Pseudorabdion oxycephalum ( Günther, 1858 )

Leviton, Alan E., Siler, Cameron D., Weinell, Jeffrey L. & Brown, Rafe M., 2018, Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64 (14), pp. 399-568 : 427-428

Pseudorabdion oxycephalum ( Günther, 1858)

Gunther’s Dwarf Reed Snake; Negros Light-scaled Burrowing Snake

Rhabdosoma oxycephalum Günther, 1858:242 . Oxycalamus oxycephalus, Günther, 1873:168 , figs.— Boettger, 1886:105.— Casto de Elera, 1895:425. Pseudorhabdium oxycephalum, Boulenger, 1894:329 .— Griffin, 1911:262.— Taylor, 1917:364; 1922a:179, fig. 14 (description after Boulenger, figs. after Günther [not Boulenger as stated]). Typhlogeophis brevis Günther, 1879:77 (type locality: Mindanao or Dinagat Island; type BMNH [not confirmed]).— Boettger, 1886:106.— Boulenger, 1894:351, pl. 20.— Griffin, 1911:262.— Taylor, 1922a:183, text-fig. 16, pl. 24, figs. 1–4 (description and figs. after Boulenger); 1922b:202 (comparison with T. ater ); 1928:236. Typhlogeophus brevis, Casto de Elera, 1895:425 (listed). Pseudorabdion oxycephalum, Leviton and Brown (WC), 1959:487 , figs. 3–4.— Brown, McGuire, Ferner, Icarangal Jr., and Kennedy, 2000:190, fig. 32.— Ferner, Brown, Sison, and Kennedy, 2001:53 [20].— Gaulke, 2011:309–310, fig. 210.— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:596.— Supsup, Puna, Asis, Redoblado, Panaguinit, Guinto, Rico, Diesmos, Brown, and Mallari, 2016:169, fig. 32.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Philippines. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1 .1.99.

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION (ENDEMIC) ( Map 31b [p. 142]).— Cebu, Masbate, Negros (Prov.: Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental), Panay (Prov.: Aklan). Localities needing confirmation include: Calamianes Ids., Luzon (Prov.: Aurora, Bataan, Nucva Ecija), Mindanao or Dinagat Ids.

REMARKS.— This small, distinctive species of Pseudorabdion , once thought to be rare, has been found with increasing frequency on Negros Island. The species has been reported from other islands, Luzon ( Casto de Elera [1895]), Mindanao or Dinagat (type of Typhlogeophis brevis Günther ), and the Calamianes (specimen in the collection of CAS), but these records need confirmation.

Also, see Leviton and Brown (1959:487 et seq.) for a discusion of the status of Typhlogeophis brevis Günther , which was based on a single specimen said to have come from Mindanao or Dinagat islands, and was distinguished from P. oxycephalum in having its eyes “hidden” beneath the ocular scale.

Pseudorabdion oxycephalum , endemic to the Philippine Islands, does not appear to be close to Sulawesian or Bornean species. Indeed, its closest relative, P. montanum , is at present known only from the highlands on Negros Island.

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.