T r o p id o n o t u s s u b m i n i a t u s , Boie.
Tropidonotus subminiatus, (Reinw.) Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 585 ; Schleg., Ess. Phys. Serp., 1887, vol. ii,
p. 818 ; Blyth, Joum. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxiii, 1854, p. 296; Giinth., Cat. Col. Sn., B. M.,
1858, p. 69; Rept. B. Ind., 1864, p. 265; Theobald, Journ. Linn. Soc., 1868, p. 47; Stol., Joum*
As. Soc., Bengal, vol. ¿1,1871, p. 484, pi. xxvi, fig. 8 ; Anders., Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871, p. 177.
Bhdbdophis submmialus, Fitz., Syst. Rept., 1843, p. 27.
Amphiesma subminiatum, Dum. & Bibr., Erpet. Gen., 1854, vol. vii, p. 784; Jan, Canestr. Arch.
Zool., vol. iii, 1865, p. 284; Jan & Sord., Icon. G6n., Oph. No. xxix, 1865, pi. i. .
Tropidonotus (.Amphiesma) subminiatus, Steind., Rept. Reise Novara, 1867, p. 66.
The colour is uniform olive-green above with a few black and reddish spots on
the front of the body. In young specimens which have a blackish colour on the
neck, the scales for some distance behind it have their margins tinged with coral-red.
Under-surface yellow with an irregular line of black dots on the angles of the
ventrals and a black triangular spot below the eye.
Of the Muangla specimens" only one has the labials regular, viz., eight upper
labials, the third, fourth and fifth entering the orbit. Its postoculars are regular,
but the temporals are in contact only with the two lowest. Two other specimens
have ei^ht labials on the one side and nine on the other, and in both cases the third,
fourth and fifth enter the orbit. However, the one has three postoculars on the
side with nine labials, and on the other side the lowest of the postoculars is nearly
divided in two. The other specimen has four postoculars on the side with eight
labials all in contact with the temporals; on the opposite side, there are only three,
the two lowest alone being touched by the temporals. Another example has only
seven labials on the one side and eight on the other, the third and fourth entering
the orbit on the side with seven, and the third, fourth and fifth on the side with
eight: on the side with seven the fifth labial is excluded by the lower postocular,
and a portion of the third labial is detached as a lower preocular. The accompanying
tables will illustrate the variations of the specimens, all of which have
nineteen rows of scales.
Length (total) • ...........................................................
„ of h e a d ...............................................................................
„ of t a i l ...............................................................................
Inches.
34-25
0-88
733
2517
0-66
6-56
Inches.
3100
0-83
?*
Inches.
20-50
0-66
P*
3300
0-83
P*
Inches.
26-25
0-66
P*
167
82
170
90
173
P
165
P
169
?
168
92
Hotha.
Genus A t r b t t u m , Cope.
A t r e t t u m sc h isto st jm , Daud., var.
Chittee, Russell, Ind. Serp., vol. ii, 1801, plate iv.
Coluber schistosus, Daud., Rept., vol. vii, 1803, p. 132; Merr. Tentam Erp^t., 1820, p. 103.
* Tail imperfect.
Tropidonotus schistosus, Schleg., Ess. Phys. Serp., vol. i, 1887, p. 168 ; vol. ii, p. 819 ; Cantor, Journ.
As. Soc., Bengal, 1847, vol. xxi, p. 938 ; Dum. & Bib., Erpét. Geni., vol. vii, 1854, p. 596.
Tropidonotus moestus, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1839, p. 54.
Tropidonotus sur gens, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1889, p. 54.
Atretium schistosim, Cope, Proc. Acad., Philad., 1861, p. 299; Günther, Rept. Brit. Ind., 1864,
p. 278; Steind., Reise Novara, Rept., 1867, p. 67; Anderson, Joum. As. Soc., vol. xl, 1871,
p. 34; Theobald, Descr. Cat. Rept., Brit. Ind., 1876, p. 179; Ferguson, Rept. Fauna, Ceylon,
1877, p. 20.
Helicops schistosus, Jan, Canestr., Arch. Zool., vol. iii, 1865, p. 245, p. 250; Icon. Gèni. Ohp.,
No. xxviii, 1868, pi. ii, fig. 8.
The head is of moderate size ; snout rather pointed. Body of moderate thickness.
The anterior frontals are triangular and form a very short sutv/re mth the
rostral, but in two cases out of three before me, they are excluded from the rostral
by a small azygos shield which is also wedged between them. The posterior frontals
are broader than long, and about the same breadth as the anterior frontals. In one
out of two, they are united with a notch behind, corresponding to their line of union.
In the two, they are divided into three and four pieces. The vertical is long and
constricted in the middle, the posterior half tongue-shaped. Occipitals longer than
the vertical, rounded behind, sometimes with a portion separated from their hinder
extremities. Loreal sub-quadrangular, higher than broad.
One preocular reaching to the upper surface of the head. Three postoculars,
the lowest in contact with three labials. Temporals 2 -f- 3 ; two elongate shields in
contact with three postoculars. Nine upper labials, the fourth and fifth orbital.
Twenty-three maxillary teeth, increasing in length posteriorly.
Measurements of three specimens.
No. 1. Length 30'70 inches; head 0*84; tail 7 71 inches.
„ 2. • „ 34-50 „ „ 0-60; ,, 6-50 „ '
ífV » 3. „ 24-75 „ „ 0-62; „ 6*58 „
(1) Ventrals 158 ; sub-caudals 621
(2) „ 144; „ 80
(3j „ 154; „ 85
All have nineteen rows of keeled scales.
Colour uniform dark olive-brown above ; yellow beneath.
These Yunnan specimens differ from the generality of Indian examples in the
narrow suture between the anterior frontals and rostral ; in the divided posterior
frontals; in the presence of nine upper labials, and in having slightly larger
preoculars, verticals and occipitals, but these features are not sufficiently important
to entitle them to specific rank.
Specimens were obtained at Muangla and Hotha at elevations of 2,000 and
4,500 feet.
I t has been generally supposed that this species is more characteristic of the
Indian than of the Indo-Chinese, or Malayan fauna. Its occurrence, therefore, in
the foregoing slightly modified condition, in the elevated region of Western Yunnan,
is a fact of considerable interest.
1 Imperfect.