Sunda Rat Snake

Coelognathus subradiatus (Schlegel 1837)

Coelognathus subradiatus (Schlegel, 1837) Fig. 21 Common names. (E) Timor Racer, Lesser Sunda Racer, Lesser Sunda Trinket Snake. *(T) Samea laho (samea = snake, laho = rat). Identification. Coelognathus subradiatus is a slender brown racer that can be identified by a pair of black paravertebral stripes that run along its back from the rear of the head to the tail, with varying degree of completeness (Fig. 21). This snake also has a short (1-3 scales) longitudinal postorbital stripe and a flat, squared tip to the snout. Collection and natural history. One individual was captured at night on the road leading down from Old Town Baucau into the surrounding lowlands, but still in the outskirts of the city (altitude 350 m). It had been hit by another vehicle and succumbed to its injuries shortly after collection. Coelognathus subradiatus populations in Timor-Leste may not be conspecific with those on Roti, a neighboring island to the west, or from some of the other Lesser Sunda Islands (Monk et al. 1997). Taxonomic comment. We follow the taxonomy of Schulz (1996) who places the populations of Coelognathus subradiatus from Timor, the type locality according to the descri

The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report

discussion

Remarks. A specimen in the ZRC collections (no catalogue data) identified as “ Coluber hodgsoni ” was first reported by Hanitsch (1898) in an annual report of the museum’s holdings. Flower (1899), Ridley (1899), and Hanitsch (1912 b) all refer to the same specimen. Sworder (1923) later amended the identification to Elaphe taeniura after Malcolm Smith examined the specimen and stated, “ that this specimen appears to be an intermediate form between the common form and the variety (ridleyi) which inhabits caves. ” Sworder (1923) also noted that the identification as “ Coluber hodgsoni ” must be incorrect given that the species “ is only known from a limited range, in the Himalayan region ”, making “ the record of a specimen from Singapore … somewhat startling ”. After examining specimen ZRC. 2.4537, we find that it closely identifies with Coelognathus subradiatus (Fig. 27 C, D). One of the main characters differentiating Coelognathus from species of Elaphe formerly classified under Orthriophis, is that the last supralabial touching the eye also touches the temporals (Smith 1943). ZRC. 2.4537 possesses a presubocular, which C. subradiatus is the only species in the genus having this tr

Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution

materials_examined

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens. Genus Elaphe Fitzinger in Wagler, 1833 (1 species)

Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution