Hebius chapaensis (Bourret, 1934)

Nguyen, Tan Van, Brakels, Peter, Maury, Nathanael, Sudavanh, Somchit, Pawangkhanant, Parinya, Idiiatullina, Sabira, Lorphengsy, Sengvilay, Inkhavilay, Khamla, Suwannapoom, Chatmongkon & Poyarkov, Nikolay A., 2020, New herpetofaunal observations from Laos based on photo records, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 248) 14 (2), pp. 218-249 : 234-235

Hebius chapaensis (Bourret, 1934)

Sapa Keelback ( Fig. 8A )

One adult individual of H. chapaensis was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 27 April 2019 in Longcheng District site 2, Xaisomboun Province (19°01.413’N, 102°65.723’E; elevation 930 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individual from Xaisomboun Province agreed well with the description of Ren et al. (2018). The photographed individual ( Fig. 8A ) agrees with the diagnosis of H. chapaensis in the following characters: medium body size; cylindrical, rather elongated slender body; head distinct from neck; eye moderately large; pupil round; loreal present, not entering the orbit; 2 preoculars; 2 postoculars; 1 anterior temporal; 2 posterior temporals; 9 supralabials, 1 st and 2 nd in contact with the nasal, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the loreal, 5 th and 6 th entering orbit, 7 th and 8 th largest; all 17 dorsal scale rows strongly keeled; ventrals 172; cloacal scale divided; subcaudals 103, divided. Coloration of dorsal surfaces glossy black with two lighter series of pale orange spots, which grade into a continuous lighter stripes along the length of the body and tail; dorsal head scales densely covered by irregular and vermiculate golden spots; chin, throat, infralabials cream; ventral surfaces glossy black with pale yellow longitudinal streaks, tending to become fainter posteriorly.

Ecological notes. The individual was found at 2045 h on the rocks along the mountain stream. The surrounding habitat was mixed secondary submontane forest.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been previously recorded from Houaphanh and Louangphabang provinces ( Ren et al. 2018). This is the first record from Xaisomboun Province. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from China and northern Vietnam ( Uetz et al. 2020).

Figures

Fig. 8. (A) Hebius chapaensis in Longcheng District, Xaisomboun Province; (B) H. leucomystax in Paksong District, Champasak Province; (C) Lycodon fasciatus in Longcheng District, Xaisomboun Province; (D) L. futsingensis in Xay district, Oudomxai Province; (E) Ptyas multicincta (var. bicolor) in Gnommalath District, Khammouan Province; (F) P. multicincta (var. multicincta) in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province. Photos by P. Brakels (A, C, D), N. Maury (B, F), and P. Pawangkhanant (E).