cryptic species within the dendrophidion vinitor complex in middle ...

SPECIES IN THE DENDROPHIDION VINITOR COMPLEX N Cadle 211
Figure 13. Comparison of closely size-matched males of (A, C) Dendrophidion crybelum (LACM 148590, 625 mm SVL) and (B,
D) D. apharocybe (LACM 148601, 653 mm SVL). (A) and (B) are to the same scale, (C) and (D) to the same scale. Relative to
body size, Dendrophidion crybelum has a more robust body and a broader head than D. apharocybe.
venter without extensive dark pigment,
usually only scattered spots on the most
posterior ventrals (venter often heavily
marked with dark pigment, especially posteriorly);
smaller body size (adults commonly
more than 1 m in total length); a shorter
relative tail length in adults, ,60% of SVL
(tail usually more than 60% of SVL); and in
hemipenial morphology (hemipenes bulbous
rather than long and cylindrical; a
spinose battery followed distally by several
transverse flounce-like structures). In D.
dendrophis and D. nuchale auctorum the
anal plate may be either single (as in D.
crybelum) or divided.
Dendrophidion crybelum differs from D.
apharocybe and D. vinitor most notably in
hemipenial morphology, including overall
shape (elongate and cylindrical vs. shorter
and bulbous in the last two species),
number of spines (.70 vs. ,45), and apical
morphology (narrow and with reduced
calycular structures vs. nude and strongly
inclined in D. apharocybe, or with well
developed membranous ridges and an apical
boss in D. vinitor). See complete descriptions
for details.
Other characteristics distinguishing D.
crybelum from D. apharocybe and D.
vinitor are subtle. Dendrophidion crybelum
is a more robust animal than either D.
apharocybe or D. vinitor, which is most
easily seen in side-by-side comparisons of
individuals of comparable body length, as
shown for two males illustrated at the same
scale in Figure 13. The body of D. crybelum
is more massive, and the head is larger and
more angular, than similar sized specimens
of D. apharocybe or D. vinitor.
Adults of D. crybelum have fine dark
speckling on the subcaudal scales, often
concentrated along suture lines, and small
dark flecks and spots on the posterior ventral
plates (Fig. 14). However, these features
vary among adults (very distinct and numerous
to only scattered flecks), and they appear
to develop ontogenetically. Juveniles often
have only a fine peppering on the distal
subcaudals forming a dark suffusion easily
visible only with magnification. On the other
hand, apart from lateral dark pigment on the
ventrals and subcaudals common to all
species of Dendrophidion, the ventral plates
and subcaudals of D. apharocybe and D.
vinitor are immaculate (Fig. 14; see Fig. 6
for D. vinitor). Dendrophidion crybelum
averages fewer pale bands on the body than
D. apharocybe or D. vinitor (Table 1; p ,
0.01 and p , 0.001, respectively), although
the ranges overlap greatly. The pale neck
bands in D. crybelum are typically broader
than those of D. vinitor (Fig. 2).
Description (8 males, 8 females). Table 1
presents standard meristic and mensural
Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology harv-160-04-01.3d 11/4/12 19:59:20 211