identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03EBF31B7C4A325C6887FD60FA4EA119.text	03EBF31B7C4A325C6887FD60FA4EA119.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor 1839)	<div><p>Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor, 1839)</p><p>Figs. 1–2, 5–10</p><p>Coronella albocincta Cantor T. E. 1839: 50, In: Spicilegium serpentium indicorum [part 2]. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, part. 7 (1839), 49–55. Holotype. Lost (see below), depicted in watercolor sketch in “ Indian Serpents– Innocuous –Collected, figured &amp; described (1831–1837) ” archived in the Bodleian Library, Oxford University [Type Locality: “Chirra Púnji, Asám ” (=Cherrapunji, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, India)] (Fig. 1A).</p><p>Xenodon purpurascens (nec Xenodon purpurascens Schlegel, 1837).— Cantor 1847: 914; Blyth 1854: 289–290.</p><p>Coronella puncticulatus Gray, J. E. 1853: 389, In: Descriptions of some undescribed species of reptiles collected by Dr. Joseph Hooker in the Khassia mountains, East Bengal, and Sikkim Himalaya. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, including Zoology, Botany, and Geology, Series 2, 12, 386–392. Holotype. NHMUK 1946.1.4.26 [Type Locality: “Khasiya” (=Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India)].</p><p>Simotes purpurascens var. D.—Günther 1858: 25.</p><p>Simotes purpurascens var. E.—Günther 1858: 25.</p><p>Simotes punctulatus [sic].— Günther 1864: 217; Theobald 1868b: 47; Anderson 1871: 33; Theobald 1876: 152</p><p>Simotes albocinctus . — Theobald 1868b: 47; Theobald 1876: 153; Boulenger 1890: 312; Sclater 1891: 23; Boulenger 1894: 220; Evans 1905: 169–170; Wall 1909: 348; Wall 1910: 898; Venning 1910: 338; Annandale 1912: 48; Wall 1914: 756–761, pl. 20.</p><p>Simotes albocinctus var. juglandifer . Wall F. 1909: 349, In: Notes on snakes from the neighbourhood of Darjeeling. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 19(2), 337–357 + 1 pl. Lectotype. BNHS 814 A [= BNHS 210] [Type Locality: “ Tindharia, Durjeeling ” (= Tindharia Estate, Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India)].</p><p>Simotes juglandifer . — Wall 1911: 1163; Wall 1914: 756 (in part).</p><p>Oligodon albocinctus . — Wall 1923a: 326; Wall 1923b: 631; Wall 1925: 815; Wall 1926: 563; Smith 1943: 211; Constable 1949: 129; Acharji &amp; Kripalani 1950: 97; Swan &amp; Leviton 1962: 114; Deoras 1965: 87; Deoras 1970: 85; Wagner 1975: 65 (in part); Deoras 1977: 95; Kramer 1977: 743; Zhao et al. 1977: 69; Whitaker 1978: 113; Majupuria 1982: 163–164, 176; Daniel 1983: 84, pls. 4–6 (pg. 79); Mahendra 1984: 200 (treats O. juglandifer as synonym); Yang &amp; Inger 1986: 3; Dowling &amp; Jenner 1988: 5; Welch 1988: 78; Zhao &amp; Adler 1993: 243, 312; Mathew 1992: 288; Mathew 1995: 452; Singh 1995: 136; Zhao &amp; Yang 1997: 234; Zhao et al. 1998: 193; Iskandar &amp; Colijn 2001: 70; Shrestha 2001: 31, 173; Daniel 2002: 102; Jha &amp; Thapa 2002: 39; Schleich &amp; Kästle 2002: 85, 446 (Plate 95, Figs. 283–285), 477 (pl. 126, Fig. 372), 892–894 (treats O. juglandifer as a junior synonym), 1064; Ao et al. 2004: 158; Whitaker &amp; Captain 2004: 23, 160–161; Borang et al. 2005: 21; Zhao et al. 2005: 252, pl. 2; Zhao 2006: 223 (vol. 1), 162–163 (vol. 2); Sharma 2007: 156; Laltanpuia et al. 2008: 118; Yang &amp; Rao 2008; Mitra 2009: 16–17, Fig. 2A; Agarwal et al. 2010: 83, 85; Green 2010: vii, 7, 86, 156, Fig. 1.3; Green et al. 2010: 3; Murthy 2010: 36, 331; David et al. 2011: 2, 11; Lalremsanga et al. 2011: 266; Purkayastha et al. 2011: 197; Wangyal 2011: 121; Zhang et al. 2011: 428; Bhupathy et al. 2013: 184; Hasan et al. 2013: 77–80; Kästle et al. 2013: 307, 509, Fig. 121; Rahman et al. 2013: 46; Lalremsanga et al. 2014: 210, 213 (Fig. 23); Wallach et al. 2014: 493; Wangyal 2014: 23; Ahsan et al. 2015: 8162; Das et al. 2016: 24–27, Figs. 1–2; Harit 2018: 135–136; Lalronunga et al. 2018: 37–38; Purkayastha 2018: 12306, 12308 (Image 36); Che et al. 2020: Appendix 2 (R30-1.); Hakim et al. 2020: 1258–1259, Fig. 9C; Hmar et al. 2020: 823, Fig. 3A; Purkayastha et al. 2020a: 221; Purkayastha et al. 2020b: 228, 231 (Fig. 4); Wang et al. 2020: 13; Khan et al. 2021; Sinha et al. 2021: 414, pl. 2; Wangyal &amp; Das 2021: 67; Huang 2023: 478–479; Mahananda et al. 2023: 23038; Basfore et al. 2024a: 1–2; Basfore et al. 2024b: 26135; Lee et al. 2024: 7 (Fig. 2), 9, 12, 15; Patel et al. 2025: 143; Thapa et al. 2025: 4, 6 (Fig. 4I).</p><p>Oligodon juglandifer . — Wall 1923a: 327; Wall 1923b: 630; Smith 1943: 207; Deoras 1965: 87; Deoras 1970: 85; Wagner 1975: 65 (in part); Deoras 1977: 95; Whitaker 1978: 113; Welch 1988: 81; Schleich &amp; Kästle 2002: 125; Sharma 2007: 156; Mitra 2009: 17; Green 2010: 112, 156; David et al. 2011: 1, 11; Wallach et al. 2014: 498; Wangyal 2014: 23; Sapkota &amp; Sharma 2017: 590; Chandramouli et al. 2021: 19608; Das et al. 2021; Wangyal &amp; Das 2021: 69; Wangyal et al. 2022: 6; Lee et al. 2024: 15; Patel et al. 2025: 143.</p><p>Holarchus albocinctus . — Pope 1935: 289.</p><p>Oligodon sp. — Wangyal 2011: 121; Zhang et al. 2011: 428 (later recognized as Oligodon lipipengi); Wangyal 2014: 23.</p><p>Oligodon cyclurus (nec Coronella cyclura Cantor, 1839).— Lalremsanga et al. 2011: 26135; Das et al. 2016: 30, Figs. 1, 5; Hakim et al. 2020: 1259 (also recorded true O. cyclurus); Hmar et al. 2020: 823, Fig. 3C; Kalita et al. 2020: 150; Lee et al. 2024: 7 (Fig. 2; unpublished GenBank sample MN418884.1 originally identified as O. cyclurus).</p><p>Oligodon lipipengi Jiang K., Wang Y., Li, C., Ding, X., Ding, L., &amp; Che J. 2020: 701, In: Che J., Jiang K., Yan, F., &amp; Zhang Y.-P. (Eds.) Amphibians and Reptiles in Tibet — Diversity and Evolution. Science Press, Beijing, 701–705 pp. Holotype. KIZ 011055 [Type Locality: Beibeng, Medog County, Tibet (Xizang <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=95.176&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.239" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 95.176/lat 29.239)">Autonomous Region</a>) (29.239° N, 95.176° E, 680 m elevation)].</p><p>Oligodon lipipengi . — Che et al. 2020: Appendix 2 (R30-1.); Xu et al. 2021: 2 (Fig. 1); Huang 2023: 496–497; Lee et al. 2024: 9, 15 (recovered paraphyly with O. albocinctus sensu lato); Patel et al. 2025: 143 (in part, synonymizes name under O. juglandifer).</p><p>Oligodon chinensis (nec Simotes chinensis Günther, 1888).— Wangyal et al. 2020: 796; Wangyal et al. 2022: 6.</p><p>Oligodon cf. cyclurus . —Biakzuala et al. 2023: 142.</p><p>Oligodon albocinctus clade 1.— Lee et al. 2024: 7 (Fig. 2).</p><p>Holotype. Adult from “Chirra Púnji, Asám ” [=Cherrapunji, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, India] (Cantor 1839) (Fig. 1A). Specimen depicted in a watercolor illustration housed in the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, drawn as part of Theodore Cantor’s unpublished manuscript “ Indian Serpents–Innocuous –Collected, figured &amp; described (1831–1837) ”. The holotype is drawn in a coiled position across a branch. The head and body are depicted in dorsal profile showing the head scalation and banded color pattern. The remaining body and tail depict the ventral surface. Ten pages of handwritten notes accompany the drawing, which include a brief Latin diagnosis and a larger section in English. A digitized version of Cantor’s description is provided in Appendix 4, and the watercolor sketch is reproduced in Fig. 1A.</p><p>The specimen mentioned by both Cantor (1839) and his unpublished manuscript has not been traced and is considered lost. The holotype Cantor based his illustration from was obtained by a “Mr. Grant” (Appendix 4). This probably refers to John William Grant (1788–1865), an astronomer and public servant of the British East India Company who Cantor (1839) mentioned as a donor of specimens from Cherrapunji. It is presumed that the specimen obtained by Grant was collected earlier than 6 May 1836, as this is the date mentioned below the watercolor sketch of the holotype (Appendix 4). Wallach et al. (2014) considered the specimen figured in Cantor’s unpublished illustration of Coronella albocincta to be the lectotype, citing Smith (1943) as the designating author. Smith (1943) does mention the Bodleian Library sketch in his account of O. albocinctus, and Kramer (1977) designated the Bodleian Library plate as the lectotype, which would satisfy the stipulations for lectotype designation under the edition of the Code used at that time (Article 74 of Anonymous 1964). However, the original description of Coronella albocincta (Cantor 1839) makes no indication that more than one specimen was involved, so the designation by Kramer (1977) cannot be considered valid. The unpublished notes on Coronella albocincta in “ Indian Serpents ” does indicate Cantor examined additional individuals from “ Assam ” collected by naturalist William Griffith (1810– 1845) (Appendix 4), but Cantor’s manuscript cannot be considered a published work under Article 8.1 of the Code. Because of this, the specimen depicted in the Bodleian library sketch should be considered the holotype (Fig. 1A), not the lectotype. We note that Cantor (1839, plus handwritten notes) stated the holotype had 65 subcaudal scales, but the specimen depicted in the illustration has approximately 49 paired scales (Fig. 1A).</p><p>For completion, we also include a transliteration of the handwritten description (Appendix 5) and figure the digitized watercolor sketch of Coronella cyclura ( Oligodon cyclurus) (Fig. 1B), which has been taxonomically confused with the blotched morphotype of O. albocinctus described herein.</p><p>Referred material (N = 138). Refer to Appendix 2 for a full list of specimens we refer to Oligodon albocinctus, including directly examined specimens and material from the literature.</p><p>Diagnosis. A moderate to large sized Oligodon with a relatively long tail and high variation in body and head scalation. Maximum total length 916 mm, relative tail length 0.135 –0.227 (0.154 –0.227 in males, 0.135 –0.215 in females). Dorsal scales normally 19–19–15 rows, all smooth. Ventral scales 174–207 (174–200 in males, 180–207 in females) without distinct keeling; cloacal plate undivided; subcaudal scales 47–70, paired; total body scales 235–264; subcaudal ratio 0.194 –0.275 (0.206 –0.275 in males, 0.194 –0.261 in females). Maxillary teeth 8–12. Loreal normally present (exceptionally absent due to fusion with prefrontal), preocular 1/1, presubocular normally absent (exceptionally two preocular scales or one presubocular), postoculars 2/2 (exceptionally three); temporals 1+2 (exceptionally 2+2 on one side of head). Supralabials 7 (rarely 6–8) with the third and fourth scale normally in contact with eye (rarely 4+5 or 2+3, exceptionally third or fourth scale only). Infralabials 9–10 (rarely 7–8), with 4–5 scales in contact with anterior pair of chin shields (exceptionally 3 or 6).</p><p>Dorsal color pattern variable, characterized into two morphotypes. Typical morph red or reddish brown, larger specimens may be brown to dusky gray (Figs. 5–6). Dorsal surface with a series of white, tan or yellow bands, their margins edged with black forming a tricolored pattern. Blotched morphotype gray-brown or brown, dark brown crossbands or blotches across body and tail, each edged with black (Figs. 7–9). Size and shape of blotches variable, ranging from narrow crossbars to broad oval-shaped spots. In both morphotypes, number of bands/blotches range from 16–26 on body to 4–9 on tail (total = 20–33). Interspace between each band/blotch 6–9 vertebral dorsal scales long at midbody. First band/blotch begins between ventral scale 7–19. Ventral surface typically plain white to cream, occasionally hued with red pigment in life. Small dark brown or black rectangular blotches on lateral margins of ventral scales. In adults, ventral surface typically darkens posteriorly from cream to dark gray until cloacal region. Underside of tail plain, rectangular spots present anteriorly. Hemipenis bilobed, sulcus spermaticus simple, proximal third calyculate, remaining two-thirds and apices of lobes broad, subtriangular and covered with horizontal rows of flounces (Fig. 10). Detailed comparisons with other chromatically similar species are provided in the discussion section.</p><p>General description and variation. SVL 151–784 mm, TailL 31–175 mm, TotalL 185–916 mm. The largest specimen is an adult female (CAS 221529) measuring 784 mm SVL and 132 mm TailL. The largest male specimen (KIZ 19520) measured 730 mm SVL and 170 mm TailL. HeadL 10.4–25.1 mm, HeadW 5.2–17.4 mm, SnL 3.5–7.7 mm, SnW 2.3–6.6 mm, EyeD 1.7–3.6 mm, FrontalL 3.8–6.7 mm, FrontalW 2.9–6.0 mm, InterorbD 4.0– 9.2 mm. TailLR 0.135 –0.227 (x̄ = 0.180 ± 0.024, N = 124), in males 0.154 –0.227 (x̄ = 0.196 ± 0.015, N = 70), in females 0.135 –0.215 (x̄ = 0.159 ± 0.015; N = 54).A single specimen reported by Yang &amp; Rao (2008) had an abnormally short relative tail length of 0.106 (KIZ 74I006) but was excluded from statistical analyses as it is uncertain whether tail may have been broken or not. HeadW/L 0.45–0.79, SnL/HL 0.28–0.43, EyeD/SnL 0.39–0.56 (one outlier, MZMU untagged 12, has a ratio of 0.72), EyeD/HeadL 0.12–0.22, FrontalL/W 1.01–1.39. Sexual dimorphism was recorded for relative tail length (TailLR).</p><p>Dorsal scales smooth, scale row formula normally 19–19–15, rarely 19–19–17 (N = 8). Some specimens may have 21 anterior scale rows before one head length (e.g., MZMU 2831, reduction from 21 to 19 scale rows occurs at 14 th ventral). One specimen reported by Das et al. (2016) as O. cyclurus had 19–17–15 scale rows (AD/ AS 33). Yang &amp; Rao (2008) recorded one specimen (KIZ 2003114) from Yunnan Province, China with 17–19–15 dorsal scale rows. Reduction from row 19 to 17 at ventral scale 85–127 (0.46–0.67 of ventrals), 17 to 15 at ventral scale 114–190 (0.64–0.95 of ventrals). Ventral scales 174–207 (x̄ = 189.9 ± 7.3; N = 134), in males 174–200 (x̄ = 186.5 ± 6.5; N = 73), in females 180–207 (x̄ = 193.9 ± 6.1; N = 61), no distinct keeling. Subcaudal scales 47–70 (x̄ = 58.1 ± 6.3; N = 124), in males 52–70 (x̄ = 62.8 ± 3.3; N = 70), in females 47–64 (x̄ = 52.2 ± 3.4; N = 54), all paired. Cloacal plate undivided. Total body scales 235–264 (x̄ = 248.2 ±7.4; N = 124). Subcaudal ratio 0.194 –0.275 (x̄ = 0.234 ± 0.023; N = 124), in males 0.206 –0.275 (x̄ = 0.251 ± 0.012; N = 70), in females 0.194 –0.261 (x̄ = 0.212 ± 0.012; N = 54). Sexual dimorphism was only recorded for ventral scale counts and subcaudal ratio values.</p><p>Maxillary teeth 8–12 (N = 27). Anteriormost teeth small, gradually enlarged in size posteriorly. Last two or three teeth greatly enlarged relative to remaining maxilla, with a sharp, narrow carina running across the posterolateral edge. Palatine teeth 6/7 (CAS 221511) to 9/9 (CAS-SUR 12408) based on CT-scans, with an anterior edentulous space around one or two tooth sockets in length present. Pterygoid teeth 15/14 (CAS 221511) 16/16 (CAS-SUR 12408) based on CT-scans, no edentulous space present. Dentary teeth 15/16 (CAS 221511), 16/16 (CAS-SUR 12408). Unpublished tooth count data taken by F. W. Wagner were for palatine teeth 6–9 (N = 20), pterygoid teeth 14–20 (N = 20), and dentary teeth 14–18 (N = 17). Wall (1911, 1923a) gave the following tooth counts from his specimens: for palatine teeth 6–10, pterygoid teeth 16–23, and dentary teeth 13–18.</p><p>Head scalation variable, rare or exceptional counts noted separately. Rostral height/width equal, posterior suture bordering internasals obtuse angled forming a gull-wing or deep V-shape dorsally (108–121º). Nasal subpentagonal, normally divided above and below nostril, longer than high, anterior suture higher than posterior suture. One specimen has an entire nasal on one side of the head (MZMU 2831). In most cases nasal in contact with rostral, internasal, prefrontal, loreal, and first to second supralabial. Internasals paired, trapezoidal, entire scale wider than long and wider than length of median suture. Anterior and posterior internasal sutures straightened or weakly concave. Each internasal contacts prefrontal, rostral, and nasal. Prefrontals paired, subhexagonal, entire scale wider than long, wider than length of median suture. Median suture of prefrontals longer than median suture of internasals. Each prefrontal contacting internasal, nasal, loreal, preocular, supraocular and frontal. Supraoculars subrectangular, longer than wide, in contact with preocular, prefrontal, frontal, uppermost postocular, and parietal. Posterior supraocular suture wider than anterior suture. Frontal pentagonal, shield shaped, longer than median parietal suture. Anterior frontal suture positioned in front of eye sockets. Posterior vertex of frontal bordering parietals acute to weakly obtuse angled (82–102º). Parietals paired, subpentagonal, entire scale longer than wide and longer than frontal, median suture longer than scale width. Anterior suture bordering frontal and supraoculars straight, obtuse angled (127–140º), its ray oriented laterally. Posterior suture of each parietal slightly bent. 7–9 scales (excluding postoculars) surround parietals.</p><p>Loreal usually 1/1, square, height and width equal, posterior suture higher than anterior suture. Loreal contacts nasal, preocular, prefrontal and third supralabial. Loreal in six specimens from Mizoram State, India fused with the prefrontal on both sides on the head (MZMU untagged 12, MZMU 90 L, MZMU 951, MZMU 1208, MZMU 1302, MZMU 1905). Exceptionally one specimen with two loreals on left side of head (MZMU 943) . Preocular normally 1/1, rectangular, higher than long. Exceptionally 2/2 preoculars on both sides of head in three specimens (NHMUK 1853.8.12.31 (A), NHMUK 1908.6.23.35, and BNHS 835 fide Patel et al. 2025), one specimen each with 1/2 (CIB 9898) and 2/1 scales (NMHW 25818:1). All but one specimen lacks a presubocular scale, but 1/ 1 in one specimen from Mizoram State, India (MZMU 2836 [SE 29]). Postoculars normally 2/2, subrectangular, uppermost scale slightly larger than lowermost. Exceptionally 1/1 postoculars due to fusion between both scales (NHMUK 1870.11.30.17, NHMUK 1870.11.30.19 [A]), or 1/2 scales (NHMUK unnumbered specimen). Temporal formula normally 1+2, uppermost posterior temporal longer than lowermost. Exceptionally two anterior temporals on left side of head in three specimens from Medog County, China (CIB unnumbered specimen, CIB 9898, SYS r001827), one posterior temporal in three specimens (BNHS 814 A, MZMU 943, NHMUK 1870.11.30.9) .</p><p>Supralabials 6–8, normal condition 7/7. Four specimens with 6/6 supralabials (NHMUK 1858.6.24.2, 1870.11.30.17, NHMUK 1880.11.10.138, NHMUK 1891.9.11.17), two specimens with 6/7 (MZMU 973, NHMUK 1860.3.10.1431), another with 7/6 (CAS 233187) . Other supralabial combinations include 8/ 8 in two specimens (NHMUK 1908.6.23.33, MZMU 2827), 7/8 (CAS 221529) and 8/6 (MZMU 3045) . In most cases the third and fourth (3+4) supralabials contact the eye. The fourth and fifth supralabial (4+5) contact the eye on both sides of the head in two specimens (MZMU 2827, NHMUK 1908.6.23.33), the left side of head in NMHW 25817:5 (4+5/3+4), and the right side of head in CAS 221529 (3+4/4+5). Exceptionally, one individual (MZMU 3045) has supralabials 4+5/2+ 3 in contact with the eye, and two others have a single supralabial scale contacting the eye on one side of the head (3/3+ 4 in MZMU 973; or 3+4/ 4 in MZMU 1209). Infralabials 7–10, most frequent combinations either 8/8 (N = 51) or 9/9 (N = 50), rarely 8/9 (N = 13) or 9/8 (N = 8). Four specimens with 7/8 infralabials (CIB 9894, CIB 9897, MZMU 2826, MZMU untagged specimen 10), one with 8/7 (MZMU 943), two specimens with 7/7 (MZMU untagged specimen 12, NHMUK 1913.5.22.4). Three additional specimens with 10/9 infralabials (MZMU 2412, MZMU 2827, NHMUK 1908.6.23.34). First 3–6 infralabials contact anterior chin shields, normally 4/4 (N = 70) or 5/5 (N = 55), rarely 4/5 (N = 4) or 5/4 (CIB 9896, NMHW 25817:3). Exceptionally 3/ 4 in one specimen (CIB 9894) or 6/ 5 in two specimens (MZMU 2412, MZMU 2827) . First pair of infralabials contact medially. Mental scale triangular, wider than long. Anterior chin shields rectangular, longer than wide. Posterior chin shields smaller than anterior, each shield in contact at midline for one-half to three-quarters their length, suture bordering gular scales concave. Poorly defined mental groove present between first infralabials and both pairs of chin shields.</p><p>Dorsal color pattern may be characterized into two morphotypes: a typical banded morph (Figs. 5–6), and a blotched morph where dorsal markings are arranged as blotches or crossbars (Figs. 7–9). Traits that apply to both morphotypes are described first. Across all specimens, the number of bands, crossbars or blotches range from 16–26 on body (x̄ = 22.0 ± 2.1, N = 101) to 4–9 on tail (x̄ = 5.6 ± 1.2, N = 101), totaling to 20–33 (x̄ = 27.5 ± 2.6, N = 101). No significant differences between the number of bands or blotches between morphotypes were noted. Insertion of first light band/first body blotch begins above ventral scale 7–19 (x̄ = 10.2 ± 2.3; N = 95). Width of light bands 1.0 dorsal scales long, black edges 0.5–1.0 dorsal scales. Interspace between each band 6–9 vertebral dorsal scales at midbody (x̄ = 7.2 ± 0.8; N = 95). Head markings consist of one ocular bar, a paired temporal streak, and one nuchal chevron, the colors of which vary based on each morphotype. Ocular bar begins within the supralabials immediately below the eye and extends upwards through the prefrontals, anterior edges of supraoculars and anterior edge of frontal, and occasionally the posterior edge of the internasals. Each temporal bar begins at the anterolateral edge of the parietal, continuing through the posterior temporals before terminating ventrolaterally. Anterior end of nuchal chevron lanceolate or acuminate, extending from nape through the median suture of parietal and frontal. The chevron in some individuals may be broken or incomplete resulting in a small series of spots present in the median portion of the frontal and posterior edges of each parietal. Underside of head and body white or tan, edges of ventral scales with small brown subtriangular spots, sparser and weakly developed anteriorly but typically present on every or every other ventral scale by midbody. The posterior half of the ventral surface in some specimens may be completely smeared with dark brown or black pigment (see BNHS 814B) (Fig. 8A). Lateral margins of ventral scales same color as dorsal surface. Underside of tail white or tan, small dark brown spotting present anteriorly, otherwise immaculate.</p><p>In preservative, dorsal surface of typical morphotype brown to reddish brown (Fig. 5). Large adults vary from light brown, mahogany or dusky gray. Poorly preserved or bleached individuals fade to light brown or tan. A series of light bands with black edges result in a tricolored pattern with a pattern of dyads (arrangement of each color as follows: red-black-light-black-red; see Savage &amp; Slowinski 1992). Light portions of bands white, tan, or yellow, though larger individuals may have bands obfuscated by brown or gray pigment (see CAS 221511, NMHW 25817:1) (Figs. 5A, 5C). Each body band extends across the dorsal surface until the outermost 1–3 dorsal scale rows and do not continue ventrally. Light portions of each band approximately 0.5–1.0 vertebral dorsal scales long, black edges narrower or approximately equal in length. Pattern aberrations noted across specimens include fused body bands (which normally result in “Y” or “T” shaped markings) or bands that are reduced to small spots or ocelli, especially on the tail (NMHW 25817:1) (Fig. 5C). In other examples, the black edges of each band constrict medially causing the light pigmentation within to fragment (BNHS 814A). Most specimens have a faint series of dark paravertebral and lateral stripes, each arranged in pairs from nape to tail. When visible, lateral stripes are 1–2 dorsal scales wide and are usually present on the outermost 3–4 dorsal scale rows. Paravertebral stripes are 1–2 dorsal scales wide with a light, narrow middorsal line along the vertebral dorsal scale row present between each stripe. Both series of stripes may be indiscernible in juvenile (NHMUK 1925.12.22.38–40) and adult examples (BNHS 814A, CAS 221511, NHMUK 1946.1.4.26) or are weakly developed. Northern populations from Bhutan, northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal) and northern Myanmar (Kachin State) tend to possess patches of light dorsolateral pigmentation, which occasionally coalesce to form weakly developed secondary crossbars separate from each light/black-edged band. Dorsal color of tail same as body, dark brown margins of subcaudals and outermost dorsocaudal scales form a weakly developed ventrolateral line on the tail (Fig. 5B). Small light rectangular spotting occasionally visible above ventrolateral line. Dorsal surface of head light brown, tan or yellow. Adult individuals tend to have dark pigmentation mottled across the head (CAS 221511, NMHW 25817:1) (Figs. 5A, 5C), whereas juvenile examples are more immaculate, especially towards the snout. Head markings same color as body, narrowly edged with dark brown or black. Posterior edge of nuchal chevron continuous with remaining body.</p><p>Specimens bearing the blotched morphotype are various shades of brown in preservative, with a transverse series of blotches or crossbars in place of the typical tricolored arrangement observed in the banded morphotype (Fig. 7–9). Size and shape of both blotches and crossbars vary. In most cases, body and tail blotches brown with black margins, broader middorsally (2–4 vertebral dorsal scales long). Each blotch extends to the outermost 1– 3 dorsal scale rows but in some individuals blotched pigmentation is absent across the flanks (CIB 9895, SYS r001827) (Fig. 8B). Blotch shapes range from oval to rhombic and are generally notched or bisected middorsally. Incompletely notched/bisected blotches appear “walnut” shaped, while fully bisected blotches may persist as two to three distinct spots (this is the case in the holotype of Simotes juglandifer BNHS 814A, and NMHW 25817:1, 25817:5–6 from adjacent Sikkim, India) (Fig. 8A). Body and tail crossbars solid black, 1–2 vertebral dorsal scales in length. Crossbars less prominent on flanks than middorsally in some examples (MZMU 2965, ZMH 769) (Fig. 7C, Fig. 8C). Blotched/crossbarred patterning is never completely absent from the dorsal surface, yet in one specimen (NMHW 25817:5) blotches are only visible anteriorly and the remaining dorsal surface is brown with dense black speckling. Populations from the upper Himalayan foothills formerly referrable to O. juglandifer and O. lipipengi from Bhutan, southwest China (Xizang AR), northern India (Sikkim, West Bengal), and Nepal, are more heavily blotched, though at least one individual from “Himalayas” (ZMH 769) also has a crossbarred pattern (Fig. 8C). Likewise, populations from northeast India (Meghalaya, Mizoram State) frequently display crossbars (MZMU 2965) or narrow blotches (MZMU R.165) (Fig. 7B–C). A sole specimen from Kachin State, Myanmar (CAS 225819) has narrow blotches with dense black margins that are incompletely notched middorsally (Fig. 7A). Between blotches/ crossbars, black or dark brown markings present along edges of each dorsal scale, resulting in conspicuous speckling across the body. These speckles frequently coalesce on the body into “secondary” crossbars in many specimens (Fig. 7A, 7C; Fig. 8C), but they are difficult to discern in others (these markings were not included in the final band/blotch counts). As many as three rows of “secondary” crossbars can be present (CAS 225819, MZMU R.165), in most cases just one row is visible (BNHS 814B, MZMU 2965). Paravertebral and lateral stripes dark brown, more developed in blotched/crossbarred specimens. Middorsal line present between paravertebral stripes lighter and broader on the tail. Color of vertebral line tan in CAS 225819 (Fig. 7A), orange in MZMU 2965 (Fig. 7C). Dorsal markings on head bolder than typical morphotype, margins occasionally black. Color of nuchal chevron separate from remaining nape, in the blotched morphotype present as a pronounced “V” or “Y” shaped marking, lanceolate anteriorly, dividing ventrolaterally towards the throat.</p><p>In life, dorsal ground color in typical morphotype pink, red, reddish brown, or light brown (Fig. 6). Dorsal color in juvenile specimens more intense, usually red. Body and tail bands white, tan or yellow, their edges always black. Paravertebral and lateral stripes darker than dorsal ground color when present (Fig. 6B–C), normally reddish brown or dark brown. Secondary crossbar patches visible on flanks are typically lighter than ground color, occasionally demarcated by inconspicuous brown or black margins along dorsal scale edges. Dorsal surface of head light gray, white or tan, frequently with small brown mottling. Markings on head same as body, occasionally edged with dark brown. In the blotched morphotype, specimens generally range from light brown, gray brown or olive brown in life with prominent speckling on dorsal scale edges colored dark brown or black (Fig. 9). No ontogenetic change in color was detected in life. Lighter white or yellow speckling may also be present on dorsal scale edges and interstitial skin (Fig. 9D). Interior portions of body and tail blotches brown to reddish brown, their edges black. Dorsal crossbars black, in some specimens the interior portions of each bar occasionally engulfed with plain brown pigment (Fig. 9A–B). Paravertebral and lateral stripes are dark brown (Fig. 9D). The middorsal line may be broader than the paravertebral stripes in several specimens. Examples reported as O. juglandifer by Patel et al. (2025) have broad paravertebral stripes starting at the nape and continuing across the entire tail. This pattern combination was also observed in some crossbarred specimens from Mizoram (Fig. 9C–D). Markings on head either dark brown or black. Anterior edges of the ocular and temporal bars occasionally bordered with light brown or white pigmentation. In all specimens, ventral surface white or tan, dark ventral spotting black, dark pigmentation in some specimens dark brown or black by midbody.</p><p>Description of hemipenis. Based on retracted and everted organs (Fig. 10). Retracted hemipenis unilobed upon dissection, length of organ inside tail base 13–28 subcaudal scales long (N = 9). 14–16 poorly developed horizontally arranged flounces in retracted organ (based on MCZ R-22378) (Fig. 10A). Everted hemipenis bilobed, noncapitate and proximally calyculate (Fig. 10B). Proximal one quarter to one third of organ cylindrical, with small irregular rows of calyces. The hemipenis greatly expands in width along the remaining distal one half to two thirds of its length. Long horizontally arranged flounces are present in asulcate and sulcate profiles across remaining hemipenial body. Each lobe is broad, more than two thirds of hemipenial length, longer than wide, and terminate as a small subtriangular awn. Apex of each lobe nude. The shape of the hemipenis according to Zhang et al. (2011) can be either ‘bulbous’ or ‘rod-shaped’ (our translation), though the organs available to us largely fall under the former category. Sulcus spermaticus simple, starting at organ base, extending medially until terminating at bifurcation point between lobes. Sulcus channel present as a narrow and indistinct groove across the median portion of the hemipenial body. A small depression between individual lobes is visible in apical profile of MZMU 3045 but is considered separate from the sulcus channel (Fig. 10B).</p><p>Distribution and Natural History. The distribution of Oligodon albocinctus largely corresponds with moist, low to mid-elevation portions of the Indo–Himalayan foothills, including central and western Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India (in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and West Bengal), and eastern Bangladesh (Smith 1943; Mahendra 1984; Schleich &amp; Kästle 2002; Whitaker &amp; Captain 2004; Wangyal 2011; Hasan et al. 2013) (Appendix 6). Further east its distribution extends through the northern half of Myanmar (Chin, Kachin and Shan States, and the Sagaing Region) and southwestern China (Yunnan Province, Xizang Autonomous Region) (Wall 1923a; Zhao et al. 1998; Che et al. 2020; Huang 2023). The westernmost records known to us derive from central Nepal in Bagmati Province (see Schleich &amp; Kästle 2002). In Myanmar, reports of O. albocinctus exist along the Chin Hills as far south as Hakha in the Mindat District of Chin State (Venning 1910) and continue northwards across the Sagaing Region in Zalon Taung Pagoda, and multiple localities in Kachin and Shan States. Wall (1926) also reported a specimen from “Maymyo” (Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region). Its vertical distribution extends from sea level to approximately 2110 meters above sea level (Wangyal 2011), and another individual photo-documented from Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India (iNaturalist obs. 222610705) was reported at approx. 2586 meters.</p><p>We consider literature reports of O. albocinctus reported in Vietnam to be based on misidentifications with other Oligodon taxa, particularly the O. cinereus species complex. The two Vietnamese records of this species derive from Vinh Phuc Province (Orlov et al. 2000; Nguyen et al. 2009) and Phu Tho Province (Tung et al. 2022). Both reports appear to be based on specimens in the Oligodon cinereus species complex, which can display color patterns that are similar to the white-banded morphotype of O. albocinctus (Bourret 1936; Yushchenko et al. 2023a). No photographs or morphological data accompany the records cited in Orlov et al. (2000), but the specimen from Phu Tho Province reported by Tung et al. (2022) was noted to have 17–17–15 dorsal scale rows, a diagnostic trait of O. cinereus complex members from Indochina that is not seen in any specimens of O. albocinctus . Consequently, we recommend removing O. albocinctus from the snake fauna of Vietnam, a decision that follows recently published herpetofaunal checklists of the country (Poyarkov et al., 2023). A few photo-documented records O. albocinctus from Bhutan were reported as misidentified or unidentified species (Wangyal et al. 2020; Wangyal et al. 2022). This is the case for records of “ Oligodon sp. 2 ” and “ Oligodon sp. 3 ” from Wangyal et al. (2022), which all share typical characteristics of the blotched color morphotype of O. albocinctus . A photographed individual of Oligodon chinensis from Zhemgang District, Bhutan reported by Wangyal et al. (2020) and Wangyal &amp; Das (2021) is also misidentified and represents a blotched variant of O. albocinctus based on the arrangement of the temporal bars and nuchal chevron, although the pattern of the body blotches is abnormally connected across the dorsal surface. We cannot comment further on the record of Oligodon venustus (Jerdon, 1853) from the same publication (Wangyal et al. 2020), or records such as Oligodon fasciolatus (Günther, 1864) reported in Wangyal et al. (2022) and Oligodon taeniolatus (Jerdon, 1853) from Wangyal &amp; Tenzin (2009). Given that the nearest reports for each of these species occur hundreds to thousands of kilometers from Bhutan, their status should be re-evaluated based on a re-examination of the photographs or specimens from which they are based on.</p><p>Several kukri snakes identified as Oligodon cyclurus by previous authors represent blotched morphotypes of Oligodon albocinctus . The morphological data of the O. cyclurus recorded in Das et al. (2016) are one such example, and the photographed specimen figured within their study match the crossbanded patterning seen in many O. albocinctus specimens we examined from northeast India. Hakim et al. (2020) recorded both banded O. albocinctus and blotched O. albocinctus (as O. cyclurus) from Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh (true exemplars of O. cyclurus were also recorded by these authors; Hakim et al. 2020: Fig. 9d). In Mizoram State, two authors recorded diet items in the stomachs of misidentified blotched O. albocinctus specimens (Kalita et al. 2020; Biakzuala et al. 2023; see below), and Hmar et al. (2020) provided data and photographs of blotched O. albocinctus under the name O. cyclurus .</p><p>Oligodon albocinctus is generally a common snake where it occurs (Wall 1914; Jha &amp; Thapa 2002; Whitaker &amp; Captain 2004) and has been reported from disturbed habitats such as university campuses and the vicinity of urban centers, tea gardens, as well as more pristine monsoon forests and lower montane forests (Wall 1909; Purkayastha et al. 2011, 2018; Sinha et al. 2021). O. albocinctus has a broader diet than other members of its genus. Wall (1923a) recorded three specimens with rodent remains in their stomachs. From Myanmar, Wall (1925) reported a mouse in the stomach of one specimen, as well as the remains of one lizard egg and a large brown cricket in two additional individuals. Wall (1926) later dissected the stomachs of three individual O. albocinctus and found that two of his specimens contained four eggs he referred to Rhabdophis subminiatus (Schlegel, 1837) [now Rhabdophis helleri (Schmidt, 1925)]. The third specimen also had the remains of snake or lizard eggs, noting one such egg (approx. 25 mm long) was “impacted in the mouth” while another was swallowed. In Assam State, India, Kalita et al. (2020) notably reported the remains of a bat ( Pipistrellus coromandra Gray, 1838) regurgitated from a blotched morphotype specimen [as O. cyclurus]. Another blotched individual from Mizoram State (reported as Oligodon cf. cyclurus by Biakzuala et al. 2023) had the skink species Sphenomorphus maculatus (Blyth, 1853) swallowed head-first in its stomach. We report another specimen collected from Manipur State, India (MZMU untagged no. 13) that had the remains of an unidentified shrew (Eulioptyphla) in its stomach. Quite interestingly, the specimen was swallowed tail-first. Like all other Oligodon, this species is oviparous. A gravid female reported in July by Wall (1923a) from Dibrugarh, Assam, India had three developed follicles. Another report by Lalronunga et al. (2018) describes a clutch of five eggs from a gravid female specimen from Mizoram State. Another specimen collected in October 2021 from Tlangnuam, Mizoram State (MZMU 2831) appears to be gravid, but no data on clutch size was recorded.</p><p>Conservation Status. The most recent assessment of Oligodon albocinctus from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Khan et al. 2021) lists this species as Least Concern (LC) based on its wide distribution and local abundance. Das et al. (2021) recommended a listing of Vulnerable (VU) for the formerly recognized Oligodon juglandifer due to its documentation at only six localities and threat of habitat loss. Our revised conception of O. albocinctus has a distribution that encompasses multiple protected areas across its range (Agarwal et al. 2010; Rahman et al. 2013; Purkayastha et al. 2020a –b; Khan et al. 2021; Patel et al. 2025; Thapa et al. 2025) and many of the factors that influenced its earlier conservation listing still stand. As such, we recommend the continued maintenance of this species under the listing of Least Concern (LC).</p><p>Comments. We agree BNHM 210 is a juvenile specimen. Wallach et al. (2014), likely referencing Wall (1923b), but not citing this work, claimed BNHM 210 measured 717 mm in length. Wall (1923b) does mention a “Length.— 717 mm ” below mention of the line “Type.—In the Bombay Natural History Society’s collection…” in his account of O. juglandifer, but that section appears to be describing the maximum length of the species and not the length of the type specimen. This interpretation is strengthened by the fact that Wall (1923b) provided a range of values for other morphological characteristics such as ventral and subcaudal scales in the same account, and that many other “Length.” values for Oligodon species mentioned in that work match the maximum lengths provided in an earlier publication he made on the same genus (Wall 1923a), as stated by Patel et al. (2025). Wall (1923a) referred Simotes amabilis to his “Variety (B)” of Oligodon albocinctus yet described this variant as having “intermediate and less conspicuous series of cross-bars”. These chromatic traits are not characteristic of the Simotes amabilis holotype.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EBF31B7C4A325C6887FD60FA4EA119	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Lee, Justin L.;Yushchenko, Platon V.;Pal, Saunak;Vogel, Gernot;Poyarkov, Nikolay A.;Bauer, Aaron M.	Lee, Justin L., Yushchenko, Platon V., Pal, Saunak, Vogel, Gernot, Poyarkov, Nikolay A., Bauer, Aaron M. (2025): Color polymorphism, taxonomic confusion and cryptic diversity in the kukri snake Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata: Colubridae). Zootaxa 5714 (1): 1-69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1
03EBF31B7C4632636887FCFDFC3BA150.text	03EBF31B7C4632636887FCFDFC3BA150.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Oligodon amabilis (Lee & Yushchenko & Pal & Vogel & Poyarkov & Bauer 2025) Lee & Yushchenko & Pal & Vogel & Poyarkov & Bauer 2025	<div><p>Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. (Günther, 1868)</p><p>Figs. 11–14</p><p>Simotes amabilis Günther, A.C. L.G. (1868: 416, pl. 17A). In: Sixth account of new species of snakes in the collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, including Zoology, Botany, and Geology. Series 4, 1, 413–429 + pls. 17–19. Holotype. NHMUK 1948.1.1.8 [Type locality: “ Arakan Hills” (= Rakhine Yoma, Rakhine State, Myanmar)]. (Fig. 11).</p><p>Simotes amabilis, — Theobald 1868a: 41; Theobald 1868b: 47; Boulenger 1890: 312; Boulenger 1894: 220; Wall 1914: 758; Wall 1923a: 326; Smith 1943: 211; Iskandar &amp; Colijn 2001: 70; Schleich &amp; Kästle 2002: 892; Green 2010: 86.</p><p>Simotes albocinctus (nec Coronella albocincta Cantor, 1839).— Boulenger 1890: 312 (in part).</p><p>Oligodon albocinctus (in part)— Wall 1923a: 326; Smith 1943: 211; Mertens 1956: pl. 8 (Fig. 13) (reproduces pl. 17 from Günther 1868); Iskandar &amp; Colijn 2001: 70; Schleich &amp; Kästle 2002: 892; Green 2010: 86.</p><p>Simotes albocinctus var. B.— Boulenger 1894: 220.</p><p>Oligodon albocinctus clade 2.— Lee et al. 2024: Fig. 2.</p><p>Holotype. NHMUK 1946.1.1.8 (immature male) (Fig. 11) from “ Arakan Hills” [Rakhine Yoma, Rakhine State, Myanmar] collected by William Theobald prior to 16 January 1868. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=94.60149&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=18.76779" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 94.60149/lat 18.76779)">The</a> exact whereabouts of the holotype are unknown, though <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=94.60149&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=18.76779" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 94.60149/lat 18.76779)">Theobald</a> was known to have obtained material throughout the southern end of the Rakhine Yoma. We specify the coordinates of the type locality near present-day Thandwe, Thandwe District (18.76779ºN, 94.60149ºE) as it is close to adjacent records of referred specimens, and in the center of the Rakhine Yoma.</p><p>Referred specimens (N = 6). Myanmar. Rakhine State. CAS 216636 (JBS-7351; adult female) from vicinity of Kanthaya Beach, Gwa Township, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=94.53469&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=17.72072" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 94.53469/lat 17.72072)">Thandwe District</a> (17.720720ºN, 94.534690ºE) collected 26 November 2000 by J.B. Slowinski and H. Win . CAS 221933 (JBS-8943; adult male) from Rakhine Yoma Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary, Gwa Township, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=94.588806&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=17.615973" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 94.588806/lat 17.615973)">Thandwe District</a> (17.615972ºN, 94.588806ºE) collected 2 June 2001 by H. Win , T. Thin, K.S. Lwin and A.K. Shein . CAS 239961 (JBS-21445; adult male) Kantawpyin Village, Yambye Township, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=93.81286&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.021917" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 93.81286/lat 19.021917)">Kyaukpyu District</a> (19.021917ºN, 93.812861ºE) collected 5 November 2007 by A.K. Shein, S.L. Oo, and Y.M. Win . CAS 239858 (JBS-21192; adult male) from Chin Minbyin village, Kyaukpyu Township, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=93.733696&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.185583" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 93.733696/lat 19.185583)">Kyaukpyu District</a> (19.185583ºN, 93.733694ºE) collected 22 October 2007 by A.K. Shein, S.L. Oo, and K.S. Lwin . CAS 240016 (JBS-21560; adult male) from Aung Si Kone Village, Yambye Township, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=93.83894&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.05675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 93.83894/lat 19.05675)">Kyaukpyu District</a> (19.056750ºN, 93.838944ºE) collected 9 November 2007 by S.L Oo, A.K. Shein, and Y.M. Win . CAS 240055 (JBS-21642; adult female) from Pyonepyae Village, Kyaukpyu Township, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=93.76988&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.198624" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 93.76988/lat 19.198624)">Kyaukpyu District</a> (19.198623ºN, 93.769884ºE; these coordinates are based on the approximate location of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=93.76988&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=19.198624" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 93.76988/lat 19.198624)">Pyonepyae Village on Google Earth</a>, which differs from the lat/long values on-file in the CAS database) collected 13 November 2007 by A.K. Shein, S.L. Oo, and Y.M. Win .</p><p>Diagnosis. A moderately sized Oligodon with a relatively long tail. Maximum total length approximately 738 mm, relative tail length 0.153 –0.219 (0.187 –0.219 in males, 0.153 –0.171 in females). Dorsal scales in 19–19–15 rows, all smooth. Ventrals 170–186 (170–179 in males, 180–186 in females) without distinct keeling; cloacal plate undivided; subcaudals 48–66 (56–66 in males, 48–49 in females), paired; total body scales 228–244; subcaudal ratio 0.203 –0.273 (0.240 –0.273 in males, 0.203 –0.213 in females). Maxillary teeth 14–16. Loreal present, preocular 1/1, presubocular absent, postoculars 2/2, temporals 1+2. Supralabials 7, third and fourth scale in contact with eye. Infralabials 9, fourth or fifth scale contacting with anterior pair of chin shields.</p><p>Typical morph red or reddish brown dorsally, 22–41 white or yellow crossbands on body, 8–15 on tail (total = 31–56 bands), all edged with black forming a tricolored pattern. Second morph brown with dark irregular crossbars (43 body blotches and 9 tail blotches in single exemplar). Interspace between each band/blotch 4–6 vertebral dorsal scales long at midbody. First band/blotch begins between ventral scales 6–8. Ventral surface plain white or cream with small dark brown or black rectangular blotches on lateral margins of ventral scales. Posteriorly, ventral surface usually darkening from cream to dark gray until cloacal region. Underside of tail plain, occasional rectangular spots present anteriorly. Hemipenis bilobed, sulcus spermaticus simple, proximal third calyculate, remaining two-thirds and apices of lobes broad, subtriangular and covered with rows of horizontal flounces.</p><p>Redescription of holotype. Immature male in good condition, midventral incision from anterior one third of body to cloaca, internally eviscerated (Fig. 11). SVL 203 mm, TailL 46 mm, TotalL 249 mm, HeadL 11.9 mm, HeadW 7.4 mm, SnL 3.7 mm, SnW 2.9 mm, EyeD 2.1 mm, FrontalL 3.5 mm, FrontalW 2.5 mm, InterorbD 4.5 mm. TailLR 0.185, HeadW/L 0.62, SnL/HL 0.31, EyeD/SnL 0.57, EyeD/HeadL 0.18, FrontalL/W 1.41. Body elongate, subcylindrical. Head ovate, distinct from neck. Snout round, tapered in dorsal profile, slightly depressed in lateral profile, upper jaw projects further than lower jaw, canthus rostralis absent. Eyes moderate, pupil round. Tail broad at base, gradually tapering in diameter along distal third to sharp acuminate tip.</p><p>Dorsal scales in 19–19–15 rows, all smooth. Dorsal scale reduction from 19 to 17 scales at 101 st ventral, 17 to 15 scales at 141 st ventral (0.57 and 0.79 of ventrals, respectively), both on left side of body. Ventral scales 177, no distinct lateral keeling, preventrals 1. Cloacal plate undivided. Subcaudals 62, paired. Total body scales 242, subcaudal ratio 0.265. Data on dentition from F. W. Wagner as follows: maxillary teeth 15, palatine teeth 9, pterygoid teeth 24. Hemipenis unknown.</p><p>Rostral triangular, height and width equal, posterior suture bordering internasals form a broad gull-wing shaped obtuse angle (~119º). Nasal subpentagonal, 1.6 times longer than high, anterior suture 2.1 times higher than posterior suture. Small vertical suture divides nasal above and below nostril. Each nasal in contact with rostral, internasal, prefrontal, loreal, and first to second supralabial. Internasals paired, trapezoidal in dorsal profile, 2.4 times wider than median suture, entire scale 1.6 times wider than long, anterior and posterior sutures weakly concave. Each internasal in contact with prefrontal, rostral, and nasal. Prefrontals paired, subhexagonal, each scale 1.1 times wider than long, 1.7 times wider than median suture. Median suture of prefrontals 2.0 times longer than median suture of internasals. Each prefrontal in contact with internasal, nasal, loreal, preocular, supraocular, and frontal. Supraoculars subrectangular, 1.9 times longer than width of posterior suture, posterior suture 1.4 times wider than anterior suture, in contact with preocular, prefrontal, frontal, uppermost postocular, and parietal. Frontal pentagonal, shield shaped, 1.2 times longer than median parietal suture. Anterior frontal suture straight, positioned in front of eyes. Posterior vertex of frontal bordering parietals forming a very weak obtuse angle (~92º). Parietals paired, subpentagonal, median suture 1.1 times longer than wide, entire scale 1.5 times longer than wide and 1.2 times longer than frontal. Anterior suture bordering frontal and supraoculars straight, angled obtusely (~123º), its ray oriented laterally. Posterior suture of each parietal slightly bent. Seven scales (excluding postoculars) surround parietals. Loreal 1/1, square, height and width equal, posterior suture 1.5 times higher than anterior suture, in contact with nasal, preocular, prefrontal and third supralabial. Preocular 1/1, rectangular, higher than long. Presubocular scale absent. Postoculars 2/2, subrectangular, uppermost scale slightly larger than lowermost. Temporals 1+2, uppermost posterior temporal longer than lowermost. Supralabials 7/7, first two scales in contact with nasal, second in contact with loreal, second and third in contact with preocular, third and fourth in contact with eye, fourth and fifth in contact with lower postocular, fifth and sixth in contact with anterior temporal, and sixth and seventh in contact with lowermost posterior temporal. Sixth supralabial largest, first supralabial smallest. Infralabials 9/9, first five scales in contact with anterior chin shields, sixth scale contacting posterior chin shields. Sixth infralabial largest, second scale smallest. First pair of infralabials contact medially. Mental scale triangular, wider than long. Anterior chin shields rectangular, longer than wide. Posterior chin shields smaller than anterior pair, each shield in contact at midline for two-thirds of their length, suture bordering gulars convex. Poorly defined mental groove present between first infralabials and both pairs of chin shields.</p><p>After 157 years in preservative, dorsal surface reddish brown (Fig. 11A). Dorsal pattern tricolored, 41 light tan bands with narrow black edges on body, 15 bands on tail. Body bands extend across almost all the dorsal surface except for outermost 2–3 dorsal scale rows, which are plain. Insertion of first white crossband begins above level of the sixth ventral scale. Width of light bands 1.0 dorsal scales long, black edges one-half dorsal scales long. Interspace between each band four vertebral dorsal scales at midbody. An indistinct series of dark paravertebral and lateral stripes present from nape to end of tail. Paravertebral stripes each brown, one dorsal scale long and engulf a single light middorsal line. Lateral stripes also brown, each one dorsal scale wide, present at midbody on the fourth outermost dorsal scale row and edge of the third dorsal scale row. Ventrolateral edge of tail along outermost dorsocaudal scale rows brown, bolder than remaining tail. Dorsal surface of head tan. Snout light brown, plain. Dorsal ornamentation on head consists of one ocular bar, one temporal streak on each side, and an incomplete nuchal chevron, all markings reddish brown with their outlines dark brown (Fig. 11C). Ocular bar begins at supralabials 4– 5, continuing across each side of head through eye before meeting across prefrontals, anterior edges of supraoculars and anterior edge of frontal. Temporal bar incomplete, starting at anterolateral edge of each parietal, continuing through posterior temporals before terminating at flanks near first dorsal scale row. Nuchal chevron a lanceolate projection extending from nape between the median suture of each parietal and terminating at the posterior vertex of frontal scale. A single irregular spot present within the median portion of frontal and anterior corner of right parietal. Eye blue, pupil tan. Underside of head tan, occasional dark pigmentation within scale sutures (Fig. 11B). Ventral surface same as head, edges of ventral scales with small brown subtriangular spots, sparse anteriorly, present every other ventral scale at midbody and posteriorly until the cloaca. Lateral margins of every ventral scale near flanks reddish brown. Underside of tail tan, immaculate.</p><p>General description and variation. Adult SVL 413–603 mm (excluding holotype, a juvenile), TailL 98–135 mm, TotalL 524–738 mm. The largest specimen is an adult male (CAS 221933) measuring 603 mm SVL and 135 mm TailL. Largest female (CAS 216636) 552 mm SVL and 100 mm TailL. Other head measurements and ratios noted as follows: HeadL 11.9–18.9 mm, HeadW 7.4–13.6 mm, SnL 3.7–6.3 mm, SnW 2.9–4.3 mm, EyeD 2.1–3.0 mm, FrontalL 3.5–5.6 mm, FrontalW 2.5–4.4 mm, InterorbD 4.5–6.6 mm. TailLR 0.153 –0.219 (x̄ = 0.189 ± 0.023, N = 7), in males 0.187 –0.219 (x̄ = 0.199 ± 0.016, N = 5), in females 0.153 –0.171 (x̄ = 0.161 ± 0.012; N = 2). HeadW/ L 0.60–0.85, SnL/HL 0.30–0.40, EyeD/SnL 0.46–0.57, EyeD/HeadL 0.14–0.20, FrontalL/W 1.15–1.41.</p><p>Dorsal scales in 19–19–15 rows, all smooth. Reduction from row 19 to 17 at ventral scale 95–112 (0.56–0.61 of ventrals), 17 to 15 at ventral scale 132–170 (0.78–0.91 of ventrals). Ventral scales 170–186 (x̄ = 177.6 ± 4.9; N = 7), in males 170–179 (x̄ = 175.4 ± 3.4; N = 5), in females 180–186 (x̄ = 183.0 ± 4.2; N = 2), no distinct keeling. Subcaudal scales 48–66 (x̄ = 57.7 ± 7.3; N = 7), in males 56–66 (x̄ = 61.4 ± 6.9; N = 5), in females 48–49 (x̄ = 48.5 ± 0.5; N = 2), all paired. Cloacal plate undivided. Total body scales 228–244 (x̄ = 236.3 ± 6.4; N = 7). Subcaudal ratio 0.203 –0.273 (x̄ = 0.244 ± 0.026; N = 7), in males 0.240 –0.273 (x̄ = 0.258 ± 0.013; N = 5), in females 0.203 –0.213 (x̄ = 0.208 ± 0.006). Sexual dimorphism recorded for ventral scale counts, relative tail length and subcaudal ratio values, but not for the number of subcaudals.</p><p>Maxillary teeth 14–16 (N = 7), anteriormost teeth small, gradually increasing in size posteriorly. Posteriormost three or four maxillary teeth enlarged, blade-like, laterally compressed. In CT-scanned specimen CAS 240055, palatine teeth 12/13, pterygoid teeth 22/23, dentary teeth 18/18.</p><p>Rostral height/width equal, posterior suture bordering internasals obtuse angled, forming a deep V or gull-wing shape in dorsal profile (96–129º). Nasal subpentagonal, divided, longer than high, anterior suture higher than posterior suture. Each nasal in contact with rostral, internasal, prefrontal, loreal, and first to second supralabial. Internasals paired, trapezoidal, entire scale wider than long, wider than length of median suture. Anterior and posterior internasal sutures straightened (CAS 239961, CAS 240016, CAS 240055) or weakly concave (holotype + remaining specimens). Each internasal contacts prefrontal, rostral, and nasal. Prefrontals paired, subhexagonal, entire scale wider than long, wider than length of median suture. Each prefrontal contacting internasal, nasal, loreal, preocular, supraocular and frontal. Supraoculars subrectangular, longer than wide, posterior suture wider than anterior suture. Each supraocular in contact with preocular, prefrontal, frontal, uppermost postocular, and parietal. Frontal pentagonal, shield shaped, longer than median parietal suture. Anterior frontal suture positioned in front of eye sockets. Posterior vertex of frontal bordering parietals acute to weakly obtuse angled (81–96º). Parietals paired, subpentagonal, entire scale longer than wide and longer than frontal. Median parietal suture longer than parietal scale width. Anterior parietal suture bordering frontal and supraoculars straight, angled obtusely (119–136º), ray oriented laterally. Posterior suture of each parietal slightly bent. Seven scales (excluding postoculars) surround parietals in holotype and two additional specimens (CAS 221933, CAS 240016), eight scales in three specimens (CAS 216636, CAS 239858, CAS 240055), nine in a single specimen (CAS 239961). Loreal 1/1, square, height and width equal, posterior suture higher than anterior suture. Loreal contacts nasal, preocular, prefrontal and third supralabial. Preocular 1/1, rectangular, higher than long. Presubocular scale absent. Postoculars 2/2, subrectangular, uppermost scale slightly larger than lowermost. Temporals 1+2, uppermost posterior temporal longer than lowermost. Supralabials 7/7, first two scales in contact with nasal, second in contact with loreal, second and third in contact with preocular, third and fourth in contact with eye, fourth and fifth in contact with lower postocular, fifth and sixth in contact with anterior temporal, and sixth and seventh in contact with lowermost posterior temporal. Sixth supralabial largest, first supralabial smallest. Infralabials 9/9, first five in contact with anterior chin shields in holotype and one specimen (CAS 239858), 4/4 infralabials contact anterior chin shields in remaining material. Sixth infralabial contacting posterior chin shields. Sixth infralabial largest, second infralabial smallest. First pair of infralabials contact medially. Mental scale triangular, wider than long. Anterior chin shields rectangular, longer than wide. Posterior chin shields smaller than anterior, each shield in contact at midline for one-half to two-thirds of their length, suture bordering gulars concave. Poorly defined mental groove present between first infralabials and both pairs of chin shields .</p><p>In preservative, typical color morphotype reddish-brown dorsally with a series of white or tan bands, each surrounded by narrow black edges (Fig. 12). The ground color in one specimen (CAS 239961) is plain brown, and the body and tail bands in another are light pink (i.e., CAS 240016). The black edges of each band may expand laterally along the flanks (CAS 221933). Number of bands or crossbars in all specimens (including CAS 239858) range from 22–43 on body (x̄ = 34.0 ± 8.3, N = 7) to 8–15 on tail (x̄ = 10.4 ± 2.7, N = 7), total bands 31–55 (x̄ = 44.4 ± 9.4, N = 7). Body bands extend across dorsal surface until outermost 1–3 dorsal scale rows. Insertion of first white crossband begins above ventral scale 6–9 (x̄ = 7.0 ± 0.82; N = 7). Width of light bands 1.0 dorsal scales long, black edges 0.5–1.0 dorsal scales. Interspace between each band 4–6 vertebral dorsal scales at midbody (x̄ = 4.6 ± 0.78; N = 7). An indistinct series of paravertebral and lateral stripes normally present from nape to tail terminus but barely visible or essentially absent in two adults (CAS 221933, CAS 240055). Paravertebral stripes one dorsal scale wide, each engulfing a single narrow middorsal line (Fig. 12C). Lateral stripe one or two dorsal scales wide, present on third and/or fourth outermost dorsal scale rows. Ventrolateral edge of tail along outermost dorsocaudal scale rows and margins of each subcaudal brown, bolder than remaining portion of tail. Dorsal surface of head tan or light brown, darker towards snout. Head markings consist of one ocular bar, a paired temporal streak, and one nuchal chevron, all reddish brown with dark brown edges. Ocular bar begins at supralabial 4–5 and extends through eye before covering prefrontals, anterior edges of supraoculars and anterior edge of frontal. In four specimens the ocular bar may enter the posterior edge of the internasals (CAS 221933, CAS 239961, CAS 240016, CAS 240055). Temporal bars begin at anterolateral edge of parietal, continue through posterior temporals before terminating ventrolaterally at first dorsal scale row. Nuchal chevron lanceolate, extending from nape through the median suture of parietal and frontal. Median frontal spot disconnected from chevron in holotype and two other specimens (CAS 221933, CAS 240055). Underside of head and body tan, edges of ventral scales with small brown subtriangular spots, sparse anteriorly, present every other ventral scale at midbody and posteriorly until the cloaca. Midbody and posterior portions of ventral surface dark brown in two specimens (CAS 239961, CAS 239858). Lateral margins of ventral scale near flanks reddish brown. Underside of tail tan, brown mottling present anteriorly in two specimens (CAS 216693, CAS 239961, CAS 239858), sparser in CAS 216693 (Fig. 12).</p><p>A single male (CAS 239858) from Kyaukpyu Township exhibits a blotched morphotype separate from other specimens described above (Fig. 13). The dorsal surface is light brown with small black spots on most scale edges. A narrow, indistinct series of and dark brown crossbars present (43 on body, 9 on tail), less than one dorsal scale in width. Each crossbar incomplete, consisting of alternating rows of small spots or reticulations connected along dorsal scale edges. Paravertebral and lateral stripes dark brown, similar in size and arrangement as holotype. Dorsal head markings brown with black edges. Nuchal chevron dark brown, separate from dorsal ground color forming a subtriangular arrow marking, each terminating posteriorly along nape. Color of ventral surface resembles holotype and other referred material (Fig 13B) .</p><p>Color in life based on digitized slides of a single specimen (CAS 216636) from Gwa Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar taken prior to euthanasia (Fig. 14). Dorsal surface light red, all body and tail bands whitish yellow with black edges. Paravertebral and lateral stripes reddish brown, barely visible dorsally. Ventrolateral line along tail plain brown. Head light brown, markings tan with black edges. Ventral underside tan .</p><p>Description of hemipenis. Hemipenis bilobed upon full eversion, noncapitate and calyculate. Partially everted hemipenis unilobed, proximal one quarter or one third of organ with small irregular rows of calyces. Distal three quarters or two thirds of organ with long horizontal flounces across base, asulcate and sulcate profiles of lobes, apical portion of organ nude. Hemipenial lobes broad, more than two thirds of hemipenial length, longer than wide, terminating as bulbous subtriangular awns. Sulcus spermaticus simple, starting at organ base before extending medially until terminating at bifurcation point between lobes. Sulcus channel indistinct.</p><p>Comparisons. Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. is compared with all Oligodon inhabiting Myanmar and adjacent regions. The presence of 19–19–15 dorsal scale rows in O. amabilis comb. nov. immediately distinguishes this species from all members of the Oligodon ornatus Group ( Oligodon catenatus (Blyth, 1854) and Oligodon hamptoni Boulenger, 1918) and Oligodon theobaldi Group ( Oligodon cruentatus (Theobald, 1868a), Oligodon dorsalis, Oligodon erythrogaster Boulenger, 1907, Oligodon mcdougalli, Oligodon planiceps (Boulenger, 1888), Oligodon theobaldi (Günther, 1868) and Oligodon torquatus (Boulenger, 1888)) native to Myanmar and surrounding countries, all of which have a maximum of 13–17 dorsal scale rows. The number of dorsal scale rows also distinguishes O. amabilis comb. nov. from four Oligodon species native to China and northeast India ( Oligodon erythrorhachis Wall, 1910, Oligodon melaneus Wall, 1909, Oligodon melanozonatus Wall, 1922, Oligodon zhangfujii Jiang, Wu, Huang, Ren, Gao, Lyu &amp; Li, 2024), which have a maximum of 15–17 dorsal scale rows. Members of the Oligodon cyclurus –taeniatus Group native to Myanmar ( Oligodon cyclurus, Oligodon fasciolatus) may resemble blotched O. amabilis comb. nov. in terms of coloration. O. amabilis comb. nov. is distinguished from both species by having seven supralabials (versus usually eight or nine), one anterior temporal (versus usually two anterior temporals) and no presubocular scale (versus presubocular usually present). Within the Oligodon cinereus Group, the presence of 19–19–15 dorsal scale rows distinguish O. amabilis comb. nov. from all members of the O. cinereus species complex (all taxa in this group have 15–17 anterior and midbody scale rows) and from Oligodon splendidus (21 anterior and midbody scale rows).</p><p>Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. is most similar morphologically to Oligodon albocinctus (data after versus) but can be distinguished by usually having a higher number of body+tail bands (31–56 [x̄ = 44.4 ± 9.4; N = 7] versus 20–33 [x̄ = 27.5 ± 2.6; N = 101]) and a higher number of maxillary teeth (14–16 teeth [N = 7] versus 8–12 teeth [N = 27]). Statistically, Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. has a lower mean number of ventral scales (170–186 [x̄ = 177.6 ± 4.9; N = 7] versus 174–207 [x̄ = 189.9 ± 7.3; N = 134]) and a lower mean number of total body scales (228–244 [x̄ = 236.3 ± 6.4; N = 7] versus 235–262 [x̄ = 248.2 ±7.4; N = 124]). The ventral scale position of the first body band/blotch generally occurs earlier in O. amabilis comb. nov. than O. albocinctus (ventral scale 6–8 [x̄ = 7.0 ± 0.8; N = 7] versus 7–19 [x̄ = 10.2 ± 2.3; N = 95]), and the length in vertebral dorsal scales between bands at midbody is shorter than O. albocinctus (4–6 scales [x̄ = 4.6 ± 0.78; N = 7] versus 6–9 [x̄ = 7.2 ± 0.82; N = 95]) (Table 3).</p><p>Distribution and natural history. Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. is endemic to southwestern Myanmar, where it is known only from Rakhine State along the western foothills of the Rakhine Yoma/ Arakan Hills (Fig. 15) (Appendix 6). All specimens with accurate geolocation data were collected at low, coastal elevations. The vertical distribution stretches from sea level to 74 meters asl. According to field notes from the CAS collection, most specimens were recorded from 1030–1940 hrs local time. Four specimens were collected during November, while one specimen (CAS 221933) was found in early June, and another (CAS 239858) was found in late October. No other data on its natural history are known.</p><p>Conservation status. The current distribution of Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. suggests it is endemic to southwestern Myanmar in Rakhine State. This region has seen substantial human conflict over the past few decades, with some studies noting an increase in deforestation and habitat destruction in areas where this species is known to occur (Thiri Shwesin Aung 2021). At least one locality where O. amabilis has been found is encompassed by the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary, which may provide protection in the form of forest preservation. Still, other aspects that would allow a more detailed conservation assessment of this species are currently unavailable. Due to the small range of this species, and the threat of habitat loss, we recommend Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. should be listed as Data Deficient (DD) according to IUCN Red List criteria.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EBF31B7C4632636887FCFDFC3BA150	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Lee, Justin L.;Yushchenko, Platon V.;Pal, Saunak;Vogel, Gernot;Poyarkov, Nikolay A.;Bauer, Aaron M.	Lee, Justin L., Yushchenko, Platon V., Pal, Saunak, Vogel, Gernot, Poyarkov, Nikolay A., Bauer, Aaron M. (2025): Color polymorphism, taxonomic confusion and cryptic diversity in the kukri snake Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata: Colubridae). Zootaxa 5714 (1): 1-69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1
03EBF31B7C6F32756887FE9AFAACA67B.text	03EBF31B7C6F32756887FE9AFAACA67B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Oligodon albocinctus	<div><p>Oligodon albocinctus (N = 138):</p><p>Examined specimens (N = 97): CHINA: Xizang Autonomous Region: CIB 9894–98, CIB unnumbered, SYNU 04 II6240, SYS r001827. MYANMAR: Chin State: CAS 233187; Kachin State: CAS 221511, 221529, 225189, NHMUK 1925.9 .17.18, 1925.12.22.38-40; Sagaing Region: ZMMU NAP-09561, NAP-09610; Shan State: NHMUK 1908.8 . 23.32. INDIA: No further locality data: MCZ R-22378 ; Assam State: USNM 117575; Manipur State: MZMU 3028, MZMU Untagged 7, Untagged 13 ; Meghalaya State: NHMUK 1940.3 . 4.37, 1946.1.4.26 (holotype of Coronella puncticulatus); Mizoram State: MZMU 1–8, 279, 280–1, 943, 951 / 952, 956, 973, 1088, 1207–209, 1211, 1302, 1389, 1502, 1574, 2008, 2333, 2404, 2412, 2826–27, 2831, 2835, 2836 (SE 29), 2918, 2969, 3045, 090L, 92L, GV19, HTS 25–27, HTS 44, R.35, R.160, R.165, Untagged 3–5, Untagged 10, Untagged 12; Sikkim State: FMNH 11795, 15831; MSNG 30307, NHMW 25817.1 – 4; West Bengal: CAS-SUR 12408, BNHS 814 (A), BNHS 814 (B) (lectotype of Simotes albocinctus var. juglandifer) , NHMW 25818.1 . West Bengal State: NMHW 25831, NMHW 25818.1 . NO FURTHER LOCALITY DATA: CAS-SUR 13508 (“ Hong Kong ”, in error), USNM 129730 (“ Southern India ”, in error) , ZMH 769 (“ Himalayas ”) .</p><p>Literature (N =18): BANGLADESH: Chittagong District: JUHG 332 (Hasan et al. 2013) . CHINA: Yunnan Province: KIZ 2003114–116, KIZ 74 I006 (Yang &amp; Rao 2008); KIZ 74 I0026 (Zhang et al. 2011) . Xizang Autonomous Region: KIZ 011042, 011055 (holotype of Oligodon lipipengi), 019520 (Jiang et al. 2020) . INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh: AD/ AS 18 (Das et al. 2016); Assam State; AD/ AS 33 (Das et al. 2016); Mizoram State: AD/ MZ 9 (Das et al. 2016); Sikkim State: BNHS 3770 (Patel et al. 2025); West Bengal State: BNHS 815, 831–32, 834–35 (Patel et al. 2025) .</p><p>Unpublished data examined by Frederick W. Wagner (N = 23): INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh: NHMUK 1913.5.22.4, NHMUK 1940.3.4.34; Assam State: NHMUK 1908.6.23.33–35, 1940.3.4.36; Meghalaya State: NHMUK 1853.8.12.31 (A–B); Sikkim State: NHMUK 1860.3.10.1431; West Bengal State: NHMUK 1870.11.30.17, 1880.11.10.138, 1891.9.11.16–17, 1940.3.4.35. No further locality data: NHMUK 1860.3.19.1333 (A–B), 1870.11.30.9, 1870.11.30.19 (A–B), 1874.4.29.955. NEPAL: No further locality data: NHMUK 1858.6.24.2.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EBF31B7C6F32756887FE9AFAACA67B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Lee, Justin L.;Yushchenko, Platon V.;Pal, Saunak;Vogel, Gernot;Poyarkov, Nikolay A.;Bauer, Aaron M.	Lee, Justin L., Yushchenko, Platon V., Pal, Saunak, Vogel, Gernot, Poyarkov, Nikolay A., Bauer, Aaron M. (2025): Color polymorphism, taxonomic confusion and cryptic diversity in the kukri snake Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata: Colubridae). Zootaxa 5714 (1): 1-69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1
03EBF31B7C6F32756887FB39FD97A42F.text	03EBF31B7C6F32756887FB39FD97A42F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Oligodon cinereus (Gunther 1864)	<div><p>Oligodon “ cinereus ” (N = 69):</p><p>Examined specimens: BANGLADESH: Chittagong Division: NHMUK 1940.3.4.38. INDIA: Assam State: NHMUK 80.11.10.202; Bihar State: ZSI-K 12356; Mizoram State: MZMU 282–283, 1027, 1097, 1265, 1353, 1573, 1596, 1934, 2788 (SE 48), 91L, 93L, GV-18, Untagged 1–2, Untagged 6; Nagaland State: NMB 13622, 13540. No further locality data: S (Jaya) 57, 67. MYANMAR: No further locality data: BNHS 845–848, NHMUK 1884.5.8.11, 1908.6.23.36–40, 1908.6.23.41–43; 1924.1.30.1; Bago Region: CAS 239681; Chin State: CAS 235368; Kachin State: NHMUK 1940.6.5.2, Kayin State: MNHN 1893.0387–0388, MSNG 31983 (A–C), NMB 1564–65. ZMH R-06250–6251; Magway Region: CAS 235360; Mandalay Region: NHMUK 1900.9.20.14; Rakhine State: CAS 205028, 240006; Sagaing Region: CAS 210159, 215597, 215605, 232188, USNM 595982; Shan State: CAS 215261, 216337; NHMUK 1891.11.26.32–33, 1908.6.23.44–45. THAILAND: Chiang Mai Province: USNM 84754; Phrae Province: USNM 164802.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EBF31B7C6F32756887FB39FD97A42F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Lee, Justin L.;Yushchenko, Platon V.;Pal, Saunak;Vogel, Gernot;Poyarkov, Nikolay A.;Bauer, Aaron M.	Lee, Justin L., Yushchenko, Platon V., Pal, Saunak, Vogel, Gernot, Poyarkov, Nikolay A., Bauer, Aaron M. (2025): Color polymorphism, taxonomic confusion and cryptic diversity in the kukri snake Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata: Colubridae). Zootaxa 5714 (1): 1-69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1
03EBF31B7C6F32796887F9D4FC23A042.text	03EBF31B7C6F32796887F9D4FC23A042.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Oligodon cyclurus (Cantor 1839)	<div><p>Oligodon cyclurus (N = 84):</p><p>Examined specimens: BANGLADESH: Rangpur City: ZSI-K 7087. INDIA: Meghalaya State: BNHS 804, 806; West Bengal State: BNHS 808–812, NHMW 24535.4, 24535.8, ZSI-K 7087, 8611–12, 12878, 18674. MYANMAR: No further locality data: MCZ R-177743–744, R-2281, R-3647, R-4205; NHMUK 1868.4.9.7–8, 68.4.3.52–54, 1908.6.23.47, NHMW 25822.3, 25822.5–7, ZSI-K 7091, 8616 12390; Ayeyarwady Region: BNHS 802; CAS 204963, 213299, 222679, 222888; NHMUK 1938.8.7.29; USNM 587335; Bago Region: NHMUK 93.1.16.3, 1924.1.30.2; Chin State: CAS 220123; Kachin State: MSNG 30525 (A–B, D), 30259, NHMW 24534.2, USNM 123439; Mandalay Region: CAS 216181; NHMUK 1925.9.18.1–6; 1925.11.22.36–37; Sagaing Region: CAS 215602, 211598; USNM 520625, 524069–70, 537439; Shan State: CAS 236093, MSNG 31969, NHMUK 1970.1982; Tanintharyi Region: NHMUK 84.5.8.12, 1940.3.4.39; Yangon Region: BNHS 799; CAS 208430, 213326, 213502; NHMUK 1908.6.23.48–49 (1–4); UF 48849; ZSI-K 11571. NO FURTHER LOCALITY DATA: BNHS 813, ZSI-K (unnumbered specimen).</p><p>APPENDIX 3. Summary statistics from the principal components analysis (PCA) comparing morphological traits of the three OTUs of Oligodon albocinctus . Refer to the materials and methods for morphological character acronyms.</p><p>APPENDIX 3. (Continued)</p><p>APPENDIX 4. Transliteration of the handwritten notes on Coronella albocincta made by Theodore Cantor from his unpublished manuscript “ Indian Serpents–Innocuous –Collected, figured &amp; described (1831–1837) ”.</p><p>|19| Descript p.95. / Harmless Serpents.17. / Coronella albocincta, Cantor / Cantor. 6 May 1836 / From a specimen in spirits |7.| Xenodon albocinctus, Cantor. Chirra Punji / Coronella albocincta, Cantor</p><p>|95| Coronella, Boie / Coronella Lycodon albocincta / Fig. 17. / C. viride canescens, fasciis transversalibus albis, / nigro marginatis, quorum / intervalla nigro punc-/tata, scutis abdominali-/bus alterne fuscis. / Scuta abdominalia 181 / Scutilla subcaudalia 65 / Habitat. Chirra Poonjee, Assam. / Greyish green with white / transversal bands edged / with black, the inter-/vals / |96| between which dotted / with black; the ab-/dominal scuta yellow-/ish white, alternately / deep brown / Assamese name: Patdei-hee. / The shape of the head / approaches the rhomboid-/al form; it is broader / than the neck, covered / with nine shields, the / eyes, nostrils, the gape/ &amp; the distribution / of the teeth resemble / those parts in the / Lycodon Coronella cyclurus, / which is also the case with / the general appearance / of / |97| the trunk &amp; tail. / The general color is / greyish green with me-/tallic lustre; between / the eyes runs a whitish / transversal band, which / continues backwards &amp; / downwards over the temples / to the angle of the / mouth, from the posterior / margin of this band commence two others, / which become broader / as they terminate on diverging descend to / the sides of the neck / all of them are edged / with a narrow line / of black. About one / inch from the head / commence a series of / white |98| transversal ^ narrow bands / interrupted set off in / black zig-zag borders, / leaving intervals of / about one inch in / length between each / other; these intervals / are generally marked / by two or three / transversal lines of / black dots produced / by the posterior edges / of the scales being / black. These latter / as well as the white / bands, the members of / which varies with each / individual, cease at / the commencement / of / |99| the posterior third / half of the back / from whence the / general color is a / greyish green. The / lips &amp; the abdominal / surface is yellowish / white, every second or / third of the scuta / being of a deep brown / color; near the tail / nearly all the scuta / are more or less colored / with brown, whereas / only a few &amp; with of the scutella &amp; with / irregular distances par-/take of these marks.</p><p>|100| Dimensions.</p><p>ft. in. lin./</p><p>Breadth of the head…. 0. 0. 8./</p><p>Length of the head…. 0. 0. 10./</p><p>“ “ “ trunk…. 1. 8. 7./</p><p>“ “ “ tail…. 0. 6. 3. /</p><p>Total length…. 2. 3. 8./ Circumf of the neck…. 1 inch 9 lin / Greatest circumf of the trunk 2 in 6 lin. /</p><p>The sketch is made / from a specimen con-/tained in a collec-/tion of serpents from / Chirra-Poonjee, with / which I was favoured / through the kindness / of Mr. Grant. I after-/wards found several / in Mr. Griffiths / col-/ |101| ection from Assam. / According to notes taken / on the spot by Mr. / Griffith, the natural / color has hardly under / gone any changes by / the influence of the / spirits of wine. / Specimens of this Lycodon Coronella / of a greyish brown / with pale cinnamon-coloured / bands occur occasion-/ally, examination / of such has led me / to believe that these / varieties of colors are / mere accidental, very / likely mixing from / the period elapsed / since / |102| the serpent changed / the skin, as it is / well known that / the colors are not / brilliant &amp; viewed that / by after this process / &amp; fade on even slight / by change as the / skin becomes exfold. / The size those speci-/mens from Assam / was nearly equal / to the one here des-/cribed.</p><p>APPENDIX 5. Transliteration of the handwritten notes on Coronella cyclura made by Theodore Cantor from his unpublished manuscript “ Indian Serpents–Innocuous –Collected, figured &amp; described (1831–1837) ”.</p><p>|17| Descript p.83. / Harmless Serpents.15. / Th[e] Cantor. 8 Aug 1836 / Coronella cyclura, Cantor |20| Tukkr Bora/ Coronella cyclura / Xenodon cyclurus, Cantor, Bengal /</p><p>|83| Coronella Lycodon cyclura Fig. 15 Cor. vi-/ridè-canescens striis / nigris obliquis inter-/ ruptis, abdomine mar- /garitaceo, vitta tristè / cinerea utrinque incluso / Scuta abdominalia 179 / Scuta subcaudalia 43 /Habitat. Bengal / Greyish green with black/ oblique interrupted stripes, / the abdominal surface/pearlcoloured, enclosed/ on both sides by a/ deep/ |84| ashy-grey ribband/ Vernacular name. Tukkr-Bora/</p><p>The head ovate, depressed, / a little broader than/the neck, covered with/nine shields, the upper/jar projecting over the/ lower, the rostrum / as in all the species/ of this genus of a con./siderable size; the / nostrils very small / opening in the middle / of one larger shield; the / eyes very small, pro-/minent of a brilliant / jet black, surrounded/ by one prae-&amp; two very / minute post-orbital/ shields; the lips covered/ with |85| 8/8 [fraction] labial shields; the/mouth small with palatal + maxillar tooth/ distant reflex sharp / teeth. The size of the / last maxillar tooth / in the upper jaw, [striked text] exceeds re-/markably the others/ &amp; is cutting on its/ convex or anterior / edge, but not provided/ with any furrow. The/ tongue is rather short/ black &amp; bifurcate/ [striked line of text]/ The trunk is cylindrical / a rather heavy snake. The / tail is thick, shortening in a sharp point. / The scales of the body/ are nearly quadrangular/ &amp; imbricate. The abdominal / scuta are two lines long/ &amp; about seven lines broad. / The general color is greyish / green. |86| Some of the scales of / the trunk are edged / with black, &amp; produce/ thus a number of / black interrupted stri-/pes converging / toward the head. The / [dimples?] &amp; lips are/ of a dull yellow, which / soon changes into a / deep ashgrey ribbon, / following the flanks to the commencement/ of the tail. The abdo/minal surface is / pearl-coloured.</p><p>Dimensions /</p><p>ft. in. lin./</p><p>Breadth of the head … 0. 0. 9./</p><p>Length of the head…. 0. 0. 10./</p><p>“ “ “ trunk….. 1. 9[.] 0./</p><p>“ “ “ tail….. 0. 3. 2. /</p><p>Total length….. 2ft. 1 inch./</p><p>|88| Circumference of the neck 2 inch. /Greatest circumf. Of the trunk/ 2 in. 6 line. / This species as well as the / one described by Russell / under the name of Kat- / la Tutta, No. XXXV, Col./ Russelli, Daudin, Lycodon / Russelli, Boie. belong / to the rarer of the ben-/gallee Fauna &amp; are / said to be found in dry / parts of the jungle. / The small kind of / lizards &amp; mice appear / to be their favourite / food. They are rather / indolent, slow in / movements &amp; not easily / provoked to bite. Not / withstanding the susp-/icious / |88| appearance of the last / maxillary tooth, the bite / is accompanied by no / evil consequences ex-/ periments tried upon / animals produced only slight transient symp-/toms of pain. The sali-/varian glands are not / much developed, in fact / injection proves that / the pernicious qualities / equally attributed / to both of these species / of Lycodon are quite / unfounded. It is of-/serted by the natives &amp; / I have myself observed / that the Coronella Lycodon cyclura / when at rest always furls / the tail either to the / right or left sides &amp; / |89| even when moving, the / tail does not follow / the movement of the / rest of the body, but / retains more or less / the circular attitude. / The size of full grown / ones is said not to ex-/ceed two feet and a half, / one in my posession / lived around of five / months, although it never / would forced food.</p><p>APPENDIX 6. Gazetteer of localities of Oligodon albocinctus and Oligodon amabilis comb. nov. used to generate distribution maps in this study. Corrected localities are given in brackets. Observations from iNaturalist marked with an asterisk “*” had “obscured” geoprivacy during the time of examination. Additional acronyms that were not mentioned in the materials and methods include AD: Field series of Abhijit Das, India; BWS: Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary Museum, Bhutan; JK: Field series of Ke Jiang, China; SCMRS: Zoology Museum, Sherubtse College, Bhutan.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EBF31B7C6F32796887F9D4FC23A042	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Lee, Justin L.;Yushchenko, Platon V.;Pal, Saunak;Vogel, Gernot;Poyarkov, Nikolay A.;Bauer, Aaron M.	Lee, Justin L., Yushchenko, Platon V., Pal, Saunak, Vogel, Gernot, Poyarkov, Nikolay A., Bauer, Aaron M. (2025): Color polymorphism, taxonomic confusion and cryptic diversity in the kukri snake Oligodon albocinctus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata: Colubridae). Zootaxa 5714 (1): 1-69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5714.1.1
