A contribution to taxonomy and biology of Spalerosophis diadema diadema (Schlegel, 1837) along with a new record of Spalerosophis atriceps (Fischer, 1885) from the Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir, India (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)

Abstract

The present study is aimed to validate the occurrence of two species of Diadem or Royal snakes of Genus Spalerosophis Jan, 1865 from the Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir, India along with the presentation of eight different colour morphs and diagnostic characteristics. The eight different colour morphs include four colour morphs of adults of S. d. diadema (Schlegel, 1837), two colour morphs of adults of S. atriceps (Fischer, 1885), one colour morph of subadults of unknown parentage and one colour morph of the adult of S. diadema (Schlegel, 1837) represented by a single individual whose identification at subspecies level (ssp. cliffordii/diadema) is the subject for further investigations for want of more specimens. This solitary specimen shares many similarities with S. d. diadema, but it has less number of sub-caudal scales which point towards the likelihood of S. d. cliffordii (Schlegel, 1837). The distribution, activity, habitat and behaviour have also been reported along with the morphological, morphometric and meristic characters. Between two identified species S. atriceps is a new report from the Poonch District. Reported specimens are mapped across the study area and are depicted here in the distribution map.