的还有大量豹纹水蛇（Helicops leopardinus，Schlegel, 1837）以及另外3份无伤活体博氏水蛇标本（标本号UFMT-R 12504、12505与12506）。 活体标本从野外运回后，暂饲养于半水栖饲养箱中，3天后实施安乐死。该方形饲养箱尺寸为长101 cm、宽51 cm、高61 cm（见图1），基质以石英砂为主，并添加了从采集地获取的泥炭土碎块（与标本一同采集）。 # 博氏水蛇新标本的影像资料（Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Hydropsini），附形态变异与行为学数据 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.s1rn8pkgn] ## 数据与文件结构说明 数据源自以下来源： 博氏水蛇标本的影像资料，完整记录了论文《博氏水蛇新标本及形态变异与行为学数据》（New specimens of Helicops boitata (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Hydropsini), with data on morphological variation and behavior）“结果”部分中详述的该物种行为。影像中展示的行为均为该物种独特的行为模式，相较于单纯的文字描述，更便于读者进行客观观测。这些行为包括：被触碰时无攻击性、逃逸时挖掘基质、以及在水族箱内游泳与探索水环境。共3份非mp4格式的视频文件： 第一段视频（S1）展示了一只完整的标本……