Ahaetulliinae

Weinell, Jeffrey L., Hooper, Errol, Leviton, Alan E. & Brown, Rafe M., 2019, Illustrated Key to the Snakes of the Philippines, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 66 (1), pp. 1-49 : 17

Ahaetulliinae

Key to Philippine genera.

1a. Pupil horizontally elongated and rectangular ( Fig. 25A ); ventral body scales laterally hinged, and their posterior edges unnotched ( Fig. 26A )........................ Ahaetulla (p. 19)

1b. Pupils may be circular or slightly horizontally elongate ( Fig. 25B ); ventral body scales laterally hinged, and their posterior edges notched Fig. 26B )............................... 2

2a. Dorsal body scales in 17 longitudinal rows at midbody; last ventral body scale (i.e., the scale immediately before the precloacal scale) divided..................... Chrysopelea (p. 22)

2b. Dorsal body scales in 13–15 longitudinal rows at midbody; last ventral body scale undivided........................................................................... 3

3a. Dorsal body scales in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody; vertebral scales similar in size to other dorsal body scales; black postoocular stripe absent.................... Dryophiops (p. 23)

3b. One of the following combinations of characters true: (1) dorsal body scales in 13 longitudinal rows at midbody, vertebral scales similar in size to other dorsal body scales; (2) dorsal body scales in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody, vertebral scales much larger than other dorsal body scales, and a black postocular stripe present........................ Dendrelaphis (p. 23)

Figures

FIGURE 25. Lateral view of head of (A) Ahaetulla prasina preocularis (KU 347854), (B) Dryophiops rubescens (KU 328516). Note horizontally elongate pupil in Ahaetulla versus rounded pupil in Dryophiops.

FIGURE 26. Ventral body scales of (A) Ahaetulla prasina preocularis (KU 349849): ventral body scales hinged, with posterior edge unnotched, (B) Chrysopelea paradisi variabilis (KU 337271): ventral body scales hinged, and posterior edge notched.