Kosempo Keelback

description

Description. Head moderately distinct from neck; body size small to medium, ToL 145 - 455 mm (282 - 370 mm in males, 145 - 455 mm in females), TL / ToL 0.24 - 0.33 (0.27 - 0.31 in males, 0.24 - 0.33 in females). Eye large, pupil round. Dentition. Maxillary teeth 23 - 27 without diastema, gradually enlarged posteriorly, last two or three distinctly enlarged. Body scalation. Body scale in 17 - 17 - 17 rows, weekly keeled except outer 1 - 4 rows smooth anteriorly, outer 0 - 2 rows smooth at midbody and outer 0 - 1 row smooth posteriorly; ventrals 116 - 133 (125 - 130 in males, 116 - 133 in females); subcaudals 60 - 86 (60 - 86 in females, 65 - 84 in males), paired. Head scalation. Rostral broad, visible from above; internasals paired, nearly triangular, curved outwards, not in contact with loreal; prefrontals paired, nearly in a diamond shape, wider than long, border on loreal laterally, preocular and supraocular posteriorly; frontal hexagonal, longer than wide, embedded into parietal posteriorly; parietal paired, much longer than wide; nasals wider than high, divided below nostril, borders 1 st- 2 nd supralabials; loreal single, rarely divided (right side of CIB 8481), borders 2 nd o

On the validity of Hebius sauteri maximus (Malnate, 1962) (Squamata, Natricidae), with the redescription of H. maximus comb. nov. and H. sauteri (Boulenger, 1909)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Hebius sauteri can be distinguished from its congeners by the following features: (1) body size small to medium, maximum ToL 455 mm; (2) dorsal scales rows 17 - 17 - 17, all weekly keeled or smooth on outmost one or two rows; (3) ventral scales 116 - 133, subcaudals 60 - 86, paired; (4) maxillary teeth 23 - 27, last two or three distinctly enlarged teeth, without diastema; (5) preocular single, occasionally two; (6) supralabials 6 - 8, 2 nd or 2 nd- 3 rd border the loreal; (7) infralabials 6 - 9, mostly edged with black on their posterior border; (8) single white to orange stripe extends from angulus oris to neck; (9) dorsal body brown to reddish brown, with or without single series of white spots or short band on lateral.

On the validity of Hebius sauteri maximus (Malnate, 1962) (Squamata, Natricidae), with the redescription of H. maximus comb. nov. and H. sauteri (Boulenger, 1909)

distribution

Distribution. Hebius sauteri is currently known to be reported in Vietnam (Ngan Son, Lang Son, Tam Dao and Ba Vi), and China, including Taiwan (Kaohsiung County [type locality]), Fujian (Dehua County), Anhui (Huangshan County), Jiangxi (Jinggangshan City, Longnan County), Hunan (Yizhang County), Guangdong (Lianping County, Xinyi County, Deqing County, Ruyuan County, Dongguan City), Guangxi (Jinxiu County, Quanzhou County, Rongxian County, Beiliu County, Long'an County), Guizhou (Libo County, Leishan County), Yunnan (Jinping County), Hainan (Qiongzhong County, Wuzhishan County, Baisha County, Lingshui County) (Deuve 1970; Wu 1985; Zhao 2006; Yang et al. 2008; Nguyen et al. 2009; Zhang 2009; Li 2011; Shen 2014; this study) (Fig. 2).

On the validity of Hebius sauteri maximus (Malnate, 1962) (Squamata, Natricidae), with the redescription of H. maximus comb. nov. and H. sauteri (Boulenger, 1909)

etymology

Etymology. Hebius sauteri was named after the collector of the type specimens, Hans Sauter (1871 - 1943), a German naturalist (Boulenger 1909). We suggest that the Chinese common name of this species remains unchanged, as " Zōng Hēi Fu Lian She (棕黑腹链蛇) ".

On the validity of Hebius sauteri maximus (Malnate, 1962) (Squamata, Natricidae), with the redescription of H. maximus comb. nov. and H. sauteri (Boulenger, 1909)