REDISCOVERY OF THE HALMAHERA KEELBACK, Tropidonophis punctiventris (BOETTGER. 1895) (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE) AFTER 116 YEARS

Dadang Rahadian Subasli
10.52508/zi.v28i1.3957
| Abstract views: 408 | PDF views: 458

Abstract

Halmahera Keelback, Tropidonophis punctiventris is endemic to the island of Halmahera, Indonesia. The species was previously described in 1895 based on a single specimens collected in 1866 from Halmahera island. The second and third specimen was determined based on the specimens collected in 1875 and 1894 from the same island. After 116 years, the fourth specimen was collected from Kao Rahai, Halmahera. Here we provide data on morphological of the Halmahera Keelback based on the fresh collection. We discuss the rarity finding of this snake species on Halmahera, which is possibly due to the small population, hidden behavior, or the lack of intensive research in the area. These discoveries continue to underscore the fact that Halmahera is still harbour unrealized herpetological diversity, further research is needed.

Keywords

Endemic, Halmahera, Kao rahai, morphology, snake

Full Text:

PDF

References

Boettger, O. (1895). Liste der Amphibien und Batrachier des Insel Halmaheira nach den Sammlungen Prof. Dr. W. Kükenthal's. Zoologischer Anzeiger 18: 116-121, 129-138.

De Rooij, N. (1917). The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. II. Ophidia. E. J. Brill, Leiden. xiv + 334.

Dowling, H. G. (1951). A proposed standar system of counting ventrals in snakes. British Journal of Herpetology, 1(5), 97-99.

Malnate, E. V. & Underwood, G., (1988). Australian natricine snakes of the genus Tropidonophis – Proceedings of the Akademy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 140 (1), 59-201.

O'Shea, M., 1996. A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Independent Publishing Group Pty Ltd. Port Moresby, PNG. 239.

Peters, W. & Doria, G. (1878). Catalogo dei Rettili e dei Batraci raccolti da O. Beccari, L. M. d'Albertis A. A. Bruijn nella sotto-regione Austro-Malese. Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova, 13, 323-450.

Peters, J. A. (1964). Dictionary of Herpetology. Hafter Publ. Co., NY & London.

Petri, M. & Doria, G. (2012). Tropidonophis punctiventris (Boettger, 1895): Description of the Third Known Specimen (Serpentes, Colubridae, Natricinae). Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova, VIII – N. 377.

Setiadi, M. I. & Hamidy, A. 2006. Jenis-Jenis Herpetofauna di Pulau Halmahera. Kerjasama antara Pusat Studi Biodiversitas dan Konservasi Universitas Indonesia dan Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Puslit Biologi Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia. 117.

Subasli, D. R. (2008). Survei herpetofauna Weda Bay Halmahera Tengah – Maluku Utara. 34, Laporan Perjalanan. Unpublished.

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. (2019). The Reptile Database [online]. Diambil dari http://www.reptile-database.org [19 December 2019].

Vogel, G., (2010). Tropidonophis punctiventris. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. Diambil dari hhtp://www.iucnredlist.org [09 Juli 2017].

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52508/zi.v28i1.3957

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.