An Unusual, Fangless Short-tailed Snake (Squamata, Serpentes, Homalopsidae) from Sumatra, Indonesia

作者：Murphy John C^*; Voris Harold K

来源：Asian Herpetological Research, 2013, 4(2): 140-146.

DOI：10.3724/SP.J.1245.2013.00140

• Brachyorrhos
• Calamophis
• Karnsophis
• basal homalopsids
• skull osteology

Two genera of fangless homalopsid snakes Brachyorrhos and Calamophis from eastern Indonesia have been described as basal members of the clade. A third genus belonging to this group from Sumatra, Indonesia is described here based upon morphology. Fangless homalopsid snakes share 19 dorsal scale rows at mid-body, fused dorsal scales above the cloaca, 5 to 7 upper labials, divided anal plate, divided subcaudals, 15-21 teeth on the dentary, frontal bone about 23% of skull length and other morphological characters that suggest they are related. All the three genera are known only from Indonesia. The new genus and species have a distinctive skull morphology with an absent premaxilla, a more depressed skull, and a larger eye than are present in Brachyorrhos.

• 出版日期2013-6-25