Simalia amethistina ( Schneider, 1801 )

Karin, Benjamin R., Stubbs, Alexander L., Arifin, Umilaela, Bloch, Luke M., Ramadhan, G., Iskandar, Djoko T., Arida, Evy, Reilly, Sean B., Kusnadi, Agus & Mcguire, Jimmy A., 2018, The herpetofauna of the Kei Islands (Maluku, Indonesia): Comprehensive report on new and historical collections, biogeographic patterns, conservation concerns, and an annotated checklist of species from Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tam, and Kur, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 66, pp. 704-738 : 731

Simalia amethistina ( Schneider, 1801)

Type locality. Unknown.

Distribution in the Kei Islands. This large python has been collected on all islands surveyed (Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tam, and Kur).

Natural history. We collected one road-killed specimen on Kei Kecil in the vicinity of Desa Lumadia (–5.743864, 132.689819). We collected two specimens on Kur, both of which were found during the day in narrow rocky limestone crevices.

Field identification. Simalia amethistina is the only python on the Kei Islands, and can be easily identified by a distinct series of labial pit organs. Colour olive-yellow to brown, iridescent, with brown or black, irregular and broken transverse bands, sometimes encircling the body. Scales smooth; 35–50 mid-body scale rows; 270–340 ventrals; 80–120 subcaudals, mostly divided; mean SVL 3.5 m ( Cogger, 2014, p. 824).

Fig. 34. Photo in life of Indotyphlops braminus , collected on the surface of a sandy road at night on Tam (BRK 213).