Candoia bibroni (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1844)
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Higher Taxa | Boidae (Candoiinae, Candoiidae), Henophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Pacific Boa; bibroni: Fiji Island Boa; australis: Solomon Island Tree Boa G: Pazifik-Boa |
Synonym | Enygrus bibroni DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1844: 483 Boa australis MONTROUZIER 1860: 95 Enygrus Bibroni — JAN 1861 Enygrus bibroni — BOULENGER 1893: 106 Enygrus australis — BOULENGER 1893: 105 Enygrus australis — BOULENGER 1897: 307 Enygrus bibronii — GARMAN 1901: 12 Enygrus australis — DE ROOIJ 1917: 33 Enygrus australis — BARBOUR 1921: 109 Enygrus bibronii — BARBOUR 1921: 109 Enygrus australis — HIGGINS 1943 Candoia bibroni — MCDOWELL 1979: 12 Candoia bibroni — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 187 Candoia bibroni — AUSTIN 2000 Candoia bibroni australis — CORVÉE & WEFFER 2004 Candoia bibroni — WALLACH et al. 2014: 147 Candoia bibroni — REYNOLDS & HENDERSON 2018: 25 |
Distribution | Western Samoa, Melanesia, Polynesia, Solomon Islands [McCoy 2000], New Caledonia (Loyalty Islands, but not mainland NC), Tonga, Loh, Linua, Tegua, Hiu Islands, Vanuatu Type locality: Viti Levu, Fiji Islands |
Reproduction | ovovivparous |
Types | Syntypes MNHN-RA 0061-0061A, MNHNn-RA 1313, MNHN-RA 3276-3277 |
Diagnosis | Scalation: 207-259 ventral scales, 31-41 midbody scale rows, 47-62 subcaudals. Loyalty Island snakes have scale counts that are typically at the high end ofthe species range (Bauer & Sadlier 2000: 222). Color:Typically brownish, reddish brown, or olive with large black dorsal markings and smaller white spots. Venter grayish or more brightly colored (yellow to orangish red) (Bauer & Sadlier 2000: 222). Variation: Pemales are larger than males. Spurs are present in all males and many females, but are much larger in males (Harlow and Shine 1992). Roux (1913) and McDowell (1979) noted significant inter-island variation in midbody and ventral scale row counts in the Loyalties, low counts typify Ouvéan populations, whereas Lifou specimens have the highest counts. Bavay (1869) noted extensive individual color variation with sorne specimens nearly uniform in color and others strongly marked with a black pattern on the dorsum. Parallel black lines are present on the ventral scales ventromedially in the Maré and Ouvéa populations. Black dashes ventrolaterally are typical of Lifou specimens (Bauer & Sadlier 2000: 222). Comparison with other species: No other large terrestrial snakes occur in the New Caledonian region. It is the longest and most slender species of Candoia and the large number of ventral scales distinguish it from congeners (Bauer & Sadlier 2000: 222). Size: SVL460-1460 mm (mean 720.5 for males, 983.1 for females) (Harlow and Shine 1992). Detailed morphological description: McDowell 1979: 12 ff. |
Comment | Synonymy: Has been described originally as Tropidoboa de Bibron by HOMBRON & JACQUINOT (1842, Ophidien, planche 1). Subspecies: Reynolds and Henderson 2018 do not recognize C. bibroni australis. Distribution: Not on mainland of New Caledonia fide BAUER & VINDUM 1990. Habitat: fully arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018). |
Etymology | Named after Gabriel Bibron (1806-1848), French zoologist. |
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