Tropidolaemus philippensis ( Gray, 1842 ), Photo

Leviton, Alan E., Siler, Cameron D., Weinell, Jeffrey L. & Brown, Rafe M., 2018, Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Oxford, England) 64 (14), pp. 399-568 : 471-472

Tropidolaemus philippensis ( Gray, 1842)

Photo figure 114

Philippine Temple Pitviper

Trimeresurus philippensis Gray, 1842:48 .— Taylor, 1922a:295, pl. 37, fig.1.

Tropidolaemus hombronii Guichenot in Jacquinot and Guichenot [q.v.], 1853:23, pl. 2, fig. 3.

Trimeresurus wagleri, Leviton, 1964c:265 .

Tropidolaemus wagleri, Toriba, 1993b , 108.— David & Ineich, 1999:295 (doubtfully included in T. wagleri ).

Tropidolaemus philippensis, Vogel, David, Lutz, van Rooijen, and Vidal, 2007:31 , figs. 25–26 .— Leviton, Brown, and Siler, 2014:518, figs. 52B, E–F.— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:734.— Sanguila, Cobb, Siler, Diesmos Alcala, and Brown, 2016:119, fig. 80.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Philippines. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.17.67 (fide Vogel et al. [2007:31]).

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION (ENDEMIC) ( Map 36C [p. 147]).— Dinagat, Leyte, Mindanao (Prov.: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental), Samar.

REMARKS.— Tropidolaemus philippensis and T. subannulatus were formerly included in the ubiquitous species T. wagleri , but the assignment was seriously questioned by David and Ineich (1999:295–296). Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated that several recognizeable species have been inappropriately parading under the nominal taxon T wagleri , T. philippensis among them, as well as populations known from southern Mindanao and the Zamboanga Peninsula. On the large and topographically diverse island of Mindanao, and on careful examination, the Zamboanga population appears to be quite distinct from populations inhabiting other parts of the island, although Vogel et al. (2007) referred it to T. philippensis . Recent unpublished studies by Brown et al. suggest otherwise, and it is likely that the taxon T. hombronii (type locality, Zamboanga) will have to be resurrected from the synonymy of T. philippensis to accommodate the Zamboanga and, possibly, the Basilan populations. Furthermore, recently documented populations of tropidolaemids found on Leyte, Dinagat, Samar, and northeast Mindanao bear strong resemblances to T. philippensis but also to T. subannulatus (see Vogel et al. [2007:30, fig. 24] from Negros; also figs. 79–80 in Sanguila et al. [2016]). We have refrained from suggesting any changes at this time because this too is said to be under study by Vogel and David (see also remarks under Trimeresurus [ Parias ] flavomaculatus and Tropidolaemus subannulatus ). For additional details, see Leviton, Brown, and Siler (2014:518 and figs. 52B, E–F).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— The conservation status of Tropidolaemus philippensis has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List [2016] ver. 3.1, but IUCN notes that it is listed in the Catalogue of Life.

Figures

FIGURE 25. Calamaria lumbricoidea (adult) (Agusan de Sur Prov., Mindanao Id.) (KU 334476). Photo © RMB.

FIGURE 79. Oxyrhabdium leporinum leporinum (green phase) (Albay Prov., Luzon Id.) (OU uncat.; field no. CDS 7043). Photo © NAH.