Cerberus microlepis Boulenger , 1896

Leviton, Alan E., Siler, Cameron D., Weinell, Jeffrey L. & Brown, Rafe M., 2018, Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64 (14), pp. 399-568 : 415-416

Cerberus microlepis Boulenger, 1896

Lake Buhi Bockadam; Lake Buhi Dog-faced Water Snake

Cerberus microlepis Boulenger, 1896 , 3:18.— Murphy, Voris, and Karns, 2012:13, figs. 6, 10.— Murphy and Voris, 2014:12, fig. 13.— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:153.

Hurria microlepis, Taylor, 1922a:114 , pl. 6, figs. 1–3; 1923:547.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Philippines. Syntypes (2): BMNH 1946.1.7.24–25 .

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION (ENDEMIC) ( Map 9A [p. 120]).— Luzon (Bicol Peninsula [Camarines Sur Prov. {Lake Buhi}]).

REMARKS.— Recent molecular studies by Alfaro et al. (2004) demonstrated that this species is nested within the Philippine Cerberus schneiderii complex and that it is scarcely 2% genetically different from nearby populations. However, as observed by Murphy, Voris, and Karns (2012:21), “ Cerberus microlepis is geographically isolated, as well as ecologically and morphologically distinct and on its own evolutionary trajectory, suggesting it is more than an ecomorph.” They point out that in a followup discussion to their 2004 publication, Alfaro et al. (2008) suggested that “divergence of C. microlepis from its coastal ancestor is estimated at 2.0 MYA (1.0–3.1 MYA)” ( Murphy, Voris, and Karns [2012:21]). We accept the conclusions of Murphy et al. (2012) and recognize C. microlepis as a distinct species.

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Endangered B1ab(iii,v) [2016] ver. 3.1.

N.B. Consideration of this taxon as “Endangered,” which appears to be based primarily,

if not solely, on its known area of occurrence, is problematic for reasons noted above, espe-

cially given the lack of survey and inventory data from the surrounding region and/or other

freshwater systems of the Bicol Peninsula.

Cerberus schneiderii (Schlegel, 1837) Photo figure 13 Dog-faced Water Snake

Homalopsis schneiderii Schlegel, 1837b:341 . Cerberus unicolor Gray, 1849:65 (type locality: Philippines). Hurria rhynchops, Taylor, 1922a:111 ; 1923:546. Cerberus rhynchops, Ross and Gonzales, 1992:65 .— Gaulke and Altenbach, 1994:63.— Brown,

Ferner, Sison, Gonzales, and Kennedy, 1996:12.— Ferner, Brown, Sison, and Kennedy,

2001:52[19].— Bucol, Alcala, Averia, Alcala, and Alcala, 2011:112.— Gaulke, 2011:256–257,

figs. 169–171.— Devan-Song and Brown, 2012:12. Cerberus schneiderii, Murphy, Voris, and Karns, 2012:17 , figs. 8–9.— Brown, Siler, Oliveros, Welton, Rock, Swab, Van Weerd, van Beijnen, Jose, Rodriguez, Jose, and Diesmos, 2013:90, fig. 96.— Murphy and Voris, 2014:13, fig. 15.— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:153.— Sanguila, Cobb, Siler, Diesmos Alcala, and Brown, 2016:14.— Supsup, Puna, Asis, Redoblado, Panaguinit, Guinto, Rico, Diesmos, Brown, and Mallari, 2016:170, fig. 33.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Timor , Indonesia. Lectotype: RMNH 1173 (designated by Murphy et al. [2012:18] [q.v.]).

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION ( Map 9B [p. 120]).— “Documented on most major islands of the Philippines...” ( Brown et al. [2013:90]). Bantayan, Bohol, Catanduanes, Cebu, Cuyo, Dinagat, Luzon (Prov.: Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Rizal, Zambales), Masbate, Negros (Prov.: Negros Oriental), Palawan, Romblon, Panay (Prov.: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo), Polillo, Siquijor, Sulu Archipelago (Jolo) .

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION (OTHER THAN PHILIPPINES).— Coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand. (See Murphy, Voris, and Karns [2012:17], Murphy and Voris [2014:13], and Wallach et al. [2014:153], for details.)

REMARKS.— See Murphy, Voris, and Karns (2012:17) for an extensive synonymy and discussion relating to the adoption of this new combination for what was formerly known in the Philippines as Cerberus rhynchops (see also pp. 14–17 for a discussion relating to the restriction of Cerberus rhynchops to the South Asian population [i.e., India, Thailand, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Not distinguished from C. rhynchops , which is listed as of Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.