[Herpetology • 2017] Oligodon saiyok | งูงอดไทรโยค • A New Limestone-dwelling Kukri Snake (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand

Oligodon saiyok 

 Sumontha, Kunya, Dangsri & Pauwels, 2017

  งูงอดไทรโยค | Sai Yok Kukri Snake ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4294.3.2 

Abstract

We describe Oligodon saiyok sp. nov. from Benjarat Nakhon Cave Temple, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 626.1 mm; 13 maxillary teeth, the posterior two enlarged; 8 supralabials; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 181–187 ventrals and 38–43 subcaudals; a single anal; hemipenes extending in situ to the 18th subcaudal; dorsum with 21–22 dark blotches or white rings without vertebral or lateral stripes; and venter with a dense network of subrectangular dark blotches. It is the 7th squamate species believed to be endemic to Sai Yok District.

Keywords: Reptilia, Thailand, Oligodon saiyok sp. nov., new species, taxonomy, limestone cave, Buddhist temple

FIGURE 1. Live holotype of Oligodon saiyok sp. nov. Photograph by K. Kunya.

Etymology. The specific epithet is an invariable noun in honor of the administrative district where the type locality lies. We suggest the following common names: Ngu Ngod Sai Yok - งูงอดไทรโยค (Thai), Sai Yok Kukri Snake (English), Oligodon de Saï Yok (French), and Sai Yok Kukrinatter (German).

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Oligodon saiyok sp. nov. increases the already exceptionally high number of squamates endemic to Sai Yok District, still unexplained to date: Cnemaspis huaseesom Grismer, Sumontha, Cota, Grismer, Wood, Pauwels & Kunya, 2010, Cyrtodactylus saiyok Panitvong, Sumontha, Tunprasert & Pauwels, 2014 and C. tigroides Bauer, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2003, Dixonius hangseesom Bauer, Sumontha, Grossmann, Pauwels & Vogel, 2004, Gekko nutaphandi Bauer, Sumontha & Pauwels, 2008, and Trimeresurus kanburiensis Smith, 1943 (see David et al. 2004). ....

Montri Sumontha, Kirati Kunya, Siriwat Dangsri and Olivier S. G. Pauwels. 2017.  Oligodon saiyok, A New Limestone-dwelling Kukri Snake (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. Zootaxa. 4294(3); 316–328. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4294.3.2
ResearchGate.net/publication/318529308_Oligodon_saiyok_a_new_limestone-dwelling_kukri_snake_Serpentes_Colubridae_from_Kanchanaburi_Province_western_Thailand