Sea snakes (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae) in Vietnam: a comprehensive checklist and an updated identification key
Author
Rasmussen, Arne Redsted
Author
Elmberg, Johan
Author
Gravlund, Peter
Author
Ineich, Ivan
text
Zootaxa
2011
2894
1
20
journal article
46820
10.5281/zenodo.277666
479010ae-6e99-4cc9-b4d3-b39ccc814f9a
1175-5326
277666
Kerilia
Gray
Kerilia jerdonii
Gray
: (
Bourret, 1934
,
1936
;
Harding & Welch, 1980
;
Tran & Nguyên, 1980
;
Kharin, 1984b
;
Tran & Nguyên, 1995
;
Nguyên & Hó, 1996
;
Nguyên
et al.
, 2005
;
Kharin, 2006
;
Nguyên
et al.
, 2009
).
Diagnostic characters:
Easily recognized by the yellowish colour and the low scale row counts around neck and body. Maxillary bone extending forward beyond the palatine and fangs followed without any interspace by 7– 9 teeth. Scale rows around neck 15–17; scale rows around body 19–23; ventrals 200–278.
Colouration:
Body yellow above, yellowish or white below, with black bands wider above and fading laterally. In some specimens the dark bands encircle the body.
Size:
105 cm
.
General distribution:
India
,
Sri Lanka
, Andaman Sea, Strait of
Malacca
,
Singapore
, Gulf of
Thailand
, South
China
Sea,
Taiwan
and Borneo (
David & Ineich, 1999
).
Remarks:
Two subspecies are recognised (
Smith, 1926
):
K. jerdoni jerdoni
is found in
India
,
Sri Lanka
, Andaman Sea, and from Strait of
Malacca
to
Singapore
;
K. j. siamensis
is found from East
Malaysia
, Gulf of
Thailand
to
China
and
Taiwan
. (
Smith, 1926
;
Rasmussen & Andersen, 1990
).