Rhabdophis, Fitzinger, 1843

Weinell, Jeffrey L., Hooper, Errol, Leviton, Alan E. & Brown, Rafe M., 2019, Illustrated Key to the Snakes of the Philippines, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 66 (1), pp. 1-49 : 33-34

Rhabdophis

Key to Philippine species.

1a. Dorsal body scales in 15–17 longitudinal rows at midbody; background color of ventral body scales black................................................................. 2

1b. Dorsal body scales in 17–19 longitudinal rows at midbody; background color of ventral body scales pale.................................................................. 3

2a. Light lateral body stripe not continuous across angle of jaw, separated from white patch behind eye............................................ Rhabdophis auriculatus auriculatus

2b. Light lateral body stripe continuous across angle of jaw to postocular region................................................................ Rhabdophis auriculatus myersi

3a. Dorsal body scales in 17 longitudinal rows at midbody.............................. 4

3b. Dorsal body scales in 19 longitudinal rows at midbody.............................. 5

4a. Pale dorsolateral body stripes present; pale nuchal spot present (except for hypermelanistic individuals from Lubang Island)............................... Rhabdophis spilogaster

4b. Pale dorsolateral body stripes absent; pale nuchal spot absent........ Rhabdophis barbouri

5a. Distinct white stripe extends across supralabial scales; one anterior temporal scale, in contact with the sixth supralabial scale; usually two preocular scales ( Fig. 45A ).. Rhabdophis lineatus

5b. No distinct white stripe on supralabial scales; two anterior temporal scales, neither in contact with the sixth supralabial scale; one preocular scale ( Fig. 45B )...... Rhabdophis chrysargos

Figures

FIGURE 45. Lateral view of head of (A) Rhabdophis lineatus (KU 326696), (B) Rhabdophis chrysargos (composite drawing from photographs of multiple individuals). Anterior temporal scales (green), sixth supralabial scale (purplish-gray), preocular scales (blue).