Phytolopsis punctata ( Gray, 1849 )

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 214

Phytolopsis punctata ( Gray, 1849) — Native.

Phytolopsis punctata Gray, 1849: 68 . Holotype: BMNH 1946.1 .2.37, by original designation. Type locality: “ India ”, in error.

Blackwater Mud Snake

( Figure 24E )

Singapore records.

Phytolopsis punctata —H.H. Tan et al., 2014: 311–312 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—Thomas et al., 2014: 309–310 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—Y. Cai et al., 2018: 204.—Serin et al., 2019: 2–3 (Upper Seletar Reservoir Park).— Charlton, 2020: 105.—I.S. Law et al., 2020: 167.

Remarks. Representing the latest snake addition to Singapore’s herpetofauna, P. punctata was first detected on 12 September 2014 at NSSF when two live individuals were caught in fish traps set out for an aquatic biodiversity survey (Thomas et al. 2014). One of the individuals was deposited in LKCNHM as a voucher specimen and the other was released (Thomas et al. 2014). Two months after, on 22 November 2014, an additional individual was found dead in a submerged fish trap, and contained a catfish, Clarias leiacanthus , in its stomach (Tan et al. 2014). Phytolopsis punctata likely evaded discovery due to its very specific and secretive lifestyle, being restricted to blackwater streams and peat swamps (Murphy 2007). A year later, a live individual was found in a small stream in the NSSF section of USRP on 5 December 2015 (Serin et al. 2019). An unpublished record of one seen at NSSF on 3 June 2017 is shown in Figure 24E (H. Siow pers. comm.). As NSSF is Singapore’s last remaining freshwater swamp forest, it is expected that P. punctata is confined to that area.

Occurrence. Known from three records from NSSF in 2014 and one specimen from US in 2015. Rare .

Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered.

Conservation priority. Highest.

IUCN conservation status. Data Deficient [2010].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.2.7080 (12-Sep-2014) , ZRC.2.7085 (22-Nov-2014) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Upper Seletar.

Genus Raclitia Gray, 1842 (1 species)

Figures

FIGURE 24. A) Enhydris enhydris, B) Fordonia leucobalia, C) Gerarda prevostiana, D) Homalopsis buccata, E) Phytolopsis punctata, F) Raclitia indica, G) Psammodynastes pictus, and H) Asthenodipsas laevis. Photographs by: Joan Lee [A], Alex Figueroa [B–D], Holly Siow [E], Dennis Nathaniel Chan [F], Nick Baker [G], and Kelvin K.P. Lim [H].