ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELINGEN

Z O O L O G I S C H E M E D E D E E L I N G E N UITGEGEVEN DOOR

's RIJKS MUSEUM V A N N A T U U R L I J K E HISTORIE

te Deel XVI. L E I D E N Aflevering* 1-2.

I. — H E R P E T O L O G I C A L N O T E S ΐ — I X . B Y L. D. BRONGERSMA, S R I J K S M U S E U M V A N N A T U U R L I J K E H I S T O R I E , L E I D E N .

I . Lygosoma nieuwenhuisii V A N L I D T H D E J E U D E .

Mertens ( 1 9 2 9 , p. 2 1 5 , note) mentioned already that the young Lygosoma f rom Sandakan B a y , N o r t h Borneo, which had been referred to L. smaragdinum Less , by V a n L i d t h de Jeude (1893. p. 252) d id not belong to that species but that i t was related to L. nieuwenhuisii L i d t h (1905, p. 195). Comparison of this y o u n g specimen w i t h the type of L. nieuwenhuisii proved that i t belonged to this species. T h e description of the type must however be corrected i n some minor points.

T h i s single type-specimen was collected d u r i n g the D u t c h Scientif ic E x p e d i t i o n in Centra l -Borneo 1894 ('s R i j k s M u s e u m van N a t u u r l i j k e H i s t o r i e , Herpe t . n° 4455) . T h e frontal is s l i gh t ly shorter than the frontoparietals and interpar ieta l together ; i t is i n contact w i t h three supraoculars, the suture w i t h the left t h i r d supraocular being very smal l . F o u r supraoculars fol lowed by a smal l scale w h i c h is the fifth supraocular of the descriptions by V a n L i d t h de Jeude and D e Rooi j (1915, p. 202). I do not believe that this scale can be called a supraocular ; moreover other species described by D e Rooi j as possessing four supraoculars have this same smal l scale. F o u r t h toe w i t h 18 (left) to 19 (right) lamellae below.

T h e l ength of head and body (snout to vent) is 64 m m . , that of the t a i l 60 m m . (7,5 m m . reproduced) and not 57 m m . and 55 m m . as stated by both V a n L i d t h de Jeude and D e Roo i j .

T h e y o u n g specimen collected b y M r . J . C h r . P r a k k e near Sandakan B a y , N o r t h Borneo , may be described as fo l l ows : T h e earopening is very s m a l l ; two very indist inct aur i cu lar lobules are present on one side w h i l e they are absent on the other. T h e supranasal is very s m a l l , i t is wedged i n between the nasal and the frontonasal, not reaching the rostral . T h i s

(11 —VII—1933;

2 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELTNGEN — DEEL XVI.

same condit ion is to be found on the r i ght side of the head i n the type. T h e frontal is s l i ght ly longer than the frontoparietals and interpar ieta l together, but shorter than frontoparietals -|- interpar ieta l + par ietal . T h e frontal is quite d is t inct ly i n contact w i t h the three anterior supraoculars. A s i n the type I count four supraoculars fol lowed by a smal l scale. R i g h t 7, left 9 supraci l iar ies . Frontopar ie ta l shorter than interpar ie ta l . Par ie ta l s i n contact ; a pa ir of nuchals and on each side two temporals. F i f t h upper l a b i a l below the eye, about one t ime and a h a l f as h i g h as the fourth upper l a b i a l . 24 Smooth scales round the body, the two vertebral series broadest. P r a e a n a l scales s l i g h t l y enlarged. Adpressed h i n d -l i m b reaches elbow. T a i l broken . F o u r t h toe w i t h 20 lamel lae (both sides).

Co lour ( in a lcohol ) : H e a d l i g h t o l ive , the sutures of the shields b lack . B a c k greenish anter ior ly , ir idescent, much l i ghter and t inted w i t h brownish poster ior ly . T w o series of large b lack spots f rom nape to base of t a i l , the spots of a series separated from each other by one or two l i g h t scales, or the spots are confluent into a band w h i c h encloses the l i g h t scales. These two series are separated by a l i g h t vertebral band. T h e scales of the temples, neck and of the l i g h t vertebral band have dark borders f o rming a ret i cu lat ion . A dorso-lateral l i ght band. L o w e r parts of sides again darker , brownish , in termix ted w i t h numerous dark and l i g h t scales. T a i l (broken) w h i t i s h w i t h indist inct brownish cross-bars. L o w e r sides of head and body white , t inted w i t h greenish on the be l ly . Soles of feet brownish . L e n g t h of head and body 34,5 m m .

A s w i l l easi ly be seen from the above this specimen agrees quite w e l l w i t h the type and only s l ight i n d i v i d u a l differences exist .

L i t e r a t u r e :

L i d t h de Jeude , T h . W . van , 1 8 9 3 : Notes L e y den M u s . X V , p. 252. 1905 : i d . X X V , p. 195.

Mertens, R . , 1 9 2 9 : Zoo l . Anze iger 84, p. 215 . R o o i j , N . de, 1 9 1 5 : Rept i l es of the I n d o - A u s t r . A r c h . I , p. 202.

I I . O N S O M E S N A K E S F R O M P U L U B A B I .

I n J u l y 1913 D r . E . Jacobson collected some snakes on P u l u B a b i ( N B 2 o 7' ; E L 96° 40' ) near the I s land of S i m a l u r . Some of them were identif ied b y D e Rooi j (1917, p. 2 8 9 ; 1922, p. 231). I n the L e i d e n M u s e u m I found a bottle w i t h three other species none of w h i c h has yet been recorded from this i s land .

Python reticulatus (Schn.) , 1 ex. , 's R i j k s M u s . L e i d e n n° 5505.

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Cerberus rhynchops (Sehn.) (Hurria rhynchops).

1 ex., 's R i j k s M u s . L e i d e n n° 5482.

Dipsadomorphus dendrophilus (Boie) (Boiga dendrophila).

1 ex. , 's R i j k s M u s . L e i d e n n° 5504.

T h i s specimen has two postoculars on the left side of the head ; on the r i ght side the lower postocular has fused w i t h the 5 t h upper lab ia l ; 2 + 2 temporals on the left side, r i ght : 1 - f 1 temporals, the posterior one c lear ly or ig inated from the fus ing of two superposed shields. T h e ye l l ow crossbands are very narrow.

T h e three species are d istr ibuted as follows on Sumatra and the islands west off i t :

Simalur P. Babi Nias Menta wei Engano Sumatra

Python reticulatus X X χ Χ Χ Cerberus rhynchops X X χ χ Χ χ Dipsadomorphus dendrophilus — X χ — — χ


Roo i j , Ν. de, 1917 : R e p t . I n d o - A u s t r . A r c h . I I , p. 289. 1 9 2 2 : Zoolog. M e d . L e i d e n V I , p. 231 .

I I I . S N A K E S F R O M T H E M E N T A W E I - I S L A N D S .

T h e herpetological fauna of the Mentawei - Is lands has been studied already by different authors. Boulenger (1894, p. 613) described a collection from Sipora , w h i l e D e Rooi j (1922, p. 232) recorded several species from Siberut . T h i s same author (1917, p. 2 9 1 ; 1922, p. 232) gave a complete l i s t of the snakes k n o w n from these islands. A collection from both Siberut and S ipora was examined by M . A . S m i t h (1926, p. 76) who added several species to the l i s t of those k n o w n to inhabi t the M e n t a w e i -Islands. T h a t the fauna is not yet completely k n o w n is shown by a smal l col lection of snakes made on the is land of S iberut by Capt . W . R u i n e n , D u t c h E a s t Ind ian A r m y ret . . T e n specimens representing as many species were captured ; three of these species are recorded here for the first t ime from the Mentawei - Is lands , w h i l e three others were k n o w n already from Sipora but are new to Siberut .

4 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELINGEN — DEEL XVI.

P a r t of the specimens had been identif ied by D r . T h . W . van L i d t h de Jeude . F o r pract ical reasons I have used the nomenclature of D e R o o i j ; between brackets I g ive the names as they are used nowadays by m a n y authors. T h e nomenclature is yet far from stable. Some authors have used the name Ahaetulla for the genus named Dendrophis by D e Rooi j and Passerita for Dryophis. I n a recent rev is ion of the genus Dendrophis, Meise and H e n n i g (1932, p. 296) arr ive at the conclusion that Dendrophis must keep this name w h i l e Passerita (and Dryophis) must be replaced by Ahaetulla. T i l l these generic names are placed i n an official l i s t I t h i n k i t better to re ta in those that are w e l l - k n o w n .

Dendrophis formosus B o i e .

Dendrophis formosus formosus Meise & Hennig, Zool. Anz. 99, 1932, p. 286.

1 ex., M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1912, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5524.

Recorded from both Siberut and S ipora by S m i t h .

Tropidonotus chrysarchus Schleg . (Natrix chrysarcha).

1 ex., M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1 9 1 2 , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5525.

T h e species was k n o w n already from Sipora , i t is new to S iberut .

Coluber melanurus Schleg . (Elaphe flavolineata (Schleg.) ) .

1 ex., M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1912, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5526.

T h i s species and the f o l l owing were recorded from Siberut by D e R o o i j ; they are not yet k n o w n from S ipora .

Lycodon subcinctus B o i e .

1 ex. , M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1 9 1 2 , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5523.

Dipsadomorphus drapiezii (Boie) (Boiga drapiezii).

1 ex. , M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1912, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5515.

T h e species was not yet k n o w n from the Mentawei -Is lands nor f rom any of the other islands west off Sumatra . T h i s specimen differs s l i g h t l y from the description of the species as g iven by D e Rooi j (1917, p. 196). T h e praeocular is separated from the frontal and h a r d l y reaches the upper side of the head. T h i s is also the case i n four other specimens (2 ex. D e l i , S u m a t r a ; 1 ex. D j a m b i , S u m a t r a ; 1 ex. W e s t Java ) I examined i n the A m s t e r d a m Zoological M u s e u m . T h e frontal is as l o n g as its distance from the t ip of the snout i n one of the D e l i specimens.

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I n that from Siberut as w e l l as i n the second specimen from D e l i and those from D j am b i and J a v a the frontal is longer than this distance. P r o b a b l y these differences are subject to a var iat ion w i t h age, the frontal be ing comparat ive ly longer i n the young specimens.

T h e specimen from Siberut has the f o l l owing scale counts : sq. 19, ventrals 269, subcaudals 154. L e f t : 7 supralabials , 3 r d and 4 t h entering the o r b i t ; r i g h t : 6 supralabials , the 3 r d and 4 t h have fused and enter the orbit as a single shie ld .

Dipsadoniorphus nigriceps brevicaudus (Smith) (Boiga nigriceps brevicauda). 1 ex. M u a r a S iberut , V I I I - 1912, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5516, cT-

T h i s subspecies was described from both Siberut and S ipora by S m i t h ; i t differs from the t y p i c a l form i n h a v i n g fewer subcaudals. Besides the present specimen I examined the one mentioned by De Rooi j from this i s land , one l abe l l ed : Mentawe i -Arch ipe lago , without further data and for comparison a specimen from N i a s and four from S i m a l u r .

T h e number of subcaudals i n these specimens is as f o l l ows :

S iberut , l eg . W . R u i n e n , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5516 ç? 125 i d . l eg . E . Jacobson, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5219 9 113

M e n t a w e i - A r c h . , ? M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5568 c f 124 N i a s , l eg . K l e i w e g de Z w a a n , M u s . A m s t e r d a m 133 S i m a l u r , leg . E . Jacobson, M u s . A m s t e r d a m 142

i d . i d . M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5171 135 i d . i d . M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5172 9 125 i d . i d . M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5173 136

I f the sex of the specimens was not k n o w n one would not be able to d is t inguish the subspecies brevicaudus from the t y p i c a l form. B o t h on Siberut and on S i m a l u r specimens w i t h 125 subcaudals occur but the specimen f rom Siberut is a male w h i l e that from S i m a l u r is a female. T h e var iat ion for the typ i ca l form is from 125 to 154 subcaudals, the l ow numbers occuring i n females ; the var iat ion for the subspecies of the Mentawei -Is lands ranges from 113 subcaudals i n females to 125 i n males.

Dipsadoniorphus jaspideus ( D u m . et B i b r . ) (Boiga jaspidea).

1 ex. M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1912, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5487.

T h e species is here recorded for the first t ime from these islands. O f the ne ighbour ing islands i t is k n o w n from Sumatra and N i a s .

Dryophis prasinus B o i e (Passerita prasina) ').

1 ex . M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1 9 1 2 , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5522.

1) For the use of Dryophis, Passerita and Ahaetulla see p. 4.


T h i s w ide ly spread form had not yet been recorded from Siberut .

Chrysopelea chrysochlora (Schleg.) (Chrysopelea pelias (L . ) ).

1 ex . M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1912. M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5521.

Not yet known from the Mentawe i - I s lands ; the species l ives also on N i a s and Sumatra .

Ventra le 194, Subcaudals 113 ; r i g h t : 10 upper lab ia ls , 4 t h to 7 t h enter ing e y e ; l e f t : 9 upper lab ia l s , 4 t h to 6 t h enter ing eye.

Trimeresurus hageni ( L i d t h ) . 1 ex. , M u a r a S iberut , V I I I — 1912, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5517.

A s recent studies have shown the South A m e r i c a n Lachesis mutus represents a dist inct genus for w h i c h the name Lachesis D a u d . is to be reserved ; the A s i a t i c species are united in a separate genus : Trimeresurus Lacép., w h i l e the name Bothrops W a g l e r is used for the r e m a i n i n g A m e r i c a n species. W h e t h e r the latter two genera are real ly dist inct remains s t i l l to be proved.

I n 1886 (p. 53 , p i . 2, f ig. 6) V a n L i d t h de Jeude tentav i ly proposed the name Bothrops hageni for eight specimens from S u m a t r a and one from B a n k a w h i c h he believed to be dist inct f rom Trimeresurus suma-tranus (Raffl . ) ; on p. 54 of the same paper, the author stated that i t was quite w e l l possible that these specimens were only young ones of the latter species. Boulenger (1896, p. 557) d id not recognise hageni as a dist inct species and placed i t i n the synonymy of sumatranus. There i t remained u n t i l i n 1922 (p. 252) V a n L i d t h de Jeude rev ived the name again . A c c o r d i n g to this author hageni shows the f o l l owing differences from sumatranus: I o on ly one or two upper labials are i n contact w i t h the subocular ; 2° the scales of the head are not broadly bordered w i t h black and therefore no black r ings are formed on the h e a d ; 3° no b lack transverse bands on the back.

A s these characters seem to be subject to a rather wide var iat ion I was not yet convinced that sumatranus and hageni were rea l l y dist inct . T o check the characters I examined about 35 specimens i n the collections of the R i j k s M u s e u m van N a t u u r l i j k e H i s t o r i e , L e i d e n and the Zoological M u s e u m , A m s t e r d a m . I arr ived at the conclusion that rea l ly two species e x i s t ; they can be dist inguished as f o l l ows :

1. T h r e e (3. 4. 5.), rare ly two (4. 5.) supralabials i n contact w i t h the subocular ; supranasals separated (rarely i n contact w i t h each other) ; back w i t h black transverse bands ; headscales

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w i t h broad b lack borders (Sumatra , Borneo , Mentawei? ) T. sumatranus (Raffl.).

2. One (3.) or two (3. 4.), rare ly three (3. 4. 5.) or four (3. 4. 5. 6.) upper labia ls i n contact w i t h the subocular ; supranasals i n contact behind the rostra l , rare ly separated; no black transverse bands on the b a c k ; scales of head without broad black borders (Sumatra , B a n k a , S i m a l u r , Batu-Is lands , Mentawei - Is l . ) . . . T. hageni ( L i d t h . ) .

T h e f o l l owing specimens of T. hageni were examined by m e :

S U M A T R A .

1. D e l i , 1 ex. , type, leg . D r . B . H a g e n , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 819. 2 — 7 . i d . 6 ex. , l eg . H a g e n and Neeb , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5587.

8. i d . 1 ex., j u v . , l eg . D r . B . H a g e n , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4985. 9 — 1 0 . i d . 2 ex. , l eg . Pro f . D r . L . P . le Cosquino de Bussy , M u s .

A m s t e r d a m . 1 1 — 1 2 . Serdang, 2 ex. , l eg . J h r . P . C. van H e u r n , 1920, M u s . A m s t e r d a m

(1 ex. , i n rather bad condition).

B A N K A .

13. 1 ex. , leg . V a n den Bossche, 1861, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4697.

S I M A L U R .

14. Sib igo , 1 ex. cT, leg . E . Jacobson, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5175. 15. S inabang, 1 ex., leg . E . Jacobson, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5174. 16. i d . 1 ex. , j u v . , l eg . E . Jacobson, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5224. 17. i d . 1 ex. , l eg . E . Jacobson, M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

B A T U - I S L A N D S .

18. S i m u k , 1 ex. , l eg . W . F . Schröder, M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

N I A S .

19—20 . W e s t - N i a s , 2 ex., l eg . K l e i w e g de Z w a a n , 1910, M u s . A m s t e r d a m . 2 1 — 2 6 . N i a s , 5 ex. + one head, l eg . K l e i w e g de Z w a a n , 1910, M u s .

A m s t e r d a m . 2 7 — 3 2 . L e l e w u a , 5 ex. + one head, leg . K l e i w e g de Zwaan , 1910, M u s .

A m s t e r d a m .

M E N T A W E I - I S L A N D S .

33. S iberut , 1 ex. , l eg . W . R u i n e n , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5517.

O f the true T. sumatranus (Raffl.) I had only 6 specimens for e x a m i -


T A B L E I.

I II III IV V VI VII

Trimeresurus hageni

1. Deli, type + 2 8 187 63 21 — 2. Deli + 2 7 181 73 21 — 3. , + 2 6 186 69 21 — 4- » + 2 7 189 69 21 — 5. „ + 2 6 190 70 21 — 6. » + 2 7 198 67 21 — 7· , + 1 6 190 67 21 — 8. τι + r.4, 1. 3 5 181 67 21 — 9. , + 2 6 192 68 21 —

10. „ + r.2, 1. 1 8 188 66 21 —

11. Serdang + 2 5 ? ? ? — '12. „ 2 6 188 66 21 — 13. Banka 2 7 185 78 21 —

14. Simalur. 3" + 1 7 184 83 21 — i s . » r. 2, 1. 0 8 186 82 21 —

16- , + 4 9 193 72 21 — 17. , 1 8 189 68 21 — 18. Batu-Isl + 3 5 183 82 21 — 19. Nias 2 6 191 67 21 — 20. , + r.2, 1. 1 6 196 66 21 —

21. » + 2 5 177 78 21 — 22. , + 2 5 183 77 21 — 23. „ + 2 4 190 65 21 — 24. „ 2 5 197 66 21 — 25. » + r . l , 1. 2 6 186 83 21 — 26. „ head 2 6 ? ? ? ? 27. „ <? + 2 7 184 77 21 — 28. , 2 7 189 67 21 — 29. „ + r. 2, I. 4 7 190 68 21 — 30. , + r . 3 , 1. 2 7 183 74 21 — 31, . r. 2, 1. 1 6 189 63 21 — 32. „ head + 2 6 ? ? ? 33. Siberut 2 6 183 76 21 —

Trimeresurus sumatranus 34. Sumatra 3 7 187 61 21 + 35. „ 3 7 189 55 21 + 36. , — r.2. 1 3 9 186 59 21 37 Borneo <ƒ + 3 8 188 63 21 + 38. „ 3 5 190 58 21 39. „ 3 9 187 63 23 +


n a t i o n ; one of these is the type specimen of Trigonocephalus formosus Müll, et Sch leg . :

S U M A T R A .

34. N e a r Padang , 1 ex., type of Trigonocephalus formosus, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5588.

35. B a l u n ( M u a r a L a b u ) , V I I I — 1914, 1 ex. , l eg . E . Jacobson, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4695.

36. M u a r a Sako , K o r i n t j i , I X — 1915, 1 ex. , l eg . E . Jacobson, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5589.

B O R N E O .

37. L o n g P e t a h , C e n t r a l East Borneo , 1 ex. , l eg . H . C. Siebers, M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

3 8 — 3 9 . N a n g a R a u n , 4 — I V — 1894, 2 ex., leg . Büttikofer, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4696.

T h e chief characters of the specimens are best g iven i n tabular form (table I ) :

I n this table the roman numbers stand f o r :

I nasals i n contact : - f ; or separated: — I I numbers of upper labials w h i c h are i n contact w i t h the subocular.

I I I number of scales between the supraoculars. I V number of ventrals .

V number of subcaudals. V I number of scale-rows.

V I I transverse dark bands on back present : + , or absent : —

I t w i l l easily be seen from this table that the characters show a rather wide var iat ion but nevertheless I believe that they are sufficient to separate the two species. O f the 33 specimens of Trimeresurus hageni only two have separated nasals ; i n one of these cases the supranasals are separated by two scales (each supranasal is probably d iv ided into two scales), i n the other they are separated by a single scale w h i c h shows a median incisure posteriorly . T h e number of supralabials w h i c h are i n contact w i t h the subocular varies from 0 to 4 ; 25 specimens have the same number on both sides of the head, w h i l e i n the eight other specimens this number is different on the r i g h t and left side (Table I I ) :

10 ZOOLOGISCHE M EDEDEELl Ν GEN — DEEL XVI.

T A B L E II.

Number of supralabials

num

ber o

f sp

ecim

ens

on both sides on one side only

0

1

1 (3.) 4 5

2 (3.4.) 20 7

3 (3 ,4 ,5 . ) 1 2

4 ( 3 , 4 , 5 . 6 )

1

T h e numbers between brackets indicate w h i c h supralabials are i n contact w i t h the subocular ; f. i . (3.) = t h i r d supralabia l .

T w o is the more common number , then f o l l owing one ; the other numbers be ing rather rare .

O f Trimeresurus sumatranus I d id not have enough mater ia l at m y disposal to make definite statements about the var ia t i on . O f the s ix specimens examined only one has two upper labials i n contact on one side of the head, w h i l e on the other side there are three supralabials i n contact w i t h the subocular, l i k e i n the five other specimens. Moreover the two supralabials i n the abnormal specimen are not the t h i r d and fourth as i n T. hageni but the fourth and fifth ; the t h i r d has been d iv ided into two smaller shields, the upper of w h i c h separates the supralabia l from the subocular. A n o t h e r of these s i x specimens has the supranasals i n contact behind the rostra l , w h i l e i n the other specimens they are n a r r o w l y separated by one or two scales (one behind the other).

I n the numbers of the ventra l shields no differences were found, but though the numbers of subcaudals overlap, I t h i n k that differences w i l l be found between the two species. T w o specimens of hageni could at once be recognised as males by the extruded hemipenis (nrs. 14 and 27 of table I ) , they have 83 and 77 subcaudals respectively. I n a male of T. suma-tranus this number is 63. I t is therefore quite w e l l possible that the males of sumatranus w i l l prove to have fewer subcaudals than those of hageni.

C o l o u r : Trimeresurus hageni is l i g h t or rather dark green, the scales of the back are n a r r o w l y edged w i t h b lack or the tips are b lack . T h e black borders may form a ret i cu lat ion or narrow cross-lines on the back. T h e ventrals have sometimes b lack borders. A l i g h t la tera l l ine is present, i t is bordered below b y a dark l ine or a series of dark spots. T a i l w i t h red and green spots or a n n u l i . Sometimes a dark or l i g h t temporal streak from the eye to the corner of the mouth .

Trimeresurus sumatranus is m u c h more v i v i d l y coloured. T h e scales of the head and the neck are broadly edged w i t h b lack , so that ova l or roundish l i g h t spots are formed w h i c h are bordered by black r ings , or the scales are w h o l l y b lack . T h e body is rather l i g h t green (or b lu ish

s RIJKS MUSEUM VAN NATUURLIJKE HISTORIE — LEIDEN. 11

i n alcohol) w i t h very distinct* b lack crossbands formed by b lack scales or the b lack borders of the scales. A l l scales have b lack tips or borders w h i c h may form a ret i cu lat ion . T h e ventrals have black borders. T h e body scales sometimes show a w h i t i s h l ong i tud ina l streak, i n this case the specimen has a great number of narrow whi te l ines on the back.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : I t is not yet possible to make out w h i c h of the records of Lachesis sumatranus g iven by D e Rooi j (1917, p. 283) refer to Trimeresurus hageni ( L i d t h ) or to Trimeresurus sumatranus (Raffl.). I have examined specimens of hageni f rom Sumatra , B a n k a , S i m a l u r , Batu - Is lands , N i a s and the Mentawei - Is lands . P r o b a b l y Boulenger 's record of Trimeresurus formosus f rom Sipora (Mentawei-Is lands) refers also to this species. O f Borneo I examined only specimens of the true Trimeresurus sumatranus. T h i s species occurs on S u m a t r a and Borneo . F r o m B i l i t o n and the M a l a y P e n i n s u l a I had no specimens for examinat ion .

I t is remarkable that the species are not k n o w n from the same local it ies . A m o n g the ten specimens of hageni f rom D e l i and the fourteen specimens from N i a s no sumatranus was found.

T o conclude this note on these snakes from the Mentawei - Is lands I give a table showing the d is tr ibut ion on the ne ighbour ing islands of the species that are new to the Mentawei - Is lands and of those that are new to Siberut on ly .

Simalur Nias Siberut Sipora Sumatra

Tropidonotus chrysarchus . . . X X X X X Dipsadomorphus drapiezii . . . — — X — X

„ jaspideus . . . — X X — X Dryophis prasinus X X X X X Chrysopelea chrysochlora . . . — X X — X Trimeresurus hageni . . . . X X X X ? X

None of these species is k n o w n from Engano .


Boulenger , G . Α . , 1894 : A n n . M u s . C i v . Genova (2) X I V ( X X X I V ) , p. 6 1 3 — 6 1 8 .

1896 : Cat . S n . B r i t . M u s . I I I . L i d t h de Jeude , T h . W . van , 1886 : Notes L e y d e n M u s e u m V I I I , p. 53 , p l . I I ,

fig. 6. 1 9 2 2 : Zoo l . M e d . L e i d e n V I , p. 251.

12 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELÏNGEN — DEEL XVI.

Meise , W . , und H e n n i g , W . , 1 9 3 2 : Zoo l . A n z e i g e r 99, p. 2 7 3 — 2 9 7 . R o o i j , N . de 1 9 1 7 : R e p t . I n d . A u s t r . A r c h . I I .

1 9 2 2 : Zoo l . M e d . L e i d e n V I , p. 2 3 2 — 2 3 5 . S m i t h , Μ. Α. , 1 9 2 6 : A n n . M a g . N a t . H i s t . (9) X V I I , p. 7 6 — 8 1 .

I V . Hemiphyllodactylus typus B L K R .

A f t e r m y paper on the genus Hemiphyllodactylus (Zool . M e d . L e i d e n X I V , 1932, pp. 211—223) had been publ ished I obtained a copy ot R . E . Dickerson 's " D i s t r i b u t i o n of L i f e i n the P h i l i p p i n e s " ( M a n i l a , 1928) i n w h i c h Ε. H . T a y l o r gave an account of the dis tr ibut ion of the reptiles and A m p h i b i a n s i n the P h i l i p p i n e Islands. I n this book several references to Hemiphyllodactylus are to be found. I also overlooked a n anatomical paper by W o e r d e m a n and a paper record ing a specimen from J a v a by Rosen. Moreover the citations f rom Barbour ' s paper on the zoogeography of the East Ind ies were not complete. Therefore the f o l l owing additions to the synonymy of the genus and species must be made.

S y n o n y m y of genus.

Hemiphyllodactylus Woerdeman, Arch. mikr. Anat. 95, Abt. I, 1921, p. 347; Taylor, i n : Dickerson, Distrib. Life in the Philippines, p. 227, 228, fig. 54 (map), 1928.

S y n o n y m y of Hemiphyllodactylus typus B l k r .

Hemiphyllodactylus typus, Woerdeman, Arch. mikr. Anat. 92, Abt. I, 1919, p. 241, and 95, Abt. I, 1921, p. 346, 409 (teeth); Kopstein, Treubia XIV, 1932, p. 81 (eggs); Burt & Burt, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 63,1932, p. 504.

Spathoscalabotes mutilatus, Rosen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), XVI , 1905, p. 130; Barbour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. X L I V , 1912, p. 14, 179.

Lepidodactylus ceylonensis, Barbour, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. X L I V , 1912, p. 20, 179.

Hemiphyllodactylus insularis, Taylor i n : Dickerson, Distrib. Life Philipp., p. 223, 1928.

I n T a y l o r ' s paper (1. c , explanat ion to fig. 54) the genus Hemiphyllo

dactylus is recorded from the i s land of P a l a w a n . T h i s i s , as far as I am aware, the first record f rom this i s land . O n the map i n m y paper this l o ca l i ty was not indicated .

V . T H E H E R P E T O L O G I C A L F A U N A O F P U L U W E H .

J u s t off the northern point of Sumatra l i e some smal l islands of w h i c h P u l u W e h w i t h the harbour of Sabang is best k n o w n . D e Rooi j (1915,


1917) d id not g ive a separate l i s t of the reptiles from this i s land but she mentioned the loca l i ty i n the descriptions of the species under Sumatra . T w o species of l izards and eight snakes were mentioned by her . V a n K a m p e n (1923, p. 279) mentioned three amphibians from P u l u W e h . D u n n (1927, 1928) mentioned two l izards and a toad. I n 1927 Mertens described a new subspecies of Sibynophis (= Polyodontophis) geminatus and recorded two l izards and a toad. Dendrophis pictus was recorded from this i s land by me i n 1931.

T h e late D r . P . B u i t e n d i j k made several smal l collections on this is land and the R i j k s M u s e u m van N a t u u r l i j k e H i s t o r i e is great ly indebted to h i m for these and many other valuable specimens. F o r the greater part the specimens had been identif ied by D r . T h . W . van L i d t h de Jeude . Moreover I examined a snake and an amphib ian collected by the late D r . G . A . J . van der Sande, R . Ν., and a smal l col lection of repti les w h i c h was presented to the Zoolog ica l M u s e u m , A m s t e r d a m , by M r . G . H e r m a n s . T h e result is that I a m able to add two l izards , one turt le , twelve snakes and two amphibians to the l ist of species k n o w n to inhab i t P u l u W e h .

I n the fo l l owing I sha l l g ive an annotated l ist of a l l species k n o w n to inhabi t the i s land . Those that are recorded for the first t ime are marked w i t h an asterisk. I n cases that I have not used the nomenclature of D e Rooi j and of V a n K a m p e n the names used by these authors are g iven between brackets. I f the species has been recorded from the is land by another author, since the books by D e Rooi j and V a n K a m p e n were publ i shed , the reference is g iven .

Hemidactylus frenatus D u m . et B i b r .

Mertens, 1927, p. 241.

*Gekko monarchus ( D u m . et B i b r . ) .

1 ex. , 9 , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , 1925, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5574.

Gekko gecko (L . ) (Gecko verticillatus L a u r . ) .

De Rooij, 1915, p. 56—57.

Aphaniotis acutirostris M o d i g l .

Dunn., 1927, p. 3.

1 ex., I l l — 1 9 1 2 , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4957.

Calotes cristatellus ( K u h l ) .

De Rooij, 1915, p. 384.


Varanus salvator ( L a u r . ) .

De Rooij, 1915, p. 146—147.

Mabuia multifasciata ( K u h L ) .

De Rooij, 1915. p. 384; Mertens, 1927, p. 241.

Lygosoma bowringii (Gthr . ) .

Riopa bowringii, Dunn., 1927, p. 10.

2 ex., 1 ex. , 2 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , η 0 8 5573 , 4958 , 4977 .

T h e scales on the body are smooth.

*Dibamus novae-guineae D u m . et B i b r .

2 ex. , cT 9 , leg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5555.

*Cuora amboinensis (Daud.) (Cycleinys amboinensis).

1 ex., j u v . , V I — 1925, leg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5481.

*Typhlops millleri (Schleg.) .

1 ex. , l eg . G . A . J . van der Sande, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5210. 1 ex. , l eg . G . H e r m a n s , Zoolog . M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

*Python reticulatus (Schn.) .

1 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5565 .

Xenopeltis unicolor R e i n w . De Rooij, 1917, p. 39—41.

*Chersydrus granulaties (Sehn.).

1 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5557.

Sibynophis geminatus insularis Mertens (Polyodontophis). Mertens, 1927, p. 240.

Dendrophis pieties (Gmel . ) , Dendrophis pictus striatum, Brongersma, Verh. Kon. Nat. Hist. Mus. Belg.,

buiten reeks V , fase. 2, 1931, p. 32.

T h e specimen recorded by me as the var ie ty striata is an i n d i v i d u a l var ia t i on of the t y p i c a l form. I n the i r recent rev is ion of the genus Dendrophis Meise and H e n n i g (Zool . A n z . 99 , 1932, p. 289) place the var ie ty striata i n the s y n o n y m y of Dendrophis pictus pictus. V a n L i d t h


de Jeude (Zool . M e d . L e i d e n V I , 1922, p. 241) supposed that i t may be a distinct species and perhaps he is r i ght . I n real striata the eye is larger than i n pieties and the oblique bars are present on near ly the whole length of the body.

Tropidonotus vittatus ( L . ) .

De Rooij, 1917, p. 88.

Coluber melanurus Schleg .

De Rooij, 1917, p. 99—101.

Elaphe flavolineata (Schleg.) of recent authors.

Oligodon purpurascens (Schleg.) (Simotes purpurascens). De Rooij, 1917, p. 126 -127.

W a l l (Ree. I n d . M u s . X X V , 1923, p. 305—334) has shown that the genera Simotes and Oligodon can no longer be separated as the species of both possess pterygo id teeth. Oligodon has p r i o r i t y over Simotes.

Oligodon praefrontalis W e r n . De Rooij, 1917, p. 132—133.

*Abhbes tricolor (Schleg.).


*Ablabes baliodirus (Boie) .


*Hypsirhina enhydris (Schn.) .


Cerberus rhynchops (Schn.) . De Rooij, 1917, p. 187—189.

Hurria rhynchops of recent authors.

1 ex. , leg . H e r m a n s , Zoolog. M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

*Fordonia leucobalia (Schleg.).


Dryophis prasinus B o i e . De Rooij, 1917, p. 206—207.

16 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELINGEN — DEEL XVL

2 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5564. 1 ex. , leg . H e r m a n s , Zoolog. M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

^Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw) .

1 ex. , 1 — 1917, l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5539. 1 ex., l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5560. 1 ex. , l eg . H e r m a n s , Zoolog. M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

Laticauda laticaudata (L . ) (Platurus lauticaudatus). De Rooij, 1917, p. 217.

1 ex., l eg . H e r m a n s , Zoolog . M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

*Laticauda colubrina (Schn.) (Platurus colubrinus).

1 ex. found i n a tree, 500 m. f rom the sea-shore, l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k .

T h e bad condit ion of the head makes i t very probable that this snake has been the prey of some large b i r d that brought i t to the tree.

*Hydrophis fasciatus (Schn.) .

1 ex. , l eg . H e r m a n s , Zoolog. M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

*Pelamis platurus (L . ) (Hydrus platurus).

1 ex. , l eg . G . H e r m a n s , Zoolog . M u s . A m s t e r d a m .

*Naja bungarus Sch leg .


Bufo valhallae M e a d e - W a l d o .

Van Kampen, 1923, p. 79, 279.

7 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5571 .

Bufo melanostictus S c h n .

Van Kampen, 1923, p. 80 -81 , 279; Dunn, 1928, p. 2; Mertens 1927, p. 241.


*Microhyla inornata B l g r .

2 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , η 0 8 4959, 5569.

Rana Umnocharis B o i e .

Van Kampen, 1923, p. 167—170, 279.


*Rhacophorus leucomystax ( K u h l ) .

2 ex., l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5570.

T h i s l i s t amounts to 37 species. T w o of these: Oligodonpraefrontalis W e r n e r and Bufo valhallae M e a d e - W a l d o are k n o w n from P u l u W e h only . I t is quite w e l l possible that they w i l l be discovered some day on Sumatra , as the herpetological fauna of A t j e h is s t i l l imperfect ly k n o w n . A n o t h e r species, Sibynophis geminatus (Boie) , is also k n o w n from Sumatra but on P u l u W e h a distinct subspecies, insularis Mertens, occurs. T h e remain ing 34 species are a l l i n common w i t h Sumatra .


Brongersma, L . D . , 1931, R e p t i l i a , i n : Résuit, scient. V o y . I n d . O r . Néerl. P r . L e o p o l d de B e l g . , V e r h . K o n . N a t . H i s t . M u s . B e l g . , buiten reeks, V , fase. 2, p. 32.

D u n n , E . R . , 1927, A m e r i c a n M u s . Novitates 288. 1928, A m e r i c a n M u s . Novitates 315.

K a m p e n , P . N . van , 1923, T h e A m p h i b i a of the I n d o - A u s t r a l i a n Arch ipe lago , L e i d e n , E . J . B r i l l .

Mertens , R . , 1927, Senckenbergiana, 9, p. 2 4 0 — 2 4 1 . Roo i j , Ν. de, 1915, T h e Rept i les of the I n d o - A u s t r a l i a n Arch ipe lago ,

vo l . I , L a c e r t i l i a , Chelon ia , E m y d o s a u r i a , L e i d e n , E . J . B r i l l .

1917, i d . , vo l . I I , O p h i d i a .

V I . O N A H E R P E T O L O G I C A L C O L L E C T I O N F R O M T H E S U L A - I S L A N D S .

Rept i l e s .

K o p s t e i n (1927, p. 437) publ ished a l i s t of the repti les from these islands and described some new species. I n the L e i d e n M u s e u m I found a smal l herpetological col lection made by M r . van N o u h u y s . U n h a p p i l y no data are avai lable as to from w h i c h of the islands the specimens came. Some of the species are recorded here for the first t ime from the Sula-Is lands .

Gymnodactylus jellesmae B l g r .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5593.

N e w to the is lands.

Peropus spec. (Gehyra spec).

1 ex. 2

( 1 _ V I I - 1 9 3 3 )


T h i s specimen belongs to a species of w h i c h I examined specimens from several other localities i n the Moluccas , but I am not yet able to say what name i t must bear.

Gekko vittatus H o u t t .

1 ex. , cT, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5594.

Draco lineatus D a u d .

2 9 9 , 1 d% M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5472.

N e w to the islands. T h e membranes of the females are dark brown above w i t h l ong i tud ina l w h i t i s h l ines , the membranes of the male have broad w h i t i s h crossbands and narrow long i tud ina l wh i t i sh l ines .

Calotes cristatellus moluccanus P t r s .

5 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5476.

Mabuia multifasciata ( K u h l ) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5475 .

A s was shown by S m i t h (Proc . Zoo l . Soc. L o n d . 1927, p. 215) Mabuia rudis B l g r . is a synonym of Mabuia multifasciata ( K u h l ) and the former species must be struck from the l i s t of species k n o w n from these islands.

Lygosoma smaragdinum (Less.) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5597.

Kops te in referred the specimen he examined to Lygosoma smaragdinum celebense D e Rooi j = L. s. acutirostre Oudemans. T h e present specimen is of a grey ish-o l ive colour on the back w i t h 4—6 series of rather smal l squarish b lack spots. T h e snout is rather pointed but only five supralabials are present i n front of the subocular and not 6 or 7 as often is the case i n acutirostre (Mertens, Zoo l . A n z . 84, 1929, p. 214). T h e length of head and body is 109 m m . I believe this specimen to be an i n d i v i d u a l var iant of L. s. moluccarum (Barbour) .

Lygosoma nigrilabre G t h r .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5474.

T h e species is here recorded for the first t ime from these islands. 44 Scales round the body, praefrontals f o rming a suture. T h e adpressed h i n d l i m b reaches hal fway between shoulder and ear-opening. N o rea l


nuchals , but the scales behind the parietals are transversely d i lated . T h e base of the fourth toe is covered w i t h ord inary scales, the distal part w i t h 27 keeled lamellae . L e n g t h of head and body 61 m m . ; t a i l 3 5 , 5 m m . N o dorso-lateral dark band, but a dorso-lateral series of dark spots beg inn ing behind the e a r ; flanks w i t h w h i t i s h spots.

Lygosoma werneri V o i g t .

Lygosoma cyanurum var. werneri, Voigt, Sitz. Ber. Ges. natf. Fr. Berl. 1912, p. 5. „ „ , part., De Rooij, Rept. Ind. Austr. Arch. I, 1915, p. 253-„ kordoanum, Sternfeld, Abh. Senckenb. natf. Ges. X X X V I , 1920,

p. 407, 411, pi. 31, fig. 6. Lygosoma cordoanum (kordoanum), Kopstein, Zool. Mededeel. Leid. IX, 1926, p. 91.

„ (Emoa) cyanurum (cordoanum), Kopstein, Treubia IX, 1927, p. 440. „ lessonii, Parker, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9) XV , 1925, p. 299; Baker,

Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (10) II, 1928, p. 297. „ werneri, Schüz, Abh. Mus. Dresden 17, 1929, n° 2, p. 7. „ werneri triviale, Schüz, I.e., p. 8. „ triviale, Schmidt, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 311, Zool. Ser. XVIII,

n° 9, 1932, p. 186.

26 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n 0 8 5595, 5596.

A f t e r Sternfeld (1. c.) had shown that two species had been confused under the name L . cyanurum many authors have dealt w i t h this problem and the species w i t h the fewer in f rad ig i ta l lamel lae has changed of names several times and s t i l l its nomenclature is not quite cleared. I have used the name appl ied to this species by Schüz who late ly dealt very extens ive ly w i t h i t .

A very interest ing var iat ion occurs i n the series from these islands. I n this species, as i n m a n y related ones, the frontoparietals and the interpar ieta l have fused into one single shie ld . O f the 26 specimens I examined from the Sula-Is lands 12 specimens show however a distinct interpar ie ta l . K o p s t e i n (1926, p. 9 3 ; 1927, p. 440) mentions 14 specimens from these islands but he does not ment ion whether an interparietal is present or absent. I f we take these specimens to have been normal we see that on the Sula-Is lands 3 0 % of the specimens are abnormal (have a dist inct interparietal ) . F o r comparison I examined 377 specimens from various other localities i n the Arch ipe lago to see i f this var ia t ion was common among them, but only two specimens w i t h an interpar ieta l were found. One was among a series of 28 specimens from M o r o t a i ; the in ter parietal was however d is t inct ly i r regu lar , w h i l e i n those from the S u l a -Islands the shield is perfectly regular . T h e other I found among 30 specimens from T i m o r ; the shie ld is regular . Three other specimens from


Morota i show a trace of an inc isure i n the posterior part of the large fronto-parietal . T h e specimens w i t h a dist inct interpar ieta l f rom M o r o t a i and from T i m o r represent 3,6 ° / 0 and 3,3 ° / 0 respectively of the number of specimens I examined from these islands. I t is very remarkable that on the Sula-Is lands this abnormal i ty occurs i n about 9 times as m a n y specimens. I f we consider the two abnormal specimens from Moro ta i and T i m o r i n comparison to the 377 specimens I examined from the various localit ies i n the Arch ipe lago (exclusive of the Sula-Islands) they represent only 0,6 ° / 0 of the total number . P r o b a b l y this percentage is s t i l l much lower as Sternfe ld (I.e.), P a r k e r (I.e.) and Kops te in (1926) who examined 67, 82 and 100 specimens respectively, do not mention an i n t e r p a r i e t a l ; they a l l dealt w i t h the question of separating the two species confused under the Dame L. cyanurum and of course they tr ied to find differences between them, so that i f they had found specimens possessing an in te r parietal they wou ld almost surely have mentioned i t .

Lygosoma sanana K o p s t .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5473 .

T h i s specimen agrees very w e l l w i t h the description g iven by Kops te in (1926, p. 9 7 ; 1927, p. 441) and w i t h the two types w h i c h are now i n the L e i d e n M u s e u m .

28 Scales round the b o d y ; 9 lamel lae under the 4 t h toe.

L e n g t h of head and body 33 m m . L e n g t h of t a i l 40 + m m . Snout to forel imb 11 m m . A x i l l a to g ro in 19 m m . F o r e l i m b 7 m m . H i n d l i m b 10 m m .

A m p h i b i a .

Mertens (1930, p. 142) described the A m p h i b i a n s collected b y K o p s t e i n on S u l a - S a n a n a ; he enumerates three species.

Rana (Rana) modesta B l g r .

1 ex. , M u s e u m L e i d e n , n° 5464.

Rana (Platymantis) rugata v . K a m p .

1 ex., M u s e u m L e i d e n , n° 5465.

T h e nomenclature of this species is very m u c h confused. T h e species

'sBUKS MUSEUM VAN NATUURLIJKE HISTORIE —LEIDEN. 21

was o r ig ina l l y described as Hylodes corrugatus A . Duméril ( A n n . Sc. nat. , (3) X I X , 1853, p. 176), later Günther (Cat. B a t r . S a l . B r i t . M u s . 1858, p. 95, p l . V I I I , fig. B ) described i t again under the name Platymantis plicifera. L a t e r the f o l l owing names were used for i t :

Platymantis plicifera var. Pelewensis, Peters, Monatsber. Akad. Berl. 1867, p. 33. „ corrugata Wir.papuensis, Meyer, Monatsber. Akad. Berl. 1874, p. 139.

Cornufer corrugatus, Boulenger, Cat. Batr. Sal. Brit. Mus. 1882, p. 110 „ „ , v. Mehely, Termesz. Füzetek X X , 1897, p. 411, pl. X , figs. 1,2.

Platymantis corrugata, Boulenger, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9) I, 1918, p. 373.

V a n K a m p e n ( A m p h . I n d o - A u s t r . A r c h . , 1923, p. 190) considered Platymantis to be a subgenus of Bana, but as at that t ime both the names corrugata and plicifera x) had been used already i n connection w i t h the generic name Bana he proposed a new n a m e : Rana rugata for the present species. Mertens (1930, p. 142, 144) uses again the name Platymantis corrugata.

A r t . 35 of the Internat ional R u l e s of Zoological Nomenclature w h i c h must be appl ied to the present case leaves room for different explanations as to the meaning of the word " p r e v i o u s l y " , therefore I prefer to use V a n K a m p e n ' s name t i l l the Internat iona l Commiss ion has rendered an opinion on this subject.

O f the four species w h i c h are new to the islands, two are t y p i c a l for the Celebian element of the f a u n a : Lygosoma nigrilabre, Gymnodactylus jellesmae (also k n o w n from the smal l i s land of K a b a e n a near Celebes). Draco lineatus is k n o w n from Celebes and Borneo on one side and several of the Moluccas on the other side. T h e Peropus species is wide ly spread on the Moluccas .


K o p s t e i n , F . , 1 9 2 7 : D i e R e p t i l i e n - F a u n a der Su la - Inse ln , T r e u b i a I X , 1927, p. 4 3 7 — 4 4 6 .

Mertens, R . , 1930 : D i e von D r . F . K o p s t e i n auf den M o l u k k e n und e in igen benachbarten Inseln gesammelten F r o s c h lurche , Zoo l . Mededeel . L e i d . X I I I , 1930, p. 1 4 1 — 1 5 0 .

V I I . N E W L O C A L I T Y - R E C O R D S . R I O Ü . A col lection of reptiles from R i o u was presented to the Museum by

M r . A . H . G . B l o k z i j l . Three species and a subspecies of snakes and one l i z a r d are here recorded for the first t ime from this i s land.

1) Rana corrugata, Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Berl. 1863, p. 412. Rana plicifera, Boulenger, Cat. Batr. Sal. Brit. Mus. 1882, p. 464.


Dendrophis pictus striatus C o h n .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5551 .

Perhaps a dist inct species (cf. V a n L i d t h de Jeude , Zoo l . M e d . L e i d e n , V I , 1922, p. 241) . T h e t y p i c a l f orm is also represented i n this col lect ion.

Ablabes tricolor (Schleg.) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5545.

7 supralabials , 3 r d and 4 t h enter ing o r b i t ; the praefrontal is i n contact w i t h the second upper l a b i a l . P r o b a b l y the 2 n d and 3 r d upper labia ls have fused and thus on ly 7 supper labials are present instead of the n o r m a l number of e ight .

Ablabes baliodirus (Boie) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5553.

Pseudorhabdium longiceps (Cant.) .

3 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5552.

T h e species was recorded by Chasen and Smedley from P u l u G a l a n g i n the R i o u - A r c h i p e l a g o ( J . M a l . B r . R . A s . Soc. V , 1927, p. 3 5 3 — 3 5 9 ) .

Draco volans L .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5706, rec. Dec . 1886.

B I L L I T O N .

A col lection of snakes was made on this i s land by D r . V o r d e r m a n ; 6 species are new to the i s land .

Xenopeltis unicolor R e i n w .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5629.

Dendrophis pictus pictus (Gmel . ) .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5630.

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus G r a y .

1 ex . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5631.

Tropidonotus maculatus E d e l i n g (Natrix maculata).

1 ex. , j u v . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5702, subc. 105.

RIJKS MUSEUM VAN NATUURLIJKE HISTORIE — LEIDEN. 23

Hypsirhina alternam (Reuse).

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5703.

Psammodynastes pictus G t h r .

2 ex., M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5704.

K n o w n a lready from the i s land .

Dryophis prasinus B o i e .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5705.

B A N K A .

Varanus salvator (Laur . ) .

1 ex. , j u v . , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , received 3 — I I — 1929, M u s . L e i d e n , n°. 5627.

Bungarus flaviceps R e i n h .

1 ex. , l eg . P . B u i t e n d i j k , rec. 3 — I I — 1929, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5628.

T h e specimen is i n a rather bad state, part of the head is want ing .

J A V A .

I n the L i s t of Rept i les of J a v a ( A p p e n d i x I I I , t o : D a m m e r m a n , O n the Zoogeography of J a v a , T r e u b i a X I , 1929, p. 66) Zamenis mucosus (L . ) was recorded only from W e s t - and C e n t r a l - J a v a . A specimen i n the L e i d e n Museum (n° 4843) collected at Sumber A r u n and presented to the Museum b y the late D r . P . B u i t e n d i j k , shows that its range extends also over East J a v a .

M A N I P A .

A smal l is land to the west of C e r a m . Three snakes, collected by Hoedt i n 1865, are recorded for the first t ime .

Dendrophis pictus pictus (Gmel . ) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5621.

Dipsadomorphus irregularis (Merr . ) (Boiga irregularis).

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5622.


Chrysopelea rhodopleuron B o i e .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5625.

B O A N O .

A smal l i s land l y i n g near the northwestern coast of C e r a m . D e Rooi j d id not record any repti les f rom this i s land . T h e f o l l owing species were collected there i n 1863 by M r . Hoedt .

Python reticulatus (Schn.) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5538.

Enygrus carinatus (Schn.) .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5580.

Cylindrophis rufus ( L a u r . ) .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5460.

Dendrophis pictus pieties (Gmel . ) .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5579.

Dipsadoniorphus irregularis (Mer. ) (Boiga irregularis).

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5581 .

Lygosoma smaragdinum moluccarum (Barbour) .

2 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5598.

H A L M A H E I R A .

Tropidonotus elongatus J a n .

3 ex. , leg . Berns te in , 1866, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4800.

B A T A N T A .

Stegonotus batjanensis (Gthr . ) .

1 ex. , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5583 .

V e n t r a l s 229, subc. 93 , sq. 17, temp. 1 + 2, 1 prae — , 2 postoc , supralab. 8 (3. 4. 5.).

Gonyocephalus auritus M e y e r .

1 ex. , l eg . Berns te in , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5592.


S A L A W A T T I .

Gonyocephalus dilophus ( D . B . ) .

2 ex. , (1 j u v . ) , l eg . Bernste in 1866, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5616.

Gonyocephalus auritus M e y e r .

4 ex . , l eg . Berns te in 1866, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5613.

Tropidonotus elongatus J a n .

1 ex. , l eg . Berns te in , 1866, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 4801 .

Stegonotus batjanensis G t h r .

1 ex. , l eg . Bernste in , 1866, M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5586.

V e n t r a l s : 218, subc. 8 6 + , sq. 17, temp. 1 + 2, 1 p r a e — , 2 postoc., supralab. 8 (3. 4. 5.).

V I I I . O N S O M E R E P T I L E S F R O M W E T A R .

I n J u n e 1898 the L e i d e n M u s e u m bought a smal l col lection of reptiles made on the is land of W e t a r by M r . Schädler. A t the t ime the col lection was not studied and though i t does not contain any new species, some of the forms are interest ing enough to be reported on.


3 ex., collector's n u m b e r : 0.30 W . , 0 .33—0.34 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5601 .

Lygosoma florense barbouri (Dunn) .

5 ex. , co l l . n° 0 .35—0.39 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5532.

Lygosoma fuscum ( D u m . et B i b r . ) .

1 ex. , Ç, co l l . n° 0.41 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5533.

Ablepharus boutonii leschenault Coct .

Ablepharus boutoni furcata M. Weber, De Rooij, Rept. Ind. Austr. Arch. I 1915, p. 274.

Ablepharus boutonii leschenault Mertens, Zool. Jahr. Syst. 61,1931, p. 156—159, pl. 3, fig. 22, 23.

3 ex., co l l . n° 0 .43—0.45 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5531 .

A l l three specimens have 6 supraci l iar ies .


Cylindrophis boulengeri R o u x .

2 ex. , co l l . n° 0 .51—0.52 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5529.

These specimens agree quite w e l l w i t h the description of this species as g iven by R o u x (1911, p. 500) and D e Rooi j (1917, p. 38). T h e frontal is s l i gh t ly broader than l ong i n one specimen and jus t as broad as l o n g i n the o ther ; its anterior border is convex and the shie ld thus becomes foursided. 20 Scale-rows around the body. T h e diameter of the eye equals about one h a l f i ts distance from the nostr i l .

Elaphe subradiata (Schleg.) (Coluber subradiatus).

1 ex., co l l . n° 0.29 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5527.

Scales i n 23 rows, ventrals 249, subcaudals 97 , three upper labials enter ing orbit .

Several authors (Boulenger , 1897, p. 5 0 6 ; R o u x , 1911, p. 5 0 2 ; D u n n , 1927, p. 2 ; S m i t h 1927, p. 2 2 1 ; Mertens , 1930, p. 298) have described specimens i n w h i c h three upper labials entered the orbi t instead of two. Besides the specimen mentioned above I examined 23 specimens f rom T i m o r , R o t t i , S u m b a and F lores . I n respect w i t h the number of supralabials border ing the orbit they show the f o l l owing var iat ion :

T I M O R : 14 specimens ( L e i d e n M u s . η 0 8 403 , 434, 435 , 524, 525, 5708, 5709 ) ; of these, 13 specimens possess a subocular and thus on ly two labials enter the orbit . I n one specimen the 4 t h and 5 t h supralabials are separated f rom the orbit by one large subocular on the left side, on the r ight side the 4 t h upper l a b i a l is separated from the orbit b y a rather large subocular, the 5 t h supralabia l by a s m a l l subocular ; on ly the 6 t h upper l a b i a l enters the orbit .

R O T T I : 1 specimen ( L e i d e n M u s . n° 976) subocular present on the r i ght side, two upper labials enter ing o r b i t ; on the left side three supralabials enter the orbit .

S U M B A : 3 specimens (Zool . M u s . A m s t e r d a m ) ; i n two of these the subocular has fused w i t h the 4 t h upper l a b i a l and thus three labials enter the o r b i t ; i n the t h i r d specimen the fourth upper l a b i a l is separated from the orbit b y the subocular on both sides.

F L O R E S : 5 specimens: 3 specimens w i t h two labials enter ing the o rb i t ; 1 specimen w i t h three supralabials and 1 specimen w i t h left three and r ight two upper labials border ing the orbit .

A l l specimens f rom T i m o r and R o t t i have the scales i n 23 rows, those from S u m b a and F lores have 25 scale-rows.

I agree w i t h D u n n and Mertens that E. enganensis V i n c i g u e r r a can not be maintained as a dist inct species.


Lycodon aulicus capucinus Boie . Lycodon aulicus var. D. Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus. I, 1893, p. 353.

1 ex., co l l . n° 0.47 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5528.

Trimeresurus gramineus (Shaw) (Lachesis gramineus). 3 ex., co l l . n° 0.28 W . , 0.31—0.32 W . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5530.

sq. 21 V . 169 A l Subc. 58 supraoculars narrow 21 164 1 58 i d . 21 161 1 74 i d .

D u n n (1927, p. 5) considers Trimeresurus fasciatus (B lgr . ) as a sub

species of gramineus and refers his specimens from K o m o d o and W e t a r to i t . F o r the present moment I t h i n k i t better to use gramineus for the specimens w i t h narrow supraoculars and to consider fasciatus to be a distinct species. A large series f rom the type l oca l i ty of fasciatus should be examined before any definite conclusions can be drawn .


Boulenger , G . Α., 1897, A n n . M a g . N a t . H i s t . (6), X I X , p. 506. D u n n , E . R . , 1927, A m e r . M u s . N o v i t . 287, pp. 1—7. Mertens , R . , 1930, A b h . Senckenb. natf. Ges. , 42 , pp. 115—344 . Roo i j , N . de, 1915, Rept i l es I n d o A u s t r . A r c h . , v o l . I .

1917, i d . v o l . I I . R o u x , J . , 1911, Zoo l . J a h r b . Syst . X X X , pp. 4 9 5 — 5 0 8 . S m i t h , M . Α., 1927, P r o c . Zool . Soc. L o n d . 1927, pp. 1 9 9 2 2 5 .

I X . C O N T R I B U T I O N T O T H E H E R P E T O L O G Y O F T H E

B A B B E R I S L A N D S .

A smal l col lect ion of repti les and amphibians was made i n the BabberIs lands by M r . Schädler and bought by the L e i d e n M u s e u m i n J u l y 1898. D e Rooi j (1917) and K o p s t e i n (1926) do not mention any snakes f rom these is lands, i t is therefore very interest ing that the present col lect ion contains four species of snakes.

Cylindrophis boulengeri R o u x .

1 ex., co l l . n° 0.69 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5542.

Scales i n 20 r o w s ; 7 subcaudals. T h e f rontal is jus t as l ong as broad. T h e diameter of the eye equals one t h i r d of its distance f rom the nostr i l . T h e ye l l ow spots on the nape are near ly confluent. V e r t i c a l ye l l ow spots on b o d y ; anterior subcaudals ye l l ow , posterior ones black.

28 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEEL TNG EN — DEEL XVI.

U p to the present t ime the species had only been recorded from the is land of W e t a r .

Dendrophis calligaster keiensis Mertens .

Mertens, Senckenbergiana VIII, 1926, p. 277; Meise und Hennig, Zool. Anz. 99, 1932, p. 279.

2 ex. , c o l l . n° 0.62 B . , 0.65 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5602. sq. 13 V 214 Subc. 142 temp. 2 + 2

13 211 1 1 5 + 2 + 2

T h e first specimen has 10 supralabials on the r i g h t side, 9 on the left , 5 t h and 6 t h border ing the eye on both sides. T h e second specimen has seven upper labia ls on the r i g h t side, two shields have fused so that a very large 5 t h upper l a b i a l enters the orbit , the large 6 t h upper l a b i a l part ly encloses a smal l t r iangu lar sh ie ld w h i c h borders the l i p ; on the left side 8 supralabials are present, one large sh ie ld enters the orbit , a smal l inc isure above and below indicates that i t or ig inated from the fus ing of two shields.

T h e latera l dark band on the head is indist inct i n one specimen and near ly absent i n the other.

Lycodon aulicus capucin us B o i e .

1 ex., c o l l . n° 0.66 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5603.

Oligodon forbesi (B lgr . ) (Simotes forbesi) l).

2 ex., co l l . n° 0.63 B . , 0.70 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5604.

Descr ipt ion of first spec imen: sq. 17, V . 165, A . 1, Subc . 3 / 3 + 2 + 45145 + 1 = 51 ; temporals 1 + 2 ; postoculars 2 ; 7 upper lab ia ls , 3 r d and 4 t h border ing eye.

A dark spot between the eyes, an obl ique dark band below the eye and another beh ind the eye. T w o brown bands, on the back beg inning behind the par ie ta ls ; these bands are rather broad, each of them covers 72 + 1 + V2 scale r o w s ; they are separated from each other by */ 2 + 1 + ! / 2

scale rows of a l i ghter colour. A narrow b r o w n l i n e is present on the borders of the 3 r d and 4 l h scale rows. A lateral series of spots on the ventrale.

Second spec imen: sq. 17, V . 170, A . 1, Subc. 45 p a i r s ; postoc. 2 ; 6 upper labia ls , 3 r d and 4 t h enter ing the orbit . T h e postoculars are bordered behind by a s ingle temporal , but a second large shie ld is par t ly wedged i n between the 5 t h and 6 t h upper l a b i a l , so that the f ormula of the temporals becomes 2 + 2.

1) For the use of the name Oligodon see p. 15.


T h e mark ings are very indist inct . T h e bands on the back cover only one scale -row; posteriorly they are more dist inct and cover 1 + l / 2 scale row. T h e interspace between the dorsal bands is m u c h l i ghter .


2 ex. , co l l . n° 0 .60—0.61 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n c 5605.

Tiliqua gigas keiensis Oudemans.

3 ex. , co l l . n° 0.67 B . , 0 .73—0.74 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5707.

T h e species had not yet been recorded from these islands.

Bana papua Less .

2 ex. , c o l l . n° 0.71 B . , 0.75 B . , M u s . L e i d e n , n° 5606.

T h e second specimen is a male w i t h a rather indist inct flat humera l g land . Progs had not yet been recorded from these Islands.


Kops te in , P . , 1926, Zoolog. Meded . L e i d e n I X , pp. 7 1 — 1 1 2 . Roo i j , N . de, 1915, Rept . I n d o - A u s t r . A r c h . v o l . I .

1917, i d . vo l . I I .

ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELINGEN

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