. Asiatic herpetological research. Reptiles -- Asia Periodicals; Amphibians -- Asia Periodicals. February 1992 Asiatic Herpetological Research Vol. 4, p. 39 TABLE 1. Meristic data for the Hainan Island and Hong Kong Calamaria. Hainan Hong Kong ZEM MCZ 7509 5489 Sex female female Snout-vent length (in mm) 430 350 Tail length (in mm) 10 Dorsal scale rows (midbody) 21 21 Ventrals 195 187 Subcaudals 7 7 Upper/lower labials 5/6 6/6 Preoc ulars/postoc u lars 0/1 0/1 Anterior/posterior temporals 1/2 1/2 Hainan and Hong Kong specimens (Table 1); unfortunately, we have been unable to reexamine the
. Asiatic herpetological research. Reptiles -- Asia Periodicals; Amphibians -- Asia Periodicals. February 1992 Asiatic Herpetological Research Vol. 4, p. 39 TABLE 1. Meristic data for the Hainan Island and Hong Kong Calamaria. Hainan Hong Kong ZEM MCZ 7509 5489 Sex female female Snout-vent length (in mm) 430 350 Tail length (in mm) 10 Dorsal scale rows (midbody) 21 21 Ventrals 195 187 Subcaudals 7 7 Upper/lower labials 5/6 6/6 Preoc ulars/postoc u lars 0/1 0/1 Anterior/posterior temporals 1/2 1/2 Hainan and Hong Kong specimens (Table 1); unfortunately, we have been unable to reexamine the Fujian specimens to obtain comparable data. Further descriptive details are given elsewhere (Zhao and Adler, 1989; Zhao and Darevsky, 1990). Natural History Insofar as is known, all species of pipe snakes, as they are commonly called, are live bearing, inoffensive, and secretive in nature, often being collected beneath fallen vegetation or dug up by farmers from their subterranean burrows. In Thailand, C. ruffus is locally common and has been collected in rice fields (it takes readily to water) and in gardens near houses, where it easily burrows in soft earth (Smith, 1943). Schmidt (1928) reported a specimen found in a salt water lagoon. This is a distinctive snake, both morphologically and behaviorally, and should be easily recognized by collectors. Members of the genus Cylindrophis are heavy-bodied snakes, with no neck constriction and a very short tail (Fig. 2A). They reach a total length of nearly one meter. The body of C. ruffus is banded and boldly so on the venter. Males have pelvic vestiges with tiny hind limbs terminating in a claw-like spur on each side of the vent. According to literature reports, these snakes make little attempt to escape. FIG. 2. Cylindrophis ruffus. A: Hong Kong specimen (MCZ 5489); note absence of neck constriction and the very short tail (arrow marks location of vent). B-C: Adult specimens, probably from Thailand, in defensive posture. When thre
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