Pseudorabdion longiceps (Cantor, 1847)

Cantor’s Dwarf Reed Snake

Calamaria longiceps Cantor, 1847:910, pl. 40, fig. 1.

Oxycalamus longiceps, Günther, 1864:199 (redescription of type specimen).

Pseudorhabdion longiceps, Boulenger, 1885:389; 1894:329 (Nias Island).— Boettger, 1891:107 (Sumatra [Deli]).— Boulenger, 1903:175 (listed).— Bourret, 1936:266, fig. 105.— Haas, 1950:562.— Tweedie, 1953:51, 122, 129, fig. 12a–b; 1957:53, 126, 133, fig. 13a–b.— Leviton and Brown (WC), 1959:481, figs. 1–2 (see for extended synonymy).

Pseudorhabdium longiceps, Boulenger, 1894:329 .— Griffin, 1911:261 (Luzon Island [after Peters, 1861; probably in error]).— Boulenger, 1912:154 (Philippine Islands [probably in error]).— de Rooij, 1917:146, text-fig. 61 (Philippine Islands [probably in error]).— Taylor, 1922a:178 (distribution compiled; description quoted from Boulenger, 1894).

Pseudorahbdion [sic] longiceps, Smith, 1930:57 .

Rabdion torquatum Duméril, 1853:441 (nomen nudum). Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854:119 (type locality: Macassar; type in MNHN).— Casto de Elera, 1895:426 (various Philippine localities listed, but source of data unknown).

Pseudorabdion torquatum, Jan, 1862:10; 1863:30; 1865, Livr. 10, pl. 3, fig. 3.

Rhabdion torquatum, Peters, 1861:684 .— Boettger, 1886:106.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Pinang, Malay Peninsula . Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.2.13.

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION.— Frequently listed but supposed records unverified.

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION (OTHER THAN PHILIPPINES).— Indonesia: Borneo (Kuching, Penrissen Road, Pontianak, Sebruang Valley, Simanggang); Celebes (Macassar); Nias; Sumatra (Ajerbangis, Deli, Gunung, Indragiri, Langkat, Oberlangkat, Sahilan, Sing-karah, Tebing Tinggi). Malaya: (Bangnara, Fraser’s Hill, Johore, Pa-hang [Gunong Tahan], Perak, Pinang, Selangor, Singapore, Wellesley Province). Riou Archipelago: Pulu Galang. Thailand: (Ban Gnara, Patani).

REMARKS.— This is the most widely distributed species of Pseudorabdion . It differs from the other species in possessing a preocular scale. In other characters, P. longiceps agrees most closely with P. oxycephalum and P. ater .

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.