DOCSLIB.ORG

Species List: Reptiles Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Species List: Reptiles Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge SPECIES LIST: REPTILES WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE ORDER CHELONIA Family Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles) Common Snapping Turtle Chelydridae serpentina serpentina Family Kinosternidae (Musk and Mud Turtles) Yellow Mud Turtle Kinosternon flavescens flavescens Family Emydidae (Pond and Box Turtles) Ouachita Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica ouachitensis Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata ornata Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles) Midland Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica mutica Pallid (Texas??) Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera pallida ORDER SAURIA Family Crotaphytidae (Collared Lizards) Eastern Collared Lizard Crotaphytus collaris collaris Family Phrynosomatidae (Horned, Earless, Side-blotched and Spiny Lizards) Eastern Earless Lizard Holbrookia maculata perspicua Fence Lizard (Swift)-- Southern Prairie Lizard Sceloporus undulatus consobrinus Texas Horned Lizard (Horny Toad) Phrynosoma cornutum Family Teiidae (Whiptails and Racerunners) Texas (Eastern??) Spotted Whiptail Cnemidophorus gularis gularis Six-lined Racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus Prairie-lined Racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis Family Scincidae (Skinks) Ground Skink Scincella lateralis Southern Prairie Skink Eumeces septentrionalis obtusirostris Five-lined Skink Eumeces fasciatus Great Plains Skink Eumeces obsoletus Family Anguidae (Glass Lizards) Western Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus ORDER SERPENTES Family Leptotypholopidae (Blind Snakes) New Mexico Blind Snake Leptotyphlops dulcis dissectus Plains Blind Snake Leptotyphlops dulcis dulcis Family Colubridae (Colubrids) Plain Snakes Prairie Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus arnyi Flathead Snake Tantilla gracilis Plains Blackhead Snake Tantilla nigriceps (Great Plains??) Ground Snake Sonora semiannulata Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer Coluber constrictor flaviventris Eastern Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum flagellum Western Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum testaceus Blotched Snakes Blotched Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster transversa Diamondback Water Snake Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer Graham’s Water Snake?? Western Hognose Snake— Plains Hognose Snake Heterodon nasicus nasicus Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platirhinos Great Plains Rat Snake Elaphe guttata emoryi Black Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta Texas Night Snake Hypsiglena torquata jani Kansas Glossy Snake Arizona elegans elegans Bullsnake Pituophis melanoleucus sayi Prairie Kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster callisgaster Speckled Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula holbrooki Banded Snakes Texas Longnose Snake Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus Central Plains (Western) Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis Striped Snakes Brown Snake Storeria dekayi texana Lined Snake Tropidoclonion lineatum Western Ribbon Snake Thamnophis proximus proximus Red-sided Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis Eastern Checkered Garter Snake Thamnphis marcianus marcianus Western Checkered Garter Snake Thamnphis marcianus nigrolateris Graham’s Crayfish Snake Regina grahamii Family Viperidae (Pit Vipers) Broad-banded Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma Western Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (coon tail) Crotalus atrox Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis viridis REFERENCE: Carpenter, Charles C. Date Unknown. Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of the WMWR. Sievert, Gregory and Lynnette. 1993. A Field Guide to Reptiles of Oklahoma. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Vascular Plants, and Habitat in the Gila River Riparian Zone in Southwestern New Mexico
    Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Vascular Plants, and Habitat in the Gila River Riparian Zone in Southwestern New Mexico Kansas Biological Survey Report #151 Kelly Kindscher, Randy Jennings, William Norris, and Roland Shook September 8, 2008 Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Vascular Plants, and Habitat in the Gila River Riparian Zone in Southwestern New Mexico Cover Photo: The Gila River in New Mexico. Photo by Kelly Kindscher, September 2006. Kelly Kindscher, Associate Scientist, Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, 2101 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047, Email: [email protected] Randy Jennings, Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Western New Mexico University, PO Box 680, 1000 W. College Ave., Silver City, NM 88062, Email: [email protected] William Norris, Associate Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Western New Mexico University, PO Box 680, 1000 W. College Ave., Silver City, NM 88062, Email: [email protected] Roland Shook, Emeritus Professor, Biology, Department of Natural Sciences, Western New Mexico University, PO Box 680, 1000 W. College Ave., Silver City, NM 88062, Email: [email protected] Citation: Kindscher, K., R. Jennings, W. Norris, and R. Shook. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Vascular Plants, and Habitat in the Gila River Riparian Zone in Southwestern New Mexico. Open-File Report No. 151. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence, KS. ii + 42 pp. Abstract During 2006 and 2007 our research crews collected data on plants, vegetation, birds, reptiles, and amphibians at 49 sites along the Gila River in southwest New Mexico from upstream of the Gila Cliff Dwellings on the Middle and West Forks of the Gila to sites below the town of Red Rock, New Mexico.
    [Show full text]
  • Pituophis Catenifer
    COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer Pacific Northwestern Gophersnake – P.c. catenifer Great Basin Gophersnake – P.C. deserticola Bullsnake – P.C. sayi in Canada EXTIRPATED - Pacific Northwestern Gophersnake – P.c. catenifer THREATENED - Great Basin Gophersnake – P.c. deserticola DATA DEFICIENT - Bullsnake – P.c. sayi 2002 COSEWIC COSEPAC COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF COMITÉ SUR LA SITUATION DES ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN ESPÈCES EN PÉRIL CANADA AU CANADA COSEWIC status reports are working documents used in assigning the status of wildlife species suspected of being at risk. This report may be cited as follows: Please note: Persons wishing to cite data in the report should refer to the report (and cite the author(s)); persons wishing to cite the COSEWIC status will refer to the assessment (and cite COSEWIC). A production note will be provided if additional information on the status report history is required. COSEWIC 2002. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 33 pp. Waye, H., and C. Shewchuk. 2002. COSEWIC status report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer in Canada in COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 1-33 pp. For additional copies contact: COSEWIC Secretariat c/o Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Tel.: (819) 997-4991 / (819) 953-3215 Fax: (819) 994-3684 E-mail: COSEWIC/[email protected] http://www.cosewic.gc.ca Ếgalement disponible en français sous le titre Évaluation et Rapport du COSEPAC sur la situation de la couleuvre à nez mince (Pituophis catenifer) au Canada Cover illustration: Gophersnake — Illustration by Sarah Ingwersen, Aurora, Ontario.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of the Cnemidophorus Lemniscatus Group in Central America (Squamata: Teiidae), with Comments on Other Species in the Group
    TERMS OF USE This pdf is provided by Magnolia Press for private/research use. Commercial sale or deposition in a public library or website is prohibited. Zootaxa 3722 (3): 301–316 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3722.3.1 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E9BA052-EEA9-4262-8DDA-E1145B9FA996 A review of the Cnemidophorus lemniscatus group in Central America (Squamata: Teiidae), with comments on other species in the group JAMES R. MCCRANIE1,3 & S. BLAIR HEDGES2 110770 SW 164th Street, Miami, Florida 33157-2933, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-5301, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract We provide the results of a morphological and molecular study on the Honduran Bay Island and mainland populations of the Cnemidophorus lemniscatus complex for which we resurrect C. ruatanus comb. nov. as a full species. Morphological comparison of the Honduran populations to Cnemidophorus populations from Panama led to the conclusion that the Pan- amanian population represents an undescribed species named herein. In light of these new results, and considering past morphological studies of several South American populations of the C. lemniscatus group, we suggest that three other nominal forms of the group are best treated as valid species: C. espeuti (described as a full species, but subsequently treat- ed as a synonym of C. lemniscatus or a subspecies of C.
    [Show full text]
  • Life History of the Coppertail Skink (Ctenotus Taeniolatus) in Southeastern Australia
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 15(2):409–415. Submitted: 11 February 2020; Accepted: 19 May 2020; Published: 31 August 2020. LIFE HISTORY OF THE COPPERTAIL SKINK (CTENOTUS TAENIOLATUS) IN SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA DAVID A. PIKE1,2,6, ELIZABETH A. ROZNIK3, JONATHAN K. WEBB4, AND RICHARD SHINE1,5 1School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia 2Present address: Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee 38112, USA 3Department of Conservation and Research, Memphis Zoo, Memphis, Tennessee 38112, USA 4School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia 5Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia 6Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—The global decline of reptiles is a serious problem, but we still know little about the life histories of most species, making it difficult to predict which species are most vulnerable to environmental change and why they may be vulnerable. Life history can help dictate resilience in the face of decline, and therefore understanding attributes such as sexual size dimorphism, site fidelity, and survival rates are essential. Australia is well-known for its diversity of scincid lizards, but we have little detailed knowledge of the life histories of individual scincid species. To examine the life history of the Coppertail Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus), which uses scattered surface rocks as shelter, we estimated survival rates, growth rates, and age at maturity during a three-year capture-mark- recapture study. We captured mostly females (> 84%), and of individuals captured more than once, we captured 54.3% at least twice beneath the same rock, and of those, 64% were always beneath the same rock (up to five captures).
    [Show full text]
  • A Checklist and Distribution Maps of the Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies Nebraska Academy of Sciences 2000 A Checklist and Distribution Maps of the Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota Royce E. Ballinger University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Justin W. Meeker University of Nebraska-Lincoln Marcus Thies University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas Part of the Life Sciences Commons Ballinger, Royce E.; Meeker, Justin W.; and Thies, Marcus, "A Checklist and Distribution Maps of the Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota" (2000). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 49. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/49 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societiesy b an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 2000. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, 26: 29-46 A CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION MAPS OF THE AMPmBIANS AND REPTILES OF SOUTH DAKOTA Royce E. Ballinger, Justin W. Meeker, and Marcus Thies School of Biological Sciences University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0118 rballinger1 @ unl.edu lent treatise on the distribution and ecology of the ABSTRACT turtles of the state in an unpublished dissertation. Fourteen species of amphibians and 30 species of reptiles Several other authors (Dunlap 1963, 1967, O'Roke 1926, are documented from South Dakota, based on the examina­ Peterson 1974, Smith 1963a, 1963b, 1966, Underhill tion of 7,361 museum specimen records.
    [Show full text]
  • REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE Eumeces Lagunensis Van Denburgh
    792.1 REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE EUMECES LAGUNENSIS Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Beaman, K.R., J.Q. Richmond, and L.L. Grismer. 2004. Eumeces lagunensis. Eumeces lagunensis Van Denburgh San Lucan Skink Eumeces skiltonianus: Yarrow 1882:41 (part). Eumeces lagunensis Van Denburgh 1895:134. Type locality, “San Francisquito, Sierra Laguna, [Baja California Sur, México].” Holotype, California Academy of Sciences (CAS) 400, collected by Gustav Eisen on 28 March 1892 (examined by LLG). See Remarks. Plestiodon lagunensis: Van Denburgh and Slevin 1921:52. Plestiodon skiltonianus lagunensis: Nelson 1921:114–115. Eumeces skiltonianus lagunensis: Linsdale 1932:374. • CONTENT. The species is monotypic. • DEFINITION. Eumeces lagunensis is a small skink with a maximum total length of 147 mm. The scutellation is as fol- lows: 24 scale rows at midbody; 57–60 dorsal scale rows; 40– 46 ventral scale rows; 102 subcaudals; 4 supraoculars (three touching frontal); frontonasal in contact with frontal or not; large interparietal enclosed posteriorly by medial contact of large parietals; 7–8 supralabials; upper secondary temporal in broad 0 100 200 km contact ventrally with last supralabial; 2 postmentals; 6 infralabials; 2 postlabials (not superimposed); 2–2 nuchals, oc- casionally 1–1, 1–2, or 3–3, blending posteriorly with wide, MAP. Range of Eumeces lagunensis, the white circle marks the type cycloid, imbricate, dorsal scales of body and tail; 16 scales locality, the gray circle marks the neotype locality, and dots indicate around base of tail; and vent bordered by two large scales ante- other records. riorly. Granular axillary scales are not prominent and only 0–2 short rows are present and situated posterior to the medial mar- gin of the forelimb insertion.
    [Show full text]
  • Multi-National Conservation of Alligator Lizards
    MULTI-NATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ALLIGATOR LIZARDS: APPLIED SOCIOECOLOGICAL LESSONS FROM A FLAGSHIP GROUP by ADAM G. CLAUSE (Under the Direction of John Maerz) ABSTRACT The Anthropocene is defined by unprecedented human influence on the biosphere. Integrative conservation recognizes this inextricable coupling of human and natural systems, and mobilizes multiple epistemologies to seek equitable, enduring solutions to complex socioecological issues. Although a central motivation of global conservation practice is to protect at-risk species, such organisms may be the subject of competing social perspectives that can impede robust interventions. Furthermore, imperiled species are often chronically understudied, which prevents the immediate application of data-driven quantitative modeling approaches in conservation decision making. Instead, real-world management goals are regularly prioritized on the basis of expert opinion. Here, I explore how an organismal natural history perspective, when grounded in a critique of established human judgements, can help resolve socioecological conflicts and contextualize perceived threats related to threatened species conservation and policy development. To achieve this, I leverage a multi-national system anchored by a diverse, enigmatic, and often endangered New World clade: alligator lizards. Using a threat analysis and status assessment, I show that one recent petition to list a California alligator lizard, Elgaria panamintina, under the US Endangered Species Act often contradicts the best available science.
    [Show full text]
  • Reptiles of Phil Hardberger Park
    ALAMO AREA MASTER NATURALISTS & PHIL HARDBERGER PARK CONSERVANCY REPTILES OF PHIL HARDBERGER PARK ROSEBELLY LIZARD→ REPTILE= Rosebelly Lizard (picture by author) TERRESTRIAL Fred Wills is the author of this piece. VERTEBRATE Animals with backbones (vertebrates) fall into several classes. We all recognize feathered birds and hairy mammals. But what is a reptile? An easy defini- tion of reptiles is that they are terrestrial, vertebrate animals with scales or plates covering the body. However, this definition simplifies their great diversity. WITH SCALES In Texas alone, there are four major groups of reptiles: lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodilians (alligators). Hardberger Park is home to lizards, snakes, and turtles. OR PLATES Common lizards of the park include the Rosebelly Lizard, Texas Spiny Lizard, and Ground Skink. Common snakes of the park include the Texas Rat Snake, Rough Earth Snake, and Checkered Garter Snake. Can you name any other lizards and snakes found in the area? Hint: One lizard can change color, and PHP: one snake can produce sound. ROSEBELLY LIZARD Like many birds and mammals, reptiles are predators. Small ones like the Rosebelly Lizard and Rough Earth Snake eat invertebrate animals such as insects. TEXAS SPINY LIZARD Medium-sized snakes such as the Checkered Garter Snake often eat frogs. Larger snakes, including the Texas Rat Snake, typically eat small mammals and GROUND SKINK birds. TEXAS RAT SNAKE Where do reptiles live? The various species occupy almost all kinds of habitats, from dry prairie to moist woodland, and even wetlands and streams. Re- ROUGH EARTH SNAKE lated species often divide up the habitat through differing behaviors.
    [Show full text]
  • Eumeces Gilberti Van Denburgh Gilbert's Skink
    372.1 REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SAURIA: SCINCIDAE EUMECES GILBERTI Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Rodgers (1944) describes E. g. placerensis, and Lowe and Shannon (1954) E. g. arizonensis. Stebbins (1966) and Behler and King JONES,K. BRUCE. 1985. Eumeces gilberti. (1979) provide brief descriptions of the species. Eumeces gilberti Van Denburgh • ILLUSTRATIONS.Stebbins (1966) and Behler and King (1979) Gilbert's Skink provide color illustrations and color photographs of juveniles and adults, respectively. Black and white photographs appear in Van Denburgh (1922), Taylor (1935), and Smith (1946). Rodgers (1944) Eumeces gilberti: Van Denburgh, 1896:350. Type.locality, "Yo· provides a photograph of the type.specimen E. g. placerensis. Van semite Valley, Mariposa County, California." Holotype, Cali• Denburgh (1922), Taylor (1935), Smith (1946), and Rodgers and fornia Acad. Sci.-Stanford Univ. 4139, collected by Charles Fitch (1947) provide black and white illustrations with the latter H. Gilbert and James M. Hyde on 10-15 June 1896 (not the most detailed. examined by author). Eumeces skiltonianus: Cope, 1900:643 (part, by inference). • DISTRIBUTION.The species is distributed through central Cal• Eumeces skiltonianus: Camp, 1916:72-73 (part). ifornia, north approximately to the Yuba River, east through the Plestiodon skiltonianum: Grinnell and Camp, 1917:175, 176 (part). San Joaquin Valley to the Sierra Nevada, and west to the San Eumeces gilberti: Taylor, 1935:438. Resurrected name. Francisco Bay area. Its range extends southward along the Califor· nia coast (but at least 20 km inland) to San Diego, and into the • CONTENT.Five subspecies are recognized: gilberti, cancel• chaparral vegetation association of the San Pedro Martir of Baja losus, placerensis, rubricaudatus, and arizonensis.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bisexual Brain: Sex Behavior Differences and Sex Differences in Parthenogenetic and Sexual Lizards
    BRAIN RESEARCH ELSEVIER Brain Research 663 (1994) 163-167 Short communication The bisexual brain: sex behavior differences and sex differences in parthenogenetic and sexual lizards Matthew S. Rand *, David Crews Institute of Reproductive Biology, Department of Zoology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA Accepted 2 August 1994 Abstract The parthenogenetic lizard Cnemidophorus uniparens alternates in the display of male-like and female-like sexual behavior, providing a unique opportunity for determining the neuronal circuits subserving gender-typical sexual behavior within a single sex. Here we report a 6-fold greater [14C]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose uptake in the medial preoptic area of C. uniparens displaying male-like behavior in comparison with C. uniparens displaying female-like receptivity. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus showed greater 2DG accumulation in receptive C. uniparens than in courting C. uniparens. When a related sexual species (C. inornatus) was compared to the unisexual species, the anterior hypothalamus in C. inornatus males exhibited significantly greater activity. Keywords: 2-Deoxyglucose; Anterior hypothalamus; Medial preoptic area; Reptile; Ventromedial hypothalamus Female-typical and male-typical sex behavior are C. inornatus [7,17]. The aims of this study were to known to be integrated by specific hypothalamic nuclei determine: (1) if specific regions in the brains of in the vertebrate brain [6,18,22]. The ventromedial parthenogenetic and gonochoristic whiptail lizards ex- nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) and the medial hibit sexually dimorphic metabolic activity, as mea- preoptic area (mPOA) are involved in sexual receptiv- sured by the accumulation of [14C]2-fluoro-2-de- ity in females and both the mPOA and anterior hy- oxyglucose (2DG) in the brain during mating behavior, pothalamus (AH) play an important role in the regula- and (2) if these dimorphisms complement previous tion of copulatory behavior in males [6,18,19,22].
    [Show full text]
  • (1-5) Or LPN Proposed FY Timeframe Curre
    National Listing Workplan 7-Year Workplan (September 2016 Version) 12M: 12-month finding on a petition to list a species. If listing is warranted, we generally intend to proceed with a concurrent proposed Key to Action Types- listing rule and proposed critical habitat designation, if critical habitat is prudent and determinable. Discretionary Status Review: Status review undertaken by discretion of the Service. Results of the review may be to propose listing, make a species a candidate for listing, provide notice of a not warranted candidate assessment, or other action as appropriate. Proposed Listing Determination: For species that are already candidates for listing, a proposed listing determination would either propose the species for listing or provide notice of a not warranted finding. We generally intend to propose critical habitat designations concurrent with proposed listing rules, to the extent prudent and determinable. Final Listing Determination: For species that have already been proposed for listing, the final listing determination would either finalize or withdraw the proposed listing rule. We generally intend to finalize critical habitat designations concurrent with final listing rules, to the extent prudent and determinable. PCH: Proposed critical habitat rulemaking when not concurrent with a proposed listing rule. FCH: Final critical habitat rulemaking for previously proposed critical habitat. rPCH: Revised proposed critical habitat for previously proposed, but not finalized, critical habitat needing revision. Priority
    [Show full text]
  • Expanded Description of a Chinese Endemic Snake Opisthotropis Cheni (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae)
    Asian Herpetological Research 2010, 1(1): 57-60 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2010.00057 Expanded Description of a Chinese Endemic Snake Opisthotropis cheni (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae) LI Cao1, LIU Qin1 and GUO Peng 1, 2* 1 Department of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644000, Sichuan, China 2 Chendgu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China Abstract Based on seven newly-collected specimens, we provide an expanded description for the rare Chinese snake Opisthotropis cheni. The new specimens are consistent with the type series in scale counts and body dimensions. How- ever, two individuals lack yellow cross-bands that are apparent in the type specimens. A key to the ten Chinese species of Opisthotropis is provided. Keywords snake, Opisthotropis cheni, morphology, China 1. Introduction 070140, 071041, 071046-071050) (Table 1), collected from the Nanling National Nature Reserve in Ruyuan The genus Opisthotropis Gǘnther (1872) is comprised of County, Guangdong Province, China (Figure 1), were 17 currently recognized species, and is widely distributed morphologically examined in this work. The specimens in eastern, southern, and southeastern Asia (Uetz, 2010). were preserved in 8% formalin for initial fixation, and Members of this genus are all small aquatic snakes, later transferred to 75% ethanol. All specimens were de- mainly inhabiting rapidly flowing streams or small rivers. posited at Yibin University (YBU), Sichuan Province, Ten species of Opisthotropis occur in China (Zhao, China. 2006). Snout-vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL) were Zhao (1999) described Opisthotropis cheni based on measured using a meter ruler to the nearest millimeter, four specimens collected from Mt.
    [Show full text]