Dispholidus pembae HUGHES, 2021
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Higher Taxa | Colubridae, Colubrinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | |
Synonym | Dispholidus pembae HUGHES 2021: 49 |
Distribution | Tanzania (Pemba island) Type locality: Mkanyageni (05 ̊24” S, 39 ̊41” E) in the forested south–west corner of Pemba |
Reproduction | |
Types | Holotype: BMNH 1947.1.2.41 is the first of two females (Pakenham No. 387, 388), the second now paratype BMNH 1947.1.2.42) was given to R.H.W. Pakenham (1983: 24 and diary vol. VIII: 34) on 3rd July, 1939 and sent by him to the Natural History Museum (BMNH), London for identification and addition to the National Collection. Paratypes: A second specimen is Pakenham’s no. 388, now BMNH 1947.1.2.42, and a third specimen (MCZ 45587, see Table I) was acquired by Pakenham from the same source as the holotype and sent to Arthur Loveridge, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. A fourth specimen (BMNH 1956.1.6.40) was later found dead–on–road (DOR) near “Mtuhaliwa”, Pemba by Pakenham himself. Mtuhaliwa (= Mkanyageni on Pakenham’s map) lies in the southwest part of Pemba which has the highest annual rainfall (Rödder et al. 2010: 39, Fig. 2 in Hughes 2021). |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: D. pembae is a new species known by four female specimens distinguished from all other Dispholidus specimens by the following combination of characters: 1. The ventral scale counts (197–202, Fig. 2) reach the top of the range found in female specimens throughout the entire continent of Africa (161–202); counts greater than 190 are largely confined to West Africa in the northern hemisphere. 2. The subcaudal scale counts (162–177, Fig. 3) far exceed those found throughout the African mainland (90–129). 3. Tail length (Table II) exceeds half of body length (51.3–54.9 %) cf. less than 42 % in males and females from throughout the continent of Africa. 4. Pre-fang tooth counts of 7 or 8 are equaled in no more than 5 % of continental specimens of both sexes. (Hughes 2021) Additional details (828 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
Comment | |
Etymology | Named after the type locality. |
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