Vermicella parscauda, Derez & Arbuckle & Ruan & Xie & Huang & Dibben & Shi & Vonk & Fry, 2018

Derez, Chantelle M., Arbuckle, Kevin, Ruan, Zhiqiang, Xie, Bing, Huang, Yu, Dibben, Lauren, Shi, Qiong, Vonk, Freek J. & Fry, Bryan G., 2018, A new species of bandy-bandy (Vermicella: Serpentes: Elapidae) from the Weipa region, Cape York, Australia, Zootaxa 4446 (1), pp. 1-12 : 10-11

Vermicella parscauda sp. nov.

Holotype. QM J95678 , large male collected from boat ramp Weipa, Cape York, Queensland 12°31’53” S 141°50’51’’E in August 2014 by B.G. Fry and F.J. Vonk. Fixed in 10% formalin, stored in 70% ethanol at QM.

Paratypes. QM J95679 , small male squashed during mining company workplace activities, Evans Landing, Weipa, Qld (1240’21”S, 14152’09”E); AM R94414, unsexed individual, Mission River, Weipa, Qld (1240’59”S, 14152’59”E); CSIRO R02719, adult female, Rocky Point, Weipa, Qld (1237’00”S, 14152’00”E).

Diagnosis. A small Vermicella to total 388 mm in length. Distinguished from all other Australian Vermicella by a combination of 55–92 black bands, white bands mottled posterior of scale, SVL 267–357 mm, tail length 21– 31 mm, 213–230 ventral scales, head length 5–8 mm, head width 3–5 mm and present internasal scales ( Figure 1 ). Ventrals dark black or mottled with distinct black rings on the posterior body and tail, each ring covering 2–3 divided caudal scales and 1–2 white divided caudal scales in between the black rings.

Description of holotype (QM J95678 ). Measurements and counts: ToL 388mm; SVL 357; TaiL 31 mm (8.68% of SVL); HeadL 8mm; HeadW 4mm; HeadH 4mm; SnoutL 4mm; MouthL 6mm; ED 0.9mm; NeckH 4.5mm; NeckW 3mm; MBW 5mm, MBH 5.5mm, VS 230; VSW 4mm. Internasals present with undivided nasal scales, 6 supralabials, 6 infralabials, 0 anterior temporals, 3 posterior temporal scales. Fifteen dorsal scale rows present along the body, 27 total divided subcaudal scales and a ventral scale width of 4mm. Colouration: Neck scales: 6 black scales, 2 white scales; mid body scales: 5 black scales, 1 white scale; vent scales 5 black, 1 white scale. Ventral view mottled black for 2/3rds of body, ending with 17 black rings; 8 on the body and 9 on the tail.

Coloration. Colour and pattern of dorsal and lateral surfaces of live specimen alternate black and white bands. White banding begins on the head including white markings classed as bands on the nasal scales and parietal scales. White bands are 1–2 white scales wide with mottling around each white scale resulting in white bands of smaller width that do not have a defined edge. Dark or mottled ventrals that terminate to black rings. Frozen and preserved specimens lose the white vibrancy, resulting in a yellowish tinge and brownish bands under light.

Variation. SVL up to 357 mm; TailL 6–8% of SVL, mean 7% (N=4); 213–230 Ventral scales (N=4), Ventrals dark or mottled with 3–10 distinct posterior black rings terminating to 6–7 rings on the tail (N=4). The ring count on the underside of the body was not identified different due to sex of the individual as the single female count was within the range of the males.

Distribution and habitat. V. parscauda may to restricted to the Western side of Cape York as current individuals were all found between the Weipa (museum specimens AM R94413, CSIRO R02719, QM J95678 and QM J95679 ) and Mapoon areas (photographed individuals). The surrounding vegetation is woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Eucalyptus miniata , with the soil classed as deep or gradational soils of red massive earth with concretions ( Fox et al. 2001).

Comparison with other species.

Vermicella parscauda sp. nov. is considered geographically distant from other Vermicella species and show the following morphological differences:

V. annulata (Grey, 1841) has the largest distribution through NT, QLD, NSW, VIC and SA, including Cape York), white bands can be larger (1–4 scales vs. 1–2) with a distinct edge and often a larger SVL (155– 760mm vs. 267–357mm).

V. intermedia ( Keogh & Smith, 1996) , from northern WA to northern NT, has fewer black bands (37–65 vs. 55–92) and no internasal scales.

V. multifasciata (Longman, 1915) , from north-eastern WA to northern NT, including Tiwi Islands, has no internasal scales and more ventral scales (231–350 vs. 213–230).

V. snelli (Storr, 1968) from Pilbara region of WA, with a smaller tail length (9–23mm vs. 21–31mm) and normally higher ventral scale count (173–315 vs. 213–230).

V. vermiformis ( Keogh & Smith, 1996) from a localized population in southern Arnhem Land in NT and central Australia, lower number of black rings (38–51 vs. 55–92), with more ventral scales (253–303 vs. 213– 230) and ring patterning on ventral scales.

Etymology. The specific epithet is modified from the Latin words pars (part) and cauda (tail) in reference to the tail length and formed bands on the tail.

Conservation Status. Only 6 individuals of Vermicella parscauda sp. nov. have been recorded and the presumed habitat on Cape York is the site of broad-scale mining. Activities that disturb the soil, such as commercial digging for mining purposes, may adversely affect V. parscauda , given the burrowing behavior of the Vermicella genus. A detailed assessment on abundance, distribution and potential threats to the species will clarify the need for listing by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species requiring protection under legislation.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal and head view of Uermicella parscauda sp. nov. holotype QM J95678. Male collected from boat ramp weipa, Cape York, Queensland -12°31’53” S 141°50’51’’E in August 2014 by FJ Vonk and BG Fry. Photos by FJ Vonk.