Rhinophis sanguineus Beddome, 1863
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5252/z2016n4a2 |
publication LSID |
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BFFD82EF-50C9-42BF-8493-DF57591EA4FF |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4579361 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A82A47-833D-FFA5-FC50-FDC0FBCC7C99 |
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
scientific name |
Rhinophis sanguineus Beddome, 1863 |
status |
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Rhinophis sanguineus Beddome, 1863
( Fig. 7H View FIG )
Rhinophis sanguineus Beddome, 1863a: 47 . Beddome (1863a) reports collecting several syntypes, but Boulenger (1893a) reports only one male with 197 ventrals and nine subcaudals. Gans (1966) also states that only one syntype (BMNH 1864.3.9.2 now: 1946.1.16.54), catalogued as “one of the types”, is now known. Wallach et al. (2014) also list BMNH 1874.4.29.110 (= 1946.1.16.76) as a syntype, but this specimen is putatively the holotype of Rhinophis microlepis Beddome, 1863 (see Gans 1966). We designate BMNH 1946.1.16.54 as the lectotype, to remove any ambiguity.Type locality: Cherambadi, northern Kerala state, India.
Rhinophis microlepis Beddome, 1863a: 47 . Holotype: BMNH 1874.4.29.110 (= 1946.1.16.76). Type locality: Minchin estate, Kerala state, India. Designated as a junior subjective synonym by Beddome (1886). See Beddome (1863a).
DISTRIBUTION. — India, known from the Nilgiris northwards to the Agumbe hills, c. 750-1065 m (see Ferguson 1895; Wall 1919; Aengals & Ganesh 2013; Wallach et al. 2014; Ganesh 2015).
DESCRIPTION
Maximum total length c. 460 mm, ventrals 182-218 though Mason (1888) reported 166-183 from putatively conspecific populations in the Wullingy forests near Palghat, subcaudals 5-11, dorsal scales in 15 rows at midbody (see Wall 1919; Smith 1943; Constable 1949). Distinctive color-pattern, with a bluish-black dorsal coloration, bright-red venter with black mottling, and red streaks on the tail.
REMARKS
The original description ( Beddome 1863a) reports the collection of several syntypes, but apparently only a few were catalogued, and only one is now known ( Gans 1966). Boulenger (1893a) reports a large topotypic series collected by Beddome but does not refer to them as types; either they were collected at a later date, or they weren’t catalogued as types initially. The lower ventral count reported by Mason (1888) is of uncertain validity, and may represent a new or cryptic species from the Wullingy forests near Palghat. Records of this species exist from South of Palghat Gap ( Hutton 1949), but we did not examine the specimens to determine their validity.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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Rhinophis sanguineus Beddome, 1863
Pyron, Robert Alexander, Ganesh, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan, Sayyed, Amit, Sharma, Vivek, Wallach, Van & Somaweera, Ruchira 2016 |
Rhinophis sanguineus
BEDDOME R. H. 1863: 47 |
Rhinophis microlepis
BEDDOME R. H. 1863: 47 |