Homalopsis semizonata Blyth, 1855

Murphy, John C., Voris, Harold K., Traub, Joshua & Cumberbatch, Christina, 2012, The masked water snakes of the genus Homalopsis Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1822 (Squamata, Serpentes, Homalopsidae), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 3208, pp. 1-26 : 18-20

Homalopsis semizonata Blyth, 1855

Figs 2 e, 8d, 10

Homalopsis semizonata Blyth, 1855: 187 . Type Locality: Mottama (formerly Martaban), Myanmar. Type Specimen: ZSI 8137, collected by Major Berdmore.

Pythonia semizonata Blyth, 1859: 279 .

Pythonella semizonata Carlleyle, 1869: 200 (lapsus for Pythonia ).

Homalopsis buccata – Theobold 1868a: 58; 1868b: 66; Nicholson 1874: 62; Theobold 1876: 185; Boulenger 1887: 475; Sclater 1891: 53; Boulenger 1893: 309; 1896: 16; Wall & Evans 1901: 616; Wall 1903: 94; Rooji 1917: 186; Wall 1923: 38; Hundley 1964: 22; Dowling & Jenner 1988: 4; Murphy 2007: 193.

Distribution. Homalopsis semizonata is known from Kawkareik, Twante near Rangoon, and Mottama, Myanmar. This species may be more widespread than known specimens suggest. Its known distribution is centered on the Gulf of Martaban, but it may extend to the north following the Ayeyarwady River and to the south following the Andaman Sea’s coastal plain in southern Myanmar and along the Andaman coast of peninsular Thailand. Frith (1977) reported on two Homalopsis from Phuket, Thailand with 40 and 42 dorsal scale rows, and 159 and 162 ventrals ― scale counts within the range of H. semizonata which is found along the same coast, about 900 km to the north.

Diagnosis. Homalopsis semizonata has a divided or fragmented loreal contacting upper labials 1–4 or 1–5; three prefrontals; 39–44 dorsal scale rows at midbody, reduced to more than 30 posteriorly; one postocular and one postsubocular. Homalopsis buccata has a single loreal contacting upper labials 1-4; two prefrontals; 33–40 dorsal scale rows at midbody, reduced to less than 30 posteriorly; H. hardwickii has two prefrontal scales; 39 scale rows at midbody reduced to 28 posteriorly. Homalopsis nigroventralis has upper labials 1–3 contacting the loreal; two prefrontals; 35–39 dorsal scale rows at midbody, reduced to less than 30 posteriorly; one or two postocular scales plus one postsubocular scale; and a reverse color pattern on the venter (dark olive-gray with white spots). The new species, H. mereljcoxi has a single loreal contacting upper labials 1–4; two prefrontals; 40–47 scale rows at midbody, reduced to 30 or more posteriorly; two postocular scales plus a postsubocular.

Blyth’s original description of this snake is difficult to obtain. We have included it below followed by an updated description written by us.

Homalopsis semizonata , nobis. This is remarkably fine species has not of a little the aspect of Viper, from the small scales of its seize, the subdivision of its head plates, and the general colouring. Form moderately thick; the body with 39 rows of small strongly carinated scales. Vertical plate transversely divided into two; the anterior portion triangular, with apex to the front; the posterior semicircular and behind the latter is a remarkable range of five small plates, the medial being elongated backwards between the occipitals and posterior to this again is a minute inter-occipital: occipitals curiously scalloped each with three incisions; one posterior, one exterior, and one interior: two pairs of frontals; a freanal and a post-nasal. Colour pale yellowish-brown, marked on the upper-parts with about 36 semi annuli, which are of a blackish hue on the edges, paler within; on the hinder part of the body and tail are some black spots on the pale inter-spaces; and a medial black streak from the occiput it continued to the second transverse semi-annulus; a triangular black spot on the snout; also a blackish eye-streak; and a small spots on each occipital: lower-parts with two irregular rows of dark spots from throat to vent, bordering the scutae; and the sub-caudal scutellae are marked throughout with black. Number of scutae, 168; scutellae, 78 pairs. Length of specimen 27 in., of which tails is 6 in. It is remarkable that abdominal scute begin to divide obliquely as they approach the vent, the last two or three assuming the appreance of pairs of scutellae.

Redescription of the Holotype. A male, 562 mm SVL, 166 mm tail; the rostral is broader than tall; the nasals are in contact and semi-divided; a divided internasal makes narrow contact with the loreal on each side; three prefrontals, the most lateral contact the loreal; frontal is posteriorly fragmented; parietals about the same length as frontal; occipitals small; loreal divided on each side; preoculars 1/1, presuboculars 1/1, supraoculars 1/1, suboculars 2/2, postoculars 1/1, postsuboculars 1/1; primary temporals 1/1; upper labials 12/13, 1–5/1–5 contact loreal; 6 is under the orbit; lower labials 15/16, with 1–4/ 1–4 in contact with chin shields; 165 ventrals; subcaudals 78/79 paired subcaudals.

Description. Note that our scale counts for this species are based mostly on neonates and late-term embryos. These snakes were collected by K. K. Gyi and are less than 300 mm SVL. Scale count data for Myanmar ( Burma) Homalopsis from Gyi (1970) overlap ours, they do not mirror ours. Thus his data may be based upon specimens from a different population, or may include a second species.

Rostral broader than tall; nasals in contact and semi-divided; a divided (rarely single) internasal makes narrow contact with the loreal on each side; three prefrontals, the most lateral contact the loreal; frontal is usually posteriorly fragmented; parietals about the same length as frontal; occipitals small; loreal is divided into 2–6 scales; 1/1 preocular, 1/1 supraocular, usually none or 1 subocular, 1/1 postocular; 1/1 postsubocular; 1/1 primary temporal; 12–15 upper labials, 1–4 or 1–5 contact loreal; sixth is under the orbit and occasionally in the orbit; first divided upper labial is the sixth; lower labials 15-20, with 1-3 (rarely 1–4) in contact with first chin shield; dorsal scale rows at the 10th ventral 40–44 (n = 36, x = 42.08, SD = 1.21), dorsal scale rows at midbody 39–44 (n = 36, x = 41.6, SD = 1.36), dorsal scale rows at post body 30–36 (n = 36, x = 32.05, SD = 1.56); ventrals in males 153–165 (n = 16, x = 158.3, SD = 3.14), ventrals in females 153–164 (n = 19, x = 157.5, SD = 3.21); subcaudals in males 78-90 (n = 14, x = 82.2, SD = 3.02), subcaudals in females 69–77 (n = 19, x = 74.45, SD = 2.37).

Material examined. MYANMAR – Kawkareik BMNH 1940.3.9.10, CAS 12392; Pegu, Twante, near Rangoon – KU 924362-394, Mottama – ZSI 8137.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Plots of the principal components (PC) scores on the first two PC axes derived from 11 morphological variables (dorsal scale row counts on the forebody, midbody, posterior body; number of prefrontals, preoculars, postoculars, upper labials; upper labials under orbit; upper labials at loreal; loreal condition; ventral pattern) for 95 specimens of Homalopsis. The square with the central circle is H. hardwickii which associates with H. buccata in this analysis. Plot A compares H. buccata, H. mereljcoxi, and H. hardwickii; Plot B compares H. buccata, H. mereljcoxi, H. hardwickii, and H. semizonata; Plot C compares all five species: H. buccata, H. mereljcoxi, H. hardwickii, H. semizonata, and H. nigroventralis.