Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update:
April 12th, 2025.
 
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Genus
Xenopeltis
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Asian Sunbeam Snakes
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Regenbogen-Erdschlangen
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Asiatiske Regnbueslanger
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1827 |  |
Xenopeltis Boie (type species: Xenopeltis unicolor Boie 1827) |
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1992 | |
Cryptophidion Wallach & Jones (type species: Cryptophidion annamense Wallach & Jones 1992; syn. Pauwels & Chérot 1997; Iskandar & Colijn 2001) |
Contents:
3 species, of which 1 (33.3%) is endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Remarks:
Correct authorship of Xenopeltis (incl. unicolor, concolor, and leucocephala), is Boie 1827, not "Reinwardt in Boie 1827", as often seen in the literature (Pauwels, David, Chimsunchart & Thirakhupt 2003). Zaher, Grazziotin, Cadle, Murphy, Moura-Leite & Bonatto (2009) listed Cryptophidion as a valid genus of the family Colubridae. Also Das (2010) and Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) listed Cryptophidion annamense as a valid species, although the latter authors noted the synonymy with Xenopeltis unicolor suggested by others.
Distribution:
Brunei,
Cambodia,
China
(Fujian,
Guangdong,
Guangxi,
Hainan,
Hunan,
Jiangxi,
Yunnan,
Zhejiang),
India
(Andaman & Nicobar Islands
[Nicobar Islands]),
Indonesia
(Bali,
Bangka,
Belitung,
Buton,
Java,
Kalimantan,
Natuna Islands,
Nias,
Riau Islands,
Siberut,
Simeulue,
Sipura,
Sulawesi,
Sumatra,
Weh),
Laos,
Malaysia
(Sabah,
Sarawak,
West Malaysia
[incl.
Langkawi Archipelago]),
Myanmar,
Philippines
(Balabac,
Palawan,
Sulu Islands
[Bongao,
Jolo,
Sangasanga]),
Singapore,
Thailand,
Vietnam.
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Meristic and other data
of the world's snakes.
Compiled by
V. Wallach
Key to abbreviations
Head drawings of the
genus Xenopeltis.
Compiled by V. Wallach
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Xenopeltis hainanensis
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Hainan Sunbeam Snake
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Hainan-Regenbogen-Erdschlange
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Hainan-regnbueslange
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1972 | |
Xenopeltis hainanensis Hu & Zhao |
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1995 | |
Xenopeltis hainanensis jidamingae Zhao |
Distribution:
China
(Fujian,
Guangdong,
Guangxi,
Hainan,
Hunan,
Jiangxi,
Zhejiang),
Vietnam.
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Xenopeltis intermedius
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Kon Tum Sunbeam Snake
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Kon-Tum-Regenbogen-Erdschlange
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Kon Tum-regnbueslange
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2022 | |
Xenopeltis intermedius Orlov, Snetkov, Ermakov, Nguyen & Ananjeva |
Distribution:
Vietnam.
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Xenopeltis unicolor
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Common Asian Sunbeam Snake, Iridescent Earth Snake, (Sunbeam Python)
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Gewöhnlicher Regenbogen-Erdschlange
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Almindelig Asiatisk Regnbueslange
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1827 | |
Xenopeltis unicolor Boie |
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1827 | |
Xenopeltis concolor Boie (McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré 1999) |
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1827 | |
Xenopeltis leucocephala Boie (McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré 1999) |
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1837 | |
Tortrix xenopeltis Schlegel (McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré 1999) |
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1992 | |
Cryptophidion annamense Wallach & Jones (Pauwels & Chérot 1997; Iskandar & Colijn 2001) |
Other common names:
annamense: Annam Burrowing Snake
Remarks:
Reports from the Andaman Islands, India, are considered erroneous, since no voucher specimens exist (Das 1999). Grismer, Neang, Chav & Grismer (2008) listed concolor as a valid species, presumably in error for unicolor, since no comments were made about this apparent revalidation of concolor. See remarks regarding authorship under genus.
Distribution:
Brunei,
Cambodia,
China
(Guangdong,
Yunnan),
India
(Andaman & Nicobar Islands
[Nicobar Islands]),
Indonesia
(Bali,
Bangka,
Belitung,
Buton,
Java,
Kalimantan,
Natuna Islands,
Nias,
Riau Islands,
Siberut,
Simeulue,
Sipura,
Sulawesi,
Sumatra,
Weh),
Laos,
Malaysia
(Sabah,
Sarawak,
West Malaysia
[incl.
Langkawi Archipelago]),
Myanmar,
Philippines
(Balabac,
Palawan,
Sulu Islands
[Bongao,
Jolo,
Sangasanga]),
Singapore,
Thailand,
Vietnam.
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Xenopeltis unicolor
© Henrik Bringsøe
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