Coluber sumatranus Raffles, 1822: 334

Vogel, Gernot, David, Patrick & Abstract. - Variation, Irvan Sidik, 2014, On Trimeresurus sumatranus (Raffles, 1822), with the designation of a neotype and the description of a new species of pitviper from Sumatra (Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae), Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 8 (2), pp. 1-29 : 5-6

Coluber sumatranus Raffles, 1822: 334 .

Type locality. By virtue of neotype designation: “SW Sumatra ” (original type locality: implicitly “ Sumatra;” restricted to vicinity of Bengkulu city, Bengkulu Province, Sumatra fide Wallach et al. [2014: 527]; see also the discussion given below) .

Neotype. ZFMK 76340, adult female; deposited by An- dreas Gumprecht (holotype not traced according to McDiarmid et al. 1999: 345, considered to be lost).

Trigonocephalus formosus Müller and Schlegel, 1842 (in 1842–1845): Pl. 7 [dated 1842]; text [dated 1845]: 52 and 55.

Type locality. “ Aan de westkust van het eiland Sumatra, in de omstreken van het dorp Limomanis, eenige uren beoosten Padang …,” i.e.: on the west coast of Sumatra Island, in the vicinity of Limomanis, a few hours east of Padang , now near Limau Manis, Province of Sumatera Barat, Sumatra, Indonesia .

Holotype. RMNH 1583, adult male; deposited by S. Müller, 1835.

Status. Junior subjective synonym of Coluber sumatranus Raffles, 1822 . Synonymized by Lidth de Jeude (1886: 51).

Material Examined (n = 44)

Indonesia

Sumatra. Bengkulu Province. MZB 1035, Gunung Gedang; MZB 2180, “Muara Aman, North Bengkulu;” MZB 3718, ZMB 66177–8; ZMB 76340, ZMB 70490, “ Bengkulu;” ZMH R06936, Lebong-Tandai (3°01’S – 101°5’E). Jambi Province. MZB 457, “ Jambi.” Lampung Province. MZB 2166, Rimba ; MZB 2219, “Propinsi Lampung.” Sumatera Barat Province. OMNH R2135–6, Kambot , Ulu Gadut , Mt. Gadut , ca. 800 m; MZB 2443, MZB 2445, Anai River . No locality. ZFMK 76340 (neotype), South-western Sumatra .

Borneo (Kalimantan). Kalimantan Barat Province. MZB 1052, Sungai Mentawit Balik; ZSM 283/ 1977- 1–2, Landak River ; MZB 2138a–b, Tangung Lokang, Kapuas Hulu Regency . Kalimantan Tengah Province. MZB 2647, Maruwai. Kalimantan Timur Province. MZB 1340, Mapa Kelai River . Unidentified locality. MZB 2424, Sungai Auge .

Federation of Malaysia

Borneo (East Malaysia). State of Sabah. FMNH 239949–52, FMNH 239957–8, Tenom District; FMNH 239959, Sipitang District. State of Sarawak. BMNH 91.8.29.33, Mt. Dulit , Miri District , Miri Division; BMNH 1978.1879, Gunung Mulu National Park , Miri District , Miri Division; FMNH 138687–8, FMNH 138690, FMNH 148829, Kapit District , Kapit Division; FMNH 158671, Bintulu, Bintulu Division .

West Malaysia. State of Johore. BMNH 1971.1532, Pan- ti Forest Reserve, South Johore. State of Pahang. ZRC 2.2929, Kuala Tahan; ZMB 69982, “ Pahang.” State of Trengganu. BMNH 1974.5001–3, Gunong Lawit .

Thailand

Yala Province. BMNH 1936.9.12.3, “Betong, Pattani.”

Taxonomic and nomenclatural comments

There is no doubt about the distinct specific status of T. sumatranus and T. hageni . Our material shows that, in contrast to the conclusions of Sanders et al. (2004), Trimeresurus sumatranus is a rather wide-ranging species. We examined several specimens from West Malaysia and one from extreme southern Thailand, and they are morphologically identical with specimens originating from most populations of Sumatra and Borneo. There is no reason for assigning them to any other species of the subgenus Parias , and definitely not to T. hageni .

Furthermore, T. sumatranus auctorum is here shown to be composed of two species in Sumatra. Some populations of Sumatera Barat Province, in the northern part of the range of the species, are here referred to a new species that is described below. We examined the holotype of T. formosus Müller and Schlegel (1842: Fig. 2 ). We confirm that this specimen is definitely referred to Trimeresurus sumatranus and not to the new species described below that inhabits the same region. Trimeresurus sumatranus , as here redefined, is monotypic.

Raffles (1822) described this species on the basis of a single specimen. As he was posted in “Bencoolen,” and according to S. Raffles (1835: 102–104), his widow, T. Raffles was interested in local “wonders in natural history.” Furthermore, T. Raffles announced in a letter dated on 14 March 1820 that he planned to ship home, ( England) the whole of his zoological collection “in a few days.” This collection was shipped before 29 March. So, by all evidence, the holotype of Coluber sumatranus originated from Bengkulu or its vicinity. On the basis of these historical considerations, Wallach et al. (2014) restricted the type locality of Coluber sumatranus to this city on the south-western coast of Sumatra. Considering that the description of the new species was published in 1822, we may ascertain that the holotype was included in this shipment and originated from the vicinity of Bengkulu. However, the fate of the specimen is unknown and, by all evidence, it should be considered lost. As a consequence, we here designate a neotype for Coluber sumatranus ( Raffles, 1822) .

Figures

Fig. 2 A-C. Trimeresurus su- matranus, RMNH 1583, Ho- lotype of Trigonocephalus formosus Müller and Schle- gel, 1842, from Padang, Su- matera Barat Province, Su- matra A. dorsal view of the body, B. ventral view of the body, C. lateral view of the head. Photo: G. Vogel.