Lycodon

Key to Philippine species.

1a. Ventral body scales and subcaudal scales strongly keeled; dorsal body scales in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody.............................................. Lycodon philippinus

1b. Ventral body scales and subcaudal scales smooth; dorsal body scales in 17 longitudinal rows at midbody.................................................................... 2

2a. Subcaudal scales in> 130 pairs...................................... Lycodon fausti

2b. Subcaudal scales in <130 pairs................................................. 3

3a. Some dorsal body scale rows keeled along the entire length of the body (keels may be faint or absent from scales that have lost their outermost layer).................... Lycodon sealei

3b. Dorsal body scales either all smooth, or, keeled on posterior part of body............... 4

4a. Subcaudal scales in> 100 pairs................................................. 5

4b. Subcaudal scales in <100 pairs.................................. Lycodon capucinus

5a. Dorsal part of body without light crossbands; ventral surface of body does not have dark markings, except for a large spot in lateral corner of each ventral body scale.................. 6

5b. Dorsal surface of body with light crossbands (at least the anterior part of body); ventral surface of body or tail has dark dots, spots, and/or transverse bands........................... 7

6a. Ventral body scales> 200; vertebral scales> 205....................... Lycodon alcalai

6b. Ventral body scales <200; vertebral scales <205.................. Lycodon chrysopteros

7a. Crossbands absent from tail and posterior part od body; ventral bands absent; number of infralabial scales in contact with anterior and posterior chin shields five........ Lycodon solivagus

7b. Dorsal crossbands present throughout length of body and tail; additionally, at least one of the following combinations of characters true: (1) number of infralabial scales in contact with anterior and posterior chin shields six; (2) ventral bands present........................... 8

8a. Dorsal light crossbands> 50 on body,> 27 on tail; tail length 36–45% (usually> 38%) of snout-vent length..................................................... Lycodon muelleri

8b. Dorsal light crossbands <30 on body, <25 on tail; tail length 33–39% (usually <38%) of snout-vent length............................................................. 9

9a. Dorsal light crossbands> 20 on body,> 15 on tail.................... Lycodon bibonius

9b. Dorsal light crossbands <20 on body, <15 on tail................................ 10

10a. Body and tail with dark rings completely encircling the body; number of supralabial scales usually ten (fourth through sixth border eye); dorsal body scales reducing to 15 longitudinal rows at approximately ventral 119................................... Lycodon ferroni

10b. Dorsal part of body and tail with dark crossbands often extending onto lateral edges of ventral body scales, but not completely encircling the body; number of supralabial scales 8–9 (fourth and fifth border eye); dorsal body scales reduce to 15 longitudinal rows between ventral body scales 131–145............................................. Lycodon dumerili