First insular record of the Ashy Kukri Snake, Oligodon cinereus Günther 1864, from Hon Son Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: currently comprises 88 recognized species from throughout southern and southeastern Asia (Nguyen et al. 2022; Uetz et al. 2024).The Ashy Kukri Snake (Oligodon cinereus) is distributed from northern and eastern India, Bhutan, Myanmar, and southern China through Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to Thailand and Malaysia (Yushchenko et al. 2023; Uetz et al. 2024).Since the original description by Günther (1864), several names that have been allocated to this species, some as subspecies, largely correspond to distinct color morphotypes found across the range and are now considered junior synonyms (Smith 1943;David et al. 2011;Yushchenko et al. 2023).However, most records of O. cinereus are from mainland Indochina, with no known insular records.We herein report the first insular population of Oligodon cinereus based on one captured female (Fig. 1) collected on 18 June 2023 on the central road bisecting Hon Son Island, Lai Son Commune, Kien Hai District, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam (9.81284, 104.64422; elev.102 m asl) (Fig. 2).The specimen was fixed in 90% ethanol for 24 hours, preserved in 70% ethanol for permanent storage, and deposited in the Institute of Tropical Biology Collection of Zoology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (ITBCZ 11006).Morphometric characters corresponded largely with those of mainland specimens (Table 1), with only the number of subcaudals exceeding by one the number recorded elsewhere for females, which resulted in a slightly higher number of subcaudal to total body scales.Identification was confirmed by Nikolai L.
Source: Reptiles & Amphibians
Authors: Thinh Tran Gia, Vu Nguyen Dang Hoang, Ngon Lam Quang, Smith Jacob
Institution: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405883635