Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 555-557 (2014) (published online on 3 October 2014)

New record of Beddome’s coral snake Calliophis beddomei Smith, 1943 from the southern Western Ghats, India

Jins, V. J.1,*, Bhupathy, S. 1 and M. Panigrahi1

Coral snakes of the family Elapidae are reportedly (including 38 mm long tail). It had 234 ventrals and 32 among the least known group of venomous snakes pairs of subcaudals. The head, body and tail colouration in Asia (Deepak et al., 2010; Ganesh & Ramanujam, of the specimen were: dorsum grey with black spots, 2014). Including the recently described Calliophis venter scarlet red, subcaudals white flanked by scarlet castoe Smith, Ogale, Deepak & Giri, 2012, five species red on either side, which matched with the descriptions have been reported from the Indian peninsula. Among provided by Ganesh & Ramanujam (2014). However, them, three species C. bibroni Jan, 1858, C. nigrescens the ventral count of the present specimen (234) was on Günther, 1864 and C. melanurus (Shaw, 1802) are the higher side, which is closer to C. nigrescens species distributed in the Western Ghats landscape, south of complex (Smith, 1943; Ganesh & Ramanujam, 2014). Palghat Gap (Whitaker & Captain, 2004; Deepak et Considering the ventral and subcaudal counts and the al., 2010; Smith et al., 2012; Ganesh & Ramanujam, relative tail length, it is well possible that the present 2014). specimen could be an aberrant female of C. beddomei. On 2nd January 2014, we recorded a dead coral So far, male specimens of C. beddomei with higher snake while undertaking a roadkill survey, near Kallar number of subcaudals and tail length have not been (08.74129˚N 77.12040˚E, 420 m. a. s. l., Figure 1), recorded. Calliophis beddomei is represented by only Trivandrum District, Kerala State, India. The dead snake a few verified specimens and museum records, and was studied in situ but was not collected or preserved, hence variation in the ventral scale count might be due owing to lack of permits. The area adjacent to the to intra-specific variation. Compared to earlier records road is covered by tropical evergreen forest. The snake (Smith, 1943; Ganesh & Ramanujam, 2014), lower was identified as Beddome’s coral snake Calliophis beddomei Smith, 1943 based on the following suite of characters: seven supralabials, 3rd in contact with prefrontal which separates pre-ocular and nasal (Figure 2), and 3rd and 4th supralabials in contact with eye. According to Smith (1943), 3rd supralabial separating pre-ocular and nasal is an important character that separates C. beddomei from other closely resembling congener, C. nigrescens. It had single pre-ocular, two post oculars, and the 4th and 5th supralabials touching the lower post-ocular; 5th, 6th and 7th supralabials touching the anterior temporal. The snake (unsexed, likely a female) was intact and measured 435 mm in total length

1 Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History Anaikatti (Post), Coimbatore- 641 108, Tamil Nadu, India. Figure 1. Map of southern India showing the distribution of * Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected] Calliophis beddomei. 556 Jins, V. J. et al.

Figure 2. Entire view of Calliophis beddomei from Kallar, Kerala State (Inset: head showing diagnostic features). Photo by V J Jins

value for relative tail length for the present specimen finding. Including the present observation, C. beddomei originating from a distant locality indicates that the is globally known only from four locations (Figure 1); present individual may be a divergent lineage within C. Shevaroy Hills (Eastern Ghats), Mudumalai (Nilgiris) beddomei group taxa. The species C. beddomei needs to and Koppa in the Central Western Ghats (Smith, 1943; be characterized with sufficient number of individuals Ganesh & Ramanujam, 2014). The present record representing both sexes. Despite being aware of such extends the range of C. beddomei south to about 320 km caveats that are inherent when dealing with very rare (straight-line) across Palghat and Shenkottah gaps, and and poorly-known taxa, we allocate our individual to wider distribution with respect to elevation (400 m -1500 C. beddomei, with which it is the closest among all m. a.s.l.) and aspects (both wind and leeward sides) of other recognised taxa that are currently considered valid the mountain range. The present record of C. beddomei (Smith 1943; Smith et al. 2012; Ganesh & Ramanujam, is an addition to the faunal list of Kerala State, India. We 2014). suggest further studies for better understanding on the The single record of the species, despite of various morphological differences and geographical boundaries herpetofaunal studies in this region of southern Western of this little known venomous and hence potentially Ghats during the past years (Chandramouli & Ganesh, medically important species endemic to the Eastern and 2011; Ferguson, 1895; Inger et al., 1984; Ishwar et al., Western Ghats of India. 2001), including the ongoing study by these authors in Agasthyamalai landscape (from June 2012 onwards, Acknowledgments. We thank the Department of Biotechnology, about 1500 Man Hours of Visual Encounter Surveys), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for indicates the rarity and importance of the present funding. We are grateful to the Kerala Forest Department for New record of Beddome’s coral snake from the southern Western Ghats, India 557 permission and logistic support, and the Director, SACON for help at various levels. Rajan Pilakandy, SACON helped us in preparing the map. S. R. Ganesh, Chennai Snake Park Trust, India provided pre-peer review and suggestions on the paper.

References

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Accepted by Miguel Vences