A new snake of the genus Hologerrhum Günther (Reptilia; Squamata; Colubridae) from Panay Island, Philippines

Abstract

We describe a new species of snake in the genus Hologerrhum from two forested localities in Antique Province, Panay Island, Philippines. To clarify species boundaries, we also redescribe its only known congener, H. philippinum, on the basis of historical collections and newly-acquired material from the Islands of Luzon, Marinduque, Polillo, and Catañduanes. The new species is the first Hologerrhum from the Visayan Aggregate Island Complex and differs from Hologerrhum philippinum in color pattern and scalation of head and body. The new species is one of several recently-described vertebrates from Panay Island. Together, they indicate that forested regions of the individual islands of the Visayan Aggregate Island Complex (Negros, Panay, Cebu, Masbate, and other associated smaller islands) contain low levels of taxonomic endemicity that warrant further study.