Myrrophis chinensis (GRAY, 1842)
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Higher Taxa | Homalopsidae, Colubroidea, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Chinese Mud Snake G: Chinesische Wassertrugnatter |
Synonym | Hypsirhina Chinensis GRAY 1842: 66 Hypsirhina sinensis STANLEY 1915 Enhydris chinensis SMITH 1923 Enhydris chinensis — SMITH 1943: 387 Enhydris chinensis – HEATWOLE 1999 Enhydris chinensis — ZIEGLER 2002: 236 Enhydris chinensis — ZHAO 2006 Myrrophis chinensis — KUMAR et al. 2012 Myrrophis chinensis — MURPHY & VORIS 2014: 31 Myrrophis chinensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 467 |
Distribution | S China (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hainan), N Vietnam (Hoa Binh) Type locality: China |
Reproduction | viviparous |
Types | Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.2.42 |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus). The combination of 21–23 dorsal scale rows at mid body and the internasal not in contact with the loreal, distinguish this genus from all other homalopsids with smooth scales and nasals in contact. All members of the Enhydris clade (chanardi, enhydris, jagorii, innominata, longicauda, subtaeniata) have 21 (rarely 23) dorsal scale rows at mid body, and internasals contacting the loreal. The only other homalopsid with smooth scales in 21 rows with the nasal in contact is E. matannensis from Sulawesi; it has upper labials 4+5 contacting the orbit, a divided internasal, and is in the plumbea clade. Diagnosis. Dorsal scale rows in 23 rows reduced to 19 or 21 in front of vent; nasal scales small, diameter same or less than diameter of prefrontal; second pair of chin shields large and distinct; upper postocular smaller than lower postocular. Its congener M. bennettii has 21 scale rows at midbody and large nasal scales [KUMAR et al. 2012]. |
Comment | Habitat: fresh water; highly aquatic species but it may leave the water occasionally. Similar species: Enhydris bennettii. Diet: primarily fish, but also frogs, crustaceans Type species: Myrrophis chinensis Gray is the type species of the genus Myrrophis KUMAR et al. 2012. |
Etymology | Named after its distribution in the Chinese sea. The genus name is derived from the Greek myrr, meaning marsh, and ophis, meaning snake. |
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