Anomochilus leonardi

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Anomochilus leonardi

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Anomochilidae
Genus: Anomochilus
Species:
A. leonardi
Binomial name
Anomochilus leonardi
Anomochilus leonardi range in Malaysia

Anomochilus leonardi, also known by the

herpetologist Malcolm Arthur Smith in 1940, the species is a stout, cylindrical snake with a small head and short, conical tail. It has a snout–vent length of up to 390 mm (15 in), and has a black underside with a glossy black to purplish brown upperside. It also has two rows of elliptical yellow spots along the back, a yellow bar across the snout, and a large red patch on the subcaudal scales. It can be told apart from the other species in its genus by the absence of pale stripes along its sides, an unpaired parietofrontal scale
, and the presence of the pale patches along its back.

The species is nocturnal and

live young. The IUCN Red List
currently classifies the species as being of least concern due to its presence in protected areas and the fact that its range is likely larger than currently known.

Taxonomy and systematics

Anomochilus leonardi was

Pahang, Malaysia.[5] The specific name leonardi is in honor of G. R. Leonard, collector of the holotype.[5]

A. leonardi is one of three

paraphyletic (not containing all the descendants of a common ancestor) with respect to Anomochilidae, and some authorities merge the latter family into the former.[6][7]

Description

Like other species in its genus, A. leonardi is cylindrical, with a small, rounded head and short, conical tail.[2][4] It has a snout–vent length of up to 390 mm (15 in).[8] The upper side of the body is glossy black to purplish-brown, while the underside is black.[4] The back has two rows of elliptical yellow spots along the sides of vertebral scales, and there is a yellow bar across the snout and a large red patch on the subcaudal scales.[2][5] The head is continuous with the neck and, despite the fossorial (adapted to living underground) nature of the species, the snout has no reinforcements to aid in burrowing.[2] The dorsum is smooth, with slightly larger scales than the underside.[4]

A. leonardi has 17 or 19 rows of scales (excluding

postocular scale, and the lack of a mental groove.[8]

The species is the only Anomochilus on the Malay Peninsula, but co-occurs with both of its congeners on Borneo.[4] It differs from A. weberi in lacking pale stripes along its sides and having an unpaired parietofrontal scale on the forehead.[8] It can be distinguished from A. monticola by the presence of pale patches bordering the vertebral scales and the number of midventral scales (monticola has 258–261, compared to 214–252 for leonardi).[4]

Distribution and habitat

A. leonardi is currently only known from

dipterocarp forests in plains and hills, usually at altitudes of around 250 m (820 ft), although some specimens have been collected from as high as 500 m (1,600 ft). It is mostly known from riparian areas near streams and rivers, and the species, like others in its genus, is fossorial.[1][4]

Ecology and conservation

A. leonardi is nocturnal and fossorial.

live young.[2][4]

The species is currently classified as being of

Taman Negara National Park.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T1555A727213.en
    . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^
    OCLC 1356003917
    .
  3. ^ Anomochilus leonardi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 04 August 2015.
  4. ^
    OCLC 455823617
    .
  5. ^
    ISSN 0374-5481
    .
  6. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0469.2005.00315.x
    .
  7. S2CID 245849898
    .
  8. ^
    S2CID 85684485
    .

Further reading
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