Sphenomorphus meyeri ( Doria 1874 )

Sphenomorphus meyeri ( Doria 1874)

( Figs. 9–13 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 )

Lygosoma ( Hinulia) Meyeri Doria 1874: 332 ; plate 11, fig 13.

Syntypes: BMNH 76.7.18.2–3; MSNG 27877a–d; NHMW 16650:1–2; RMNH. RENA 4253; ZMB 7937a–b, 9739; 12 syntypes not located; type locality Wokan, Aru Islands.

Hinulia papuensis Macleay 1877: 62 View in CoL . Holotype: AM R31847. Type locality Katow, [Binaturi River, Papua New Guinea] .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Sphenomorphus on the basis of the following combination of characters: size large (maximum SVL = 126 mm); prefrontals in contact or separated by an azygous scale; body scales smooth; midbody scales 40–57 (mean = 47.6, sd = 2.71, n = 198); paravertebral scales (A) 76–115 (mean = 94.2, sd = 6.83, n = 191); subdigital lamellae below the fourth toe (A) 14–22 (mean = 17.9, sd = 1.38, n = 187), divided into a larger preaxial series (from which the counts are derived) and a smaller postaxial series; frontal contacting first three (when a total of six) or four (when a total of seven) supraoculars; colour pattern consists of relatively thin, sinuous dark brown crossbars against a light brown background and some indication of a white stripe along the upper lip.

A full analysis of geographic variation in this species will be the subject of a separate paper.

Distribution. Low to mid altitudes (below 1100 m) in the western two thirds of New Guinea, including the Aru Islands and the Raja Ampat Islands ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 ).

Sphenomorphus meyeri [n = 212]

Indonesia: Kepulauan Aru: BMNH 76.7.18.2–3, RMNH. RENA 4253, ZMB 7937–38, 9739 ( syntypes of meyeri ), [Wokam], Aru Islands [ 5°35'S 134°32'E] GoogleMaps ; WAM R109628, R109580, R109583, R109591, Karangguli ( 5°48'S 134°15'E) GoogleMaps .

Indonesian New Guinea: No precise locality: MNHN 1244, RMNH. RENA 3830a-c .

Papua Barat Province: AMNH 94313, Mt Besar, above Wailebet, 1500', Batanta I., Raja Ampat Is. ( 0°53'S 130°36'E) GoogleMaps ; BPBM 3122, Kebar Valley, 550 m, Vogelkop ( 0.867°S 133.083°E) GoogleMaps ; RMNH. RENA 7425a-b, Batanta I., Raja Ampat Is .; 7426a-b, Gagie [Pulau Gag 0°27'S 129°52'E] or Gebe [Pulau Gebe 0°05'S 129°20'E] GoogleMaps ; 30003–05, Kampong Gariau, Jamoer Meer [ 3°42'S 134°56'E] GoogleMaps ; 30006, Ajamaroe [Ajamaru], Vogelkop [ 1°14'S 132°12'E] GoogleMaps ; 30007, Manokwari [ 0°52'S 134°05'E] GoogleMaps ; 30008, Djitmau, Vogelkop [ 1°14'S 132°20'E] GoogleMaps ; 30009, Toeog, Vogelkop [coordinates unknown] ; 30010, Komara, Vogelkop [?Koemana/Kumawa, Bomberoi Peninsula 3.8333°S 132.8333°E] GoogleMaps ; 30011, Pasir Poetih [=Pasir Putih, Vogelkop, 0°52'S 134°06'E] GoogleMaps .

Papua Province: AMNH 66354, Hollandia, Indonesia [ 2°32'S 140°41'E] GoogleMaps ; BPBM 3395, Itoda ( 4.036°S 136.09°E) GoogleMaps ; FMNH 152333, MCZ 28681, Mimika River [ ca. 4°43'S 138°28'E] GoogleMaps ; MCZ 68919, Kamu Valley [ ca. 3°33'S 136°089'E] ; RMNH. RENA 29982–30000 , Tanah Merah [ 6°06'S 140°17'E]; 30001–02, Kauh, Digoel River [ 5°50'S 140°12'E]; 30012–13, Kawakit, Digoel River [ 5°39'S 140°14'E] ; 30014–16, Katem [ 5°09'S 140°43'E] .

Papua New Guinea: Western Province: AM R31847 ( holotype of papuensis ) , Katow [ 9°08'S 142°57'E] GoogleMaps ; R64302, AMNH 111724, MCZ 141056 –60, 141064, PNGNM R22359, USNM 195770, Emeti, Bamu River ( 7°45'S 143°15'E) GoogleMaps ; AM R93236, R 121161, AMNH 105862–64, 106274, MCZ 152326, 152358–59, 152364–66, SAM R11434, Wipim ( 8°51'S 142°54'E) GoogleMaps ; AMNH 57543, Fly River ; 57902, Daru ( 9°05'S 143°12'E) GoogleMaps ; 59941, Sturt I., Fly River, ( 8°10'S 142°15'E) GoogleMaps ; BMNH 1987.523–26, USNM 195880, Oriomo, Oriomo River ( 8°52'S 143°11'E) GoogleMaps ; 1987.527, Runginae, Ok Mart River [Rumginae Mission, 5°54'S 141°16'E] GoogleMaps ; MCZ 119492, Balimo ( 8°02'S 142°57'E) GoogleMaps ; 119493–94, 140748, Ningerum ( 5°42'S 141°07'E) GoogleMaps ; 123990, Menemsore ( 5°53'S 141°15'E) GoogleMaps ; 134749, Morehead ( 8°43'S 141°38'E) GoogleMaps , 135501–02, PNGNM R22360, Oriomo Stn ( 8°52'S 143°11'E) GoogleMaps ; MCZ 137558–59, Mata ( 8°40'S 141°44'E) GoogleMaps ; 140846, Kuru ( 8°55'S 143°03'E) GoogleMaps ; 152351–53, Matkomrae ( 5°49'S 141°09'E) GoogleMaps ; 152354, Old Zim, Oriomo River ( 8°46'S 143°05'E) GoogleMaps ; 152355, Derongo ( 5°25'S 141°06'E) GoogleMaps ; 152360–62, Boboa I., Lake Murray ( 7°01'S 141°30'E) GoogleMaps ; UPNG 8812, 8806A, Kasua ( 7°11'S 142°55'E) GoogleMaps ; USNM 213383–84, Makapa village, Aramia River, Balimo subprovince ( 7°57'S 142°34'E) GoogleMaps ; 213385, Samacki River, Aramia River, Balimo subprovince ( 7°46'S 142°16'E) GoogleMaps ; 213386, Ali village, Aramia River, Balimo subprovince ( 7°54'S 142°20'E) GoogleMaps . Gulf Province: AMNH 102336, FMNH 170590, MCZ 101249 –69, 101273 –74, 145233–47, 145249–51, PNGNM R24282, SAM R10985, WAM R67634–35, Uraru, Purari River ( 6°54'S 144°54'E) GoogleMaps ; BMNH 1970.859–60, MCZ 101242 –46, 109236–39, Oroi, Purari River [= Orloli, 7°26'S 145°11'E] GoogleMaps ; BPBM 13120, 13122, 13130, 13164–65, Lakekamu field camp, along east branch of Avi Avi River, 120 m ( 7.735°S 146.496°E) GoogleMaps ; 13158–59, 13162, PNGNM 25036, 25038, Ivimka, Lakekamu River ( 7.735°S 146.496°E) GoogleMaps ; MCZ 100440 –41, Camp II, Pio River, 1000' ( 6°44'S 144°52'E) GoogleMaps , 100442, Weiana, 1500' ( 6°44'S 144°52'E) GoogleMaps ; 100443, Ining River, Soliabeda [Soliabedo], 1200' ( 6°40'S 144°55'E) GoogleMaps ; 100444, Camp I, Soliabeda [Soliabedo], 3500' [ 6°37'S 144°50'E] GoogleMaps ; 100445, Soliabeda [Soliabedo] ( 6°40'S 144°55'E) GoogleMaps ; 101247, Koni ( 6°59'S 145°03'E) GoogleMaps ; 101272, Camp III, Nimi River [ 6°48'S 144°52'E] GoogleMaps ; 101842, Koni, Purari River, 250' ( 6°59'S 145°03'E) GoogleMaps ; 150877, 30km N, 14 km W Kikori, Kikori River [ 7°08'S 144°07'E] GoogleMaps ; USNM 518582, 11 km S Tekedu, Ivimka camp ( 7.4405°S 146.2945°E) GoogleMaps . Central Province: AM R24428, Angabanga River, Kairuku subdivision ( 8°49'S 146°34'E) GoogleMaps . Sandaun Province: AM R115497, Skgonga River [ 4°33'S 141°10'E] GoogleMaps ; BPBM 23177–80, Camp 1, Torricelli Mountains, 550 m ( 3.39329°S 142.52826°E) GoogleMaps . Southern Highlands Province: AM R118731–34, Fau ( 6°14'S 142°42'E) GoogleMaps ; R118735–39, Waro ( 6°32'S 143°11'E) GoogleMaps ; R118740, Fogamaiyu ( 6°31'S 143°05'E) GoogleMaps ; R118741, Namosado ( 6°15'S 142°47'E) GoogleMaps . Chimbu Province: BPBM 19063, Wera Sera field station, 850 m, Crater Mountain ( 6°43.43675'S 145°05.5575'E) GoogleMaps .