<documentid="B841A6103DF99E068FCCB7CC81186FA1"ID-CLB-Dataset="44381"ID-DOI="10.5281/zenodo.282377"ID-GBIF-Dataset="dad9bb60-0d1a-4a88-9d47-60df040cefa7"ID-ISSN="1175-5326"ID-Zenodo-Dep="282377"ID-ZooBank="60F151D5-D0F8-4313-89ED-FA383178B247"IM.materialsCitations_approvedBy="felipe"IM.metadata_approvedBy="felipe"IM.tables_requiresApprovalFor="existingObjects,plazi"IM.taxonomicNames_approvedBy="felipe"checkinTime="1460529551214"checkinUser="plazi"docAuthor="Murphy, John C., Voris, Harold K. & Karns, Daryl R."docDate="2012"docId="03EEF608FFB5FFE5FF60FD87FEC8982E"docLanguage="en"docName="zt03484p034.pdf"docOrigin="Zootaxa 3484"docStyle="DocumentStyle:890A69B780ED73D6DB8551B71C8AC79E.4:Zootaxa.2009-2012.journal_article"docStyleId="890A69B780ED73D6DB8551B71C8AC79E"docStyleName="Zootaxa.2009-2012.journal_article"docStyleVersion="4"docTitle="Cerberus australis Gray"docType="treatment"docVersion="9"lastPageNumber="13"masterDocId="FFD78E70FFBDFFE9FFF7FFD2FFC69A5C"masterDocTitle="The dog-faced water snakes, a revision of the genus Cerberus Cuvier, (Squamata, Serpentes, Homalopsidae), with the description of a new species"masterLastPageNumber="34"masterPageNumber="1"pageNumber="9"updateTime="1732566533654"updateUser="ExternalLinkService">
<mods:titleid="13842054A074C0EE12F225008CA2637B">The dog-faced water snakes, a revision of the genus Cerberus Cuvier, (Squamata, Serpentes, Homalopsidae), with the description of a new species</mods:title>
<figureCitationid="137C5B9BFFB5FFE1FF60FDA5FF3398D3"box="[151,245,631,655]"captionStart="FIGURE 4"captionStartId="9.[151,250,1865,1888]"captionTargetBox="[176,1419,803,1854]"captionTargetId="figure@9.[176,1420,793,1855]"captionTargetPageId="9"captionText="FIGURE 4. The Australian Bockadam, Cerberus australis. Two color morphs from the Northern Territory, vicinity of Darwin. JCM."httpUri="https://zenodo.org/record/282381/files/figure.png"pageId="8"pageNumber="9">Figure 4</figureCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FE8CFD68FE299893"author="Gray"box="[379,495,697,719]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Gray, J. (1842) Monographic synopsis of the watersnakes, or the family Hydridae. In: Zoological Miscellany, pp. 59 - 71."type="book chapter"year="1842">Gray 1842</bibRefCitation>
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<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FDE2FD24FD539950"author="Krefft"box="[533,661,758,780]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Krefft, G. (1869) The Snakes of Australia; Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of all the Known Species. Thomas Richards, Sydney, 100 pp."type="book"year="1869">Krefft 1869</bibRefCitation>
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:394
</treatmentCitation>
;
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<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FE4AFCA3FD7D99DB"author="Wilson"box="[445,699,881,903]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Wilson, S. K. & Knowles, D. G. (1988) Australia's Reptiles A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia. Collins Publishers, Sydney, 447 pp."type="book"year="1988">Wilson & Knowles 1988</bibRefCitation>
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<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FBB4FCA3FB0E99DB"author="Shine"box="[1091,1224,881,903]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Shine, R. (1991 b) Australian Snakes A Natural History. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 223 pp."type="book"year="1991"yearSuffix="b">Shine 1991b</bibRefCitation>
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<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FE26FC42FDB399F9"author="Loveridge"box="[465,629,912,934]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Loveridge, A. (1948) New Guinea reptiles and amphibians in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and United States National Museum. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 101, 305 - 430."type="journal article"year="1948">Loveridge 1948</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FD5BFC42FCF899FA"author="Mitchell"box="[684,830,912,934]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Mitchell, F. J. (1955) Preliminary account of the reptilia and Amphibia collected by the National Geographic Society Commonwealth Government, Smithsonian Institution Expedition to Arnhem Land (April-November, 1948). Records of the South Australian Museum, 11, 373 - 408."type="journal article"year="1955">Mitchell 1955</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FC82FC42FC3999FA"author="Worrell"box="[885,1023,912,934]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Worrell, E. (1963) Reptiles of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 207 pp."type="book"year="1963">Worrell 1963</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FE02FC7CFD5D9998"author="Loveridge"box="[501,667,942,964]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Loveridge, A. (1948) New Guinea reptiles and amphibians in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and United States National Museum. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 101, 305 - 430."type="journal article"year="1948">Loveridge 1948</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FBBDFC1FFB1A99BF"author="Murphy"box="[1098,1244,973,995]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Murphy, J. C. (2007) Homalopsid Snakes, Evolution in the Mud. Krieger Publishing, Malabar, 249 pp."type="book"year="2007">Murphy 2007</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FAFEFC1FFAAA99BF"author="Gyi"box="[1289,1388,973,995]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Gyi, K. K. (1970) A revision of colubrid snakes of the subfamily Homalopsinae. University of Kansas Publications. Museum of Natural History, 20, 47 - 223."type="journal article"year="1970">Gyi 1970</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FF30FC3EFEF39E5D"author="Gow"box="[199,309,1004,1025]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Gow, G. (1989) Graeme Gow's Complete Guide to Australian Snakes. Angus & Robertson Publishers, North Ryde, 171 pp."type="book"year="1989">Gow 1989</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FEA8FC39FE219E5D"author="O'Shea"box="[351,487,1003,1025]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="O'Shea, M. T. (1996) A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Independent Publishing, Port Moresby, 239 pp."type="book"year="1996">O’Shea 1996</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FEE9FBF5FE0A9E63"author="Murphy"box="[286,460,1063,1087]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Murphy, J. C. (2007) Homalopsid Snakes, Evolution in the Mud. Krieger Publishing, Malabar, 249 pp."type="book"year="2007">Murphy (2007)</bibRefCitation>
based upon significant shared morphology summarized in
<tableCitationid="C6C572A5FFB5FFE1FDD4FB98FDBE9E3E"box="[547,632,1098,1122]"captionStart="TABLE 3. A"captionStartId="10.[151,239,152,176]"captionTargetBox="[151,1253,241,820]"captionTargetPageId="10"captionText="TABLE 3. A comparison of C. australis and two of the paratypes of C. r. novaeguineae Loveridge suggesting that the two are conspecific."httpUri="http://table.plazi.org/id/DF381796FFB7FFE3FF60FF4AFEA89A8C"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"tableUuid="DF381796FFB7FFE3FF60FF4AFEA89A8C">Table 3</tableCitation>
). The eastern edge of the distribution of this species is uncertain. Wilson and Swan’s (2003) and Cogger’s (2004) distribution maps show it present as far north as the tip of the Cape York Peninsula. The most eastern locality based upon museum specimens is the Edward River (~
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB5FFE1FD09FAC8FC729F6E"author="Kopstein"box="[766,948,1306,1330]"pageId="8"pageNumber="9"refString="Kopstein, F. (1926) V. Reptilien von der Molukken und den benach-barten Inseln. Zoologische Mededelingen, 9, 71 - 122."type="journal article"year="1926">Kopstein (1926)</bibRefCitation>
, or confusion of nomenclature, evidence that this Australian snake has colonized the Indonesian Archipelago is based upon a single museum specimen (WAM
can be distinguished from all other members of the genus by its 23 scales rows (range 21–25) at midbody, imbricate scales on the crown, lack of keeled scales on crown anterior to the angle of the jaw; lack of contact between first labial and loreal; horizontally divided last upper labial; and mottled venter
has 23 scale rows at mid body, the first labial usually contacts the loreal; and the crown has rounded juxtaposed scales, the venter is a uniform black.
has 25 scale rows at mid body (rarely 23); keeled scales on the crown anterior to the angle of the jaw, and the last two upper labials are horizontally divided.
tail. Scales in the occipital region of the head and on the neck lack keels. Keels are present on most dorsal rows, except the first one (some individuals may also lack keels, or have very weak keels on scale rows 2 through 4). The loreal is usually single, rarely double; usually not in contact with the subocular (75%). Most (82%) specimens have the preocular scale in contact with the upper labials 3-5; however, the preocular scale did not contact the upper labials in all (n=3) of the specimens from the Edward River, Queensland population we examined (this same population also showed a horizontally divided postocular).
These character states were also seen in specimens from other populations. Upper labials 2–4 contact the loreal; the upper labial under the orbit of the eye (and subocular scales) is usually 5 (64%), or 5–6 (25%), rarely are they 4, 4+5, or 6. The posterior upper labials are horizontally divided; the first divided upper labial ranged from 5 to 8, with 7 (54%) and 8 (39%) being the most frequent in 28 sides examined. The number of divided upper labials posterior to the eye ranges from 1–3, with one being the most frequent (39%), and 2 being the second most frequent (32%). Lower labials in contact with the anterior pair of chin shields 1–3 (11%) or 1–4 (89%) in 28 sides examined. Largest remaining fragment of the frontal scale usually longer than the supraocular; it was shorter than the supraocular in two (14%) specimens (SAM 2260, SAM 6651). The nasal cleft usually touches the second upper labial (82% of 28 sides), occasionally the first upper labial (14% of 28 sides), and rarely the loreal (3% of 28 sides). The internasal contacts the loreal in 57% of the 28 sides examined. Scale rows at midbody are usually 23 (71%) or 25 (21%), rarely 21 (8%). Two primary temporal scales vary greatly in size and shape. However, of 28 sides examined the dorsal scale was larger than the ventral scale in 27 (96%) instances. Three pairs of chin shields present in 11 (79%) specimens, two pairs of chin shields present in 3 (21%) specimens. Ventral scales in males 146–154 (n=5) and in females 142–153 (n=9). The divided subcaudal scales numbered
males (n=5) and 47–51 (n=9) in females. The pattern is usually distinct; eye stripes were present in six specimens examined and absent in eight specimens; dorsum is gray with irregular dark cross bands or bars 2–3 scales long; these may be expressed as spots. Lateral blotches involving scale rows 1–3 have that pigment fused with darker pigment on the ventral surface.
has several color and pattern morphs, individuals can be: a uniform red or gray or have partial transverse bands that may alternate sides, a mid-dorsal row of spots that may extend onto the tail; many specimens have a postocular stripe. The venter may be cream, yellow or salmon with mottling or blotches.
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB7FFE3FDEDFCB6FD429926"author="Gyi"box="[538,644,868,890]"pageId="10"pageNumber="11"refString="Gyi, K. K. (1970) A revision of colubrid snakes of the subfamily Homalopsinae. University of Kansas Publications. Museum of Natural History, 20, 47 - 223."type="journal article"year="1970">Gyi, 1970</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB7FFE3FE85FC56FDAA99C4"author="Dunson"box="[370,620,899,921]"pageId="10"pageNumber="11"refString="Dunson, W. A. & Dunson, M. K (1979) A possible new salt gland in a marine homalopsid snake. Copeia, 1979, 661 - 672."type="journal article"year="1979">Dunson & Dunson 1979</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB7FFE3FD5FFC50FC6499C4"author="Crombie"box="[680,930,898,920]"pageId="10"pageNumber="11"refString="Crombie, R. I. & Pregill, G. K. (1999) A checklist of the herpetofauna of the Palau Islands (Republic of Belau), Oceania. Herpetological Monographs, 13, 29 - 80."type="journal article"year="1999">Crombie & Pregill 1999</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB7FFE3FC3CFC50FB9C99C4"author="Murphy"box="[971,1114,898,920]"pageId="10"pageNumber="11"refString="Murphy, J. C. (2007) Homalopsid Snakes, Evolution in the Mud. Krieger Publishing, Malabar, 249 pp."type="book"year="2007">Murphy 2007</bibRefCitation>
<collectionCodeid="ED56DFDBFFB7FFE3FE63FC14FE2C9982"LSID="urn:lsid:biocol.org:col:34925"box="[404,490,966,990]"httpUri="http://biocol.org/urn:lsid:biocol.org:col:34925"name="American Museum of Natural History"pageId="10"pageNumber="11">AMNH</collectionCode>
<collectionCodeid="ED56DFDBFFB7FFE3FDC1FBDCFD569E7A"LSID="urn:lsid:biocol.org:col:34925"box="[566,656,1038,1062]"httpUri="http://biocol.org/urn:lsid:biocol.org:col:34925"name="American Museum of Natural History"pageId="10"pageNumber="11">AMNH</collectionCode>
<collectionCodeid="ED56DFDBFFB7FFE3FCD5FBE0FCBF9E15"box="[802,889,1074,1097]"httpUri="http://grbio.org/cool/ra64-3eva"name="University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology"pageId="10"pageNumber="11">UMMZ</collectionCode>
<collectionCodeid="ED56DFDBFFB7FFE3FEA6FB87FE649E31"LSID="urn:lsid:biocol.org:col:34871"box="[337,418,1109,1133]"httpUri="http://biocol.org/urn:lsid:biocol.org:col:34871"name="Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History"pageId="10"pageNumber="11">USNM</collectionCode>
can be distinguished from all other members of the genus with 23 scales rows at midbody by its rounded, juxtaposed, plate-like scales on the crown; these scales appear to be thickened compared to the scales of other
species. The 9th upper labial is horizontally divided. These characters, combined with large parietal scale fragments and its uniform black venter, make this a very distinctive species. The large, plate-like fragments of the parietals may fuse with the temporal scales. The parietal scales in other
are usually fragmented into small scales similar to other scales on the crown. The scales on the crown anterior to the level of the angle of the jaw usually lack keels; all other
these scales tend to be sharp-edged and slightly imbricate. Light pigment forms an irregular ventrolateral stripe involving scale rows 1–2; this stripe involves rows 1–3 or
, while all other species have a mottled ventral surface, or one with an irregular central stripe of dark pigment. This species tends to have a broader, more robust head than the other species in the genus and it lacks the dorsolateral pattern of bars or incomplete cross bands.
tail (tail incomplete). Head distinct from neck, body cylindrical, head dorsolaterally compressed. Rostral pentagonal, about as broad as tall; nasal scales divided, nasal groove contacts the first labial and internasal; internasal scale divided and makes narrow contact with loreal; prefrontal scales slightly smaller than nasals; frontal small, about the same size as the prefrontals, length less than the supraocular scale. Ocular ring consists of one supraocular, one preocular, two suboculars, and two postoculars on the left, one on the right. Loreal single, in contact with upper labials 1–4 (third upper labial on the left crowded out by the others and does not touch the loreal). Upper labials 10/11, ninth horizontally divided, 5–7 contact the suboculars. Lower labials 13, with 1–4 contacting anterior chin shield. Three pairs of chin shields, first pair is the largest, third pair smallest and barely distinguishable from the gulars. Dorsal scales keeled and striated; first dorsal row lacks keels; rows on anterior body 25, rows at midbody 23, rows at posterior body 17. Ventrals 147, rounded; subcaudals divided 44/45, tail tip missing (subcaudal counts incomplete).
<emphasisid="B9339B0CFFB6FFE2FF30F93FFE6F9D5A"bold="true"box="[199,425,1773,1798]"pageId="11"pageNumber="12">Color and Pattern</emphasis>
. In alcohol: head and dorsal coloration uniform dark brown, lower labials have some yellow pigment extending onto ventral surface of lower jaw. Belly uniform dark brown to black, on dorsal scale rows 1–2 light pigment forms an indistinct stripe. Ventral surface of the tail with a wide, dark medial stripe.
with the following exceptions: AMNH 116020 has 146 ventrals, 52/52 subcaudals, 1/2 postoculars, internasal does not contact the loreal, lower labials 13/14. AMNH 70651 has 18 scale rows anterior to the vent, 146 ventrals, 52/51 subcaudals, 14/15 lower labials. UMMZ 65857 has internasal divided into three parts, three suboculars on the right side, two post oculars on the right side, 50/51 subcaudals, and 19 scale rows anterior to the vent. SVL ranges from
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, and are 21–26% of the SVL. Dorsal scale rows 25 on neck, 23 at midbody, 17–19 at posterior body. Scales in the first row lack keels. Ventral scales in five females 144– 147. Subcaudals in five females: 50–54.
<collectingCountryid="F350078EFFB1FFE5FBF7FEF0FAA29B66"box="[1024,1380,290,314]"name="Micronesia"pageId="12"pageNumber="13">Federated States of Micronesia</collectingCountry>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB1FFE5FD57FEB5FC2C9B23"author="Crombie"box="[672,1002,359,383]"pageId="12"pageNumber="13"refString="Crombie, R. I. & Pregill, G. K. (1999) A checklist of the herpetofauna of the Palau Islands (Republic of Belau), Oceania. Herpetological Monographs, 13, 29 - 80."type="journal article"year="1999">Crombie and Pregill (1999)</bibRefCitation>
<bibRefCitationid="EFD63AEFFFB1FFE5FD4AFE58FC349BFE"author="Crombie"box="[701,1010,394,418]"pageId="12"pageNumber="13"refString="Crombie, R. I. & Pregill, G. K. (1999) A checklist of the herpetofauna of the Palau Islands (Republic of Belau), Oceania. Herpetological Monographs, 13, 29 - 80."type="journal article"year="1999">Crombie and Pregill (1999)</bibRefCitation>
), and Oreor islands. These are locations in the central and northern portions of the island group and suggest the species is probably widespread in the
