Rhinophis drummondhayi Wall, 1921

Pyron, Robert Alexander, Ganesh, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan, Sayyed, Amit, Sharma, Vivek, Wallach, Van & Somaweera, Ruchira, 2016, A catalogue and systematic overview of the shield-tailed snakes (Serpentes: Uropeltidae), Zoosystema 38 (4), pp. 453-506 : 480-481

Rhinophis drummondhayi Wall, 1921

Rhinophis drummondhayi Wall, 1921b: 43 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Thirteen syntypes: BMNH 1920.5.5.1-4 (= 1946.1.16.79-81), MCZ 14348-49 (originally from BMNH), and additional specimens in the BNHM and NMSL.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Lennock and Kalupahana Estates, Uva province, Sri Lanka.

DISTRIBUTION. — This species has a relatively small range in the high elevations of Central and Uva provinces, c. 900-1500 m ( Das & de Silva 2005; Somaweera 2006; Wallach et al. 2014).

DESCRIPTION

Maximum total length c. 300 mm, ventrals 173-191, subcaudals 4-8, dorsal scales in 17 rows at midbody ( Smith 1943). Color pattern typically uniformly brown dorsum, scales occasionally dappled or with whitish margins, occasionally a series of lighter spots, triangles or bars along the sides of the body, yellow pigment on the ventral scales, and an incomplete light ring around the base of the tail. This species resembles R. tricoloratus in color pattern, but is lighter in color and found at different localities (see below).

REMARK

The original description of this species was erroneously cited by Gans (1966) as Wall (1921a), but it is actually Wall (1921b).

Rhinophis erangaviraji

Wickramasinghe, Vidanapathirana, Wickramasinghe & Ranwella, 2009 ( Fig. 6G )

Rhinophis erangaviraji Wickramasinghe, Vidanapathirana, Wickramasinghe & Ranwella, 2009: 6 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: NMSL 20080601 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Enselwatte Estate, Sinharaja Division (Army Camp Forest), Rakwana hills, Matara District, Southern province, Sri Lanka.

DISTRIBUTION. — Specimens are known from a relatively small range within rainforests of Enselwatte estate and Morningside forest areas of the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces of Sri Lanka, c. 1000 m (see Wickramasinghe et al. 2009; Wallach et al. 2014; RAP & RS pers. obs.).

DESCRIPTION

Maximum total length c. 300 mm, ventrals 142-154, subcaudals 5-9, dorsal scales in 17 rows at midbody (see Wickramasinghe et al. 2009). Color pattern typically back dorsum and lateral surface, yellow stippling on the head shields, a black zigzag pattern on yellow background ventrally, no ring-like pattern at the base of the tail, and a black anal region and underside of tail black. Color pattern similar to Rhinophis blythii , differing in having indistinct markings on nape of neck, rather than distinct yellow V-shaped blotch.

REMARK

Resembles Rhinophis blythii , for which historical records from southwestern Sri Lanka are likely this species (see Wickramasinghe et al. 2009).

Figures

FIG. 6. — Some uropeltid species photographed in life:A, Brachyophidium rhodogaster Wall,1921;B, Melanophidium punctatum Beddome,1871;C, M.wynaudense Beddome, 1863; D, Platyplectrurus madurensis Beddome, 1877; E, Plectrurus perrotetii Duméril & Bibron in Duméril & Duméril, 1851; F, Rhinophis blythii Kelaart, 1853; G, R. erangaviraji Wickramasinghe, Vidanapathirana, Wickramasinghe & Ranwella, 2009; H, R. goweri Aengals & Ganesh, 2013. Photos by RAP, RS, SRG, VS, A. Singh, K. Ukuwela, and R. Pethiyagoda.