Myron resetari, Murphy, 2011

Murphy, John C., 2011, The Nomenclature And Systematics Of Some Australasian Homalopsid Snakes (Squamata: Serpentes: Homalopsidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59 (2), pp. 229-236 : 232

Myron resetari , new species

Fig. 3

the anterior edge; upper labials 2–4 contact the loreal; the internasal contacts the loreal on both sides; each prefrontal is slightly larger than the internasal; frontal is pentagonal and slightly shorter than the parietals; upper labials 8/8; labial number 4 enters orbit; supraocular single; preocular single; postoculars 2; the temporal formula 1+2/1+1; lower labials 10/10 (number 5 is the largest in both specimens); 3 pair of chin shields, second pair the largest; the 3 rd pair is longer than broad. On the body: dorsal scale rows 19–19–17; dorsal rows on the anterior body are smooth, posteriorly scale rows 1–4 are not keeled, rows 5 and above are weakly keeled; dorsal scale rows 1–6 are extremely ovate, other rows become lanceolate toward mid-line. QM J52861 a male, SVL 330, total length 395 mm; ventrals 142, subcaudals 36; the tail is slightly compressed in cross section.

Paratype. BMNH 1935.7 .65.2, locality is given as “N. Australia.” This is probably a juvenile female, SVL 246 mm, total length 290 mm; ventrals 137, subcaudals 37. It has a similar head scale arrangement as the holotype except that the internasal scale does not contact the loreal .

Etymology. – The specific name is in honour of Alan Resetar of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Field Museum of Natural History for his life long dedication to herpetology and his behind the scenes contributions to homalopsid snake research.

Distribution. – Known only from the type locality, Broome, Western Australia; but it may be more widespread. Given Myron ’s use of mangroves and mudflats it seems likely this snake is from the Roebuck Bay area of the Dampier Peninsula.

Figures

Fig. 3. The paratype of M. resetari, BMNH 1935.7.65.2. A: shows the enlarged occipital scales (O) and their relationship to the temporal (T). B: illustrates the single preocular scale. C: illustrates the three pairs of chin shields with the 3rd pair longer than wide. D: illustrates the edge of the ventral scales (V) and first 3 dorsal rows and the keels on the scales above dorsal row 3.