An annotated checklist, description and key to the dwarf snakes of the genus Eirenis Jan, 1863 (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae), with special emphasis on the dentition

For the first time a comprehensive checklist and description of all species of the dwarf snake genus Eirenis is presented using both ex-ternal morphological characters and osteological information derived from micro-computed tomography, and by considering more than 300 specimens from the entire distribution range. Our study recognizes 18 valid species, but also emphasizes that Eirenis modestus and E. persicus each represent a complex of several taxa which urgently need a revision. Regarding the latter complex, the validity of the taxon “Eirenis mcmahoni” is not accepted due to the current lack of understanding of the persicus -group. Also, further studies should be carried out to fully understand the species status of the newly described Eirenis kermanensis , which seems closely related to E. medus . At the same time, E. hakkariensis is resurrected to full species status given the dramatic morphological differences to E. thospitis , casting doubt on the apparent genetic identity as revealed by a previous investigation. In addition, our study presents the first record of E. eiselti for Syria. On the basis of our results it is for the first time possible to compile a key to all currently recognized species of Eirenis , which should be helpful for future systematic studies and faunal surveys.


Introduction
The dwarf snakes of the colubrine genus Eirenis comprise 18 currently recognized species which are primarily distributed in the Middle East, but also extend into southeastern Europe, the Caucasus Mountains, Pakistan, and northeastern Africa. As their trivial name suggests, the members of the genus are comparatively small and slender, with the maximum length only rarely exceeding 600 mm. They are characterized morphologically by the presence of 15 -19 unkeeled dorsal scales, a subocular lacking, one anterior temporal touching the postoculars, divided subcaudal scales, a divided anal shield, a head only marginally offset from the trunk, and an aglyphous dentition.
The genus Eirenis was originally erected by Jan in 1863, where he included a number of species with 13 -17 dorsal scales. Among those, he designated "1. E. colla-ris (Ménétr.)" as type species, whereas the biogeographic origin of most of the type material, as well as its morphology (17 dorsal scales) indicate that the type species is composed of what is currently known as Eirenis modestus (Martin, 1838) (Art. 70.3.2 ICZN hoc loco) (see SchMidtler 1978: 390 andnagy et al. 2003: 149 who did not yet reach this formal decision). Boulenger (1894) considered Eirenis to be a synonym of Contia girard in Baird & girard, 1853, a view that was followed by chernov (1948), whereas Stickel (1951) resurrected Eirenis for all species in question. While the genus subsequently experienced a remarkable increase in species number (eiSelt 1970;SchMidtler 1988SchMidtler , 1993SchMidtler , 1997SchMidtler & SchMidtler 1978;SchMidtler & lanza 1990;SchMidtler & eiSelt 1991), the ingroup relationships and affinities to other colubrines long remained obscure. nagy et al. (2003) performed the only molecular study known so far, revealing a sistergroup relationship between Eirenis and the genus Hierophis, and including the formerly separate Pseudocyclophis persicus in Eirenis. In addition, nagy et al. (2003) proposed the presence of four ingroup clades, which they assigned to the subgenera Eirenis, Pseudocyclophis, Eoseirenis, and Pediophis. In the present study this classification is followed, even though several species such as E. coronella, E. rechingeri and E. africanus were not considered by nagy et al. (2003) due to a lack of available tissues.
The genus Eirenis is of significant evolutionary interest given its obviously secondary reduction in size, as inferred from the fact that both its sister taxon Hierophis and the outgroup taxa Dolichophis and Platyceps grow much larger. Several authors addressed the issue of dwarfism in Eirenis from an evolutionary perspective (e.g. SchMidtler 1993;nagy et al. 2003), focusing primarily on the relative reduction in scale number and the observation that some species of Eirenis resemble juvenile specimens of Hierophis in colouration. Particularly nagy et al. (2003) proposed several evolutionarily independent reductions in size within the genus, probably as a result of parallel adaptations towards a more secretive lifestyle. However, many species of Eirenis are only poorly known morphologically, and thus any evolutionary interpretation is currently rendered difficult.
In order to provide a better foundation for the study of size reduction in Eirenis (Mahlow et al. in prep.), a reinvestigation of all species of the genus was performed, in which next to their external morphology also the internal morphology was examined using X-ray computed tomography. The present contribution builds on these results and presents a morphological characterization and key to all currently recognized species of the genus Eirenis.

Material and methods
The present contribution is based on the study of 347 preserved specimens of Eirenis from the entire geo-graphic range of the genus (see Appendix 1 for a list of examined specimens), including all currently recognized species. Specimens of the ZMB collection with the locality 'Central Mesopotamien' come from Max von oppenheiM's expedition and were collected between 1911 and 1913 during the archaeological excavations in the area of 'Tell Halaf' (Ra's al-'Ayn District, Al-Hasakah Governorate, Northeast Syria).
Descriptions of each species are based on personal observations as well as information from the literature. Dorsal scale rows were counted at three points along the trunk, i.e. at one head length posterior to the end of the head, at midbody, and at one head length anterior to the anal scute. Head length is defined by the length from the tip of the snout to the end of the parietalia. The midbody scale count was taken at half of the total number of ventral scales. Ventrals were counted according to dowling (1951). The terminal scale is not included in the subcaudal count. The term 'percra' sensu werner (1971) defines the ratio of tail length/total length.
The heads of 336 studied snake specimens were subjected to micro-tomographic analysis at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin using a Phoenix nanotom X-ray|s tube at 70 -90kV and 120µA, generating 800 -1000 projections per scan. The different kV-and projection-settings depended on the respective specimen size. Effective voxel size ranged between 6 -10µm. The cone beam reconstruction was performed using the datos|x-reconstruction software (GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GMBH phoenix|x-ray) and the data were visualized in VG Studio Max 2.0.
Dental data of 331 specimens were analyzed and results are given in the respective species descriptions for a single tooth-bearing bone. At the plates all bones of the right side head were depicted, with the exception of Eirenis (P.) rechingeri. For better visualization and comparison the tooth-bearing bones are adjusted to a comparative size and were provided with the respective scale.
above sea level DSR dorsal scale rows VEN ventralia SC subcaudalia; Loreal scale present "+", absent "-" LC loreal scale in contact with specified supralabialia PrO preocularia PoO postocularia T temporalia, given in first, second and third row SL supralabialia SLC supralabialia in contact with the orbit IL infralabialia, lower labial scales bordering the mouth ILC infralabialia in contact with anterior inframaxillaria GC gular scales in contact with the anterior pair of inframaxillaria SuL sublabialia, longitudinal row of scales below beginning at the posterior inframaxillaria and extending to the last IL n.d.
no data available.

Institutional abbreviations BMNH
The Natural History Museum, London, U. K.
Dorsum yellowish to sand brown; variable dark head pattern with light yellowish interspaces; thin collar bordered posteriorly by a narrow light band followed by a transverse series of small dark spots of variable number; big oval spot behind each ventrolateral end of the collar; dark blotch on the posterior edges of the parietalia, often forming a fusing bridge with the collar; pattern often faded in older individuals; ventralia and subcaudalia whitish or yellowish grey ( Fig. 1 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17/17/15 -17; apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous in the collar region and posterior to the anterior third of the body, usually a single pit positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, but the lateral scales may possess two pits arranged along the apical border, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; ventralia ; subcaudalia 60 -84 (PP 68 -84, OO 60 -77); preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 2, rarely 1; loreal scale 1, in contact with 2 nd , rarely the 2 nd and 3 rd or the 1 st and 2 nd supralabial; supralabialia 7, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, rarely 9, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|2 -3|2 -4; 1 -2, rarely 0 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. I, Fig. 1). 16 -21 maxillary teeth, which increase posteriorly in size, the anterior two more closely spaced than the rest; 9 -12 palatine teeth, the anterior ones a little smaller than the rest; 16 -19 pterygoid teeth, the anterior half more closely spaced than the posterior one, the teeth slightly increase posteriorly in size, the posterior 20% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 18 -22 mandibular teeth, which decrease in size posteriorly, the anteriormost two more closely spaced than the rest.
Type locality. In his original description of Coronella modesta, Martin (1838) did not mention the exact number and locality of the [type] specimens. Some were col-lected demonstrably during the 'Euphrates Expedition 1835 -1837'. According to ainSworth (1850) the main part of the natural history objects of the 'Euphrates Expedition' was collected by Dr. Johann Wilhelm helfer during his stay at "Port William" [a small settlement on the west bank of the river Euphrates, just south of Birecik, Şanlıurfa Province, SE Turkey, approx. 37° 2′ N, 37° 59′ E; become dilapidated in 1838]. However, additional material has been collected by other members of the expedition along the route from "Alexandrette" [Iskenderun] to "Port William", and during short trips to other locations, such as the lower reaches of the Orontes river, at Antiochia [Antakya], Bir [Birecik], Aleppo, Balis, Jilwan and Seroug. At the moment, an exact geographic assignment is impossible for most of these zoological samples due to missing or inaccurate original documentation. Beside the material collected during the 'Euphrates Expedition ' Martin (l.c.) mentioned an additional specimen from "Trebizond" [Trabzon, NE Turkey, 40° 46′ 50″ N, 39° 48′ 44″ E]. The statement of subsequent authors considering Trabzon as type locality alone is therefore erroneous (for further remarks see Comments).
Type material. The original type series consists of at least four syntypes: three collected at the 'Euphrates Expedition', listed by Boulenger (1894, p. 261) who regarded modestus as a synonym of collaris, and one from "Trebizond procured by K.
[eith] aBBott". Patrick caMpBell kindly informed us (pers. com. September 2012) that at least two of the putative syntypes mentioned by Boulenger (1894) are still deposited at The Natural History Museum, London (BMNH 1850.10.21.21 -22). The disposition of the "Trebizond" specimen mentioned by Martin (1838) is unknown. It is not listed in the catalogues of snakes either by günther (1854)  Dorsum unicoloured light brown-greyish, sometimes a few dark spots at the beginning of the back, except in the subspecies E. m. semimaculatus in which little dark spots can be found along the entire back; pileus with distinct interocular and parietal bands, both often fused posterior to the eyes; collar distinct and bent anteroventrally in lateral view, extending over 5 or more dorsal scale rows; sometimes a transverse row of spots posterior to the collar; venter mostly light brown; head colouration fading in older individuals; (Fig. 2 A -C). Melanistic specimens are known from province Muğla as well as Yassica and Sariot island (Turkey). Spotted and unspotted specimens of E. m. semimaculatus (auct.) are reported for Symi island (Greece). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17 -20/17 -18 (exceptionally 19)/15 -17; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous in the collar region and the anterior third of the body, increasing in number along the rest of the body and tail, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; when following from the paravertebral scale row at the posterior edge of the collar in a strictly diagonal, anterolaterally trending line of scales up to the level of the posterior tip of the mouth, there is a horizontal, posteriorly running scale row consisting of 1 -2 scales from the anterior beginning of the row to the posterior border of the collar; ventralia ; subcaudalia 51 -86 (PP 57 -86, OO 51 -74); preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 1 -2; 1 loreal scale, touching the 2 nd or the 1 st and 2 nd , rarely the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabial; supralabialia 7, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, rarely 9, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1, rarely 2|1 -3|2 -4; 1 -2, rarely 0 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria.
Dentition (Pl. I, Fig. 2). 14 -20 maxillary teeth which increase in size posteriorly; 8 -13 palatine teeth of nearly equal size; 14 -21 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 13% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 14 -21 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.
Distribution. Armenia, South Azerbaijan, East Georgia, Greece (Thrace and at the islands of Alazonisi, Chios, Fournoi, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Leros, Lesbos, Mytilini, Samos, Symi), northwestern to North-Central Iran, southern Russia (Daghestan), Turkey, ?Iraq. Natural history. The species is found active from April to November under flat, comparatively small stones in badlands, steppes or areas with extensive agricultural use from 1260 -2000 m a.s.l. Active during dawn, sometimes found at day in bushes. As active hunter it feeds on scorpions, Aranei, Acri, Chilopoda, Matodea, Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera larvae, scolopenders, other insects, small lizards, rarely worms and snails and small fish (Schweiger 1995).
Clutches consist of 3 -8, relatively large eggs (16.5 -38 mm long, 5 mm wide) in comparison to the body, laid in June or July. Hatchlings have a total length of 80 -120 mm.
Comments. Eirenis modestus is a complex of taxa, which badly needs a revision. Taking into consideration that the type series of modestus Martin probably consists of more than one taxon (see above) and from at least two distant localities and different ecozones, the present classification within this complex seems to be disputable. Further studies are required, including a lectotype designation and a restriction of the type locality, which most likely should be the region visited by the collectors of the 'Euphrates Expedition'; this is also because SchMidtler & Baran (1993b) state that no additional specimen of E. modestus was collected at "Trabzon" again, and the single specimen from that locality mentioned as comparative material by Martin (1838) is probably lost (see comments above). Additionally, according to Martin (1838), K. aBBott sent several specimens of "Coluber Cliffordii" [= Spalerosophis diadema cliffordii (Schlegel, 1837) (Martin, 1883), Eirenis modestus semimaculatus (Boettger, 1876) and Eirenis modestus cilicius SchMidtler, 1993. According to Boettger (1876) and personal observations E. m. semimaculatus is characterized by 8 longitudinal dorsal rows of irregular dark spots extending almost up to the tail. These spots are very distinct in the anterior portion of the body and sometimes fused into narrow lines. In older, preserved specimens the pattern fades out in the posterior part of the body. The outer edges of the ventralia possess dark margins.
Specimens from southern Turkey referable to E. m. cilicius can currently be defined by a reduction from 17 to 15 DSR between 59% and 76% of the total number of ventralia.
On the basis of the features known at this stage some of the specimens examined in this study could not be referred to one of the currently recognized subspecies. As pointed out by SchMidtler (1993SchMidtler ( , 1997SchMidtler ( ) and franzen et al. (2008 further studies of the Eirenis modestus-complex are highly necessary.
Type locality. Not given in the original description.
Dorsum grey olive or pale brown with 10 dark brown longitudinal stripes of different intensity starting at the neck and extending along the entire trunk: 2 pairs of distinct paravertebral stripes, the inner extending onto the beginning of the tail, the outer terminating at near the level of the midtail, 1 distinct stripe covering half of the 4 th and 5 th DSR, extending to the posterior quarter of the tail, a pair of ventrolateral stripes is indistinct and sometimes interrupted, covering half of the 2 nd and 3 rd , and the half of the 1 st and 2 nd ventrolateral DSR, respectively, with both extending to nearly the tip of the tail; dorsal scales with relatively light center; in preserved specimens the ventrolateral stripes usually fades; the 1 st and 2 nd DSR distinctly wider than the rest; head with indistinct and scattered irregularly shaped spots; no collar present; venter creamish ( Fig. 3 A -C). Also unicoloured, patternless specimens are known. Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17 -19/17 -18/15; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and less numerous along the tail, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale or shifted towards the posterodorsal edge of the scale relative to the afore mentioned condition, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; ventralia ; subcaudalia 55 -86 (PP 56 -86, OO 55 -79); preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 2, rarely 1; loreal scale 1, touches the 2 nd , rarely the 1 st and 2 nd or the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabial; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, rarely 9 or 10, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -3|2 -4; 0, rarely 1 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. II, Fig. 1). 19 -26 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 10 -14 palatine teeth which decrease posteriorly in size; 18 -24 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 20% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 19 -24 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.
Natural history. The largest species of the genus, recorded from an altitudinal range of 330 -1100 m. Found under stones or low stone walls in habitats with light, gravelly to heavy soil, stones and bushy vegetation, in pine oak forests, hillsides or rocky outcrops and also seen in cultivated areas. Mostly diurnal, feeding on invertebrates such as orthopterans, other insects, spiders, scorpions and centipedes, and occassionally small lizards (e.g. Ophisops elegans). Reproduction oviparous. Eirenis (?Pediophis) africanus (Boulenger, 1914) Contia africana Boulenger, G. A. (1914) Dorsum greyish brown or yellowish grey; head with irregular dark markings, faded in preserved specimens, scales of the pileus narrowly dark edged, upper edges of lateral head scalation dark edged; dark brown semicircular blotch on the 3 rd and 4 th supralabial, touching the lower border of the eye; broad dark brown collar, narrowly interrupted vertebral in the holotype; 4 longitudinal rows of dark brown spots from the neck to midbody, decreasing in size posteriorly; ventralia and subcaudalia cream or yellowish grey ( Fig. 4 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 15 -16/15/13; distinct single apical pits present throughout body and tail, positioned in the center of the apical tip of each scale; 2 apical pits on the upper 3 -6 enlarged scales of the caudal region posterior to the point of the 1 st and 2 nd scale reduction; between the 3 rd and 4 th caudal scale reduction the number of pits varies from 2 -1 and the pits are arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; 2 pits present from the level of the 4 th caudal scale reduction to the tip of tail (all these features are extremly weakly developed in the holotype because the Oberhäutchen [supra epidermis] is very softened and the apical pits can often be rarely seen); ventralia 146 -162 (P 146, OO 160 -162); sub-caudalia 69[+] -78 (P 78, OO 69[+] -72); preocularia 1; postocularia 2; loreal scale 1, touches the 2 nd or the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabialia; supralabialia 7, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, 1 st -4 th or 1 st -5 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1|1 -2; no gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. II, Fig. 2). 16 -18 maxillary teeth, which increase posteriorly in size; 9 -12 palatine teeth, a short part (equal to the width of the first tooth) at the anterior tip of the palatine untoothed; 15 -19 pterygoid teeth, which slightly increase posteriorly in size, the posterior 20% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 18 -22 mandibular teeth, which decrease in size posteriorly, the anteriormost two more closely spaced than the rest.

Distribution. Eritrea, Djibouti and Sudan.
Natural history. Eirenis africanus is a diurnal terrestrial species found in dry habitats of semi-evergreen bush-land scattered with trees and bushes at elevations from 1000 -1200 m a.s.l. (up to 2300 m according to largen & SpawlS (2010)).
Comments. This species was not included in the phylogeny of nagy et al. (2003). Until new results are available we follow the latter authors in their assessment and place E. africanus provisionally into the subgenus Pediophis. Boulenger (1914) mentioned an incomplete tail with 69 subcaudalia. The new examination of the holotype revealed only 29 subcaudalia, as another prominent part of the tail is now missing.
References. Boulenger (1914); Scortecci (1930) Dorsum yellowish or brown greyish; dorsal scales plain coloured, if spots are present, then in ssp. bischofforum; each single scale of the anterior third is brighter at its margin than in its center; head with 3 distinct bands (nasal band, interocular band and parietal band); interspaces between the head bands and the posterior border of the collar light yellowish; dark collar with straight ends; parietal band reaching the 6 th , rarely the 7 th supralabial; peak of the black triangular subocular spot terminates at the border of the 3 rd and 4 th supralabial; pattern often fading in older individuals; ventralia and subcaudalia yellowish-white; (Fig. 5 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17 -19/17/15; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous in the collar region, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -4 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; ventralia 138 -172 (PP 138 -157, OO 153 -172); subcaudalia 54 -69 (PP 59 -69, OO 54 -65); preocularia 1; postocularia 2, exceptionally 1; loreal scale 1, touching the 2 nd , rarely the 1 st and 2 nd or the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabialia; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -9, 1 st -4 th in contact with  Fig. 1). 16 -20 maxillary teeth, which increase posteriorly in size; 8 -12 palatine teeth of nearly equal size; 14 -20 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 17% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 17 -21 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.
Natural history. The species is found under stones on dry rocky slopes with loose bushes and herbaceous vegetation, rocky stream valleys, meadows in sparse forests up to 1450 m a.s.l. The food consists of insects, scolopenders, scorpions and small lizards. Oviparous reproduction is reported with cluches of 3 -4 soft-shelled elongated eggs (size 8x25 mm) in captivity.
Comments. The species is divided into 2 subspecies: Eirenis barani barani SchMidtler, 1988 and Eirenis barani bischofforum SchMidtler, 1997. According to SchMidtler (1988, 1997 bischofforum differs from barani in its higher reduction index (bischofforum: 37.1 vs. barani: 31.5), the stable number of palatine teeth (bischofforum: 10 vs. barani: 8 -12), and in the frequent occurrence of dorsally spotted specimens. Furthermore bischofforum differs from the nominate subspecies in the arrangement of the apical pits, viz. on the lateral scales the single pits are shifted anteroventrally relative to the condition of the nominate subspecies.
References. SchMidtler (1988SchMidtler ( , 1993SchMidtler ( , 1997; gruBer (2009) Dorsum olive or light brown; each dorsal scale with a light elongate spot in its center and with dark edges; head with an indistinct interocular band and two parietal spots, often merged together; black collar, tapering towards its ventral ends, the latter separated by 3 -6 gular scales; ventralia and subcaudalia yellowish-white; (  rarely the 1 st and the 2 nd or 2 nd and 3 rd supralabial; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -9, 1 st -4 th , rarely 1 st and 5 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -3|2 -3; 0, rarely 1 or 2 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. III, Fig. 2). 17 -20 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size, the anterior two spaced closer together than the rest; 8 -11 palatine teeth, which are nearly equal in size; 17 -21 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 10% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 16 -20 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.
Natural history. Eirenis collaris lives in open, dry or semidesert sites with soft stony, semi-sandy soils, or grassy hillsides in oak forests, at elevations up to 1700 m a.s.l. Often found together with Typhlops vermicularis under clumps of earth in plantations or fields. Hibernates in groups with numerous individuals in hollows at about 50 cm underground. The species is feeding on scorpions, centipedes, worms, beetles and other insects (Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera larvae), as well as on spiders and small lizards. Reproduction is oviparous with 4 -8 elongated eggs (size approx. 19x17 mm), which are laid in summer. Juveniles hatch from August to September with a maximum lengh of 100 -133 mm. The mating behavior is described by weBer-SéMénoff (1977).
Comments. werner (1903) described a new subspecies, "Contia collaris Mén. var. macrospilota" [present name Eirenis collaris macrospilotus] from "Russisch-Armenien" [subsequent restriction of the terra typica to "Mount Takjaltu in the vicinity of Kasikoporan, a village 20 km WSW of Tuzluca, Vilayet, Kars, Turkey" by eiSelt (1982)]. According to darevSky & Bakradze (1982) and the original description werner's subspecies differs from the nominate subspecies in having a longitudinal row of approximately 25 -34 dark black-brownish dorsal spots, which are indistinct in the posterior body, and furthermore an indistinct longitudinal lateral row of black spots. The posterior most part of the body is patternless. (1873) scales long, with thin connection to the interocular band; rest of pileus unicolour or with irregular dark spots, venter pale greyish or beige, sometimes light brown in the anterior part ( Fig. 7 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 15 -18/15/13 -15; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous in the collar region and the anterior third of the body, positioned in the center of the apical tip of each scale, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; ventralia 125 -174 (PP 125 -146, OO 139 -174); subcaudalia 32 -67 (PP 36 -67, OO 32 -63); preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 2; loreal scale 1, rarely absend, touches the 2 nd or the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabial; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -9, exceptionally 6, rarely 7, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -2|1 -3; 0 -1gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. IV, Fig. 1). 12 -13 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 7 -9 palatine teeth of nearly equal size, a short part (equal to the width of the first tooth) at the tip of the palatine untoothed; 13 -15 pterygoid teeth which increase posteriorly in size, the poste-rior 10% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 12 -15 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.
Natural history. Frequently found under stones in semidesert habitats or xeric steppe in lowlands and hilly regions up to 2000 m a.s.l., with rocks and scattered bushy vegetation. A diurnal species, active early in the morning and before sunset. Feeding on insects and other arthropods, e.g. spiders and particularly scorpions. Reproduction oviparous with up to 5 eggs (22x6 mm).
Comments. This species is divided into 3 subspecies: Eirenis coronella coronella (Schlegel, 1837), Eirenis coronella fennelli arnold, 1982, and Eirenis coronella ibrahimi Sivan & werner, 2003. These subspecies can be distinguished with the following key, modified from Sivan & werner (2003)  Dorsum beige or greyish with distinct dark bands; head with distinct blotch that never extends beyond the edges of the parietalia, usually referred to as 'crown' (e.g. Sivan & werner 2003), but which might touch collar and interocular band; belly with a broad dark stripe, which is coposed of oblong bars on the ventralia, most prominent in the anterior part of the venter; (Fig. 8 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 15 -17/15/13 -15; weakly developed single apical pits infrequently present from the posterior edge of the collar region to the end of the tail, increasing in number posterior to the central third of the body, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale, on the lateral caudal scales the single apical pits are shifted anterodorsally relative to the condition of the dorsal scales of the tail; ventralia 123 -155 (PP 123 -138, OO 134 -155); subcaudalia 30 -48 (PP 36 -48, OO 30 -40); preocularia 1; postocularia 2 -3, rarely 1; loreal scale 1, touches the 2 nd and 3 rd or the 2 nd supralabial, rarely absent; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th , rarely 4 th and 5 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -8, rarely 9, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -2|2; 0 -2 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. IV, Fig. 2). 11 -14 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 7 -9 palatine teeth of nearly equal size, short part (equal to the basal size of the first tooth) at the tip of the palatine untoothed; 12 -17 pterygoid teeth which increase posteriorly in size, the posterior 17% of the bone bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 10 -15 mandibular teeth, which decrease in size posteriorly.
Natural history. The species has been observed in mountain areas with primary oak forest and on slopes at the transition zone between moraine debris hill and dry steppe highland between 1500 and 1900 m a.s.l. In captivity it feeds on locusts and occasionally also on congeners (E. eiselti).
Comments. The results of nagy et al. (2003) suggest that Eirenis thospitis and Eirenis hakkariensis are completely identical in 3 of their mitochondrial and nuclear genes. The aforementioned authors, however, regard E. hakkariensis as subspecies of E. thospitis, also because of their different distribution. In our opinion, the striking differences in external morphology (position of DSR reductions, higher absolute values of DSR, infralabialia, temporalia as well as subcaudalia) (see table 1), a higher number of teeth (especially on the maxilla and the pterygoid) and the differences in body pattern make it very likely that the species status of Eirenis hakkariensis is justified. The genetic analysis should be repeated to confirm the astonishing sequence similarities obtained by nagy et al. (2003). (1978)

C B
A Dorsum unicoloured, brown-greyish; head with 2 dark transverse bands: parietal band scarcely exceeding the lateral edges of the parietalia, directed anteriorly and merging with the interocular band; a thin, sometimes broken transverse line on the edges of the nasalia and prefrontalia, fading in older individuals; peak of the black triangular subocular spot terminating at the border of the 3 rd and 4 th supralabial; interspaces between head bands and posterior border of collar light yellowish; collar sometimes with a narrow extension reaching onto the upper part of the posterior supralabialia; posterior to the light posterior border of the collar there is sometimes a series of small irregular spots; the whole head colouration might fade in older individuals (Fig. 11 A -C). ; preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 2, rarely 1; loreal scale 1, touching the 2 nd , rarely the 1 st and 2 nd supralabial; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -8, rarely 9, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|2 -4|2 -4; 0 -2 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. VI, Fig. 1). 16 -22 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 9 -13 palatine teeth of nearly equal size; 15 -22 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 17% of the bone bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 14 -22 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.  Dorsal colour greyish to yellowish-reddish brown; body with 4 longitudinal series of alternating irregularly shaped reddish-brown blotches with black margins; 2 long spots on the frontal scale, posterior edges of parietal scales often dark; wide collar of the same colour as the dorsal blotches, lateral ends obliquely curved anteriorly; venter creamish-whitish, often with light-brown spots; (Fig. 12 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17/17/15, rarely 14; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous in the collar region, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the scale; ventralia 101 -145 (PP 101 -123, OO 106 -145); sub-caudalia 21 -47 (PP 22 -47, OO 21 -47); preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 1 -2; loreal scale mostly missing, if present, small and touching the 2 nd , 1 st and 2 nd or the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabial; supralabialia 7, rarely 8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -8, rarely 9, 1 st -3 rd or 1 st -4 th , rarely 1 st -5 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -3|0 -3; 1, rarely 2 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. VI, Fig. 2). 9 -14 maxillary teeth, increasing in size posteriorly, a remarkable portion of the anterior part of the maxilla without teeth, the toothless part distinctly longer than in E. coronella and coronelloides; 6 -10 palatine teeth of nearly equal size, a remarkable portion of the anterior part of the palatine without teeth, the toothless part being again clearly longer than in E. coronella and coronelloides, roughly half as long as the dentigerous portion of the bone; 11 -17 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 10% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 11 -17 mandibular teeth, a short portion of the anterior part of the dentary toothless, the teeth decrease in size posteriorly.
Distribution. Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Southeast Turkey. Natural history. This species is found in lowlands and hilly landscapes of the mediterranean ecozone at elevations from 330 -1180 m a.s.l. Found under stones in drier habitats with light soil and bushy vegetation, but also in densely forested areas. Apparently very common in southern Jordan. Found under stones at night, feeding on orthopterans, centipedes, spiders and scorpions. Reproduction is oviparous with a cluch size of 3 -8 eggs which are laid under stones or in burrows. (1924) Eirenis (Pediophis) medus (Chernov, 1940)  Dorsal colouration light brown-greyish, with numerous narrow, slightly undulating, sometimes interrupted dark crossbars; pileus irregularly and indistinctly spotted; no collar; venter salmon coloured in life, fading to cream colour in preserved specimens; (Fig. 13 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 15 -17/15/15; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous in the neck region and sometimes also in the anterior third of the body, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the scale; ventralia 144 -175 (PP 144 -159, OO 163 -175); subcaudalia 42 -63 (PP 47 -63, OO 42 -56), exceptionally the anterior ones undivided; preocularia 1; postocularia 2, rarely 1; loreal scale 1, touching the 2 nd and 3 rd , rarely the only 2 nd supralabial; supralabialia 7, rarely 6, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, rarely 7, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -2|2 -3; 0 -1 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. VII, Fig. 1). 14 -16 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 8 -11 palatine teeth which increase in size posteriorly; 17 -20 pterygoid teeth of nearly the same size, the posterior 17% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 17 -20 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.  (2012b) show that the new species is morphologically very similar to E. medus. For a better understanding of the problematic specific status of E. kermanensis further investigations on the genetics, dentition, apical pits, and hemipenis morphology, based upon more material, should be carried out. (1876) (Boettger, 1892) and Eirenis p. condoni (Boulenger, 1920a), respectively. Both forms share the greyish to reddish greybrown ground colour, occasionally with little dark spots below each apical pit, the patternless head and the presence of a collar, and the cream-grey colour of the ventralia and subcaudalia.

References. Blanford
The northern subspecies punctatolineatus differs from the southern one in showing 8 longitudinal rows of black blotches, which are of rectangular shape in the anterior third of the body and become increasingly reduced in size to irregularly shaped small spots at the level of the midbody. These spots merge caudally into 10 narrow, longitudinal lines, reducing their number in the posterior-most third from 8 to 6. The ratio tail length to total length is 21.86 -26.40% in males and 20.77 -23.42% in females (Fig. 14 A -C). In contrast, the southern subspecies condoni is characterized by 6 longitudinal rows of narrow, irregularly shaped alternating bars that are somtimes fused on the back. These bars decrease continuously in size posteriorly and eventually become indistinct from the beginning of the tail. The ratio tail length to total length is 26.65 -30.95% in males and 23.53 -27.73% in females.
Hybrid forms displaying intermediate states of the patterns of the different subspecies may occur in the center of the species' distribution together with clearly identifiable members of each subspecies. Adult patternless specimens are known from the whole distribution range of this species too. Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17 -20/17/15; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, less numerous at the collar region, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the scale; ventralia ; subcaudalia 55 -93 (PP 63 -93, OO 55 -79); preocularia 1, rarely 2; postocularia 1 -2; 1 loreal scale, touching the 2 nd , rarely the 2 nd and 3 rd or 1 st and 2 nd supralabial, exceptionally fused with the nasal scale; 7, rarely 8 supralabialia, 3 rd and 4 th , exceptionally 4 th and 5 th in contact with the orbit; 9, rarely 10, exceptionally 8, infralabialia, 1 st -4 th , rarely In addition to the other distinctive features mentioned above, E. p. condoni differs from the nominate subspecies in the arrangement of the apical pits, viz. on the lateral scales in the posterior part of the body the single pits are shifted anteroventrally relative to the condition of the nominate subspecies. Dentition (Pl. VII, Fig. 2). 17 -21 maxillary teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 10 -12 palatine teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 16 -22 pterygoid teeth which are equal in size, the posterior 17% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 17 -22 mandibular teeth which decrease posteriorly in size.

Measurements and colouration.
Total length of adulti 344 mm; snout-vent length 215 -267 mm (P 267 mm, O 215 mm); tail length 60 -77 mm (P 77 mm, O 60 mm). Dorsal ground colour light brown, with 4 distinct dark brown stripes: two paravertebral stripes extending from the neck to the beginning of the tail and there becoming reduced to half of its initial width; center of paravertebral scales covered by the stripes lighter than their margins; the two lateral stripes smaller than the paravertebral stripes and without a light center, both extending from the neck to the tip of the tail; above and below the lateral stripes there is a row of small dark spots extending from the posterior end of the neck to the base of the tail; tail bearing a narrow dark brown vertebral stripe; pileus irregular and indistinctly spotted; no collar; ventralia and subcaudalia beige and with black edges in the region posterior to the neck, forming a dark line extending up to the tip of the tail (Fig. 15 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17/15/15; weakly developed single apical pits present throughout body and tail, very distinct at the neck and less numerous from midbody onto tail, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the scale; ventralia 157 -167 (P 157, O 167); subcaudalia 51 -58 (P 58, O 51); preocularia 1; postocularia 2; loreal scale 1, touching the 1 st or the 1 st and 2 nd supralabial; supralabialia 7, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, 1 st -3 rd or 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria; temporalia 1|2|2 -3; no gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. VIII, Fig. 1). 17 maxillary teeth which increase in size posteriorly; 11 palatine teeth which are nearly equal in size; 25 pterygoid teeth of equal size, the posterior 10% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 18 -19 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.

Distribution. South-west Iran.
Natural history. The holotype was collected at dawn on the bank of a temporary dry river close to a hill of soft limestone covered with degraded bush forest steppe.

Comments. Known from two specimens from the Zagros Mountains in the Iranian Fars province.
This species was not included in the phylogeny of nagy et al. (2003). Until new results are available we follow the latter authors in their assessment and place E. rechingeri provisionally into the subgenus Pediophis. Dorsal ground colour pale brown; head and neck ground colour yellowish or amber, lighter than remaining dorsal body colour; head with distinct dark nasal, interocular and parietal band; interocular band extending lateral onto the supralabialia, parts of the head and neck bands may be fused to a variable degree; usually a dark spot on the rostral; comparatively long and dark collar, the posterior margins irregularly jagged; venter lighter than dorsum (Fig. 16 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 15 -17/15/15; distinct single apical pits present throughout body and tail, sometimes less numerous at the collar region, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale; ventralia ; subcaudalia 35 -72 (PP 38 -72, OO 35 -62); preocularia 1; postocularia 2; 1 loreal scale, touching the 2 nd and 3 rd supralabial; supralabialia 7 -8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -8, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|1 -2|2; 0, rarely 1 gularia touching the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. VIII, Fig. 2). 14 -15 maxillary teeth which size increase posteriorly; 9 -11 palatine teeth which increase posteriorly in size; 13 -18 pterygoid teeth of nearly equal size, the posterior 20% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 13 -17 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.
Natural history. This species is observed in humid regions or near water on rocky hillsides with scattered or bushy vegetation and in open forests at altitudes from 330 -2000 m a.s.l. Locally very common. A probably nocturnal species feeding on insects and other arthropods and centipedes. Reproduction oviparous with clutches of 2 elon gate eggs (ca. 25 mm lenght, 5 -6 mm width) in July.   Dorsum pale olive-grey; dorsal scales with darker edges forming pale thin lines along the body; the anterior fourth of the back with small dark spots, decreasing in size and intensity posteriorly; in the neck region the spots may be fused into narrow bars; pileus with pale irregular spots of different shape and size; lateral and posterior margins of the parietalia blackish; supralabialia with dark rear edge; instead of a collar there are three short longitudinal paired stripes; ventralia and subcaudalia yellowish white to creamy; (Fig. 17 A -C). Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 17/15/15; weakly developed single apical pits infrequently present throughout body and tail, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -3 pits on the sacles of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the scale; ventralia O 190); subcaudalia 48 -58 (PP 51 -58, O 48); preocularia 1; postocularia 2; 1 loreal scale, touching the 2 nd or the 1 st and 2 nd supralabial; supralabialia 7, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 8, 1 st -4 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillare; temporalia 1|2|2 -3; 1 -2 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. IX, Fig. 1). 16 -17 maxillary teeth which size increase posteriorly; 9 -11 palatine teeth which increase in size posteriorly; 18 -19 pterygoid teeth of equal size, the posterior 25% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 18 -20 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly.

Comments. Populations from
Distribution. Turkey (eastern Taurus: East of Lake Van, Anatolia). Natural history. This species is found in rocky habitats either scattered with small bushes and stones or covered with low grassy vegetation at elevations between 1950 -2000 m a.s.l. (  Specimens with various colours and patterns on head and body are summarized at present under the name persicus (auct.). Eirenis (P.) persicus (sensu stricto) is characterized by a buff pale olive brownish dorsal body colouration without pattern; venter greenish yellow, patternless; head with a large oval black marking covering the posterior part of internasalia, prefrontalia, frontale, supraocularia and the anterior two thirds of parietalia; this black marking is followed by a pale light interspace and a broad black collar (covering 6 -7 vertebral scales), its dark lateral branches running anterolateral narrowing ventrally but not in contact with each other on the throat.

References. SchMidtler & lanza
Other specimens of the persicus-complex show a variable dorsal ground colouration from pale olive to whitish yellowish, pinkish or pale grey-brown, with or without pattern. The dorsal pattern may consist of black transverse bars or bands on whole body and tail, or on body or on anterior part of body only. Specimens with transverse series of dark spots or broken alternating bars are also known. Ventral colouration can be dirty whitish to cream, yellowish white, yellowish olive, pale olive or dark grey. A ventral pattern is not known (Fig. 18 A -C).
Head pattern can differ as follows: (1) an entire dark brown or black dorsal head surface fused with the collar, snout with or without bright tip, (2) a dark grey or black coloured pileus (temporalia can be included) separated from the collar by a light interspace, (3) a separate interocular band and a parietal band fused with the collar, (4) a separate interocular band, parietal band and collar, (5) a small dark oval parietal spot, collar missing, (6) a W-shaped mark on the parietalia, without any other pattern, (7) a patternless head followed by an indistinctly marked collar. Rostrale, supralabialia, edges of infralabialia, inframaxillaria and gular region may exhibit a dark brown mottling or brown spots. Lepidosis. Dorsal scale rows 13 -17/15 (exceptionally 17)/13 -15; weakly developed single apical pits frequently present on body and tail, missing in the collar region, positioned in the center of the apical tip of the scale, 2 -3 pits on the scales of the caudal region exactly at the point of scale reduction and arranged along the apical edge of the respective scale; ventralia ; subcaudalia 35 -105+ (PP 51 -105+, OO 35 -99); preocularia 1; postocularia 1; usually no loreal scale, if present very small, touching the 2 nd supralabial; supralabialia 7, rarely 6 or 8, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; infralabialia 7 -8, 1 st -3 rd or 1 st -4 th or 1 st -5 th in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria; temporalia 1|1,rarely 2|1 -2, rarely 3; 0 -2 gularia in contact with the anterior inframaxillaria. Dentition (Pl. IX, Fig. 2). 13 -17 maxillary teeth which increase in size posteriorly; 8 -11 palatine teeth, their size increasing posteriorly; 12 -17 pterygoid teeth of equal size, the posterior 33% of the bone slightly bent towards the skull roof and bearing no teeth; 14 -17 mandibular teeth which decrease in size posteriorly. Records for "persicus" from Northwest India mentioned by some authors (e.g. SMith 1943(e.g. SMith , chernov 1948 and recently uncritically adopted (e.g. leviton et al. 1992;Sindaco et al. 2000) refer almost certainly to localities in former 'British India' and therefore to what is today Pakistan.
Natural history. Snakes of the persicus-complex are found in semi-arid lowlands, on rocky slopes in mountainous semidesert areas and limestone terrain, with stony sparse grassland or xeric shrub vegetation to open mesic oak forest from near sea level (Bushere, Iran) up to an elevation of 2600 m a.s.l. in Pakistan with less than 260 mm annual precipitation and significant temperature variation between summer and winter (+ 42 to -18°C). Nocturnal, hiding under stones, boulders or in crevices during daytime and feeding on insects, spiders and occasionally lizards. Reproduction oviparous with cluches of 3 -8 elongate eggs (ca. 14 -15 mm length, 5 -6 mm width) laid in April -June.

Comments.
A complex of taxa, which urgently needs a revision. At the moment only E. persicus (anderSon) is considered as valid species and the status of several taxa currently regarded as synonyms remains unresolved. According to our own observation and other authors (Minton 1966;eiSelt 1970) the barred pattern is not restricted to any particular geographic area, and it is not a juvenile characteristic as indicated by SMith (1943) or reed & Marx (1959. Also the possibility of occurrence of different pattern phases within a population has not been adequately studied (see also comments by haaS & werner 1969). Pending a revision of the complex we do not follow here the assessment of daS et al. (1998) who considered Contia mcmahoni wall as valid species nor the appraisal of venchi & Sindaco (2006) who regard the taxon nigrofasciata nikolSky as subspecies of persicus. Further investigations of the E. persicus-complex should take the following available names and taxa into consideration: Pseudocyclophis walteri Boettger, 1888a -Described on the basis of the holotype, originally deposited in the "Caucasian Museum Tiblissi", collected at "Neu Seraks" [= Saragt, Shurukhs, Serukhs or Serakhs, in the valley of Tedshen (= Tejen) river, Turkmenistan, ca. 36° 32′ N, 61° 11′ E, approx. 280 m a.s.l.]. The holotype is characterized by a total length of 394 mm; tail length 84 mm; Dorsum light reddish-grey; dorsal scales with dark central bar, forming numerous (33) narrow transverse bands, each of the length of one scale, in the anterior fourth of the body; in the remaining body the transverse bands form obscurely longitudinal lines which are interrupted by the lighter scale edges; head pale grey with a W-shaped mark on frontal and parietalia; venter unicoloured yellowish-white. Dorsal scale rows 15 at midbody; dorsalia without apical pits; ventralia 231; subcaudalia 82; preocularia 1; postocularia 1; loreal scale absent on right side, very small and elongate on left side; nasal scale entire; supralabialia 7, 3 rd and 4 th in contact with the orbit; 7/8 infralabialia; anterior pair of inframaxillaria considerably wider and longer than posterior; posterior pair separated by a small gular scale; temporalia 1|1|n.d.