The Validity of Dibamus nicobaricum (Fitzinger in Steindachner, 1867) (Squamata: Sauria: Dibamidae)

Indraneil Das

Abstract


Fitzinger’s in Steindachner, 1867 Rhinophidion nicobaricum is shown to be a valid species of the genus Dibamus and redescribed based on material from Great Nicobar and Camorta, Nicobar Islands, India. Dibamus nicobaricum differs from congeners from continental and insular regions of south-east Asia in possessing the following characteristics: lanceolate infralabials; a single postocular; elongated head; complete rostral sutures; 23 – 25 midbody scale rows; 192 – 253 ventrals; 31 – 38 subcaudals; tail short (tail length as percentage of snout-vent length 8.73 – 18.27), and small body size (SVL of the largest example, a female, 134.7 mm).


Keywords


Rhinophidion nicobaricum; Dibamus nicobaricum; Dibamidae; nomenclature; systematics; Nicobar Islands; India

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-1996-3-2-157-162

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