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A tiny, new microhylid from Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
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This image shows the male holotype of the new species Chiasmocleis quilombola. Phoyo Credit: João F. R. Tonini The Atlantic Forest is a hotspot of biodiversity and one of the most species richness biome of anurans (frogs, tree-frogs, and toads) in the world. However, current levels of diversity might be still underestimated. In the past…
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A feeding aggregation of Boa constrictors
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Boa constrictor (individual 1) predating Rufous-bellied Thrush on a trumpet tree. The black arrow indicates the bird’s wing and the white arrow points out a conspecific (individual 2) on a parallel branch. Photo Gilson da Rocha Santos. Sit-and-wait predators remain motionless for long periods of time, waiting for prey to come within range of their reach.…
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Divergence in Shaw’s Vivipiparous Sea Snake
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Hydrophis curtus Species are not evenly distributed on earth and regions that are exceptionally rich in endemic species suffering habitat loss are commonly referred to as biodiversity hotspots. The Indo-Australian archipelago has unusual high levels of biodiversity threatened by increasingly human generated activities. The region supports the one of world’s highest diversity of marine fish,…
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Alaskan wood frogs spend most of their life frozen
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An Alaska wood frog creates a hibernacula from duff and leaf litter in a spruce forest on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in preparation for the long winter freeze. Photo Credit: Photographer: Uwe Anders Freezing and thawing might not be good for the average steak, but it seems to help wood frogs each fall…
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The earliest reptile?
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The skull of Gephyrostegus bohemicus. University of Lincoln Paleontologists from the Natural History Museum and academics from Lincoln, Cambridge and Solvakia have recreated the cranial structure of a 308-million-year-old lizard-like vertebrate that could be the earliest example of a reptile and explain the origin of all vertebrates that belong to reptiles, birds and mammals. Dr…
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Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in the eastern massasauga
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Researchers have developed a faster and more accurate way to test for infection with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, a fungus that is killing snakes in the Midwest and eastern United States. The test also allows scientists to monitor the progression of the infection in living snakes. The researchers reported on the test at the 2014 Mycological…
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Divergence within Boa constrictor imperator
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Boa constrictor imperator, Belize. JCM The Boa constrictor species complex has the widest distribution of any boid, with a latitudinal range from Mexico (30° N) to Argentina (35° S), and inhabiting a variety of environments Some geographically delimited populations have been recognized as subspecies, which exhibit extensive variation in morphological and ecological traits. Despite their…
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Sea snakes anticipate tropical cyclone, Lui et al. 2010
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Abstract Here, we report anticipatory behaviors of sea snakes and provide the first evidence for a sensory mechanism by which they survive a catastrophic cyclone. Sea kraits (Laticauda spp.) are normally abundant in littoral habitats at Lanyu (Orchid Island), Taiwan but disappeared coincident with falling barometric pressure prior to typhoon Morakot, which impacted the island…
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Deuve’s Water Snake, Homalopsis nigroventralis Deuve, 1970
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1958 Homalopsis buccata – Taylor and Elbel, University of Kansas Science Bulletin 38:1159-1162. 1970 Homalopsis buccata nigroventralis Deuve, Serpents du Laos, p.183-185, Plate 21, Figures 1-4; Plate 22 Figs 1-3, 7. Type locality: Nam Ngum River Valley, Laos. Type specimen: None designated, and Deuve’s specimens may have been destroyed. 2006 Homalopsis nigroventralisStuart et al. Raffles…
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Mamberamo River Water Snake, Heurnia ventromaculata
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1926a Heurnia ventromaculata Jong, Zoologische Anzeiger, 67:302-3. Type locality: Pionierbivak, Mamberano River, North New Guinea. Holotype: ZMA 11066. Collector W. C. van Heurn. Etymology The name ventromaculata refers to the ventral spots described by the collector when the specimen was freshly caught. Distribution H. ventromaculata is known only from the type…
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Gerard’s Water Snake, Gerarda prevostiana
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1837 Coluber (Homalopsis) prevostianusEydoux & Gervais, Magasin de Zoologie, 3:5, pl 15. Holotype: Location unknown. Type locality: “Manila.” Collector: unknown. 1849 Gerarda bicolor Gray, Catalogue of Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum, p. 77. Type locality: “West Indies,” from Mr. Launa’s collection. This type locality is in error. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.2.33.…
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Crab-eating Snake, Fordonia leucobalia
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1837a Homalopsis leucobalia Schlegel, Essai sur la Physionomie des Serpens. 2:345. Type locality: Timor. Holotype: RNHL 1161. Collector: unknown. 1842 Fordonia leucobalia – Gray, Zoology Miscellany, p. 67. 1849 Fordonia unicolor Gray, Catalogue of Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum, p. 77. Type locality: Borneo. Syntypes: BMNH 111.22.2.a. Collector: Sir Belcher.…
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Moving Massasaugas
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Relocating animals is a commonly used conservation technique. In the case of venomous snakes, relocation is often prompted by the potential for negative human-snake interactions. However, other reasons to relocate snakes include the re-establishment of extirpated populations, the establishment of new populations of imperiled species in more suitable locations, and augmentation of imperiled populations. …
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World Snake Day
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http://www.oriannesociety.org/
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Tentacled Snake, Erpeton tentaculatus
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Erpeton tentaculatusLácèpede, 1800: 169. Holotype: MNNH. Type locality: none given. Rhinopirus tentaculatus: Merrem, 1820: 82. Homalopsis herpeton: Schlegel, 1837a, 2: 359. Herpeton tentaculatum: Jan and Sordelli, 1860: 1, pl. 1. Herpeton herpeton: Giebel, 1861: 110. Distribution: Southern Thailand, Cambodia, southern Vietnam (Murphy, 2007). Diagnosis: Prominent paired rostral appendages; dorsal scales in 34 – 39 at…
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Yellow Anaconda, Eunectes notaeus, Cope 1862
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Eunectes notaeus Cope 1862: 70. Type Locality: Paraguay River and confluents. Holotype: USNM 4707. Eunectes murinus Peracca 1895Eunectes wieningeri Steindachner 1903Eunectes notaeus — Kahl et al. 1980: 207 Distribution and Habitat: The Yellow Anaconda ranges from about 15°S in Bolivia and Brazil to 32°S in Argentina. It inhabits wetlands, including; swamps, seasonal floodplains, palm savanna, marshes, gallery forests,…
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Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus (Linnaeus 1758)
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Boa murina Linnaeus 1758:215. Type locality: “America.” Holotype: NHRM Lin. 9. Boa scytale Linnaeus 1758:214Boa anacondo Daudin, 1803:161Boa aquatica Wied-Neuwied:824Eunectes murinus — Wagler 1830:167Boa gigas Latreille 1801:136Eunectes scytale – Stull:389Eunectes barbouri Dunn and Conant 1936:504Eunectes murinus murinus – Dunn, 1944:183Eunectes murinus gigas — Dunn, 1944:183 Distribution and Habitat. The Green Anaconda is endemic to the…
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De Schauensee’s Anaconda, Eunectes deschauenseei, Dunn and Conant, 1936
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Eunectes deschauenseei Dunn and Conant, 1936, Holotype: ANSP 20891. Type Locality: Probably Marajo Island at the mouth of the Amazon. Distribution and Habitat. The species inhabits swamps and seasonally flooded habitats in the Brazialian states of Amapa and Para, including the mouth of the Amazon and the Ilha de Marajo. It also occurs in French…
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Mekong Mud Snake, Enhydris subtaeniata (Bourret, 1934)
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Hypsirhina jagorii – Morice, 1875 Coup d’Oeil sur la Fauna de la Cochinchine Francaise, p. 58. Hypsirhina Iagorii (sic) – Mocquard, 1907 Revue Coloniale, p. 51. Hypsirhina enhydris subtaeniataBourret, 1934 Bulletin Genéral de l’Instruction Publique, 9-10, Figure 3. Lectotype herein designated: MNHN 1958.04.74. Type locality: Kompong Speu, Cambodia. 1936 Bourret, 1936:278 [in part]. Bourret (1934) described the…
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Longtailed Mud Snake, Enhydris longicauda, (Bourret, 1934)
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Hypsirhina longicauda Bourret, 1934 Bulletin Générale de l’Instruction Publique, 1934:20. Syntypes MNHN 48.95, 48.96, 38.143. Type locality: Tonlé Sap, Cambodia. Enhydris longicauda – Smith, 1943 Fauna of British India…Reptilia and Amphibia Vol. 3:386. Enhydris innominata longicauda 1971 Saint Girons, Société du Science Naturelles Physiques du Maroc 51:221. Etymology: The name longicauda is undoubtedly derived from the Greek or…
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Bangkok Mud Snake, Enhydris jagorii (Peters, 1863)
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Hypsirhina(Eurostus) jagorii Peters, 1863 Monatsberichte der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, p. 245. Type locality: “Siam.” Restricted here to the vicinity of Bangkok, Thailand. Holotype: ZMA 4746. Hypsirhina smithii Boulenger, 1914 Journal of the Natural History Society of Siam 1:69. Type locality: Mivam Chao Phraya, Bangkok, Thailand. Holotype: – BMNH 1948.1.7.27. Enhydris smithi – Smith, 1929 Journal…
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Beni Anaconda, Eunectes beniensis, Dirksen 2002
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Eunectes beniensis Dirksen 2002. Type Locality: Trinidad, Beni, Bolivia. Holotype: AMNH 101924. Eunectes beniensis is known from relative few specimens from northern Bolivia. The largest specimen was a 3.2 m female. It is known to use aquatic situations in open habitats. It is similar in appearance to the Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus.
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Elephant-trunk Snake, Acrochordus javanicus Hornstedt, 1787
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Acrochordus javanicusHornstedt, 1787:307. Type locality: Java Potamophis javanica – Schmidt, 1852. There is some confusion on the type locality of A. javanicus. Shaw (1802:573) suggests the type specimen came from a “…large pepper-ground near Sangasan…” Java. Smith (1943: 132) simply reports the type locality as Java. Steubing (1991:329) reports the type locality as Bantam (also…
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Little File Snake, Acrochordus granulatus, (Schneider 1799)
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Hydrus GranulatusSchneider 1799 Chersydrus granulatus – Schneider 180xAcrochordus fasciatus Shaw 1802Pelamis granulatus – Daudin 1803Hydrus granulatus – Raffles 1822Acrochordus granulatus – Cantor 1847Chersydrus annulatus Gray 1849Chersydrus fasciatus — Dumeril and Bibron, 1854: 41 Distribution. A wide ranging species known from the coastal areas McDowell (1979) describes its distribution as both coasts of the Indian Peninsula,…
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Arafura File Snake, Acrochordus arafurae, McDowell 1979
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Acrochordus arafurae Mcdowell 1979: Type locality: Lake Daviumbo, western Province. Distribution Coastal regions of northern Australia and New Guinea. McDowell (1979) gave a more detailed discussion of its distribution. I have edited this slightly. Distribution. In New Guinea, known from the Mimika and Lorentz Rivers (Irian Jaya), the Fly-Strickland River system, including Lake Daviumbo and…
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Tay Ninh Mud Snake, Enhydris innominata (Morice, 1875)
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Hypsirhina innominata Morice, 1875c Coup d’Oeil sur la Fauna de la Cochinchine Francaise, 1875c:58. Type locality: from Tay-ninh, Cochin China (South Vietnam, on the Cambodian border). Holotype: MHNL 42000338. Hypsirhina jagorii – Tirant, 1885 Notes sur les Reptiles…. De la Cochinchine et du Cambodge, p. 44. Enhydris innominata – Smith 1929 Journal of the Natural History Society of…
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Rainbow Mud Snake, Enhydris enhydris Schneider, 1799
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Hydrus enhydris Schneider, 1799 Historiae Amphibiorum, 1:245. Type locality: “Indiae orientalis;” [Based upon an illustration of Mutta Pam in Russell, Indian Serpents, p. 35, pl. 30, 1796.] Hydrus atrocaeruleus Shaw, 1802 General Zoology, 3:567, 1802 [Based upon an illustration of Mutta Pam, in Russell, Indian Serpents, p. 35, pl. 30, 1796.] Enhydris caerulea Sonni and Latreille,…
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Chanard’s Mud Snake, Enhydris chanardi Murphy and Voris, 2005
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Hypsirhina jagorii – Günther, 1864, The Reptiles of British India, p. 282. Enhydris jagorii – Smith, 1943, The Fauna of British India…. Reptilia and Amphibia 3:384 (in part). Enhydris chanardi Murphy and Voris, 2005 Raffles Bulletin Zoology 53:144. Type Locality: Bangkok, Thailand. Holotype: USNM 67516, a female collected 1 May 1928 in Bangkok (13°45’0N 100°31’0E), Thailand…
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Nasal cartilages, hyobranchial apparatus, larynx, and glottal tubes in four species of Hydropsini (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae).
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Abstract Tribe Hydropsini (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae) consists of three genera of aquatic snakes, Helicops, Hydrops, and Pseudoeryx, in which cartilaginous cranial features have been poorly studied. We here describe the nasal cartilages, hyobranchial apparatus, larynx, and glottal tubes in four representative Hydropsini species, compare them with species from other Dipsadidae tribes, and discuss our results inthe…
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Southeast Asian Bockadam, Cerberus schneiderii (Schlegel, 1801)
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Elaps boaeformis Schneider, 1801, 2: 301. Homalopsis molurus: Boie, 1826: 213. Python boaeformis: Merrem, 1820: 89. Homalopsis schneiderii Schlegel, 1837: 341. Homalopsis rhinchops: Cantor, 1847: 91. Cerberus acutus Gray, 1849: 65. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.2.34. Type Locality: Borneo. Cerberus unicolor Gray, 1849: 65. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.2.45. Type Locality: Philippines. Cerberus rynchops: Bleeker, 1857a: 233. Cerberus boaeformis:…
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South Asian Bockadam. Cerberus rynchops
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Hydrus rynchops Schneider, 1799, 1: 246. Holotype: Based on illustration in Russell’s Indian Serpents, 23, pl. 17, 1796. Type Locality: Ganjam, India. Enhydris rynchops: Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 4: 202. ?Boa moluroidesSchneider, 1801, 1:279. Hydrus cinereus Shaw, 1802, 3: 567. Holotype: Based on Russell’s Indian Serpents (1796) illustration 1: 23, pl. 17, and BMNH 1966.1.21.55–57.…
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Lake Buhi Bockadam. Cerberus microlepis Boulenger, 1896
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Cerberus cinereus Gray, 1849 (in part), Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum, p. 64. Cerberus microlepis Boulenger, 1896 Catalogue of Snakes in the British Museum, 3:18. Type locality: “Philippines.” Collector: H. Cumming. Syntypes: BMNH 1946.1.7.24-25. Types of Cerberus cinereus Gray (in part). Taylor (1922) stated that…
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Palau bockadam, Cerberus dunsoni Murphy, Voris and Karns, 2012
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Cerberus rynchops: Gyi, 1970: 159. Cerberus dunsoni Murphy, Voris and Karns, 2012b: 11. Holotype: AMNH 116021. Type Locality: Arakabesang (formerly Ngerekebesang) Island. Distribution: Palau Islands, Micronesia (Murphy et al., 2012b). Diagnosis: Dorsal scales in 23 rows at mid-body, upper labials 1–4 contact loreal; plate-like scales on crown rounded, juxtaposed, appear thickened compared to scales of…
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Trans-Fly Mangrove Snake, Djokoiskandarus annulatus (de Jong, 1926)
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Cantoria annulata de Jong, 1926: 304. Holotype: ZMA 11065. Type locality: Prins Frederik Hendrik Island, New Guinea. Djokoiskandarus annulatus Murphy, 2011: 233. Distribution: Southern coast of New Guinea, Trans-Fly region (Murphy, 2011). Diagnosis: Mostly smooth scales but some posterior dorsal scales keeled; dorsal scales in 21 rows at mid-body reduced to 19 rows posteriorly; internasal…
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Kerala Mud Snake, Dieurostus dussumierii (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854)
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Eurostus dussumierii Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854: 953. Holotype: MNHN c3458. Type locality: Bengal (in error). Corrected to Malabar Coast (Murphy, 2007: 109). Hypsirhina dussumierii: Jan, 1863: 78. Hypsirhina malabaricaWerner, 1913: 26. Enhydris dussumierii: Smith, 1943: 389. Dieurostus dussumierii: Kumar et al. 2012: 483 Distribution: Coastal plain of Kerala, India from Vembanad-kole wetlands of Kerala (09°00’…
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Australian Bockadam, Cerberus australis (Gray, 1842)
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Homalopsis australis Gray, 1842: 59–68. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.2.40. Type locality: Port Essington, Northern Territory, Australia. Cerberus australis: Gray, 1849a: 65. Cerberus rynchops novaeguineae Loveridge,1948: 388. Holotype: MCZ 22818. Type locality: Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Cerberus rynchops australis: Loveridge, 1948: 389. Cerberus rynchops [in part]: Cogger et al.,1983: 210. Distribution: Northern coastal Australia and thesouth coast of New Guinea. A single specimen is…
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Andian stout-tailed snake, Calamophis katesandersae Murphy, 2012
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Brachyorrhos jobiensis – Peters and Doria, 1878: 371. Calamophis katesandersae Murphy, 2012: 518. Holotype: MSNG 56343–1. Type locality: Andia, West Papua. Distribution: Known only from type locality, Andia, West Papua (Murphy 2012). Diagnosis: A fangless homalopsid. Laterally compressed body (mid body width 75–79% of body’s height) exceptionally short tail (3.7–3.8% of SVL); frontal pentagonal but…
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Kebar stout-tailed snake, Calamophis ruuddelangi, Murphy, 2012
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Calamophis ruuddelangi Murphy, 2012: 520. Holotype: MNHN 5175. Type locality: Ambuak, West Papua, Indonesia. Brachyorrhos jobiensis – Peters and Doria, 1878: 371. Distribution: Known only from the type locality and Kebar Valley, West Papua (BPBM 3850), Indonesia (Murphy 2012). Diagnosis: A fangless homalopsid. Gracile cylindrical body, relatively short tail (12% of SVL); six upper labials,…
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Buru short-tailed snake, Brachyorrhos gastrotaenius (Bleeker, 1860)
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Rabdion gastrotaenia Bleeker, 1860: 286. Holotype: BMNH 63.12.4.25. Note that RMNH 3977 from “O-I Archipel” (= East Indies Archipelago) is described as a “co-type” for this species, but it has been skinned and scale count data is therefore not available. No mention of syntypes is made by Bleeker (1860). Type Locality: “Amboina” (= Ambon), in…
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Yapen Island stout-tailed snake, Calamophis jobiensis Meyer, 1874
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Calamophis jobiensis Meyer, 1874: 135. Holotype: MTKD 1026, destroyed in World War II. Type Locality: Ansus, Yapen, Indonesia. Brachyorrhos jobiensis – Peters and Doria,1878: 371. Brachyorrhos albus – Boulenger, 1893, 1: 305. Distribution: Known only from type locality on Yapen Island, Indonesia. Diagnosis: This diagnosis is based on a translation of the original description: 164…
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Ternate short-tailed snake, Brachyorrhos raffrayi (Sauvage, 1879)
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Atractocephalus raffrayi Sauvage, 1879: 62. Holotype: MNHN 5174. Type locality: Ternate, Indonesia. Brachyorrhos albusvar conjunctus Fischer, 1879 (1880): 879. Brachyorrhos albus– Boulenger, 1893, 1: 305. Brachyorrhos raffrayi– Murphy et al., 2012a: 501 Distribution: Ternate, Indonesia (Murphy et al. 2012a). Diagnosis: A fangless homalopsid. Six upper labials, the third, rarely 3+4, enter the orbit, tallest upper…
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Arfak Stout-tailed Snake. Calamophis sharonbrooksae, Murphy, 2012
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Calamophis sharonbrooksae Murphy, 2012: 521. Holotype: MSNG 30193–1. Type locality: Mt. Arfak, West Papua, Indonesia. Brachyorrhos jobiensis – Peters and Doria, 1878: 371. Distribution: Known only from type locality. Diagnosis: A fangless homalopsid. Robust cylindrical body, tail 9.0 to 9.6% of SVL; upper labials three, four and five about equal in height; rostral to frontal distance greater…
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A new arrangement for the blind snake superfamily Typhlopoidea
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The blindsnake superfamily Typhlopoidea is a diverse and widespread part of the global snake fauna. The superfamily Typhlopoidea now contains three families: Gerrhopilidae, Typhlopidae, and Xenotyphlopidae. Gerrhopilidae inhabits South and Southeast Asia and the East Indies. Xenotyphlopidae occurs only in northeastern Madagascar. But, Typhlopidae is widespread, containing at least 257 species. Typhlopids have major radiations…
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Two new montane rattlesnakes from Mexico
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Members of the Mexican dusky rattlesnake species group (Crotalus triseriatus Group) are widely distributed across the highlands of Mexico and the southwestern USA. Currently the group contains five species. The nominate species, C. triseriatus, contains the subspecies C. t. triseriatus and C. t. armstrongi, which inhabit mixed pine-oak forests across the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Crotalus…
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Frog adaptations to an invasive crayfish
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The common frog is one of the amphibians with the highest distribution in the Iberian Peninsula. It reproduces preferably in permanent areas of water where it comes into contact with the red swamp crayfish, which preys on its larvae. Research carried out by the Spaniard Germán Orizaola from the University of Uppsala (Sweden) confirms that…
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A Kuroiwa’s leopard gecko subspecies described post-extinction
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A member of the Goniurisaurus kuroiwae Group Kuroiwa’s Leopard Gecko, Goniurosaurus kuroiwae is a eublepharid gecko endemic to the central part of the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan, in the subtropical northwestern Pacific. It is isolated from the rest of its congeners occurring in southeastern continental China, northern Vietnam, and adjacent coastal islands, and the species represents…
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Skull morphology of some highly aquatic South American xenodontines
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In all recently published molecular phylogenies, the South American Xenodontinae form a clade that comprises several monophyletic units (tribes), one of which consists of the three genera of the tribe Hydropsini (Helicops, Hydrops and Pseudoeryx. Complete information on the bony skull is available for nearly a third (29 genera) of the Dipsadidae genera, whereas fragmentary…
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One opinion on the ban to import five constricting snakes left out of the 2012 decision
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The following is an editorial opinion from News-pess.com. What’s your reaction to taking a trip to the Everglades National Park, one of the jewels showcasing America’s natural beauty, and seeing a giant constrictor snake stretched across the road in the evening light? If it’s one of revulsion and sadness that these creatures don’t belong here,…
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Chironius phylogeny
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Chironius carinatus. JCM Fourteen colubrid genera are known from South America: including Chironius Fitzinger, 1826. This is one of the largest genera, with 16 species known to date. Its distribution ranges from the northern coast of Honduras to Uruguay and northeastern Argentina; and they are present in the Lesser Antilles. Chironius are long, slender, oviparous…
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