Hypnale zara (GRAY, 1849)
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Hypnale zara
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Trigonocephalus zara GRAY 1849 Hypnale zara — MADUWAGE et al. 2009 Hypnale zara — WALLACH et al. 2014: 343 |
| Distribution | Sri Lanka Type locality: see comment |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Holotype: BMNH 1946. 1. 19. 96 male, 303 mm SVL, coll. “Mr Argent” |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Hypnale zara is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: tip of snout distinctly elevated; 10–19 minute scales form a wart-like protuberance on snout tip (Fig. 6a, b); 18–39 heterogeneous, small scales on internasal-prefrontal region (Fig. 6b); scales around eye 6 (supraocular + 2 postoculars + 2 preoculars + postfoveal) (Fig. 6a); maxillary pit surrounded by 3 scales (lower preocular + postfoveal + second supralabial) (Fig. 6a); 2 postoculars, the upper one small, the lower one reaching postfoveal; no scales between postfoveal and 3rd supralabial (Fig. 6a); lower postocular, 1st lower temporal, 4th and 5th supralabials in contact, no scale between them. Supralabials 7 or 8; lacunal scale absent; 2nd supralabial extends upward to reach loreal; costal scales keeled (Fig. 6g); ventrals 134–157; 34– 51 scales in subcaudal series, divided; hemipenial lobes not spinous (Fig. 6d). Hypnale zara is distinguished from H. hypnale by having the tip of the snout distinctly elevated (vs snout tip not raised); possessing (vs lacking) a wart-like protuberance on the snout tip; having 18–39 (vs 5–15) scales on internasal-prefrontal region; the maxillary pit surrounded by 3 (vs 4–5) scales; and the lacunal scale absent (vs present). It is distinguished from H. nepa by having the tip of the snout distinctly elevated (vs flattened or only slightly raised); 18–39 (vs 12–25) scales on the internasal-prefrontal region; the maxillary pit surrounded by 3 (vs 4–5) scales; no (vs 1–3) scales between postfoveal and 3rd supralabial; lower postocular, 1st lower temporal, 4th and 5th supralabials in contact (vs separated by a rhomboid scale of similar size); lacunal scale absent (vs present); all costal scales keeled (vs mid-dorsal scales smooth); 134–157 (vs122–134) ventrals; and having the hemipenial lobes not spinous (vs with large spines on the proximal two-thirds of their length). Hypnale zara is distinguished from Hypnale sp. ‘amal’ by having the tip of the snout distinctly elevated (vs not elevated); possessing (vs lacking) a wart-like protuberance on the snout tip; having 18–39 (vs 10) scales on internasal-prefrontal region; the maxillary pit surrounded by 3 (vs 4) scales; 7 or 8 (vs 9) supralabials; the lacunal scale absent (vs present); first infralabials on either side separated from each other by a median suture (vs medially fused); and two rows of distinct, bilaterally symmetrical blotches meeting on dorsal midline (vs a distinct purple-brown paravertebral stripe about 3 scales wide extending from neck to level of vent). (Maduwage et al. 2009: 15) Additional details (4515 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Venomous! The original Type locality was given as “Singapore” which is obviously wrong. |
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