Oligodon huahin

Oligodon huahin is a species of kukri snakes in the genus Oligodon (Fitzinger, 1826).[3] The species was first discovered and described in late 2016, and the article was published July 13, 2017. It is only known from its type locality but its range is likely to be more extensive. O. huahin is thought to be very secretive, similar to other species of the genus Oligodon. This theory is supported by the type specimen, which all were males, suggesting that it was found during the mating season where males are out and actively search for females to reproduce. This may also explain why this species had not yet been discovered[2]

Oligodon huahin
The first located specimen.

Paratype: QSMI 1502 Observer and photographer: Henning Larsen

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Oligodon
Species:
O. huahin
Binomial name
Oligodon huahin
Pauwels,[1] Larsen, Suthanthangjai, David & Sumontha, 2017[2]

Phylogeny

Oligodon huahin is a member of the genus Oligodon, a genus common throughout central and tropical Asia. It belongs to the snake family Colubridae, the largest snake family, with member species to be found on every continent, except Antarctica.[4]

Etymology

The specific epithet is an invariable noun in honor of the administrative district where the type locality lies and of its charming main city Hua Hin. O. huahin is the first species of snake endemic to Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. The following common names are suggested "Hua Hin Kukri Snake" (English), "Ngu Ngod Hua Hin" «งูงอดหัวหิน» or "Ngu Peekeaw Hua Hin" «งูปี่แก้วหัวหิน» (Thai), "Oligodon de Hua Hin" (French), "Hua Hin Kukrinatter" (German) and Hua Hin kukrislange" (Norwegian)

Habitat, behaviour, ecology and syntopy

The habitat, behaviour and ecology of this species is poorly known. All type specimens used for the species description were found in a moist mixed bamboo forest area with a forest stream. This type of habitat is excellent for a broad range of species with a rich species diversity of both amphibians and reptiles. Based on data for other members of the genus Oligodon, O. huahin is thought to be an oviparous (egg-laying) species, as it is not observed any Viviparity (giving live birth) among any species within this genus. This species nocturnal. Other species observed in the syntopy are as follows:

Description
See snake scales for terms used

It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 485.8 mm; 6 maxillary teeth, the posterior two enlarged; 17-17-15 or 17-15-15 dorsal scale rows; 166–173 ventral scales[6] and 35–41 subcaudal scales in males; a single anal scale;[7] deeply forked hemipenes[8] lacking spines and papillae, extending in situ to the 14th subcaudal;[9] faint[10] to nearly indistinct[11] vertebral, paravertebral and lateral stripes; no dorsal or supracaudal blotches or crossbars;[10][11] and a uniformly ivory venter lacking subrectangular or squarish blotches.[12]

Distribution

Oligodon huahin is only known from seven type specimens found at the type locality, within a range of approximately 1000m2, and therefore its distribution is poorly understood, although a "DOR" (dead on road) specimen was later found at a different location and habitat about 12 km away, which indicates that the species is adaptable to several different habitats than the one found at the type locality. This large specimen, with SVL of 520mm, was not used in the description. The holotype and the paratypes was all collected from the type locality in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. This species is for now proven to be endemic to the Hua Hin District, but it is likely to found in parts of the Phetchaburi Province as well.

Conservation

The conservation threats to O. huahin are not known, because the species is only known from a few specimen found at the same spot. The area from which these were collected is not under any sort of protection, and is therefore threatened by deforestation. The species is «Not Evaluated» by the "International Union for Conservation of Nature" (IUCN Red List).

References
  1. Olivier Sylvain Gérard Pauwels Short Biography http://pauwelsolivier.com/biography.html
  2. Pauwels, O.S.G.; Larsen, H.; Suthanthangjai, W.; David, P.; Sumontha, M. (2017). "A new kukri snake (Colubridae: Oligodon) from Hua Hin District, and the first record of O. deuvei from Thailand". Zootaxa. 4291 (3): 531–548. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4291.3.6 – via ResearchGate.
  3. Fitzinger LJ. (1826). Neue Classification der Reptilien nach ihren natürlichen Verwandtschaften. Nebst einer Verwandtschafts-tafel und einem Verzeichnisse der Reptilien-Sammlung des K. K. zoologischen Museums zu Wien. Vienna: J.G. Heubner. 5 unnumbered + 67 pp. + one plate. (Oligodon, new genus, p. 56). (in German and Latin).
  4. Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 188–195. ISBN 978-0-12-178560-4.
  5. A new Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Phetchaburi Province, Thailand https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297714545_A_new_Bent-toed_Gecko_Squamata_Gekkonidae_Cyrtodactylus_from_Phetchaburi_Province_Thailand
  6. A proposed standard system of counting ventrals in snakes. The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/04416651.1965.9650679?journalCode=ther19
  7. Anal scale photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anal_plate.jpg
  8. Hemipenes photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hemipenes.jpg
  9. Green, M. D. (2010) Molecular phylogeny of the snake genus Oligodon (Serpentes: Colubridae), with an annotated checklist and key. Master of Science Thesis, University of Toronto, i–viii + 1–161. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/24575/1/Green_Marc_201006_MSc_thesis.pdf
  10. Individual 1 dorsal view photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:O._huahin_med_stripe.jpg
  11. Individual 2 dorsal view photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:O._huahin_med_utydelig_stripe.jpg
  12. Ventral photo https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ventral.jpg
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