Zoology. - On the Identity of Maticora intermedia Westermann and Dipsadoides decipiens Annandale. By L. D. BRONGERSMA. (Com­municated by Prof. H . BOSCHMA. )

(Communicated at the meeting of March 29, 1947.)

In his notes on the snakes of the islands of Banka and Billiton, WESTERMANN (1942) mentions two species, the identity of which will be discussed in the present paper.

Maticora intermedia Westermann

This new species is described by WESTERMANN (1942, p. 617) from two specimens, one from Billiton, the other from Borneo. With its ventral count the species comes within the range of variation of Maticora intestinalis (Laur.), while it agrees with Maticora bivirgata (Boie) in the number of subcaudals. However, it differs from both M. intestinalis and M. bivirgata in having seven upper labials, and in having the subcaudals partly single, partly paired. A further difference from these two Maticora species is found in the enlarged vertebral scales. This character M. intermedia has in common with the species of the genus Bungarus Daudin. Thus the species would be intermediate between Maticora intestinalis and M. bivir­gata in some characters, while in others it would be intermediate between the genera Maticora Gray and Bungarus Daudin. The new species is referred to Maticara, however, "as the heart of the examined specimens is shifted far backwards on account of the poison glands".

The au thor mentions that the coloration of Maticara intermedia is similar to that of M. bivirgata in several respects. Wh en recently handling a number of specimens of Bungarus flaviceps Reinh., I was struck by the superficial resemblance, whtich this species bears to IVlaticora bivirgata. It became dear to me that Maticora intermedia probably had been based on specimens of Bungarus flaviceps. Owing to conditions due to the war the types of M. intermedia were not at hand, when in 1946 I paid a short visit to the Zoological Museum at Buitenzorg (Java). Therefore, the following discussion must be based on WESTERMANN'S description.

A comparison of the description of Maticara intermedia to that given for Bungarus flaviceps by DE ROOI] (1917, p. 245) shows that in all characters of lepidosis the two species are identical. DE ROOI] mentions 193-240 ventrals (intermedia 206-214) and 42-54 subcaudals (inter­media 48-54), the latter partly single and partly paired. Like M. inter­media, Bungarus flaviceps has seven upper labials, of which the third and fourth enter the orbit. In coloration they are exactly alike, the red colour of the tail (white in alcohol) extending on to the posterior part of the back.

28

420

Ta have a further check, I examined the following specimens of Bun~ garus flaviceps in the collections of the Leiden Museum:

2 ex. , 1 ex. , 2 ex. ,

ex., ex., ex.,

Sumatra, leg. G. F. WIENECKE, 1865, Herp. reg. no. 5772. Sumatra, leg. S. MÜLLER, Herp. reg. no. 1437. Nias, leg. J. D. PASTEUR, Herp. reg. no. 4333. Banka, leg. J. F. R. S. VAN DEN BOSSCHE, Herp. reg. no. 559. Banka, leg. P. BUITENDIJK, Herp. reg. no. 5628. Smitau on the Kapuas river, Borneo, December 11 , 1893, leg. J. BÜTTIKOFER, Herp. reg. no. 8392.

The counts of ventrals and subcaudals of these specimens, together with those of the types of Maticara intermedia are given in table I. All spec·imens of Bungarus flaviceps have an undivided anal, one preocular, two post~ oculars, temporals 1 + 2, and seven upper labials of which the third and fourth enter the orbit. In one of the Nias specimens the second upper labial of the right side is separated from the border of the lip by the first and third labial forming a short suture. In the specimen from Smitau the sixth upper labial of the right side just reaches the border of the lip, while on the left side it is separated from this by the fifth and seventh labial forming a suture.

TABLE I.

Reg. No. Ventrals Subcaudals

5772 ~ 224 23 +28/12.+ 1 221 1/1 + 17 + 31131 + 1

1437 225

4333 ~ 219 26 + 20120+ 1 +212 + 1 219 10+ 212 +2 +36/36+ 1

559 217 19+ 212 + 1 +22122+ 5 +111+1 5628 211 20+ 32/32+ 1 8392 228 24+111 +2 + 24124 + 1

M . intermedia ~ 206 33+ 111 +2 + 12/12 (+ 11) 214 21 +111 +2 + '/6 + 9 + 3IJ + 6 + 6/6 ( + 11)

The chief argument for referring intermedia to the genus Maticora was the position of the heart (WESTERMANN, 1942, p. 618). The types of M. intermedia have a head and body length of 413 and 369 mm respec~ tively. The front of the heart 'is situated at 114 and 105 mm from the tip of the sn out. For these specimens and for specimens of same other species

. distance from tip of snout I calculated the ratio: with the following results.

length of head and body

M aticora intermedia Westerm. Maticora bivirgàta (Boie) M aticora infestinalis (Laur.)

0.28-0.29 ( 2 specimens) 0.26-0.35 (22 specimens) 0.37-0.44 (10 specimens)

Bungarus flauiceps Reinh. Bungarus fasciatus (Schn.)

421

0.24-0.29 ( 7 specimens) 0.22-0.26 ( 6 specimens)

In the value of this ratio Maticora intermedia comes within the range of both Maticora ~ivirgata and Bungarus flaviceps. Therefore this ratio can~ not be used to assign intermedia either to the genus Maticora or to the genus Bungarus. If for the types of M. intermedia it was known at the level of which ventral the front of the heart was situated, this might prove more helpful. For the other species mentioned I find the following values:

M aticora bivirgata (Boie) Maticora intestinalis (Laur.) Bungarus flaviceps Reinh. Bungarus fasciatus (Schn.)

79th - 94th ventral 83rd-l06th ventral 54th - 58th ventral 52nd- 53rd ventral

WESTERMANN accounts the position of the heart to the length of the poison glands, but the author does not state that he actually checked whether the poison glandsextended into the body cavity. I feel convinced that from the position of the heart, WESTERMANN took the length of the poison gland for grant'ed. The largest specimen of Bungarus flaviceps (Smitau, head and body 1720 mm, tail 235 mm) was examined in this respect. The poison gland is of the same type as in other Bungarus species and does not extend into the body cavity.

If the similarity in outward appearance had not mis led this author, so that he firmly believed that he was dealing with a Maticora species, but if instead he had used the keys by DE ROOI] (1917, pp. 241, 243) th is would have led his identification straight to Bungarus flaviceps Reinh. In my opinion there can remain no doubt that Maticora intermedia Westermann is a strict synonym of Bungarus flaviceps Reinh.

Dipsadoides decipiens Annandale

This species was described by ANNANDALE (1905, p. 213) from a single specimen fr om the Malay Archipelago. The type was re~examined by DE ROOI] (1917, p. 210, fig. 81). who mentions that the scales are placed in 21 rows, and not in 19 rows as stated by ANNANDALE. Further DE ROOI] mentions that the chinshields of the second pair are separated from each other. Since the original description was published, no new specimens became known, until VAN HEURN (1932, p. 14) mentions a specimen as presumably belonging to this species 1). Later Jhr. W. C. VAN HEURN sent me the head of a snake, taken by Mr. J. H. WESTERMANN on Mt. Menum~ bing, Banka, in June 1933 (Herp. reg. no. 8428); Jhr. VAN HEURN was not sure whether it represented Dipsadoides decipiens or a Boiga species. WESTERMANN (1942, p. 611, fig. 1) describes and figures a snake from Banka, which he refers to Dipsadoides decipiens; on p. 612 this au thor mentions a second specimen from Pendopo, South Sumatra.

1) This specimen afterwards proved to be Boiga draprezii (Boie).

422

As in the case of Maticora intermedia, the specimen was not at hand wh en I visited Buitenzorg, and we have to depend on the description by WESTERMANN. However, in a collection of snakes from Banka, presented to the Leiden Museum in 1874 by Mr. I. H. G. VOSMAER, I found two snakes (Herp. reg. no. 8427), which agree weIl with that described by WESTERMANN. They have the same distinctive colour pattern of the upper surface of the head, and the same arrangement of the posterior chinshields. These two snakes, as weIl as the head sent by Jhr. VAN HEURN, I identify as Boiga jaspidea (Dum., Bibr. & Dum.). For comparison I used the fol~ lowing additional specimens of Boiga jaspidea:

1 ex., Java, leg. S. MÜLLER, Herp. reg. no. 982.

2 ex., Mt. Simpai, W. Java, 2100 ft., leg. C. P. J. DE HAAS, Herp. reg. no. 6834.

ex., Muara Siberut, Siberut, Mentawei Ids., leg. W. RUINEN, Herp. reg. no. 5847.

The scale counts of all specimens examined by me, together with those mentioned by WESTERMANN are given in table 11.

IE these specimens are compared to the descriptions given by DE ROOI} (1917, pp. 199,210) for Boiga jaspidea (Dipsadomorphus jaspideus) and Dipsadoides decipiens, it is clear that they agree about equally weil with both. The point may be raised, whether Dipsadoides decipiens really represents a distinct genus and species.

DE ROOI} (1917, p. 210) mentions the following characters in which the genus Dipsadoides differs from Boiga: "pupil round; nasal undivided. Maxillary teeth 6, ...... ; mandibular teeth subequal". These characters may be discussed first.

WESTERMANN (1942, p. 612) states that in the living specimen the pupil was vertically elliptic. In the preserved specimens of Boiga ja~pidea exam~ ined by me, some have a distinctly vertically elliptic pupil, while in others the pupil has expanded to nearly round. In fact a slight angle in the upper and lower border of the pupil is the only indication of its elliptic origin. The round pupil of the type of Dipsadoides decipiens may be weIl due to post mortal changes as assumed by WESTERMANN.

In the specimens of Boiga jaspidea examined by me the nostril is very large and it is directed backwards. Above and below the nostriI, the nasal is very narrow, butit is not completely divided into two shields. In some specimens an incisure is indicated, and the nasal may be termed semidivi~ ded. Posterior to the nos tril the nasal is concave. In the structure of the nasal and nostril Boiga jaspidea and Dipsadoides decipiens apparently agree completely.

Maxillary teeth. It is a weIl known fact that in snakes of ten part of the teeth are ankylosed to the jaw, while others are only loosely attached to the bone. Generally the loosely attached teeth alternate with the ankylosed

423

teeth. In counting the number of maxillary teeth, both the ankylosed and the loosely attached teeth must be considered. If the maxillary has been extracted from the mouth, and if it has been cleaned, all or most of the loose teeth will have got lost; their place between the ankylosed teeth is indicated by shallow depressions in the jaw. To ascertain theexact number of maxillary teeth it is necessary to count those ankylosed to the jaw, as well as the depressions in the bone, which mark the lost teeth. In this connection I may cite BOULENGER (1896, pp. 614-615). who wrote: "It even of ten happens that every alternate tooth having dropped out, the jaw appears, on a superficial examination, to possess only half the real number."

In Boiga jaspidea the maxillary teeth number 12 solid ones, followed af ter an interspace by two or three larger grooved teeth. Of the solid teeth 6 are ankylosed to the jaw, and 6 are only loosely attached to it. The figure of a maxillary of Dipsadoides decipiens given by ANNANDALE (1905, fig . 3) shows that the teeth stand wide apart. The wide interspaces between these teeth are a distinct indication that only the ankylosed teeth are repre~ sented, and at the same time they indicate that 6 loosely attached teeth got lost. In some places the contour of the maxillary shows slight inward curves, probably indicating the depressions. Therefore, we may safely conclude, that 12 solid teeth followed by two grooved ones is the number of maxillary teeth originally present in the type of Dipsadoides decipiens. In this respect there is also complete agreement between Dipsadoides decipiens and Boiga jaspidea.

Mandibular teeth. DE ROOI} (1917, p. 195) mentions that in Boiga (Dipsadomorphus) the anterior mandibular teeth are longest, while (l.c., p. 210) it is stated that in Dipsadoides the mandibular teeth are subequal. In Boiga jaspidea the difference in size between the anterior and posterior mandibular teeth is only slight, especially if this species is compared to other Boiga species, e.g., Boiga dendrophila (Boie), in which there is a weil marked difference. It is well understandable that some authors would describe the mandibular teeth of Boiga jaspidea as subequal. The supposed di Heren ce between Boiga and Dipsadoides may be explained in this way.

Of the specific characters mentioned by DE ROOI} (1917, pp. 199,210) for Boiga jaspidea (Dipsadomorphus jaspideus) and Dipsadoides, the relative si ze of the internasals and the number of postoculars might provide diHerences. For B. jaspidea DE ROOI} mentions: "internasals as long as prefrontals", and for D. decipiens "internasals larger than prefrontals". In the specimens of B. jaspidea examined by me, the greatest length of the internasals is equal to, or slightly exceeds that of the prefrontals; however, the medium suture between the internasals is much long er than that between the prefrontals; indeed, the former may be even up to three times as long as the latter.

The type of Dipsadoides decipiens has a very large supraocular and one small postocular. The specimen described by WESTERMANN has two post~

424

oculars, and so have all but one of the specimens of Boiga jaspidea examined by me; one specimen has three postoculars. The figure of Dipsa~ doides decipiens given by DE RoOI} (1917, fig. 81) makes it likely that in the type the upper postocular has fused with the supraocular, a variation known from other snakes too.

The leng th of the eye in Boiga jaspidea varies from very slightly shorter to slightly longer than the length of the snout. In this respect the type of Dipsadoides decipiens comes within the range of variation of Boiga jaspidea too.

The colour pattern is also the same in Dipsadoides decipiens and Boiga jaspidea.

Thus I arrive at th~ conclusion that Dipsadoides decipiens agrees in all essential characters with Boiga jaspidea, and that there is no reason to separate them specifically. Dipsadoides decipiens Annandale is, therefore, referred to the synonymy of Boiga jaspidea (Dum., Bibr. & Dum.). I com~ pared my specimens of Boiga jaspidea to the original description of Trigly~ phodon jaspideum by DUMÉRIL, BIBRON and DUMÉRIL (1854, p. 1093), and there can be no doubt that they belong to the species descrihed by these authors.

It may be remarked that ANNANDALE compared his specimen to Boiga cynodon (Boie). According to DUMÉRIL, BIBRON and DUMÉRIL (1854, p. 1096). SCHLEGEL even confused this species with Boiga cynodon (Boie). The specific name decipiens was weil chosen indeed.

TABLE 11.

Reg. No. Scales Ventrals Subcaudals Upper Labials

8427

~ 21/21/13 257 150/150 + I r: 6 (3, 4)

I: 8 (3,4. 5) 23/23/15 255 151/151 + 1 8 (3. 4. 5)

982 21/21/15 246 142/142 + 1 8 (3. 4. 5)

6834

~ 23/21/15 249 147/147 + 1 8 (3. 4. 5) 21/21/15 253 149/149 + 1 r: 8 (3. 4. 5)

I: 7 (3. 4)

5847 23/21/15 253 147/147 + 1 8 (3. 4. 5) 8428 23/-/- - - 7 (3. 4. 5)

Banka. WESTERMANN -/21/13 262 159/159 (+ 17) 8 (3. 4. 5) Pendopo. S. Sumatra 21/21/15 250 147/147 (+ 17) -D. decipiens. type -/21/- 258 152/152 (+ 11) 8 (3. 4. 5)

With regard to the specimensexamined by me. I may make the following notes on variations observed. The scales may be placed in 23 rows behind the head, this number generally diminishes towards the middle of the body. where I count 21 rows. Only in one specimen from Banka (Herp. reg. no. 8427) 1 count 23 rows at mid~body. Further backwards the number of scale rows is reduced to 15 or 13 in front of the vent. One of the Banka specimens has two superposed loreals. instead of only one. One of the

425

specimens from Mt. Simpai, W. Java, has three postoculars. The number of upper labials may vary from 6 to 8 (tabIe 11).

LITERATURF

ANNANDALE. N.. 1905. Additions to the Collection of Oriental Snakes in the Indian Museum. Part 3. Journal and Proc. As. Soc. Bengal, n.s .• vol. 1. pt. 8. Journal pp. 208-214, figs. 1-3.

BOULENGER, G. A.. 1896. Remarks on the Dentitfon of Snakes and on the Evolution of the Poison-fangs. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pp. 614-616.

DUMÉRIL. A. M. C .• G. BIBRON & A. DU.MÉRIL. 1854. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle complète des Reptiles, vol. 7. pt. 2. pp. I-XII + 781-1536.

HEURN. W. C. VAN, 1932. Di'psadoides decipiens (Voorloopig bericht). De Tropische Natuur. vol. 21. pt. 1. p. 14.

ROOI}, N. DE, 1917. The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. vol. 2, Ophidia. XIV + 331 pp., 117 figs.

WESTERMANN. J. H .• 1942. Snakes from Bangka and Billiton. Treubia. vol. 18, pt. 3. pp. 611-619. 2 {tgs.