Boiga, Fitzinger, 1826

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 : 20

Boiga

Key to Philippine species and subspecies.

1a. Dorsal body scales in 19 or 23 longitudinal rows at midbody......................... 2

1b. Dorsal body scales in 21 longitudinal rows at midbody.............................. 5

2a. Dorsal body scales in 23 longitudinal rows at midbody; three anterior temporal scales; eighth infralabial scale anterior to center of eye ( Fig. 30A )...................... Boiga cynodon

2b. Dorsal body scales in 19 longitudinal rows at midbody; two anterior temporal scales; eighth infralabial scale posterior to center of eye ( Fig. 30B )................................ 3

3a. Number of preocular scales two; number of ventral body scales <250..... Boiga philippina

3b. Number of preocular scales one; number of ventral body scales> 250.................. 4

4a. Number of dark dorsal body crossbands ~40, each widening laterally....... Boiga angulata

4b. Number of dark dorsal body crossbands ~70, not widening laterally........ Boiga schultzei

5a. Dorsal color black, with most scales possessing a yellow or white speckle; yellow or white not arranged into distinct crossbands............................ Boiga dendrophila levitoni

5b. Dorsal color black, with yellow or white crossbands on body and tail.................. 6

6a. Yellow or white crossbands ≥ 2 scale rows wide, becoming wider laterally.................................................................. Boiga dendrophila latifasciata

6b. Yellow or white crossbands <2 scale rows wide that do not widen laterally............. 7

7a. Interspaces between narrow light crossbands black.......... Boiga dendrophila multicincta

7b. Interspaces between narrow light crossbands, which are edged with black, bluish gray to bluish brown............................................... Boiga dendrophila divergens

Figures

FIGURE 30. Ventral-lateral view of head of (A) Boiga cynodon (KU 328496), (B) Boiga philippina (KU 304855). Eighth infralabial scale (purplish-gray).