Xenopeltis unicolor Boie, 1827

Teynié, Alexandre, David, Patrick & Ohler, Annemarie, 2010, Note on a collection of Amphibians and Reptiles from Western Sumatra (Indonesia), with the description of a new species of the genus Bufo, Zootaxa 2416, pp. 1-43 : 17-18

Xenopeltis unicolor Boie, 1827

Material examined. 3 specimens, photographed but not collected, near Lubukbasung, Province of Sumatera Barat.

Taxonomic comments. This well known species is monotypic.

Distribution on Sumatra. Provinces of Aceh, Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Barat, Riau, Bengkulu, Sumatera Selatan, and Palembang ( David & Vogel, 1996; this work). Also the islands of Pulau We, Bangka, Belitung, Simeulue and Nias, and Mentawai Archipelago and Riau Archipelago ( David & Vogel, 1996).

Biology. A subadult specimen was discovered under boards near a bridge in a marshy area. Two adults were found dying on a road at 1.5 meter each from the other on a road edging cultivated fields and rice fields near house. Species observed in August and November.

During our trip, we were quite surprised to regularly find on roads, by day time and under high temperatures, a significant number of snake specimens belonging to fossorial or nocturnal species. Most were freshly killed, some of them showed severe injuries which could not be caused by tyres. This unusual behaviour is in fact the result of a local habit. During works in fields, snakes are often found under stones or logs or in the ground. Snakes are then struck by the villagers then thrown on the road, to make their death certain.