Tropidonophis dendrophiops ( Günther, 1883 ), Photo

Leviton, Alan E., Siler, Cameron D., Weinell, Jeffrey L. & Brown, Rafe M., 2018, Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Oxford, England) 64 (14), pp. 399-568 : 447

Tropidonophis dendrophiops ( Günther, 1883)

Photo figure 69

Spotted Water Snake

Tropidonotus dendrophiops Günther 1883:136 .

Tropidonophis dendrophiops Günther 1883:136 .— Malnate and Underwood, 1988:85, figs. 2 [map], 3.— Smith, 1993:99— David, Pauwels, Lays, and Lenglet, 2006:219, fig. 14 .— Beukema, 2011a:178, fig. 4.— Brown, Siler, Oliveros, Welton, Rock, Swab, Van Weerd, van Beijnen, Jose, Rodriguez, Jose, and Diesmos, 2013:88, fig. 94.— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:735.— Sanguila, Cobb, Siler, Diesmos Alcala, and Brown, 2016:100, fig. 74.— Supsup, Guinto, Redoblado, and Somez, 2017:9, fig. 5g.

Natrix dendrophiops dendrophiops, Taylor, 1922a:95 .

Natrix dendrophiops, Taylor, 1922c:294 .

Macropophis dendrophiops, Malnate, 1960:48 , 52, fig. 1 [map].

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Zamboanga, Mindanao Id., Philippines. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.15.41 (original number BMNH 82.11.25.13 ).

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION (ENDEMIC) ( Map 37B [p. 148]).— Basilan, Biliran, Bohol, Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, Leyte, Luzon (Prov.: Cagayan, Isabela), Mindanao (Prov.: Agusan del Sur, Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur [Zamboanga City]), Samar, Siquijor.

REMARKS.— Malnate and Underwood (1988:85), based largely on body scale characters and dentition, assigned two Philippine species formerly included in the genus Natrix and/or Rhabdophis , to Tropidonophis , i.e., T. dendrophiops , and T. negrosensi s. Although we do not feel comfortable with these assignments and believe that the two nominal species should be reassigned to the now well-established genus Rhabdophis , we hesitate to do so pending a thorough genomic analysis. Also, with respect to the placement of the long enigmatic species “ Natrix barbouri Taylor, 1922 ”, as noted in the Remarks under Rhabdophis barbouri , despite similarities in some features with Tropidonophis , they referred barbouri to Rhabdophis (Malnate and Underwood 1988:195) .

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

Figures

FIGURE 14. Ahaetulla prasina preocularis (Zambales Prov., Luzon Id.) (TNHC 62721). Photo © RMB.