Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator CADLE, 1999
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Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator
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| Higher Taxa | Pseudoxyrhophiidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator CADLE 1999: 385 Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator — WALLACH et al. 2014: 611 |
| Distribution | Madagascar Type locality: Madagascar: Fianarantsoa Prov; Fivondronana Ifanadiana. Ranomafana Nat. Park (northern sector), Mahajo Stream (southern tributary of the Ranomena River), 1,110 m elevation [approximately 21°13'S, 47°28'E]. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MCZ R-182292, adult male; paratype: MCZ 181287, juvenile male. Other specimens: MCZ |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator is characterized by having a pale nape collar in juveniles and adults, 21 midbody scale rows, fewer than 160 ventrals (known range, 143-158), fewer than 50 subeaudals (known range, 44-48), all subcaudals paired, and eight supralabials (4+5 contacting the eye). Coloration is dark brownish black middorsally, a pale lateral stripe on scale rows 4+5 at midbody (involving other rows elsewhere), and pale coloration on the lower three dorsal scale rows. Because few specimens (and no females) are known, ventral and subcaudal counts may be expected to vary somewhat from these values. No species of other genera in the Pseudoxyrhopus group have 21 scale rows. Five other species of Pseudoxyrhopus have 21 midbody scale rows: P. ambreensis, P. analabe, P. heterurus, P. quinquelineatus, and P. sokosoko (Nussbaum et al., 1998). Pseudoxyrhopus analabe differs from P. oblectator in having all subcaudal scales undivided (entire). In P. heterurus the anterior subcaudals are undivided and the posterior ones are divided. Pseudoxyrhopus quinquelineatus differs from P. oblectator in having a rather pointed snout and countersunk lower jaw (rounded snout and normal lower jaw in P. oblectator) and a pale brown or yellowish dorsum with five narrow dark lines (blackish brown without dark lines in P. oblectator). Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator is most similar to P. ambreensis and P. sokosoko. All three species have 19-21-19 dorsal rows and the posterior reduction occurs by loss of row 5. Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator and P. ambreensis are similar in having a pale nape collar, similar scale counts, a light lateral line on a dark dorsum, and pale lower dorsal scales. The two most distinct differences between these species are the number of supralabial scales (eight with 4+5 touching the eye in P. oblectator, seven with 3+4 touching the eye in P. ambreensis) and the disposition of the pale lateral stripe. In both species the pale stripe is less distinct anteriorly than posteriorly (Raxworthy and Nussbaum [1994] stated that the stripe began at midbody in P. ambreensis, but the stripe was evident all the way to the neck in preserved specimens I examined under magnification). In P. oblectator the stripe occupies dorsal row 5 the length of the body. Anteriorly it is more or less restricted to row 5, broadening to include the upper half of row 4 at the point where the dorsal count increases to 21 and broadening again toward the posterior end of the body to include the lower half of row 6. In P. ambreensis the lateral stripe occupies row 5 anteriorly, row 6 at midbody, and row 5 posteriorly; except for irregular involvement of parts of rows 4 and 6 posteriorly, the stripe in P. ambreensis is usually less than one scale row wide (reduced to series of dashes anteriorly). Thus, the lateral stripe is broader in P. oblectator than in P. ambreensis. In P. oblectator the stripe continues onto the tail, where it broadens to occupy virtually the entire lateral surface (Fig. 1); in P. ambreensis the lateral stripe ends at the level of the vent (see Fig. 13; Raxworthy and Nussbaum, 1994; personal observations). Several other more subtle features potentially distinguish Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator and P. ambreensis. The color of the nape collar is described as pale brown in life in P. ambreensis (Raxworthy and Nussbaum, 1994), whereas it was pale orange in the adult specimens of P. oblectator. However, too few specimens are accompanied by coloration data to be sure that this difference is consistent. Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator also has a slightly larger eye than P. ambreensis (0.30-0.34 times head depth versus 0.20-0.25 times head depth), but these measurements are rough guides only because head measurements lack precision. The difference is readily apparent by comparison of specimens side by side. Pseudoxyrhopus sokosoko lacks a pale nuchal collar, whereas a collar is present in P. oblectator. Pseudoxyrhopus oblectator and P. sokosoko are very similar in scale counts and the position of the pale lateral stripe. In the type specimen of P. sokosoko (fide Raxworthy and Nussbaum, 1994) and in UMMZ 203660 the stripe is on scale rows 4+5 posteriorly but is not evident anteriorly. In two other specimens (UMMZ 203661, 209689) the stripe is evident under magnification from the neck to the tail and has a slightly different distribution from that of P. oblectator: anteriorly on scale row 5, rows 5 and 6 at midbody (rows 4 and 5 in P. oblectator), and posteriorly broadening to include row 5 and adjacent portions of rows 4 and 6 as in P. oblectator. Additional details (5368 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Latin oblectator, a masculine noun in apposition meaning charmer, delighter, or pleaser. Most species of Pseudoxyrhopus are infrequently encountered and the epithet refers to the delight these uncommon snakes bring when they are found. |
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