Hypnale nepa (LAURENTI, 1768)
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Hypnale nepa
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Sri Lanka Humpnose Viper |
| Synonym | Coluber nepa LAURENTI 1768: 97 Hypnale nepa — GÜNTHER 1864 (part.) Ancistrodon hypnale BOULENGER 1896 Ancistrodon nepa — SMITH 1937 Ancistrodon nepa — SMITH 1943: 500 Agkistrodon nepa — TAYLOR 1950: 595 Agkistrodon walli GLOYD 1977: 1011 Hypnale walli — WELCH 1994: 67 Hypnale nepa — WELCH 1994: 67 Hypnale nepa — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 310 Hypnale walli — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 311 Hypnale walli — GUMPRECHT et al. 2004 Hypnale nepa — GUMPRECHT et al. 2004 Hypnale nepa — WALLACH et al. 2014: 343 |
| Distribution | Sri Lanka, elevations above 900 m. Type locality: “obviously Sri Lanka” fide HOGE & ROMANO-HOGE (1981: 199); originally given as “Habitat in Africa”, in error. Type locality of neotype: Agra Arboretum, Agarapatana, 06º50’N, 80º40’ E, elevation 1665 m. walli: S Sri Lanka;Type locality: Kanneliya Forest, Udugama, Southern Province, Ceylon, elevation approx. 1000 ft. |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Neotype: NMSL (= WHT) 6515 (designated by MAduwage et al. 2009) Holotype: AMNH 99385, female; paratypes: BMNH, CAS [walli] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Hypnale nepa is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: snout tip flattened or moderately raised, with 5–15 minute scales forming a wart-like protuberance at tip of snout (Fig. 4a, b); 12–25, heterogeneous scales on internasal-prefrontal region (Fig. 4b); 6–9 scales surround eye (supraocular + 2 postoculars + 0–3 suboculars + 2 preoculars + postfoveal) (Fig. 4a); 4 or 5 scales surround maxillary pit—lower preocular + postfoveal + lacunal + upper edge of second supralabial, or lower preocular + postfoveal + lacunal + upper posterior border of second supralabial and a small scale above lacunal (see Fig. 4a); 1–3 scales between postfoveal and 2nd and 3rd supralabials (Fig. 4a); postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials surround a rhomboid (‘diamond’-shaped) scale of similar size (Fig. 4a). Supralabials 7 or 8; a lacunal scale present; mid-dorsal scales smooth (Fig. 4g); ventrals 122–134; subcaudal series divided medially, with 27–41 scales. Hemipenial lobe with large spines on proximal two-thirds of its length; distal third with calyces, not spinous (Fig. 4d). Hypnale nepa is distinguished from H. hypnale by possessing (vs lacking) a wart-like protuberance at the tip of the snout; having 1–3 (vs no) scales between the postfoveal and the 2nd and 3rd supralabials; having the postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials separated by a rhomboid scale of similar size (vs in contact); having the mid-dorsal scales smooth (vs all costal scales keeled); possessing 122–134 (vs 141– 158) ventrals; and having the hemipenial lobes with large spines on their proximal two-thirds (vs lobes smooth, lacking spines). It is distinguished from H. zara by having the snout tip flattened or only slightly raised (vs snout distinctly elevated); 12–25 (vs 18–39) heterogeneous scales on internasal-prefrontal region; 4–5 (vs 3) scales surrounding maxillary pit; 1–3 (vs no) scales between postfoveal and 2nd and 3rd supralabials; having the lower postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials surrounding a rhomboid scale of similar size (vs in contact, no scale between them); a lacunal scale present (vs absent); the mid-dorsal scales smooth (vs all costal scales keeled); 122–134 (vs 134–157) ventrals; and the hemipenial lobe with large spines (vs without spines) on proximal two-thirds of its length. It is distinguished from Hypnale sp. ‘amal’ by possessing (vs lacking) a wart-like protuberance on the snout tip; having 1–3 (vs no) scales between postfoveal and 2nd and 3rd supralabials; the lower postocular, 1st lower temporal, and 4th and 5th supralabials separated by a rhomboid scale of similar size (vs in contact, no scale between them); 7 or 8 (vs 9) supralabials; first infralabials on either side separated by a median suture (vs medially fused); mid-dorsal scales smooth (vs all costal scales keeled); 122–134 (vs 151) ventrals; hemipenial lobe with large spines on proximal two-thirds of its length (vs not spinous); two rows of distinct, bilaterally symmetrical blotches meeting on dorsal midline (vs a distinct purple-brown paravertebral stripe, about 3 scales wide, from neck to level of vent). (Maduwage et al. 2009 : 10) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 5398 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Venomous! |
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