THE STATUS OF HYDROPH1S LAPEMOIDES 



99 







10 



11 



12 



n 



15 



Fig. 3 Habitus of the juvenile type specimen of H. lapemoides (BMNH 1946.1.6.91) from Madras, India. Photo by G. Brovad. 



which are well developed and in contact with one another; 

 third and fourth infralabials touching posterior pair of sublin- 

 guals, which are well developed and separated from one 

 another posteriorly. A series of small cuneated scales at the 

 oral margin after the third infralabial, syntype b; second 

 infralabial. Scale rows on neck 29, syntype b; 32 (28-34 in 

 males, 28-35 in females), on body 45, syntype b; 51 (40-51 in 

 males, 41-57 in females). Ventrals 349, syntype b; 318 (288- 

 365 in males, 293-395 in females), distinct throughout, bicari- 

 nate, about twice as broad as adjacent scales anteriorly, 

 narrower posteriorly. Subcaudals 44, syntype b; 49 (37-56 in 

 males, 36-53 in females). 



Internal morphological characters. Tip of heart 

 extending to ventral scale number 127, syntype b; 119 (106- 

 141 in males, 106-155 in females), %VS heart 36.38%, 

 syntype b; 37.42% (34.2-41.5 in males, 33.8-40.9 in females). 

 Anterior end of liver situated at ventral scale number 133, 

 syntype b; 120 (110-144 in males, 107-157 in females), %VS 

 liver 38.10%, syntype b; 37.74% (34.4-41.5% in males, 

 34.4-41.2%). In type a, a small interval separates the heart 

 and the liver. Number of body vertebrae 171, syntype b; 165 

 (164-188 in males, 171-186 in females). Number of tail 



vertebrae 33, syntype b; 30 (31-40 in males, 28-38 in females). 

 Tip of heart extending to vertebrae number 81, syntype b; 82 

 (73-90 in males, 79-94 in females), %VB heart 47.36%, in 

 syntype b; 49.70% (43.5-51.1% in males, 45.1-51.7% in 

 females). 



Hemipenis. Hemipenis feebly bilobed with a bifurcate sulcus 

 spermaticus (Fig. 1). Bifurcation near apical end of organ 

 (Fig. 1). Organ covered with spines gradually decreasing in 

 size and becoming more scattered at the distal end. A 

 finger-like fold at the proximal portion opposite the sulcus 

 spermaticus. 



Skull morphology (based on skulls from the Persian Gulf 

 and Andaman sea (Phuket)). Posterior half of parietal with a 

 distinct ridge being about 1/3 of the total length (midline). 

 Supratemporals (squamosals) reach parietal, and extend as 

 far posteriorly as posterior part of exoccipitals. Postorbital 

 bones barely touch frontals. Ventral extensions of frontals do 

 not overhang trabecular grooves. Sphenoid enters broadly 

 into margin of anterior orifice of cavum epiptericum (Fig. 2). 

 Sphenoid with low but distinct keel. Both anterior and 

 posterior Vidian foramen on the ventral side of sphenoid, and 



