Opisthotropis maxwelli BOULENGER, 1914
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Opisthotropis maxwelli?
Opisthotropis maxwelli
Find more photos by Google images search: 
| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Natricinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Maxwell's Mountain Keelback Chinese: 福建后棱蛇 |
| Synonym | Opisthotropis maxwelli BOULENGER 1914: 483 Opisthotropis maxwelli — BROWN & LEVITON 1961 Opisthotropis maxwelli — ZHAO 2006: 242 Opisthotropis maxwelli — LI et al. 2010 Opisthotropis maxwelli — WALLACH et al. 2014: 510 Opisthotropis maxwelli — WANG et al. 2022 |
| Distribution | China (SW Fujian, Guangx ?i, S Jiangxi, SE Guangdong), elevation 425–1000 m Type locality: “South Fokien, China” = Southern Fukien = Fujian Province, China. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.13.22 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: This species is characterized by the combination of (1) TL 319–442 mm; (2) tail relatively long, TaL 20–23% of TL; (3) rostral small, RW 28–32% of HW; (4) nasal in contact with first and second supralabials ventrally; (5) nasal cleft invariably pointing to the apex angle of first supralabial; (6) loreal not entering orbit, 1.4–1.7 times as long as deep; (7) supralabials 6–7, the last one longest; (8) infralabials 8; (9) dorsal scale rows 17:17:17; (10) dorsal scales smooth on the anterior neck, those following feebly keeled, rather strongly keeled on posterior part of body up to the tail; (11) ventrals 147–157, subcaudals 53–62; (12) olive-brown to olive- green above in life, body and tail with distinct or barely perceptible longitudinal black stripes, crossing each scale; yellow beneath, ventral surface of head and tail mottled with blackish grey (Wang et al. 2017). |
| Comment | O. maxwelli (Boulenger, 1914) was described originally from a single female specimen, and re-described based on six old, faded specimens (Zhao et al. 1998). Thus, the pattern and coloration in life are not known. Habitat: aquatic, inhabiting flowing streams. Diet: fishes, frogs, tadpoles, freshwater shrimp and earthworms. Behavior: nocturnal |
| Etymology | named after the collector of the types, Mr. J. Preston Maxwell. |
| References |
|
| External links |