Leptophis coeruleodorsus Oliver

Murphy, John C., Charles, Stevland P., Lehtinen, Richard M. & Koeller, Krista L., 2013, A molecular and morphological characterization of Oliver’s parrot snake, Leptophis coeruleodorsus (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae) with the description of a new species from Tobago, Zootaxa 3718 (6), pp. 561-574 : 565-568

Leptophis coeruleodorsus Oliver

Fig. 2 , 3a , b

Ahaetulla liocercus— Reinhardt & Lutken 1862: 10

Dendrophis liocercus— Court 1884: 382

Leptophis liocercus— Mole & Urich 1894a: 85

Leptophis coeruleodorsus Oliver 1942: 4 .

Leptophis ahaetulla ortoni —Beebe 1946:34

Leptophis ahaetulla —Emsley 1977:241, fig. 12.

Thalerophis richardi coeruleodorsus —Oliver 1948: 228; Marcuzzi 1950: 8; Roze 1953: 208.

Leptophis ahaetulla coeruleodorsus —ICZN 1958: 270; Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970: 162; Roze 1966: 172; Stanton & Dixon 1977: 19; Lancini 1979: 124; Mertens 1973: 143; Lancini & Kornacker, 1989: 174; Péfaur 1992: 14; Harding 1995: 221; Kornacker 1997: 98; Murphy 1997: 179; Gorzula & Senaris 1999: 168; Boos 2001: 125; Lans et al. 2001: 2; Lotzkat 2007: 95; Albuquerque 2009: 293.

Holotype. AMNH 209022 (formerly AMNH 9022). Type locality: Trinidad, British West Indies. Here we restrict the type locality to Mt. St. Benedict, Tunapuna, Trinidad (~ 10°39’N 61°23’W) based on the fact that there are three well documented specimens collected from this location.

Diagnosis. The absence of a loreal distinguishes L. coeruleodorsusus from L. depressirostris , L. diplotropis , and L. mexicanus . A broad, green mid-dorsal stripe with copper to bronze dorsolateral stripes that fade posteriorly and a head that lacks scales outlined in black will separate if from L. ahaetulla (and all its subspecies), L. cupreus , L. modestus L. nebulosus , L. riveti , L. stimsoni . The color pattern of L. haileyi sp nov. in life is unknown; but it has nine upper labials with the last upper labial the longest and in contact with the primary temporal scale.

Description of Holotype. AMNH 209022, female, 851 mm SVL, 524 mm tail (undamaged). Rostral visible from above, broader than tall, separates nasals; internasals quadrangular, frontal hexagonal and greater in length than internasal-prefrontal seam; internasal seam 58.1% of prefrontal seam; parietals broad, in contact with upper postocular; nasals bordered by rostral anteriorly, internasals dorsally, loreal-prefrontal shield posteriorly, and upper labials one and two ventrally; nostril directed laterally, in center of nasal; preocular in contact with loreal-prefrontal shield, supraocular, and upper labials four and five; two postoculars contact the primary temporal and parietal; supraocular about equal in length to frontal; nine upper labials, first two contact nasal, 3–4–5 contact lorealprefrontal shield, 5–6 in the orbit, 7–8 in contact with primary temporal; sixth tallest, seventh longest. Lower labials (11/10), anterior most (6/5) make contact with first pair of chin shields; on both sides there is a small irregular scale between labials five and six, not included in the count. Dorsal scale rows 15–15–11, keels start on row two; ventrals 160, subcaudals 160.

In alcohol, the crown is dark green and the upper and lower labial and chin are cream. The dorsal stripe is blue and starts on scale rows 4+5 on the anterior body. Scale rows 2–4/5 are faded copper. The venter is immaculate cream. The postocular stripe is short and does not extend past the fourth ventral.

Variation. Table 1 compares morphometric data, ventral counts, and subcaudal counts for the Tobago, Trinidad, and Venezuelan populations and suggests geographic variation in some of these traits.

The Tobago population shows less variation in labials that the Trinidad or mainland populations. All specimens examined have eight upper labials with 2–3 at the loreal and 4–5 in the orbit; the fifth is the tallest, the seventh is the longest. Lower labials are usually ten (18 of 20 sides) rarely eleven; the first chin shield is in contact with five lower labials.

In the Trinidad population, upper labials are usually eight (47 of 66 sides) occasionally nine (19 of 66 sides); specimens with nine upper labials have 2–4 in contact with the loreal and 5–6 in the orbit; specimens with eight upper labials have 2–3 at the loreal and 4–5 in the orbit. Also correlated with nine upper labials are six lower labials in contact with the first chin shield, while specimens with eight upper labials have five lower labials contacting the first chin shield. The tallest upper labial in specimens with nine upper labials is usually the sixth, and with eight upper labials usually the fifth. The longest upper labial is usually the eighth but can be the seventh or the ninth. Lower labials are 9–12, 10 or 11 are most frequent. Ventral counts are sexually dimorphic (p=0.027, df =46); males 152–174 (x=160.98, SD=3.088); females 160–168 (x=164.17, SD=3.504). Subcaudal counts also sexually dimorphic (p=0.028, df=18); males 153–181 (x= 164.48, SD=8.12); females 145–165 (x=155.85, SD=6.76).

In alcohol and formalin the vertebral stripe (blue in preservative, green in life) is bordered by dorsolateral stripes (cream in preservative, copper in life) on scale rows 2–4 or 2–5. Some specimens may darken to become a solid blue-black and not show the dorsolateral stripes, while other specimens retain the pattern but the green is replaced by blue and the copper dorsolateral stripes fade to tan, with keels on scales darker than the rest of the scale. The venter is usually immaculate white or cream. The black postocular stripe is often short and does not usually extend past the fourth ventral in the specimens examined.

Illustrations of L. coeruleodorsus can be found in: Emsley (1977, fig. 12); Lancini (1979, 49; 1986, 48); Murphy (1997, pls. 135, 136), Boos (2001, pl 35), and Ugueto & Rivas (2010, fig. 102).

Distribution. Tobago, Trinidad, and adjacent Venezuela (Apure, District Capital, Miranda Monagas, Nueva Esparta, and Vargas). On Trinidad and Tobago, Leptophis coeruleodorsus probably occurs island-wide where there is suitable habitat, which includes primary and secondary forest, tree plantations, and urban gardens. Literature reports of L. coeruleodorsus on the Isla de Margarita need verification. Pérez-Santos (1988) reported this species from western Colombia, probably based upon mis-identified L. a. occidentalis .

Referred material. TOBAGO: 11°18'03.4' N 60°37'45.5"W, CAS 245120; Cambleton; 3 mile south of Bloody Bay on Roxbrough-Parlatuvier Rd, FLMNH 91612; Northside Road at Roxborough-Parlatuvier Rd. FLMNH 91614; Milford Bay MCZ 11994–95; USNM 195127; Charlotteville USNM 228064; Speyside (11°17' N 60°32' W) USNM 228066, No specific locality: USNM 228063, 228065. TRINIDAD: Arima (~ 10°38’N 61°18’W USNM 166715; Arima Valley Arima-Blanchisseuse Road Milepost 21 FMNH 219581; Arima-Blanchisseuse Rd (5 mile post marker) AMNH 81477; Cuesa River tributary (10°43' 57.1”N 61° 36 55.2”W) CAS 231809; Cumaca (~ 10°41'N 61°10'W) AMNH 81479; Diego Martin MCZ 126381; Guayaguayare (~ 10°08'N 61°02'W) AMNH 81474; Las Lomas (~ 10°23'N 61°18'W) UWITT 2010.12.196; Mayaro (~ 10°11'N 61°07'W) MCZ 79815; Mt. St. Benedict (~ 10°39'N 61°23'W) CM 6540, CM 6491, USNM 17746; Plaisance (~ 10°13'N 61°28'W) FMNH 49936; Port of Spain, Cascade Rd (~ 10°40'N 61°30'W) AMNH 81475; San Fernando Rd CAS 231717; St. Augustine (~ 10°8'N 61°24'W) UWITT 2010.12.195, 2010.12.197; Tucker Valley (~ 10°42'N 61°37'W) AMNH 77030, 644478; Vega de Oropuche (~ 10°36'N 61°04'W) AMNH 85845; No specific locality: AMNH 8718, AMNH 09023; FMNH 215817, 217234; USNM 5587, 15235, 59931, 59932, 59933, 60598, 17746; UWITT 2010.12.198. VENEZUELA: Miranda, Santa Lucia (~ 10°18'N 66°40'W) CM 7433; Miranda, Rio Chico (10°20'N 65°58'W) USNM 27831. Monagas, Caripito (~ 10°8'N 63°6'W) AMNH 98263, 98265; Monagas, Sotilla, near Uracoa at Maturin Savanna CM 17387; District Federal, (now District Capital), El Vale AMNH 59402.

range=154–164 range= 161–168 range=152–161

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Figures

FIGURE 2. A. One of the syntypes (UUZM 9) of Coluber ahaetulla Linnaeus, a light vertebral stripe is visible. Photo courtesy of Bob Thomas. B − D. The holotype of Leptophis coeruleodorsus Oliver (AMNH 9022), no light vertebral stripe present. Photo courtesy of David Kizirian.

FIGURE 3. A comparison of Leptophis coeruleodorsus (CAS 231717 from Trinidad) profile and crown (A & B) with Leptophis haileyi sp. nov. (CAS 245313) profile and crown (C & D). Because Trinidad L. coeruleodorsus can have nine upper labials (a trait we have not found present in the Tobago population), this figure compares L. haileyi sp. nov. with a specimen of L. coeruleodorsus with nine upper labials.