Acrochordidae, Bonaparte, 1831

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 : 12-14

Acrochordidae

Represented by a single genus..................................... Acrochordus (p. 19)

Colubridae Key to Philippine subfamilies.

1a. Temporal scales absent; parietal scales in contact with supralabial scales (Fig. 12A)................................................................... Calamariinae (p. 18)

1b. Temporal scales present; parietal scales not in contact with supralabial scales (Fig. 12B)... 2

2a. Supralabial scales either do not border eye, or supralabial scales 4–6 border eye; if supralabial scales 4–6 border eye, then dorsal body scales reduce from 19→17 or from 17→15 longitudinal rows posteriorly, and lateral body scales (except possibly first row) keeled ( Fig. 3B )...................................................................... Natricinae (p. 19)

2b. One or more supralabial scales border eye; if supralabial scales 4–6 border eye and dorsal body scales reduce from 19→17 or 17→15 longitudinal rows posteriorly, then lateral body scales are smooth ( Fig. 3C )................................................ 3

3a. Lateral body scales in oblique rows ( Fig. 15A ); dorsal body scales reduce from 17→13, 15→13, 15→11, or 13→11 longitudinal scale rows posteriorly; third supralabial scale does not border eye................................................... Ahaetulliinae (p. 17)

3b. One of the following combinations of characters true: (1) lateral body scales in horizontal, not oblique rows (Fig. 13B), and dorsal body scales in 13 longitudinal rows at midbody; (2) lateral body scales in oblique rows ( Fig. 15A ) and dorsal body scales in 15–17 longitudinal rows at midbody, not reducing to fewer than 15 rows before vent; (3) lateral body scales in oblique or horizontal rows (compare Fig. 15A, B ), and dorsal body scales in 19–23 longitudinal rows at midbody.................................................................... 4

4a. Dorsal body scales in 17 smooth longitudinal rows throughout length of body; number of ventral body scales 144–185; subcaudal scales arranged in 89–145 pairs; numerous small teeth, 30–50, on each of maxillary and dentary bones.................... Sibynophiinae (p. 19)

4b. Dorsal body scales in 15–23 smooth or keeled longitudinal rows at midbody; if dorsal body scales in 17 smooth longitudinal rows throughout length of body, then subcaudal scales arranged in <80 or> 190 pairs; fewer than 30 teeth on each of maxillary and dentary bones..................................................................... Colubrinae (p. 18)

Elapidae (marine species) Key to Philippine genera.

Elapidae (terrestrial species)

Key to Philippine genera.

1a. Three postocular scales ( Fig. 17A–B ); lateral body scales in oblique or horizontal rows ( Fig. 15 ).................................................................... 2 1b. Two postocular scales ( Fig. 17C–D ); lateral body scales in horizontal rows ( Fig. 15B ); number of longitudinal rows of dorsal body scales not reducing posteriorly..................... 3 2a. Dorsal body scales in 17–25 longitudinal rows at midbody; postnasal scale vertically elongate, separated from or only narrowly in contact with prefrontal scale ( Fig. 17A )..... Naja (p. 30) 2b. Dorsal body scales in 15 longitudinal rows throughout length of body; postnasal scale triangular, about as long as tall, and broadly in contact with prefrontal scale ( Fig. 17B )............

........................................................... Ophiophagus (p. 31) 3a. Two anterior temporal scales ( Fig. 17C ); dorsal body scales in 15 longitudinal rows throughout length of body.............................................. Hemibungarus (p. 24)

3b. One anterior temporal scale ( Fig. 17D ); dorsal body scales in 13 longitudinal rows throughout length of body.................................................. Calliophis (p. 21)

Figures

FIGURE 3. Dorsal body scales: (A) spinose (Acrochordus granulatus; KU 302951), (B) keeled (Opisthotropis typica; KU 327424), (C) smooth (Oligodon maculatus; KU 321699).

FIGURE 15. Lateral body scales of (A) Dendrelaphis marenae (KU 314131): oblique rows, (B) Oligodon maculatus (KU 321699): horizontal rows.

FIGURE 17. Lateral view of head of (A) Naja samarensis (KU 326653), (B) Ophiophagus hannah (KU 321813), (C) Hemibungarus mcclungi (KU 313898), (D) Calliophis philippina (KU 327218). Postocular scales (green), anterior temporal scales (purplish-gray), postnasal scales (blue), prefrontal scales (reddish brown).