Ovophis monticola (Günther, 1864)

Taxonomic Identification

This species is Ovophis monticola (Günther, 1864).

Size

Adult males reach a total length of 49 cm (19+1⁄4 inches) with an 8 cm (3+1⁄8 inch) tail, while adult females reach a total length of 110 cm (43+1⁄4 inches) with a 15 cm (5+7⁄8 inch) tail.

Head Snout Morphology

The head has a short snout that is just over twice the length of the eye diameter.

Crown Scales

The crown is covered by small, usually smooth, feebly imbricate scales instead of large shields.

Upper Labial and Nasal Scales

The first upper labial scale is not fused to the nasal scale, and the two are completely separated by a suture.

Supraocular Scales

The supraocular scales are large, with 5 to 9 scales lying in a line between the two supraoculars.

Internasal Scales

The internasal scales are usually not in contact with each other, and are separated by 2 small suprapostrostral scales.

Facial Pit Scale Morphology

There are 7 to 10 upper labial scales; the second upper labial is usually fused to the scale that borders the facial sensory pit on its anterior side.

Subocular Scales

The fourth and fifth upper labial scales sit below the eye, but are separated from the eye orbit by a series of 2 to 4 small scales.

Body Build

The body is stout in build.

Dorsal Scale Arrangement

Dorsal scales are either smooth or weakly keeled, arranged in 23 to 25 longitudinal rows at midbody, and occasionally appear in 19 or 21 rows instead.

Ventral and Subcaudal Scales (Northeast Range)

For populations from Myanmar, northeastern India, and adjacent areas of China and Thailand, there are 137 to 176 ventral scales and 36 to 62 subcaudal scales; subcaudals are a mix of paired and single scales, and are occasionally all unpaired.

Ventral and Subcaudal Scales (Southeast China Indochina)

For populations from southern China, Vietnam, and Laos, there are 127 to 144 ventral scales and 36 to 54 subcaudal scales, following Smith 1943:509.

Ventral and Subcaudal Scales (Malaysian Peninsula)

For populations from the Malaysian Peninsula, there are 133 to 137 ventral scales and 22 to 28 subcaudal scales, following Smith 1943:509.

Geographic Distribution

This species is found across Asia, in the following locations: Nepal; India (Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland); Bangladesh (already noted in the subspecies table); Myanmar; China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet); Cambodia; Thailand; Laos; Vietnam; West Malaysia; and Indonesia (Sumatra).

Type Locality

Its type locality is recorded as Sikkim, India.