Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Cantor, 1839)

Taxon Identity and Size Introduction

This species, Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Cantor, 1839), has the following size characteristics.

Male Size

Males reach a maximum total length of 112 cm (44 in), with a tail length of up to 19.5 cm (7.7 in).

Female Size

Females reach a maximum total length of 116 cm (46 in), with a tail length of up to 20.5 cm (8.1 in).

Hemipenis Morphology

The species' hemipenes are spinose.

Dorsal Scalation

Details of its scalation are as follows: dorsal scales are arranged in 25 longitudinal rows at midbody.

Head Scale Texture

Scales on the upper surface of the head are small, and each scale is keeled on its posterior portion.

Internasal Scales

Internasals are 5 to 10 times the size of adjacent scales, and are separated by 3 to 4 scales.

Supraocular and Interocular Scales

Supraoculars are long, narrow, and undivided; there are 14 to 16 small interoculars in the line between the two supraoculars.

Preocular and Nasal Scales

There are 2 scales on the line between the upper preocular and nasal scale.

Upper Labial Scales

There are 9 to 11 upper labials; the first upper labial is separated from the nasal by a suture.

Subocular to Labial Scales

There are 2 to 3 small scales between the upper labials and subocular.

Temporal Scales

There are 2 to 3 rows of temporal scales above the upper labials that are smooth, and the scales above these temporal rows are keeled.

Ventral Scale Count

Ventrals number between 200 and 218.

Subcaudal Scale Count

Subcaudals number between 76 and 91, and all are paired.

Dorsal Coloration

Its color pattern is as follows: the dorsal surface is grayish or olive brown, with a dorsal series of large brown spots or blotches that have black edges, plus a lateral series of smaller spots.

Head Coloration

The upper surface of the head is brownish, while the lower surface of the head is whitish.

Belly Coloration

The belly is whitish but heavily speckled with light brown powder.

Tail Coloration

The tail is brownish, and may be pink when alive according to M.A. Smith 1943:507; it also has a series of dark dorsal spots.

Main Geographic Range

Its geographic range extends from northeastern India (Assam and Mizoram) and Bangladesh, east to Myanmar, China (including Hainan, reaching as far north as Gansu and as far east as Zhejiang), Laos, northern and central Vietnam.

Additional Native Range

It is also found in northern Thailand and in Taiwan.

Type Locality

The species' type locality is the Naga Hills, India.

Introduced Range

This snake has been introduced to Okinawa, Japan.