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Sibynophis melanocephalus (GRAY, 1834)

IUCN Red List - Sibynophis melanocephalus - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaColubridae, Sibynophiinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
SubspeciesSibynophis melanocephalus melanocephalus (GRAY in GRAY & HARDWICKE 1835)
Sibynophis melanocephalus insularis MERTENS 1927 
Common NamesE: Black-headed Collared Snake, Malayan Many-tooth Snake
G: Schwarzkopf-Vielzahnnatter 
SynonymLycodon melanocephalus GRAY in GRAY & HARDWICKE 1834
Lycodon catenatus GRAY in GRAY & HARDWICKE 1835: 85
Sibynophis melanocephalus — TAYLOR 1965: 696
Sibynophis melanocephalus — MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997: 392
Sibynophis melanocephalus — COX et al. 1998: 57
Sibynophis cf. melanocephalus — ROOIJEN & ROOIJEN 2006
Sibynophis melanocephalus — WALLACH et al. 2014: 673
Sibynophis melanochepalus — NURDIN & SETYAWATININGSIH 2023 (in error)

Sibynophis melanocephalus melanocephalus (GRAY 1834)
Lycodon melanocephalus GRAY in GRAY & HARDWICKE 1834
Ablabes melanocephalus — GÜNTHER 1858
Ablabes melanocephalus — STOLICZKA 1870: 183
Polyondontophis melanocephalus — BOULENGER 1890: 301
Sibynophis geminatus melanocephalus — BOURRET 1936
Sibynophis melanocephalus — TWEEDIE 1953: 63
Sibynophis melanocephalus melanocephalus — GAULKE (in press)
Enicognathus javanicus BLEEKER 1859
Ablabes (Enicognathus) flaviceps GÜNTHER 1866
Ablabes flaviceps — STOLICZKA 1873: 123
Enicognathus geminatus (partim) — DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 333
Enicognathus geminatus — LUDEKING 1860 (nec Coluber geminatus BOIE 1826)
Polyodontophis geminatus (partim) — BOULENGER 1890
Polyodontophis geminatus (nec Coluber geminatus BOIE 1826) — COHN 1905
Sibynophis geminatus (nec Coluber geminatus BOIE 1826) — SWORDER 1922
Sibynophis melanocephalus melanocephalus — MALKMUS et al. 2002

Sibynophis melanocephalus insularis (MERTENS 1927)
Sibynophis geminatus insularis MERTENS 1927: 240
Sibynophis melanocephalus insularis — GAULKE 1993 
DistributionIndonesia (Bangka, Belitung, Mentawai Archipelago, Nias, Riau Archipelago, Sumatra, Java fide COX et al. 1998, Borneo?);
Malaysia (Malaya, Pulau Tioman [HR 34:266] and East Malaysia);
Singapore; S Thailand, Vietnam

insularis: Indonesia (We). Type locality: Forest at Sabang, Poloe Weh [= We Is., off north Sumatra]

Type locality: Singapore  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: BMNH 1946.1.17.76, a male (T. Hardwicke).
Holotype: SMF 22094, male [insularis] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: A median dark stripe flanked by two lighter stripes that bear small transverse spots or bars; ventral scales with an influx of lateral color, and a series of black spots on outer part of ventrals. Scales in 17 rows; nine supralabials, fourth and fifth touching eye. (Taylor 1965: 696)


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CommentSynonymy: “We follow Taylor (1965) and Morgan (1973) in considering this species to be valid and distinct from Sibynophis geminatus (Boie, 1826). Morgan (1973) concluded that both taxa occur sympatrically on Sumatra. He also considered the holotype of Sibynophis geminatus insularis Mertens, 1927 (Mertens, 1927: 240; type-locality. Forest at Sabang, Poloe Weh [= We Is., off north Sumatra]) to be an aberrant specimen of S. melanocephalus, although Morgan did not examine the specimen. According to Gaulke (1993: 151), the taxon Sibynophis geminatus insularis Mertens, 1927 (Mertens, 1927: 240) is valid. It should be regarded as Sibynophis melanocephalus insularis according to Gaulke (in press), whom we follow here.” (from David & Vogel 1996) 
EtymologyNamed after Greek melano meaning black and cephalus meaning head, thus the black-headed species.  
References
  • Baker, N. 2019. Some snake records from Gunung Arong Forest Reserve, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. SEAVR 2019: 001‐006 - get paper here
  • Boulenger, George A. 1890. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp. - get paper here
  • Bourret, R. 1936. Les Serpents de l'Indochine, vol. 2. Imprimerie Henri Basuyau & Cie, Toulouse.
  • Chan-ard, T., Parr, J.W.K. & Nabhitabhata, J. 2015. A field guide to the reptiles of Thailand. Oxford University Press, NY, 352 pp. [see book reviews by Pauwels & Grismer 2015 and Hikida 2015 for corrections] - get paper here
  • Cox, Merel J.; Van Dijk, Peter Paul; Jarujin Nabhitabhata & Thirakhupt,Kumthorn 1998. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Ralph Curtis Publishing, 144 pp.
  • Das, I. 2012. A Naturalist's Guide to the Snakes of South-East Asia: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. Oxford J, ohn Beaufoy Publishing - get paper here
  • David,P. & Vogel, G. 1996. The snakes of Sumatra. An annotated checklist and key with natural history notes. Bücher Kreth, Frankfurt/M.
  • Duméril, A.M.C., and G. Bibron. 1835. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles, Vol. 2. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, iv + 680 p. - get paper here
  • FIGUEROA, ALEX; MARTYN E.Y. LOW, KELVIN K.P. LIM 2023. Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution. Zootaxa 5287 (1): 001–378 - get paper here
  • Gaulke, M. 1993. First Record of the Polyodont Snake Sibynophis geminatus geminatus (Boie, 1826) from the Philippines, with a Discussion of Sibynophis bivittatus (Boulenger, 1894). The Herpetological Journal 3 (4): 151-152 - get paper here
  • Gray. J. E. 1834. Illustrations of Indian Zoology, chiefly selected from the collection of Major - General Hardwicke. Vol. 2. London (1833-1834): 263 pp., 95 plates - get paper here
  • Grismer, L.L. 2011. Amphibians and reptiles of the Seribuat Archipelago. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 239 pp.
  • Grossmann, W. & Tillack, F. 2005. Pulau Tioman - Perle im Südchinesischen Meer, Teil 2. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (51): 56-64 - get paper here
  • Grossmann,W. & Tillack,F. 2001. Bemerkungen zur Herpetofauna des Khao Lak, Phang Nga, thailändische Halbinsel. Teil II: Reptilia: Serpentes; Testudines; Diskussion. Sauria 23 (1): 25-40 - get paper here
  • Günther, A. 1858. Catalogue of Colubrine snakes of the British Museum. London, I - XVI, 1 - 281 - get paper here
  • Jaffar AR & Choo J 2023. Biodiversity Record: Black-headed collared snake at Mandai Lake Road. Nature in Singapore, 16: e2023105 - get paper here
  • Lang, Ruud de 2017. The Snakes of Java, Bali and Surrounding Islands. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 435 pp. - get paper here
  • Malkmus, R.; Manthey, U.; Vogel, G. Hoffmann, P. & Kosuch, J. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Mount Kinabalu (North Borneo). A.R.G. Ganther Verlag, Rugell, 404 pp.
  • Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. 1997. Amphibien & Reptilien Südostasiens. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 512 pp. - get paper here
  • Mertens, R., 1927. Neue Amphibien und Reptilien aus dem Indo-Australischen Archipel, gesammelt während der Sunda-Expedition Rensch. Senckenbergiana 9: 234-242
  • Murphy, J. C.; Voris, H. K.; Karns, D. R. 1994. A field guide and key to the snakes of the Danum Valley, A bornean tropical rainforest ecosystem. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 29: 133-151
  • Nguyen, S.V., Ho, C.T. and Nguyen, T.Q. 2009. Herpetofauna of Vietnam. Chimaira, Frankfurt, 768 pp.
  • Nurdin, M., & Setyawatiningsih, S. C. 2023. The diversity and conservation status of snakes in the eastern part of PT GAN, Riau Province. Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management), 13(2), 305-312 - get paper here
  • Orlov, N. L., S. A. Ryabov, N. Van Sang and N. Q. Truong 2003. New records and data on the poorly known snakes of Vietnam. Russ. J. Herpetol. 10: 217-240 - get paper here
  • Rooijen, J. van & Myriam van Rooijen. 2007. The land snakes of the Santubong Peninsula, Sarawak, Borneo: A preliminary list of species with natural history notes. Russ. J. Herpetol. 14 (1):27-38 - get paper here
  • Stoliczka, F. 1870. Observations on some Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Reptilia. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 39: 134-228. - get paper here
  • Stoliczka,F. 1873. Notes on some species of Malayan Amphibia and reptilia. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42: 111-126 - get paper here
  • Stuebing, R.B., Inger, R.F. & Lardner, B. 2014. A field guide to the snakes of Borneo, second edition. Natural history Publications (Borneo)
  • Taylor,E.H. 1965. The serpents of Thailand and adjacent waters. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 45 (9): 609-1096 - get paper here
  • Teo, R.C.H. & N.J. Thomas 2019. Updated Inventory of Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 71(Suppl. 1):145-183; doi: 10.26492/gbs71(suppl.1).2019-06 - get paper here
  • Teo, R.C.H. & Rajathurai, S. 1997. Mammals, reptiles and amphibians in the Nature Reserves of Singapore - diversity, abundance and distribution. Proc. Nature Reserves Survey Seminar. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 49: 353-425
  • TEYNIÉ, ALEXANDRE; PATRICK DAVID, & ANNEMARIE OHLER 2010. Note on a collection of Amphibians and Reptiles from Western Sumatra (Indonesia), with the description of a new species of the genus Bufo. Zootaxa 2416: 1–43 - get paper here
  • Tweedie, M. W. F. 1953. The snakes of Malaya. Singapore National Printers (Pte) Ltd., Singapore. 139 pp.
  • Wallach, Van; Kenneth L. Williams , Jeff Boundy 2014. Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. [type catalogue] Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
 
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