Argyrophis oatesii (Boulenger, 1890)

Chandramouli, S. R., 2022, Snake fauna of the Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal-A review of species richness taxonomy, distribution, natural history and conservation status, Zootaxa 5209 (3), pp. 301-331 : 305-306

Argyrophis oatesii (Boulenger, 1890)

( Fig. 6B , 11A )

Material: One adult, WII uncatalogued from Hope Town, South Andaman.

Morphology: Dorsum sandy yellow with a series of parallel, longitudinal black stripes from the snout to tail. Venter lighter than dorsum with a fine, spotted pattern. SVL 100–130 mm.

Distribution: Two individuals were recorded from two islands (South Andaman and Havelock). One was recorded from Mount Harriet National Park in evergreen forests; one from a littoral forest in Havelock Island. Both were seen under leaf-litter/fallen log. Recorded from sea-level to 200 m asl.

Remarks: A species endemic to the Andaman archipelago and recorded only a few times since its description. Murthy & Chakrapani (1983) reported its rediscovery from agricultural fields of Kalighat area (ca. 13.1131º N, 92.9539º E, 47 m asl.) of Mayabunder in Middle Andaman while the syntypes were collected from Table Island (14.1862º N, 93.363º E, 30 m asl.), Cocos group of the Andaman archipelago, that are currently under the political administration of Myanmar.

Status: Rare.

Figures

FIGURE 6. (A) Indotyphlops braminus (South Andaman), (B) Argyrophis oatesii (South Andaman), (C & D) Fowlea tytleri— blotched and striped morphs (South Andaman), (E & F) Adult and juvenile Lycodon hypsirhinoides (Long Island), (G & H) Adult and juvenile Dendrelaphis andamanensis (Long Island)

FIGURE 11. Locality records of (A): Indotyphlops braminus and Argyrophis oatesii (B) Gerarda prevostiana, Acrochordus granulatus, Cerberus rynchops and Cantoria violacea (C) Fowlea tytleri and Lycodon hypsirhinoides (D) Dendrelaphis andamanensis and Chrysopelea paradisi