Hypnale nepa (LAURENTI, 1768)
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Hypnale nepa
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Sri Lanka Humpnose Viper |
| Synonym | Coluber nepa LAURENTI 1768: 97 Hypnale nepa — GÜNTHER 1864 (part.) Ancistrodon hypnale BOULENGER 1896 Ancistrodon nepa — SMITH 1937 Ancistrodon nepa — SMITH 1943: 500 Agkistrodon nepa — TAYLOR 1950: 595 Agkistrodon walli GLOYD 1977 Hypnale walli — WELCH 1994: 67 Hypnale nepa — WELCH 1994: 67 Hypnale nepa — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 310 Hypnale walli — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 311 Hypnale walli — GUMPRECHT et al. 2004 Hypnale nepa — GUMPRECHT et al. 2004 Hypnale nepa — WALLACH et al. 2014: 343 |
| Distribution | Sri Lanka, elevations above 900 m. Type locality: “obviously Sri Lanka” fide HOGE & ROMANO-HOGE (1981: 199); originally given as “Habitat in Africa”, in error. Type locality of neotype: Agra Arboretum, Agarapatana, 06º50’N, 80º40’ E, elevation 1665 m. walli: S Sri Lanka;Type locality: Kanneliya Forest, Udugama, Southern Province, Ceylon, elevation approx. 1000 ft. |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Neotype: NMSL (= WHT) 6515 (designated by MAduwage et al. 2009) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Hypnale nepa is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: snout tip flattened or moderately raised, with 5–15 minute scales forming a wart-like protuberance at tip of snout (Fig. 4a, b); 12–25, heterogeneous scales on internasal-prefrontal region (Fig. 4b); 6–9 scales surround eye (supraocular + 2 postoculars + 0–3 suboculars + 2 preoculars + postfoveal) (Fig. 4a); 4 or 5 scales surround maxillary pit—lower preocular + postfoveal + lacunal + upper edge of second supralabial, or lower preocular + postfoveal + lacunal + upper posterior border of second supralabial and a small scale above lacunal (see Fig. 4a); 1–3 scales between postfoveal and 2nd and 3rd supralabials (Fig. 4a); postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials surround a rhomboid (‘diamond’-shaped) scale of similar size (Fig. 4a). Supralabials 7 or 8; a lacunal scale present; mid-dorsal scales smooth (Fig. 4g); ventrals 122–134; subcaudal series divided medially, with 27–41 scales. Hemipenial lobe with large spines on proximal two-thirds of its length; distal third with calyces, not spinous (Fig. 4d). Hypnale nepa is distinguished from H. hypnale by possessing (vs lacking) a wart-like protuberance at the tip of the snout; having 1–3 (vs no) scales between the postfoveal and the 2nd and 3rd supralabials; having the postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials separated by a rhomboid scale of similar size (vs in contact); having the mid-dorsal scales smooth (vs all costal scales keeled); possessing 122–134 (vs 141– 158) ventrals; and having the hemipenial lobes with large spines on their proximal two-thirds (vs lobes smooth, lacking spines). It is distinguished from H. zara by having the snout tip flattened or only slightly raised (vs snout distinctly elevated); 12–25 (vs 18–39) heterogeneous scales on internasal-prefrontal region; 4–5 (vs 3) scales surrounding maxillary pit; 1–3 (vs no) scales between postfoveal and 2nd and 3rd supralabials; having the lower postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials surrounding a rhomboid scale of similar size (vs in contact, no scale between them); a lacunal scale present (vs absent); the mid-dorsal scales smooth (vs all costal scales keeled); 122–134 (vs 134–157) ventrals; and the hemipenial lobe with large spines (vs without spines) on proximal two-thirds of its length. It is distinguished from Hypnale sp. ‘amal’ by possessing (vs lacking) a wart-like protuberance on the snout tip; having 1–3 (vs no) scales between postfoveal and 2nd and 3rd supralabials; the lower postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials separated by a rhomboid scale of similar size (vs in contact, no scale between them); 7 or 8 (vs 9) supralabials; first infralabials on either side separated by a median suture (vs medially fused); mid-dorsal scales smooth (vs all costal scales keeled); 122–134 (vs 151) ventrals; hemipenial lobe with large spines on proximal two-thirds of its length (vs not spinous); two rows of distinct, bilaterally symmetrical blotches meeting on dorsal midline (vs a distinct purple-brown paravertebral stripe, about 3 scales wide, from neck to level of vent). (Maduwage et al. 2009 : 10) Additional details (5398 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Venomous! |
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