Compsophis zeny (CADLE, 1996)
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Compsophis zeny
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| Higher Taxa | Pseudoxyrhophiidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Geodipsas zeny CADLE 1996: 44 Compsophis (Geodipsas) zeny — GLAW et al. 2007 Compsophis zeny — WALLACH et al. 2014: 176 |
| Distribution | Madagascar (Fianarantsoa) Type locality: “Approximately 7 km SW (airline) Midongy du Sud [= Midongy Atsimo], near Rianambo (“high waterfall”) on Lalampo River, 670 m elev., Fivondronana Midongy du Sud, Prov. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, [23°39’S, 46°57’E].” |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MCZ 181161; paratype: MCZ 181162, female; other specimens: BMNH 95.10.29.62 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis. Geodipsas zeny is smaller (maximum known total length 281 mm) than other described species of Malagasy Geodipsas (maximum known total lengths ≥447 mm) and has the following distinguishing features: low number of ventrals (132-137) and subcaudals (35-41); a bold dark gray midventral line from the neck to the vent (Fig. 6); paired dark nape blotches or a dark collar; and dark borders to the dorsal scales that tend to form a reticulated network or dark diagonals on the flanks anteriorly and dark longitudinal streaks posteriorly. Geodipsas zeny is essentially indistinguishable from G. boulengeri in the usual scutellational features that distinguish snake species (e.g, ventral, subcaudal, dorsal counts). Prior to examining specimens of G. "heimi" ( = boulengeri, as shown later), I had considered specimens of zeny possibly as that species solely on this basis (zeny will key to "heimi" using the key to species in Glaw and Vences [1994]). However, G. zeny differs from boulengeri in several coloration/pattern differences, including the following (contrasting characters of boulengeri in parentheses): (1) a thick, bold midventral dark gray line extending from the neck or anterior body to the vent (venter without continuous, bold midventral line; usually immaculate, but occasionally with a midventral series of scattered small dots); (2) a pair of dark nape blotches that may be connected by dark pigment to form a continuous collar (paired light neck blotches behind the jaw angle); (3) a dark streak from the posterior edge of the frontal scale to the nape along the parietal suture (no dark streak on parietal suture); (4) dark borders of dorsal scales tending to form a fine network or diagonals anteriorly, forming indistinct dark streaks on rows 3-4 and 6- posteriorly (dark network present or not, and not forming streaks posteriorly); and (5) light areas on labial scales not forming discrete spots and not bordered by a discrete dark line (light spots discrete, though otten irregularly shaped, and bordered by a discrete narrow dark line). In addition, zeny differs from boulengeri in hemipenial characters, including fewer spines around the midsection, a more divided sulcus, and absence of a basal lobe. Geodipsas zeny differs from G. infralineata (contrasting conditions in parentheses; see Table 1) by its smaller size (to >900 mm total length), fewer ventrals (172-199) and subcaudals (53-77), and shorter tail (17-23% of total length), and in hemipenial morphology (see descriptions later; Figs. 15, 17). Many specimens of G. infralineata have a midventral dark line, but it is usually narrow and anteriorly incomplete, in contrast to the bold thick midventral line that is complete from the neck to the vent in zeny. Some specimens of infralineata resemble zeny in having paired dark nape blotches and a dark streak along the parietal suture (Figs. 10, 12). Virtually the same characters that distinguish zeny from infralineata also distinguish zeny from laphystia (see Table 1 and diagnosis of G. laphystia). Geodipsas zeny differs from G. vinckei (known only from the holotype; characteristics in parentheses) in having fewer ventrals (161) and in color pattern (light collar on nape; anterior ventrals with dark anterior border, resulting in a ladderlike pattern; posterior ventrals with triangular or halfmoon-shaped dark blotches). (Cadle 1996: 47) Additional details (3758 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Habitat: partly arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018). |
| Etymology | Named after the Malagasy word meaning "dwarf" or "dwarfish." It refers to the diminutive size of G. zeny in comparison to other Malagasy Geodipsas. The word is pronounced approximately as zeh' -né, and used as a noun in apposition. |
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