Two Additional Specimens of Achalinus formosanus chigirai (Colubridae: Ophidia) from the Yaeyama Group, Ryukyu Archipelago

Abstract

A male and a female of Achalinus formosanus chigirai were collected from Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima Islands of the Yaeyama Group, respectively. This snake is known from three males from the latter island, and the present collection includes the first female specimen for this subspecies. Also, the occurrence of A. f. chigirai is ascertained from Ishigakijima I. for the first time. Morphological features of the present animals are compared with those of the other specimens of A. f. chigirai, as well as of the nominal subspecies. Characteristics of the female specimen are discussed.