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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: December 31st, 2022.


Taxonomy of the family Xenopeltidae
Bibliography of the genus Xenopeltis
Biodiversity of the genus Xenopeltis








Genus
Xenopeltis

Asian Sunbeam Snakes

Regenbogen-Erdschlangen

Asiatiske Regnbueslanger

1827 Xenopeltis Boie (type species: Xenopeltis unicolor Boie 1827)
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.

Xenopeltis hainanensis

Hainan Sunbeam Snake

Hainan-Regenbogen-Erdschlange

Hainan-regnbueslange

1972 Xenopeltis hainanensis Hu & Zhao
1995 Xenopeltis hainanensis jidamingae Zhao

Distribution: China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), Vietnam.


Xenopeltis intermedius

Kon Tum Sunbeam Snake

Kon-Tum-Regenbogen-Erdschlange

Kon Tum-regnbueslange

2022 Xenopeltis intermedius Orlov, Snetkov, Ermakov, Nguyen & Ananjeva

Distribution: Vietnam.





Xenopeltis unicolor

Common Asian Sunbeam Snake, Iridescent Earth Snake, (Sunbeam Python)

Gewöhnlicher Regenbogen-Erdschlange

Almindelig Asiatisk Regnbueslange

1827 Xenopeltis unicolor Boie
1827 Xenopeltis concolor Boie (McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré 1999)
1827 Xenopeltis leucocephala Boie (McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré 1999)
1837 Tortrix xenopeltis Schlegel (McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré 1999)
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.


Xenopeltis unicolor
© Henrik Bringsøe