Indotyphlops albiceps (Boulenger, 1898)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 240-241

Indotyphlops albiceps (Boulenger, 1898) — Erroneous.

White-headed Blind Snake

( Figure 27A )

Singapore records.

Ramphotyphlops albiceps —Zhao & Adler, 1993: 218.— Das, 2012a: 136.—Wallach et al., 2014: 626.

Remarks. Zhao & Adler (1993) listed Singapore as part of the distribution for I. albiceps , but do not provide where they obtain the record from. Wallach & Pauwels (2004) stated that this record may have been based on Grandison (1978) who did not specifically list Singapore as a locality for I. albiceps , but included it in her checklist of snakes of Peninsular Malaysia. Nevertheless, Wallach et al. (2014) also added Singapore in their distribution for I. albiceps , perhaps based on specimen BMNH 1983.958–960 which was collected by Barnett at Royal Airforce Station Seletar. As far as we are aware, BMNH 1983.958–960 has not been examined nor is it represented in any publications, and we were unable to inspect the specimen to verify its identity. Given that I. albiceps ranges from southern Myanmar east to Thailand and Hong Kong, and south to Peninsular Malaysia, that it is an extremely rare species (Wallach et al. 2014), and is only known from one specimen in Singapore, we consider its status in Singapore as uncertain.

Occurrence: No credible records.

Singapore conservation status. Not Evaluated.

Conservation priority. Immediate priority, if discovered.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2018].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. RAF Seletar [= Seletar Air Base]: BMNH 1983.958–960 (no date).

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 27. A) Indotyphlops albiceps, B) Indotyphlops porrectus, and C–D) Coelognathus cf. subradiatus. Photographs by: Evan S.H. Quah [A], Dan Rosenberg [B], and Kelvin K.P. Lim [C–D].