Dendrelaphis luzonensis Leviton, 1961

Rooijen, Johan Van & Vogel, Gernot, 2012, A revision of the taxonomy of Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray, 1834) (Serpentes: Colubridae), Zootaxa 3272, pp. 1-25 : 15

Dendrelaphis luzonensis Leviton, 1961

Fig. 10 .

Description. A species of the Dendrelaphis caudolineatus group, characterized by the combination of 1) black longitudinal stripes restricted to the posterior half of the body, 6–8 stripes posteriorly; 2) a pale ventrolateral stripe restricted to the posterior half of the body; 3) a black postocular stripe is absent, rarely rudimentary; 4) 176–182 ventrals (males), 178–187 ventrals (females); 5) 100–117 subcaudals; 6) relative tail-length 0.252–0.291; 7) 5–7 temporal scales on each side; 8) 9–11 infralabials on each side; 9) 3–5 scales touching the posterior borders of the parietal scales; 10) maximum total length males 97.0 cm, females 129.5 cm.

Sexual dimorphism. On average, males have 106 subcaudals and 178 ventrals whereas females have 110 subcaudals and 180 ventrals (F = 6.3; df = 1; p = 0.03, F = 5.5; df = 1; p = 0.03). Furthermore, males have slightly larger eyes on average (F = 9.8; df = 1; p = 0.01). Females grow larger than males (see description).

Distribution. Dendrelaphis luzonensis inhabits the Philippine island Luzon, north of the Tayabas Isthmus.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Dendrelaphis luzonensis Leviton, 1961, adult from Luzon (CAS 15274; TL 90.5 cm.).