Post by Ceratodromeus on Feb 25, 2016 0:51:28 GMT 5
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Calamariinae
Genus: Rabdion
Species: R.grovesi
Description
This species was collected from the field and described in late 2015{1}. The holotype is an adult male(museum catalogue number MZB 2679) was collected in south Sulawesi, Indonesia, were the species is restricted too -- one of the characteristics that distinguishes it from it's sister taxon R.fortensi. The holotype individual measured 490mm(19.2in) in snout-vent length, with a very short(~5% of total length) tail measuring 30mm(1.1in). This new species is distinguished from R.forsteni by a higher number of subcaudal (192 vs 130-160)and lower numbers of ventral scales (19 vs 21-34). In life R.grovesi is a beautiful hue of bluish-black with a bright yellow ventral coloration.
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{1}Description of a Second Species of the Genus Rabdion Duméril, Bibron & Duméril,
1854 (Colubridae: Calamariinae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia
Abstract
We describe a new species of the genus Rabdion based on morphological evidence. The new species, Rabdion grovesi sp. nov., is
restricted to South Sulawesi, whereas Rabdion forsteni is widely distributed on the rest of Sulawesi (Indonesia). Rabdion grovesi sp. nov. differs
from R. forsteni by having a broader, shallower, and rounded rostral (vs. narrow, deep, and pointed); nasal touched by first and second
supralabials (vs. first only); temporals 1 + 2 (vs. 1 + 3); 192 ventrals (vs. 130–157 in males and 152–160 in females); elongate (vs. shorter) dorsal
scales; and a bluish gray dorsum (vs. grayish brown) in preservative. Finally, we provide a complete redescription for R. forsteni based on the
subadult female syntype, MNHN 7210.
link to description paper
