Epicrates alvarezi Cope, 1862

Chaco Rainbow Boa ,

Epicrates alvarezi Cope, 1862

An individual of this species was photographed ( Fig. 23 View Fig ) on 2 February 2024 on the road close to Estancia Las Gringas, c 12.5 km northeast of the Prefectura Naval de Pozo Hondo   GoogleMaps (22°12’54.0”S 62°25’32.3”W) by PS and MF, (and was also observed by PC). This extends the range of the species in the Paraguayan Chaco and into the northern Pilcomayo   GoogleMaps region, 136.6 km southwest of the nearest known locality, Parque Nacional Teniente Agripino Enciso. A juvenile individual was photographed ( Fig. 24 View Fig ) on 19 February 2024 at Puerto Carmelo Peralta   GoogleMaps (21°40’15.3”S 57°59’0.3”W) by HN, extending the range of the species 172.3 km northeast into the Humid Chaco   GoogleMaps ecoregion from the closest previous record at Reserva Privada Campo María, Presidente Hayes department (22°34’S, 59°21’W) ( Cacciali et al., 2016b). The species is considered to be “Vulnerable” in Paraguay ( Martínez et al., 2020c).