v11i2.284

Submitted date: 30 May 2022
Accepted date: 25 October 2022
Published date: 22 November 2022
Pp. 84–93, pls. 23–30.

THE SNAKE FAUNA OF LAOS WITH NEW PROVINCIAL RECORDS

Nathanaël Maury, Patrick David* & Somchit Sudavanh
*Corresponding author. E-mail: patrick.david@mnhn.fr

Abstract
We add seventeen new provincial records for fifteen snake species of Laos with precise localities and elevations. These new records result from 45 independent surveys conducted at different times between the years 2016 and 2021 in all Laotian provinces except Attapu. In all field trips, we took a series of photographs that allowed us to prepare high-resolution photographic plates that then allowed us to identify all individuals down to species level. No specimen was killed and preserved. Here we provide the list of all new localities of snakes photographed during our surveys. We discuss potential systematic problems and the biogeographic implications of these new provincial records.

Key words : Distribution, Indochinese Region, geography, Southeast Asia, Sundaland, taxonomy

Section Editor: Thasun Amarasinghe