Friday, November 23, 2012

[Herpetology • 2012] Differences among Populations of the Mekong Mud Snake Enhydris subtaeniata (Serpentes: Homalopsidae) in Indochina



 This study examines between-population variation of the Mekong Mud Snake,  Enhydris subtaeniata (Bourret, 1934) in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam, and relates the observed patterns to previously published patterns based on molecular data.  Enhydris subtaeniata were collected from six representative locations throughout its range that encompassed three important river drainage basins: the Chao Phraya, the Middle Mekong and the Lower Mekong.  Data on size, sexual size dimorphism, scalation,
reproductive biology and diet were used to explore biogeographical patterns revealed by a previously published phylogenetic and population genetic analysis. In several cases the size and reproductive characteristics mirrored the genetic differences and habitat differences associated with the sampled locations.

Keywords: Freshwater snake, biogeography, sea levels, Mekong River, Chao Phraya River, Khorat Basin


2012. Differences among Populations of the Mekong Mud Snake (Enhydris subtaeniata: Serpentes: Homalopsidae) in Indochina
http://www.biology.sc.chula.ac.th/TNH/TNH%2012_2/5-HAROLD%20K.pdf
http://www.biology.sc.chula.ac.th/TNH/vol12%20no2.html


Lukoschek, V., Osterhage, J. L., Karns, D. R., Murphy, J. C. and Voris, H. K. 2011, Phylogeography of the Mekong mud snake (Enhydris subtaeniata): the biogeographic importance of dynamic river drainages and fluctuating sea levels for semiaquatic taxa in Indochina. Ecology and Evolution. doi:

Karns, D. R., Lukoschek, V., Osterhage, J., Murphy, J, C., and Voris, H. K. 2010 Phylogeny and biogeography of the Enhydris clade (Serpentes: Homalopsidae). Zootaxa, 2452. 18-30. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02452p030f.pdf
http://herpnation.com/hn-blog/the-mekong-mud-snake