(Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae)-new country record for Bhutan

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The record is based on a dead specimen. The specimen was partially damaged in the neck region; it was collected for preservation. Before fixing in 10% formalin a small piece of flesh from the damaged region was cut and preserved in 100% ethanol for DNA extraction in the future. For long term preservation it is now stored in 75% ethanol. We studied the fresh specimen before preserving and detailed morphological examination was done after preservation. Identification is based on Wall (1908) and Das (2018). We measured body length using a standard measuring tape (L.C. 1mm). Dorsal scale count was made by using magnifying hand lens (5x optic zoom). Images were taken using Canon EOS 7D Mark II digital camera. GPS Garmin GPSMAP 62sc and datum WGS84 was used for recording data. Coordinates were represented in decimal degrees, corrected to three decimal digits. Habitat classification was followed (as by Grierson & Long 1983).
Specimen examined: Since there is no standard system in the country to allocate e-voucher numbers, specimen and digital copies of images are deposited by J TT the author in Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary (JWS), Samdrupjongkhar, Bhutan for reference. Wall (1908) was referred to identify the species where it is described as Dipsadomorphus quincunciata from Assam.
Morphology: Rostral touches six shields; internasal two; nasals two subequal shields touching the 1 st and 2 nd superlabials; loreal one; preocular one, barely reaching crown. Postoculars two; temporals small scale-like, superposed anteriorly. Supralabials eight on the right side with the 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th touching the eye (Image 1). Dorsal Scales 19:19:15; mid body or vertebral scales 310 (Image 2); ventrals 242; anal divided; subcaudals 119 (Image 3). Total body length 149cm. Tail length 33cm. Vertebrals enlarged with smooth dorsal part. Colour yellowish or greyish-brown above speckled with dark brown. A series of dark brown spots with white edge present on vertebrae. Venter yellowish-white with white or brown spots present on outer margins. Three longitudinal stripes present on nape. Head is distinct from neck; body is slender and elongate, eyes large with vertical pupil.  The surrounding forest type falls under tropical forest with Tetrameles nudiflora, Pterospermum acerifolium, Bombax ceiba, Duabanga grandiflora, and Ficus species as major crown cover with thick undergrowth of climbers and large bamboos. Das (2018) had also made similar observation where this species inhabits wet evergreen forest, arboreal on undergrowth especially bamboo.
Boiga quincunciata is nocturnal and arboreal. Found both in mixed deciduous and evergreen forests., one was collected from a rocky crevice (17.45h) at ca. 2m above ground and other was from a tree ca. 5m above ground at around 21.00h (Sengupta et al. 2000). In

J TT
Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, one male individual was found active among bamboo along streams at 21.00h (Abhijit Das pers. obs. 28 August 2012). In Upper Burma, Smith (1940) obtained specimens from inside bamboo during winter month. He reports this snake as inoffensive. The female specimen from Garbhanga Reserve Forest laid two elongated eggs in July and another clutch of two eggs were laid two days after the first. Eggs measure 45.35 × 13.45 mm (Das 2010).
With the confirmed occurrence of Assamese Cat Snake Boiga quincunciata in Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan now have seven Boiga species and 70 snakes in the herpetofauna list and this region should be prioritized for future survey efforts. Follow-up efforts should target in tropical and subtropical forest near riverine ecosystems, bamboo forest and even near human settlement to get additional distribution range of this snake in the country and region.