Addition of Liopeltis frenatus (Günther, 1858) and Cyclophiops multicinctus (Roux, 1907) to the herpetofauna of Thailand (Squamata: Colubridae)

2018·2.2 MB·

by  Hauser, Sjon

Tropical Natural History 18(1): 54–67, April 2018
2018 by Chulalongkorn University
Addition of Liopeltis frenatus (Günther, 1858) and Cyclophiops
multicinctus (Roux, 1907) to the herpetofauna of Thailand
(Squamata: Colubridae)

SJON HAUSER

71 Mu Ban Intharanurak, Wiang Phing Road, Mueang, 50100 Chiang Mai, THAILAND
* Corresponding author. Sjon Hauser ([email protected])
Received: 13 December 2017; Accepted: 20 February 2018

ABSTRACT.– This contribution reports the first records for Thailand of two colubrid snake species, both from
the eastern part of the country’s northern region. A living specimen of Liopeltis frenatus (Günther, 1858) was
observed and photographed in submontane forest at an elevation of 1700 m in eastern Nan Province. A fresh and
intact road-killed (DOR) specimen of Cyclophiops multicinctus (Roux, 1907) was collected in the low hills of
eastern Uttaradit Province. The total range of both species is plotted in locality dot maps. The locality and habitat
of the new records in Thailand are discussed in biogeographic perspective.

KEY WORDS: distribution, new snake records, northern Thailand, range extensions, Southeast Asia

INTRODUCTION Hauser, 2012, a new species (Vogel et al.,
2012). Moreover, a new, yet undescribed
Until a decade ago, the snake diversity of species of pit-viper in the genus
Thailand’s mountainous northern region Protobothrops Hoge and Romano-Hoge,
was poorly explored (Pauwels et al., 2001; 1983 was found in Tak’s Tha Song Yang
2003) and surveys of the ophiofauna and Chiang Mai’s Omkoi districts (Sjon
remained restricted to a few, relatively Hauser, unpublished data). Also three
easily accessible areas, most of them in country records of snakes were reported
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Lampang from the central part of the region (Chiang
provinces (Chuaynkern et al., 2015). Mai and Chiang Rai provinces):
Pauwels et al. (2001) emphasizes the Plagiopholis blakewayi Boulenger, 1893
underexploration of the ophidian fauna of (Tillack et al., 2006), Hebius khasiense
the northern region in their report on the (Boulenger, 1890) (Pauwels et al., 2009a)
first country record of the natricid snake and Sinonatrix yunnanensis Rao & Yang,
Xenochrophis punctulatus (Günther, 1858). 1998 (Pauwels et al., 2009b). Surprisingly, a
This record was believed to originate from rising interest in the snake diversity of the
western North Thailand, and the authors eastern provinces of the region resulted in
expected more extensive surveys to reveal even more new records: Paratapinophis
new taxa, in particular in the western part of praemaxillaris Angel, 1929 (rediscovered,
the country. This came true with two new Murphy et al., 2008), Ptyas nigromarginata
records from Tak Province: Pareas (Blyth, 1854) (first record, Vogel and
hamptoni (Boulenger, 1905), a first country Hauser, 2013), Opisthotropis spenceri
record (Vogel, 2010), and Dendrelaphis Smith, 1918 (rediscovered, Chuaynkern et
nigroserratus Vogel, Van Rooijen and al., 2015), Parafimbrios lao Teynié, David,
SJON HAUSER — ADDITION OF LIOPELTIS FRENATUS AND CYCLOPHIOPS MULTICINCTUS 55
Lottier, Le, Vidal et Nguyen 2015 (first RESULTS
record, Teynié and Hauser, 2017), and
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Cantor, Liopeltis frenatus (Günther, 1858)
1839) (first record, Vasaruchapong et al.,
2017), all originating from Nan Province. In On 16 June 2016, at 18:00 PM just
this paper two more new country records of before dusk, a snake was spotted on
snakes, both originating from the eastern Highway1256 near the road’s highest
part of northern Thailand, are reported. elevation (1715 m) in Nan’s Bo Kluea
District. The individual was crossing the
road in slow undulating movement.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Photographs were made on the spot (Fig.
1A). Due to falling dusk and dense fog the
During the rainy seasons of 2016 and condition for making good pictures was not
2017, the author spent several weeks in Nan favorable. Therefore, the snake was caught,
and Uttaradit provinces, northern Thailand. and photographed again the next morning.
In early morning and late afternoon hours, During this session the disposition of the
roads were searched for fresh road-killed animal was very gentle. It was eventually
snakes (DORs), while at times living snakes released at the same spot where it had been
were spotted on the tarmac or in the collected the previous day. Voucher
vegetation at the road edges. At night, a photographs have been deposited at the
number of selected areas were searched for Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute in
living snakes by following forest trails on Bangkok (QSMI 1541).
foot or by screening the vegetation along The rather elongate and slender snake
main roads. Relatively intact DORs were was about 45 cm long, the head was
photographed, and collected for later rounded and moderately distinct from the
examination in detail, and subsequent neck. The size of the eye was moderate, its
preservation. Living specimens were diameter distinctly smaller than the distance
photographed, and, occasionally, caught in to the tip of the snout; the iris brownish, the
order to remove them to another place for pupil round. The tongue was scarlet.
making more pictures, but always released The upper side of the body was light
close to the places of capture. For a detailed brown; below the snake was cream. There
description of the methodology see Hauser was a distinct, broad, black postocular
(2017). streak, which at about a head length behind
the head splits up into two black lateral
Abbreviations: stripes, separated by a cream stripe, while a
NBCA — National Conservation Area; third more narrow black stripe extended on
N.P. — National Park; QSMI — Queen the flanks adjacent to the ventral shields.
Saovabha Memorial Institute, Bangkok. The three pairs of stripes were edged with
cream and became brown and less distinct
more posteriorly (see Fig. 1B and 1C) and
finally faded out on the posterior half of the
body.
56 TROPICAL NATURAL HISTORY 18(1), April 2018

FIGURE 1. A. The specimen of Liopeltis frenatus on a mountain road in Nan Province. B. Details of head
and neck of the captured specimen. C. The specimen showing the striped pattern.
The characteristics of the head scalation India
that could be distinguished in the The syntypes originate from the Naga
photographs were the relatively large, Hills of eastern India, now Nagaland
rounded parietal shields, the divided (locality 1 in Fig. 2); one of them is now at
prefrontals and internasals, and the cream the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata,
color of the supralabials of which the third the other one has been lost (Das et al., 1998;
and fourth were in contact with the eye. Wallach et al., 2014). Recently there have
The striped pattern identified the specimen been new records from Nagaland (Ao et al.,
as Liopeltis frenatus (Günther, 1858), while 2004). The species has also been recorded in
all other characters were in accordance with the Khasi Hills (Wall, 1908), now in
the description of the species in Boulenger Meghalaya State (2 in Fig. 2). It has been
(1894), Sharma (2003, 2007), Das (2010, reported from Namdapha N. P. (3 in Fig. 2)
2012) and Pham et al. (2015). and Mouling N. P. (4 in Fig. 2), both in
Arunachal Pradesh (Pawar and Birand,
Distribution and habitat of Liopeltis 2001). More recently, three more specimens
frenatus were recorded in Namdapha N. P. (Krishna
The species is regarded as rare et al., 2012). The species is considered rare
throughout its extensive range from in India (Sharma, 2003; 2007).
northeastern India, through northern Myanmar
Myanmar and North Laos to northern and Wall (1925) considered it a ‘rare hill
central Vietnam. It has been recorded snake’ in Burma, that usually occurs above
predominantly from mountain forests at 1300 m. He reported two specimens from
high elevations. Huton (5 in Fig. 2) in the Kachin Hills,
Upper Burma. He mentions that the species
SJON HAUSER — ADDITION OF LIOPELTIS FRENATUS AND CYCLOPHIOPS MULTICINCTUS 57

FIGURE 2. Locality dot map for Liopeltis frenatus. 1. Naga Hills, 2. Khasi Hills, 3. Namdapha N.P., 4.
Mouling N.P., 5. Huton, Kachin Hills, 6. Mansi, Kachin Hills, 7. Htingnan, 8. Xiangkhong Prov., 9. Houaphan
Prov., 10. Tam Dao Range, 11. Son La Prov., 12. Lai Chau Prov., 13. Phong Nha-Ke Bang N.P., 14. Da Nang,
15. Gia Lai Prov., 16. Dong Nai Prov., 17. Yunnan Prov., 18. Nan Prov. The blue arrow points to the new
country record in Nan Province. Grey dots represent localities of doubtful records; grey dots with black
kernels show locality records that could not exactly be identified.
had been collected previously in Mansi (6 in 2003). Pham et al. (2014) considered it a
Fig. 2), also in the Kachin Hills. Smith rare snake in their report on the first
(1940) reported the snake from a collection provincial record from Son La Province (11
taken by Ronald Kaulback in Upper Burma. in Fig. 2), mentioning that it has also been
Twenty-two specimens originated from recorded in adjacent Lai Chau Province (12
Htingnan (7 inFig. 2), where it was in Fig. 2). Ziegler et al. (2007) and Luu et
considered a common snake. Many snakes al. (2013) reported it from Phong Nha - Ke
were caught inside bamboos; in disposition Bang N. P. in Quang Binh Province (13 in
they were very gentle. Fig. 2) in northern Central Vietnam.
Laos According to Smith (1943) it has been
The species was reported from recorded in Central Vietnam’s Da Nang (14
Xiangkhong Province (8 in Fig. 2) in in Fig. 2). The more southward records in
northern Laos by Deuve (1970). Recently, it Gia Lai (15 in Fig. 2) and Dong Nai
was recorded in Houaphan Province (9 in Province (16 in Fig. 2) in southern Vietnam
Fig. 2), also northern Laos (Teynié et al., were given in Pham et al. (2014), for which,
2014). however, the authors refer to Orlov et al.
Vietnam (2003) who, in fact, question these
The snake was reported from the Tam Dao localities, stating that it is “possible that the
Range (10 in Fig. 2) by Orlov et al. (2000, indication of L. frenatus in South Annam
58 TROPICAL NATURAL HISTORY 18(1), April 2018

FIGURE 3. A. Dorsal side of the DOR of the Cyclophiops multicinctus from Uttaradit Province. B. Details of
the head scalation of the same specimen. C. Details of the coloration and pattern on the flanks, showing the
rather indistinct, narrow crossbars. D. Everted hemipenes with a few large spines and the divided anal shield.
E. Ventral side of the specimen showing the bright yellow color of chin and throat and the light brown
peppered with grey belly and the under side of the tail.
[Vietnam] (Smith, 1943: 183; Campden- Province in eastern Cambodia (Stuart et al.,
Main, 1970: 32; Nguyen and Ho, 1996: 86) 2006). The localities Gia Lai and Dang Nai
was referred to another species of Liopeltis.” for L. frenatus are therefore considered as
As there are no high mountains in Dang Nai, doubtful.
the province seems to be an unlikely locality China
for L. frenatus. Specimens of L. stoliczkae Yang and Rao (2008) reported the species
(Sclater, 1891) may have been misidentified from four counties in Yunnan Province (17
as L. frenatus, as the former has been in Fig. 2).
recorded in South Vietnam’s Lam Dong All localities are plotted in Fig. 2 below.
Province, where it was (mis)identified as The illustration shows that the record from
Liopeltis cf tricolor (Orlov et al., 2003; Nan Province (18 in Fig. 2) is an extension
Stuart in Bain and Hurley, 2011: 125), and of the range of at least 300 km to the west
has also been found in nearby Mondolkiri from Xiang Khouang or Houaphan Province
SJON HAUSER — ADDITION OF LIOPELTIS FRENATUS AND CYCLOPHIOPS MULTICINCTUS 59
in Laos, which, of the localities hitherto divided. There were 1 anterior temporal and
known, are nearest to Bo Kluea in Nan two posterior temporal shields.
Province. Given the huge range of the Due to the characteristic coloration and
species, Nan is not an outlier. pattern of the skin, the snake could be easily
identified as Cyclophiops multicinctus
Cyclophiops multicinctus (Roux, 1907) (Roux, 1907). The morphometric and
On 20 May 2017, at 8:30 AM, a fresh meristic data are in accordance with the data
and intact DOR (dead on road) snake was given by Roux (1907), Bourret (1935a,b;
found on Highway 1339 near the village of 1937a,b; 1939a, b), Campden-Main (1970),
Ban Huai Pong, in the hills of Nam Pat Phan et al. (2014) and Ziegler et al. (2014)
District in Uttaradit Province, about 20 km summarized in Appendix 1.
northwest of the summit of Phu Soi Dao There are a few minor differences.
(2102 m) on the Thai-Laotian border. The Compared to a male specimen with a
snake was examined and photographed (Fig. tail/total length ratio of 29.4% described in
3A-E) and preserved; it is now in the Smith (1943), the ratio of the Uttaradit male
collection of the Queen Saovabha Memorial is low (26.1%) . For 48 specimens of which
Institute in Bangkok (QSMI 1540). the sex was not determined and reported in
The snake’s total length was 1021, the Bourret (1935a,b; 1937a,b; 1939a, b) the
tail length 266 mm (ratio tail length/total relative tail length ranged from 25-33% . In
length: 26.1 %). The upper side of the head one specimen (sex unknown) described by
and the anterior half of the body were grass Roux (1907) the relative tail length was
green, becoming light greyish-brown 23.6%. The relative tail length of the
posteriorly with numerous regularly spaced, Uttaradit male is within the known total
narrow, pale brown or whitish crossbars range (23.6-33%) for the species (both
(Fig. 3A-C). The chin, throat and anterior sexes). The number of subcaudal pairs of
part of the belly were yellow, the posterior the Thai male is 94, which is low for a male
part pale brown peppered with grey (Fig. (and in accordance with the relatively short
3E). Squeezing and massaging the base of tail), as Campden-Main (1970) gives a range
the tail towards the vent resulted in everting of 103-105 subcaudal pairs for males in
both hemipenes; they were adorned with 4-5 southern Vietnam. Nothing can be
large spines arising from the distal part, the concluded from these data, it just seems that
largest pointing downwards towards the the Thai specimen has a relatively large
base (Fig. 3D). body (180 ventral shields is at the upper end
Two preventral scales were counted, 180 of a range of 164-180) and a short tail with a
ventral shields (excluding the divided anal relatively low number of subcaudal pairs
shield) and 94 pairs of subcaudal scales. (94 — the total range is 72-111).
The head was distinct from the neck, the In none of the desciptions of the species
black eyes relatively large and the pupil are mentioned a bright yellow chin and
round. The tongue was black. There were 8 throat. However, a photograph of a yellow-
supralabials, the 4th and 5th in orbit, the 6th throated specimen illustrates Teynié and
being the largest. There were 2 postoculars, David (2013) and numerous pictures of
1 large preocular, and a small loreal. similar color morphs have been posted on
Prefrontals, internasals and nasals were various internet sites (e.g. the Reptile
Database). In a number of snake species of
60 TROPICAL NATURAL HISTORY 18(1), April 2018

FIGURE 4. A locality dot map for Cyclophiops multicinctus. 1. Tam Dao Range, 2. Bavi, 3. Chapa (Sa Pa), 4.
Lang Son, 5. Ha Giang Prov., 6. Son La Prov., 7. Lai Chau Prov., 8. Phong Nha-Ke Bang N.P., 9. Da Nang
Prov., 10. Kon Tum Prov., 11. Lam Dong Prov., 12. Xiang Khouang Prov., 13. Nam Kading NBCA, 14. Phou
Hin Poun NBCA, 15. Xexap NBCA, 16. Louangphrabang Prov., 17. Hainan, 18. Guang Xi Prov., 19. Yunnan
Prov., 20. Guang Dong Prov., 21. Uttaradit Prov., 22. Nan Prov. The red arrow points to the new country
record in Uttaradit. Grey dots with black kernels show locality records that could not exactly be identified.
which this part of the body is usually cream Distribution and habitat of Cyclophiops
or whitish, such as Amphiesma stolatum multicinctus
(Linnaeus, 1758), Xenochrophis
flavipunctatus (Hallowell, 1860) and Vietnam
Dendrelaphis subocularis (Boulenger, Northern Vietnam. The type locality of
1888), yellow-throated individuals are the Ablabes multicinctus is “Tonkin” —
common, whereas orange-throated present-day northern Vietnam (Roux, 1907;
individuals occur in Sibynophis collaris Wallach et al., 2014). In the 1930s, many
(Gray, 1853) of which the throat and chin specimens originating from mountain
are usually pale yellow (Sjon Hauser, localities were sent to René Bourret and
unpublished data). Such color morphs are listed and briefly described by him in a
perhaps seasonal and this may also be the series of articles (Bourret, 1935a,b; 1937a,b;
case for the Uttaradit specimen of C. 1939a, b). These localities, all hill stations,
multicinctus. are Tam Dao (locality 1 in Fig. 4) at 900 m,
80 km north of Hanoi in Vinh Phu Province;
SJON HAUSER — ADDITION OF LIOPELTIS FRENATUS AND CYCLOPHIOPS MULTICINCTUS 61
Bavi (2 in Fig. 4) at 400 m, 60 km west of Laos). Only recently, the species has been
Hanoi, in Vinh Phu Province; Chapa (Sa Pa) recorded again in at least seven different
(3 in Fig. 4) at 1500 m near the Chinese localities throughout the country. Teynié
border in Lao Cai Province, northwest of and David (2013) reported it from Nam
Hanoi, and Lang Son (4 in Fig. 4) at 1200 Kading NBCA (National Biodiversity
m, also near the Chinese border, in Lang Conservation Area) in Bolikhamxay
Son Province, northeast of Hanoi (Bourret, Province (13 in Fig. 4) and Phou Hin Poun
1939c). According to Bourret the snake was NBCA in Khammouane Province (14 in
“very common in parts with vegetation and Fig. 4), both in Central Laos. In South Laos,
forest” (Bourret, 1939d). More recently, it Thomas Calame recorded it in Xexap
was reported again from Tam Dao where “it NBCA in Saravan Province (15 in Fig. 4)
occurs in mountain regions, frequently (Alexandre Teynié, per. com.). It is also
found in trees overhanging streams; 300- known to occur in four different localities
1500 m” (Orlov et al., 2000). The snake was 10-60 km south of the city of Louangphrabang
also spotted in Ha Giang Province (5 in Fig. in Louangphrabang Province (16 in Fig. 4).
4) in the very north of the region (Ziegler et Interestingly, in three of these localities the
al., 2014), and another specimen was specimen was spotted during the short
collected in Son La Province (6 in Fig. 4) at timespan of three days in mid-September
1260 m (Pham et al., 2014). According to 2017 (Alexandre Teynié, per. com.).
Nguyen et al. (2009) it is known from Lai China
Chau Province (7 in Fig. 4) as well. According to Smith (1943) the species is
Central Vietnam (formerly Annam). known to occur in Hainan (17 in Fig. 4) and
“North-Annam” was considered as another Guang Xi (18 in Fig. 4). Yang and Rao
region where the snake was very common (2008) listed four different “counties” in
(Bourret, 1939d). The species was listed for southern Yunnan where the species has been
the Phong Nha-Ke Bang N. P. in Quang recorded (19 in Fig. 4), and Xiao et al.
Binh Province (8 in Fig. 4) by Ziegler et al. (2010) recently reported it from Guang
(2007) and Luu et al. (2013). It was reported Dong Province (20 in Fig. 4).
to occur on the Col des Nuages in Da Nang Thailand
Province (9 in Fig. 4) by Smith (1943) and In Thailand the species has been
Campden-Main (1970) and was reported recorded in Nam Pat District (21 in Fig. 4),
from Kon Tum Province (10 in Fig. 4) by Uttaradit Province (this paper). An
Nguyen et al. (2009). unconfirmed record was reported from Nan
Southern Vietnam. According to Smith Province (22 in Fig. 4)—see Discussion.
(1943) the range of the species stretches as All known localities are plotted in Fig. 4.
far south as the Langbian Plateau (Da Lat They show that the new Thai record extends
Plateau) in Lam Dong Province (11 in Fig. the range of the species at least 300 km
4), 150 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. southwest from Louangphrabang Province,
Laos which is the locality nearest to Nam Pat,
The snake is known from the “Tran-ninh Uttaradit. However, given its known
Plateau” in Xiang Khouang Province (12 in distribution, this location is not really an
Fig. 4), northern Laos (Smith, 1943; Deuve, outlier or unexpected.
1970). Bourret (1939d) considered it a
common snake in “Upper Laos” (northern
62 TROPICAL NATURAL HISTORY 18(1), April 2018
DISCUSSION This paucity of records may be explained
from the latter’s much smaller size and from
Liopeltis frenatus habits that make it perhaps difficult to spot.
This species is rare throughout its range Orlov et al. (2003) emphasizes that the
and is usually found in forested mountain extremely rare repetition of records of some
areas at high elevations, above 1300 m in species, snakes in particular, is a
India and Myanmar (Wall 1925), at 1460 m characteristic of the tropical fauna. Some
and 1510 m in northern Vietnam’s Son La species are only known from a single
Province (Pham et al. 2014) and at 1400 m specimen, and some, fossorial snakes in
in Houaphan Province in northern Laos particular, are difficult to find. This may be
(Teynié et al. 2014). Only in a report on true for the probably semifossorial snake
snakes collected at Htingnan in the Kachin Parafimbrios lao Teynié, David, Lottier, Le,
Mountains of Myanmar (at 1200-2000 m), Vidal et Nguyen 2015, a species so far only
is the snake considered “common in the known from four localities in mainland
neighbourhood” (Smith 1940). Southeast Asia, including Doi Phu Kha N.
The here reported new country record P. (Teynié and Hauser 2017).
also originates from a high elevation (1700
m), where the habitat consists of “lower Cyclophiops multicinctus
montane forest” (Santisuk, 1989), locally Most specimens throughout the species’
known as “ancient forest” due to the currently known total range originate from
occurrence of an endemic Fish-tail Palm and mountainous areas at 900-1400 m.
the flowering tree Bretschneidera sinensis, a However, there are also numerous records
relict species only known from a few sites at from lower elevations. For example, many
much higher latitudes in China and Vietnam specimens were collected at hill stations in
(Santisuk 1989; Gardner et al. 2000). As has northern Vietnam at 500-1000 m. At Tam
been discussed in Ziegler et al. (2008), such Dao, the elevational range of the species is
mountain areas could have served as cool, given as 300-1500 m (Orlov et al. 2000).
humid refuges for numerous species, The collecting site of the Thai specimen in
including snakes, during the last glaciations Uttaradit Province is at 365 m; the habitat
when habitats at lower elevations became consists of deciduous and mixed forest,
dryer. This is supported by records in Doi much of which has been cleared over the
Phu Kha N. P. of the colubrid snake Ptyas past twenty years for the cultivation of corn,
nigromarginata (Blyth, 1854), a rare snake pineapples and para rubber. The
best known from the Himalayan foothills in surrounding (low) hills are unlikely to have
northeast India, northern Myanmar and served in the past as a cool and wet retreat
southern China (Vogel and Hauser 2013). for species in the sense outlined above for
Based on the presently known distribution the higher areas of Doi Phu Kha N. P. in
of Liopeltis frenatus, Doi Phu Kha was Nan, but Phu Soi Dao Peak (2102 m), at 20
likely a refuge for the species during dryer km from the collecting site, could have been
ages. Whereas Ptyas nigromarginata is now such a refuge. However, it seems more
known from five specimens, all originating likely that the late discovery of Cyclophiops
from the Doi Phu Kha N. P. in Nan multicinctus is due to the herpetological
Province (Sjon Hauser, unpublished data), underexploration of eastern North Thailand.
there is only a single record of L. frenatus. Evidence for our extremely poor knowledge
SJON HAUSER — ADDITION OF LIOPELTIS FRENATUS AND CYCLOPHIOPS MULTICINCTUS 63
of its snake fauna is indirectly given in the occasional company during field surveys at
authoritative work by Cox et al. (2012) in night. Thanks to Alexandre Teynié of the
which only nine snake species are recorded Société d’Histoire Naturelle Alcide
for Nan, and ten for Uttaradit Province. d’Orbigny, Aubière, France, for data on
Other evidence is the picture of a road-killed recent snake records in Laos, and to Ton
snake from “Nan province” that was Smits, Kaeng Krachan National Park,
recently posted as “unidentified” on the Phetchaburi, Thailand, for sharing with me
website www.siamensis.org, to be identified the photos of interesting snakes posted on
as Cyclophiops multicinctus later. If Facebook and other internet sites. I am
confirmed as a valid record, it implies that grateful to Lawan Chanhome, head of the
the species may be widespread in eastern Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial
North Thailand. Institute in Bangkok, for accepting the
voucher specimen and photographs of the
new records in the collection of the institute.
CONCLUSION
I thank Jeroen Beets, Amsterdam, the

Netherlands, for his reading of the
The new additions to Thailand’s snake
manuscript and the anonymous reviewer for
fauna reported in this contribution
the constructive comments on the
underscore that large parts of northern
manuscript.
Thailand are herpetologically underexplored.

More new country records are to be
expected, in particular in the eastern part of LITERATURE CITED
the region with its cool mountain refuges
Ao, J. M., David, P., Bordoloi, S. and Ohler, A., 2004.
and its close affinities to the relatively little
Notes on a collection of snakes from Nagaland,
known fauna of northern Laos. Over the
northeast India, with 19 new records for this state.
past 15 years, the number of snake species Russian Journal of Herpetology 11(2): 155-162.
known from Laos has almost doubled Bain, R. H. and Hurley, M. M. 2011. A biogeographic
(Teynié et al. 2017), many of the new synthesis of the amphibians and reptiles of
Indochina. Bulletin of the American Museum of
additions originating from the North and
Natural History, no. 360: 1-138.
including rare and spectacular species, such
Boulenger, G. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the
as Euprepiophis mandarinus (Cantor, 1842) British Museum (Natural History), Vol. 2.
and Azemiops feae Boulenger, 1888 (Teynié London, British Museum. 382 pp.
Bourret, R. 1935a. Notes Herpétologiques sur
et al. 2017). When Thailand’s northern
l’Indochine Française. X. Les Serpents de la
region is to be surveyed more intensively,
station d’altitude du Tam-dao. Bulletin Général de
similar discoveries may be expected sooner l’Instruction Publique, Hanoi (No. 8, April 1935):
or later. 1-13. (in French)
Bourret, R. 1935b. Notes Herpétologiques sur
l’Indochine Française. XI. Les Serpents de la
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS station d’altitude du Tam-dao. Bulletin Général de
l’Instruction Publique, Hanoi (No. 9, May 1935):
1-8. (in French)
I wish to thank Yot Tha Peng and other
Bourret, R. 1937a. Notes Herpétologiques sur
park rangers stationed at the “1715 m l’Indochine Française. XIII. Serpents récemment
viewpoint” in the Doi Phu Kha N. P. in Nan, récoltés au Tonkin et en Annam. Bulletin Général
Thailand, for their kind assistance during de l’Instruction Publique, Hanoi (No. 9, May
1937): 27-36. (in French)
photo sessions of collected snakes and their