Large-scaled Pit Viper

description

Description. A medium sized pit viper (recorded till 920 mm by Ganesh et al. 2008) with a prehensile tail of length up to 136 mm; a distinct triangular head with large shield-like scales, with 1 - 3 cephalic scales between the undivided supraoculars with five scales surrounding the supraoculars, up to two scales between the internasal scales and the tip of the rostral scale visible from above; nasal scale entire, sub-rectangular and encompasses the nostril completely with 2 - 3 scales between the internasals; 1 - 2 scales between the nasal and the anterior part of the loreal pit; 8 supralabials and 9 - 12 infralabials on both sides; 6 - 8 scales including the last infralabial from the first ventral scale; three preocular scales of which the second and third scale from above constitute to form the posterior shields of the loreal pit; one or two post oculars; temporals smooth; 14 - 17 NSR (dorsal scale rows at neck), 13 - 19 MSR (dorsal scale rows at midbody), and 10 PSR (dorsal scale rows before vent), all keeled; Last row of scales on both sides bordered with a slightly larger row of scales, separating the ventral scales from the body; Ventrals 133 - 140, Anal scale undivided, foll

Resolving pitfalls in pit viper systematics - A multi-criteria approach to species delimitation in pit vipers (Reptilia, Viperidae, Craspedocephalus) of Peninsular India reveals cryptic diversity

distribution

Distribution. Endemic to the southern Western Ghats. The revised distribution restricts this species to the high elevation landscapes of its range, the northern most limit being south of the Palghat gap, in the Nelliampathi hills, Anaimalai, with Palni hills being the eastern-most end of its distribution, extending southwards across High Wavy's or Meghamalai, Kottaimalai Ranges in the Srivilliputhur-Periyar landscape, to the Sivagiri-Devarmalai range, ending north of the Shencottah gap.

Resolving pitfalls in pit viper systematics - A multi-criteria approach to species delimitation in pit vipers (Reptilia, Viperidae, Craspedocephalus) of Peninsular India reveals cryptic diversity

materials_examined

Material examined. Specimen series: Lectotype - NHMUK 1946.1.17.72 from " Anamallay Mountains, at 6000 feet " collected in 1857 - 62 by R. H. Beddome; CESS 014, CESS 015 from Vellimala, Periyar and CESS 190 from Rajamalai, Kerala, collected in 2011, by Ashok Kumar Mallik; CESS 170 from Uppupara, Goodrickal Range-west, Kerala, CESS 256 from Devarmala, Tamil Nadu, collected in 2011, by Saunak P. Pal; BNHS 2543 from Shenbaganur, Tamil Nadu and BNHS 2545 from Paralai, Valparai collected in 1909, by Maj. Frank Wall.

Resolving pitfalls in pit viper systematics - A multi-criteria approach to species delimitation in pit vipers (Reptilia, Viperidae, Craspedocephalus) of Peninsular India reveals cryptic diversity

materials_examined

Type. Lectotype, NHMUK 1946.1.18.72 (formerly BMNH 1861.12.30.80), a male (R. H. Beddome, 1857 - 1862), designated by Toriba in Golay et al. (1993: 101).

Resolving pitfalls in pit viper systematics - A multi-criteria approach to species delimitation in pit vipers (Reptilia, Viperidae, Craspedocephalus) of Peninsular India reveals cryptic diversity