Boiga multomaculata subsp. ochracea Köhler & Charunrochana & Mogk & Than & Kurniawan & Kadafi & Das & Tillack & O'Shea 2023, comb. nov

Boiga multomaculata ochracea (Theobald, 1868), comb. nov. Tawny Asian Cat Snake 1868 Dipsas ochracea Theobald: 53. 1868 Dipsas ochraceus Günther: 425. 1931 Boiga multomaculata indica Mell: 213 [partim]. 1943 Boiga ochracea walli Smith: 349 [partim]. Geographic distribution: Most of Myanmar (except for the northern portion of the country), northeastern India (Mizoram), Bangladesh, Thailand north of 18° N latitude, and northern Laos (own observation; Smith 1943; Whitaker & Captain 2004; Ahmed et al. 2009; Das 2010; Hasan et al. 2014; Wallach et al. 2014; Chan-ard et al. 2015; Lalremsanga & Lalronunga 2017; Lalremsanga et al. 2018; Hmar et al. 2020). Type material.The description of Dipsas ochracea is based on two specimens from “ Rangoon ” and “Maulmain”, but the two syntypes are not located and must be regarded as lost (see Introduction). In agreement with Art. 72.2 and Art. 75 of the Code, we here designate BMNH 1946.1.2.60 (formerly BMNH 68.4.3.16) (Figs. 11 and 12) as neotype of Dipsas ochracea Theobald, 1868 to ensure stability and universality by specifying a single name-bearer for this nominal taxon. With the selected specimen, which at the same time represents one of the syntypes of Dipsas ochraceus Günther, 1868, we preserve the original connection and exchange between Günther and Theobald with respect to the nearly simultaneous description and naming of an ochraceous colored Asian cat snake taxon from southern Burma. By selection of the neotype and in accordance with Art. 76.3 of the Code, the type locality is “ Pegu ”, replacing the ‘corrected’ type locality by Wallach et al. (2014:106), which includes two different divisions in southern Myanmar. Neotype. BMNH 1946.1.2.60 (formerly BMNH 68.4.3.16), an adult female from “ Pegu ” [Bago, Bago Region, Myanmar, approx. 17.32°N, 96.47°E], collected by William Theobald and donated to the BMNH collection in spring 1868. Description of the neotype. Adult female, indicated by the absence of hemipenes; 1/1 loreal, wider than high; nasal scale completely divided; 1/1 preocular; 1/1 supraocular; 2/2 postoculars, upper not reaching onto top of head; 2 prefrontals; 2/2 anterior and 4/3 posterior temporals; supralabials 8/8, 3 rd –5 th supralabials entering eye; 12/11 infralabials, first five in contact with anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 19-19-15 rows, smooth with paired tiny apical pits on body and paired or triple apical pits on dorsocaudal scales; vertebral scale row significantly enlarged; one preventral and 237 ventrals; cloacal plate entire; 98 paired subcaudal scales. Body slender; tail long (TL/SVL 0.239); SVL 889 mm; TL 212 mm; head length measured from tip of snout to posterior border of parietals 18.3 mm, head length measured from tip of snout to posterior edge of mandible 23.8 mm, head width 15.5 mm; diameter eye 4.2 mm; distance anterior border eye to tip of snout 7.3 mm. Dentition. Maxillary bone with 11/10 prediastemal teeth, followed by a distinct diastema which is 68% longer than the socket of the last prediastemal tooth and followed by two distinctly enlarged, grooved and posteriorly bent postdiastemal teeth. Prediastemal teeth slightly decrease in size posteriorly, the anterior three distinctly posteriorly hooked, the following with less pronounced curvature. On the left side, prediastemal teeth number one, three, five, seven, nine, 11, and second postdiastemal loose. On the right side, prediastemal tooth six broken, teeth one, three, five, and seven and second postdiastemal tooth loose. Medial to each maxillary tooth is a single replacement tooth at different growth stages. Palatine bone with 6/6 posteriorly curved teeth, shorter that the prediastemal teeth and slightly decreasing in size posteriorly. Second tooth on left side broken. Teeth one, three and five loose on right side. Lateral to each palatine tooth is a single replacement tooth at different growth stages. Pterygoid bone with 10/9 posteriorly curved teeth, shorter than the palatine tooth, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly. Teeth one, three, five, seven and nine loose on left side. Teeth one, three, five, seven and eight loose on right side. The posterior 58% of the pterygoid bone are without teeth. Mandibular bone with 18/17 posteriorly curved teeth, shorter than maxillary teeth, gradually decreasing in size posteriorly. Medial to each mandibular tooth is a single replacement tooth in different growth stages. Tooth two broken, teeth one, three, four, 15 and 17 loose on left side. Teeth one, three, nine, 12 and 14 loose on right side. The neotype of B. m. ochracea coloration after approximately 150 years preservation in ca. 70% ethanol was recorded as follows: Dorsal ground color of head body and tail with intact “Oberhäutchen” uniform Drab (Color 19), body parts without “Oberhäutchen” uniform Light Lavender (201); interstitial skin Fawn Color (258); venter of head, body and tail same color as described for dorsal body. Dorsal scale reduction formula. [table omitted] Variation. Individuals of this subspecies are either blotched or immaculate whereas specimens with an intermediate color pattern have not been reported yet (Fig. 13). For variation in morphometrics and scalation see Table 1. Variation in dentition. Ten to 13 prediastemal teeth followed by a distinct diastema and two enlarged grooved postdiastemal teeth; six palatine, eight to 13 pterygoid, and 15 to 18 dental teeth. Variation in live coloration and pattern. Two color morphs, blotched and unicolored are known. The blotched morph resembles the color and pattern of brownish individuals of the nominate subspecies. Dorsal ground color of the unicolored morph Pale Cinnamon (Color 55) to Dark Salmon Color (59), interstitial skin Pale Neutral Grey (296), posterior supralabials and infralabials Chamois (84) with Dark Salmon Color (59) edges. Venter of head, body and tail Pale Buff (1). Iris Light Chrome Orange (76) or Dark Salmon Color (59), pupil Sepia (286). Natural History. Boiga m. ochracea is mostly arboreal, crepuscular and nocturnal. It is known to inhabit different forest types, parks and gardens and agricultural land like banana plantations in lowlands, mid hills and submontane regions, from around 10 m up to 1884 m a.s.l. It is reported to feed on birds and their eggs, and lizards (our observations; Whitaker & Captain 2004; Mahony et al. 2009; Das 2010; Hasan et al. 2014).
Published as part of Köhler, Gunther, Charunrochana, Panupong Thammachoti, Mogk, Linda, Than, Ni Lar, Kurniawan, Nia, Kadafi, Ahmad Muammar, Das, Abhijit, Tillack, Frank & O'Shea, Mark, 2023, A taxonomic revision of Boiga multomaculata (Boie, 1827) and B. ochracea (Theobald, 1868), with the description of a new subspecies (Squamata, Serpentes, Colubridae), pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5270 (2) on pages 174-177, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7896950
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