Lycodon subcinctus Reinwardt, 1827

Kaiser, Hinrich, Carvalho, Venancio Lopes, Ceballos, Jester, Freed, Paul, Heacox, Scott, Lester, Barbara, Richards, Stephen J., Trainor, Colin R., Sanchez, Caitlin & O'Shea, Mark, 2011, The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report, ZooKeys 109, pp. 19-86 : 46

Lycodon subcinctus Reinwardt, 1827 Fig. 24

Common names.

(E) Malayan Banded Wolfsnake. *(T) Samea kadeli (samea = snake, kadeli = ring).

Identification.

Banded wolfsnakes are easily identified by the series of contrasting white to cream-colored bands that offset the dark brown to black body coloration ( Fig. 24 ). In this coloration, they mimic Malayan or many-banded kraits ( Bungarus candidus and Bungarus multicinctus , respectively), highly venomous species, with which this wolfsnake is sympatric in northern parts of its range.

Collection and natural history.

In contrast to the careful capture of the Lycodon in Same, our specimen of Lycodon subcinctus was obtained within minutes of having been hacked to death at an elementary school. The animal had reportedly been found in the school and was disposed of just as we explained our purpose to some of the local residents. The snake was handed to us draped dead over a branch, with body segments merely attached by threads of skin.

Figures

Figure 24. Lycodon subcinctus. Damaged specimen (USNM 573682, SVL 544 mm, parts of tail lost) from Letefoho, Manufahi District. Photo by Mark O'Shea.