全 文 ：收稿日期:2005-07-22
Preliminary Studies on Biology of Enhydris plumbea (Boie , 1827)
(Serpentes∶Colubridae∶Homalopsinae)
(Plate inside front cover upper)
ZHAO Er-mi
(Chengdu Institute of Biology , Chinese Academy o f Sciences , Chengdu 610041)
Abstract:Based on field observations and dissection of a lo t of preserved specimens , this paper deals about the ex ternal charac-
teristics , variation of lepido sis , vertical distribution , habitats , food habits , reproductive habits (secondary sex character , sex ratio ,
sexual maturation , number of offsprings , developing of embryos in oviduct , leng th and w eight of ha tchling s , etc.)of the homalopsi-
nae snake , Enhydris plumbea(Boie , 1827).All the specimens examined are preserved in the collections of Chengdu Institute of Bi-
olog y , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
Key words:Enhydris plumbea;lepidosis;variation;food habits;reproduction
中图分类号:Q959.6 文献标识码:A 文章编号:1000-7083-(2005)03-0330-03
铅色水蛇 Enhydris plumbea (Boie , 1827)的生物学初探
(蛇亚目:游蛇科:仰鼻蛇亚科)
(图版封 2 , 上)
赵尔宓
(中国科学院成都生物研究所 , 成都 610041)
摘要:根据野外观察和解剖标本 , 本文报道蛇亚目 、 游蛇科 、 水游蛇亚科中国南方常见优势种铅色水蛇的生
物学研究初步结果。1.长度:112 号雄蛇全长范围 286 ～ 466 mm , 151 号雌蛇全长范围 306 ～ 504 mm。海南陵
水103 号雄蛇最大全长 358+54=412 mm , 137 号雌蛇最大全长 443+61=504 mm。 2.鳞片的变异:根据 299 号
标本观察 , 数量恒定无变异的鳞片有:吻鳞 (1), 鼻间鳞(1), 前额鳞(2), 额鳞(1), 顶鳞(2), 鼻鳞(每侧 1),
颊鳞(每侧 1), 眶上鳞 (每侧1), 前颞鳞(每侧1), 颏鳞(1), 颔片(2 对), 背鳞(19-19-17 行), 肛前鳞(完整);
根据鳞片有变异的 67 号标本观察 , 可出现变异鳞片的变异范围及其频率:眶前鳞 1 (1※2 , 4.5%), 眶后鳞 2
(2※ 1 , 3.0%), 后颞鳞 2 (2 ※ 1 , 1.5%), 上唇鳞 3-2-3 (3-1-4 , 0.75%), 下唇鳞 10 (9 , 0.75%;11 ,
2.25%);腹鳞与尾下鳞则绝对有变异:腹鳞雄性 112 号变异幅度 124 ～ 136(平均 128.2), 雌性 151 号变异幅度
123 ～ 132(平均 126.1), 尾下鳞雄性 107号变异幅度 36 ～ 41(平均 39.7)对 , 雌性 149 号变异幅度 31 ～ 36 (平
均 33.7)对。 3.两代之间变异的消失和出现:两例母蛇的右侧眶前鳞均变异为 2 , 她们的全部仔蛇 21 号均正常
为 1;一例母蛇的下唇鳞为正常的 10 枚 , 而她的仔蛇 6 号中有两号分别有一侧或两侧变异为 9。 4.垂直分布范
围:沿海低地到海拔 985 m。 5.栖息环境:各种水域 , 以静水水域为主 , 在海南陵水县吊罗山大里乡以灌水后
的稻田为主 , 极少数发现在静水水域或流动缓慢的灌溉渠内。 6.摄食和食性:每年 4 月开始摄食 , 6 月为摄食
高峰 , 9 月停止;食物以小形蛙类和蝌蚪为主 , 其次为小鱼。 7.繁殖习性:二级性征主要反映在雄性尾的比例
较长 , 尾下鳞的数目相应较多;二级性比 (出生时的性比)接近 1 :1 , 三级性比在居群较大的情况下也约为 1 :
1 , 而在居群较小的情况下统计约为 0.5 :1;雌性性成熟期 (以开始产仔为依据)全长都在 350 mm 以上;解剖
28 号孕雌得知输卵管卵数 3 ～ 12 (平均 6.3)枚;卵在母体内发育进程:解剖 41 号成熟雌性得知 4 月卵尚未发
育 , 5 月及 6 月处于发育中或晚期 、 产仔或已产出 , 7 月基本都已产毕;统计两窝 21 仔得知初产出仔蛇全长 127
～ 139 mm , 母蛇体长大者其仔蛇亦较长;统计同窝 9 仔得知初生仔蛇重量 2.4～ 2.5 g , 平均 2.47 g。本文是作
者早期未发表的工作 , 现整理供对蛇类有兴趣的青年同行参考。本研究所用全部标本 (包括 3 号雌蛇及其刚产
出的仔蛇)均保存在中国科学院成都生物研究所两栖爬行动物标本馆。
关键词:铅色水蛇;鳞被;变异;食物及食性;繁殖习性
A total of 299 specimens of the Homalopsinae snake , Enhydris plumbea (Boie , 1827)were stud-
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四川动物 2005 年 第 24 卷 第 3 期 Sichuan Journal of Zoology Vol.24 No.3 2004
ied.Among which , 103 males , 137 females , 9 juve-
niles and 27 hatchling s of Hainan populat ion , 7 males
and 10 females of Fujian population , 2 males and 4
females of other provinces.
1.Total length(SVL+tl , in mm)
a)Range of total leng th
M ale(n=112):244 ～ 358+42 ～ 55
Female (n=151):244 ～ 443+31 ～ 61
b)Maximal total leng th
M ale(n=112):358+54=412 mm (Lingshui
Co., Hainan Prov.)
Female (n=151):443+61=504 mm (Ling-
shui Co., Hainan Prov.)
2.Variation of Lepidosis
a)Scales no variation observed (n=299).
The follow ing scales are very constant , no varia-
tion is observed in 299 specimens examined.They
are:rostral (1), internasal (1), prefrontal (2), frontal
(1), parietal (2), nasal (1 on each side), loreal (1
on each side), supraocular (1 on each side), anterio r
temporal (1 on each side), mental (1), chin -
shields (2 pairs), dorsals (19-19-17 row s), and anal
(entire).
b)Variation may be observed in follow ing scales(n
=67).
i.Preocular
Normal condi tion:one on each side.
Range of variation:1 to 2.
Variation frequency :4.5%.
ii.Postocular
Normal condit ion:two on each side.
Range of variation:2 to 1.
Variation f requency:3.0%.
iii.Posterio r temporal
Normal condition:two on each side.
Range of variation:2 to 1.
Variation frequency :1.5%.
iv.Supralabials or upper labials
No rmal condition:8 , in fo rmula 3-2-3.
Range of variation:8 , 3-1-4.
Variation f requency:0.75%.
v .Inf ralabials or low er labials
Normal condition:10.
Range of variation:10 to 9 o r 11.
Variation f requency:2.25%(11), 0.75%
(9).
c)Variation is constantly (absolutely)observed in
follow ing scales
i.Ventrals
Range of variation:
Males(n=112)124 ～ 136(mean 128.2).
Females(n=151)123 ～ 132(mean 126.1).
ii.Subcaudals(in pairs)
Range of variation:
Males(n=107)36 ～ 41(mean 39.7).
Females(n=149)31 ～ 36(mean 33.7).
3.Lepidosis of female and her offsprings
Ex.A.CIB 64III5333 and her 9 offsprings
Mother:preocular 1 (left)or 2 (right), all off-
springs is identical w ith one preocular.
4 male offsprings:
ventrals 126 ～ 128(mean 127.3).
subcaudals 41 ～ 42 (mean 40.2).
5 female offspring s:
ventrals 126 ～ 129(mean 127.6).
subcaudals 34 ～ 36 (mean 34.4).
All the other scales of both mother and offsprings
are normal.
Ex .B.CIB 64III6387 and her 12 offsprings
Mother:preocular 1 (left)or 2 (right), all off-
springs is identical w ith one preocular.
6 male offsprings:
ventrals 125 ～ 128(mean 126.8).
subcaudals 39 ～ 40 (mean 39.7).
6 female offspring s:
ventrals 120 ～ 127(mean 123).
subcaudals 32 ～ 35 (mean 33.5).
All the other scales of both mother and offsprings
are normal.
Ex C.CIB 64I6478 and her 6 offsprings
3 male offsprings:
ventrals 128 ～ 130(mean 129.3).
subcaudals 35 ～ 40 (mean 38.3).
3 famale offspring s:
ventrals 129 ～ 130(mean 129.7).
subcaudals 33 ～ 34 (mean 33.3).
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四川动物 2005 年 第 24 卷 第 3 期 Sichuan Journal of Zoology Vol.24 No.3 2004
Lower labials of right side of one and both sides
of one another offspring s are nine.
All the o ther scales of both mother and of fsprings
are normal.
4.Vertical distribution
Hainan population:f rom coastal low land upto
450 meters(Yinggeling of Baisha Co.)
Guangxi population:110 m (Longzhou Co.)
upto 210 m (Pingxiang City)
Fujian population:320 m (Chong an Co.)upto
985 m (Dehua Co.)
5.Habitats
Most specimens were caught at night in paddy
fields of Dali Village , M t.Diaoluo , Lingshui Coun-
ty , Hainan.A very few specimens were caught in
small ponds , or irrigation canals.
6.Feeding and food
a)Feeding in different months
No.of stomach Full(empty) April May June July August September
101 48 (53) 1 (4) 2 (11) 34 (30) 9 (4) 2 (3) 0 (1)
It seems that beginning to eat in April , the maxi-
mal feeding period is June , and ceasing to eat in
September.
b)Analysis of stomach contents
Food content in stomach Frequency of appearance(%) Number M aximal quantity
Rana limnocharis 13(26.16) 14 2
Microhy la p ulchra 2(4.08) 3 2
Species uncertain 10(20.41) 11 2
Tadpole 16(32.64) 20 4
Small fish 4(8.16) 4 1
Insect 1(2.04) 1 1
Leaf of rice 2(4.08) 2 1
Unident ical mat ter 4(8.16) 4
It seems that the main food w as small f rogs and
tadpoles , occasionally small fishes.
7.Reprodution
a)Secondary sexual characters
i.Ratio of total length/ tail length
M ales:7.2 (20 males of Nanxi , M t.Diaoluo ,
Hainan)
Females:8.6(20 females , the same population
as above)
ii.Number of subcaudals(20 individuals of each
sex from Nanxi , M t.Diaoluo , Hainan)
Males:36 ～ 41(mean 39.7)
Females:31 ～ 35(mean 33.5)
b)Sex ratio
i.Secondary sex rat io
92.9 ♂:100 ♀ based on 27 new ly hatchlings
of three females(CIB nos.64I6478 , 64III5333 , and
64II I6387).
ii.Tertiary sex ratio
49 ♂:100 ♀ in population(n=76)of Nanx i ,
M t.Diaoluo , Hainan.
94.7 ♂:100 ♀in population(n=146)of Dali ,
M t.Diaoluo , Hainan.
c)Sex maturation
Based on measuring all the produced specimens ,
female Enhydris plumbea reached sex maturat ion
over 350 mm in total leng th.
d)Number of egg s in oviducts
Based on dissection of 28 g ravid females showing
that:
Lef t oviduct:3 ～ 7 eggs(mean 2.3)
Right oviduct:0 ～ 7 eggs(mean 4.1)
Both tw o oviducts:3 ～ 12 eggs(mean 6.3)
e)Development of eggs or embryos during dif ferent
months
Month Localit y
Number of
dissection
Developmental S tatus
Eggs Middle or late period Producing Produced
April Qiongzhong 2 2 - - -
May Lingshui Co. 8 - 6 1 1
June Lingshui Co 30 - 19 2 9
July Lingshui Co. 1 - - - 1
(下转第 329页 , To page 329)
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四川动物 2005 年 第 24 卷 第 3 期 Sichuan Journal of Zoology Vol.24 No.3 2004
Subfamily Elapinae
3.65 Bungarus fasciatus:1 male , Oct.12.
3.66 Bungarus mult icinctus:2 females , Nanxi ,
Wuzhishan , 82 ～ 500 m , Apr.20 ～ Jun.22.
3.67 Naja atra:1 male and 6 females , Dali , Diaolu-
oshan , Haikou , Nanxi , Wuzhishan , Yinggeling , 220
～ 500 m , May 7 ～ September.
Female T/ t(W):912/128(165).
3.68 Ophiophagus hannah:1 male , Dali , 220 m ,
Jun.16.
3.69 Sinomicrurus kelloggi:1 sex uncertain (bro-
ken), Wuzhishan , 500 m , May 10.
3.70 Sinomicrurus macclellandi:1 male , Nanxi ,
Jun.9.
Subfamily Hydrophiinae
3.71 Hydrophis cyanocinctus:1 female and 17
subadults , Yinggehai , Sept.11 ～ 15;3 females
bought from Haikou , Sept.27.
3.72 Hydrophis fasciatus atriceps:1 male , 11 fe-
males , and 49 subadults , Yinggehai , Sept.11 ～ 15.
3.73 Hydrophis graci lis:3 males and 2 females ,
bought from Haikou.
Male T/ t(W):1008/110(-), 952/85(-),
943/89(-).
3.74 Hydrophis ornatus:1 male , bought f rom Haik-
ou , Apr.8.
Male T/ t(W):1094/109(-).
3.75 Lapemis curtus:2 subadults , Yinggehai , Sept.
13;1 female presented by South China Sea Fishery
Products Insti tute , collected from Gulf of Tonkin.
3.76 Praescutata viperina:1 male and 2 females ,
bought f rom Haikou.
Male T/ t(W):963/107 (-).
Female T/ t(W):943/97(-).
4 ARTICLES ALREADY PUBLISHED OF
THIS SURVEY.
[ 1] Sichuan Institute of Biolog y(Shu-chin Hu , and Er-mie Djao
[ =Zhao] ) and Beijing Institute of Zoology (Chu-chien
Huang).Three new species of reptiles from Hainan Island ,
Guangdong Province [ J] .Acta Zool Sinica, Beijing , 1975 ,
21 (4):379 ～ 384 , 1 plate.[ English transla tion by A.
Koshikawa.Smithsonian Herpetological Info rma tion Ser-
vice , Washing ton , D.C.(USA), 1982 , 53:1 ～ 9.]
[ 2] ZHAO Ermi.Herpetofauna and zoogeog raphy of Hainan ls-
land [ A] .In Er-mi Zhao (ed.)From Water onto Land
[ C] .Beijing:China Fo restry P ress , 1990:354 ～ 363.
[ 3] ZHAO Ermi.A new species of Rhabdophis (Serpentes:
Colubridae)from Hainan Island , China [ J] .Berkeley:Asi-
at Herpeto l Res , 1997 , 7:166 ～ 169.
(上接第 332 页 , come from page 332)
Based on dissection of 41 gravid females , the re-
sult is show n in table.
f)Leng th of new ly hatchling s
Ex .A.Total leng th of mother snake 436 mm
(CIB 64III5333).
Total length of 9 new ly hatchling s 127 ～ 136.5
(mean 133.2)mm.
Ex .B.Total leng th of mother snake 456 mm
(CIB 64III6387).
Total length of 12 newly hatchling s 131 ～ 139
(mean 135.6)mm.
g)Weight of new ly hatchlings
Ex.Mother snake(CIB 64III5333)
Weight before producing:75 g.
Weight af ter producing:52.5 g.
Weight of 9 new ly hatchlings:2.4 ～ 2.5 g ,
total 22.2 g , mean 2.47 g.
8 References
[ 1] Zhao Er-mi.Snakes of China [ M] .Anhui Press of Science
and Technolog y [ M] .Hefei , (To be published)
[ 2] Zhao Er-mi and K raig Adler.Herpetology of China [ M ] .
SSAR &CSSAR , Oxford , Ohio(USA), 1993.
[ 3] Zhao Er-mi , Mei-hua Huang , Yu Zong , et al.Serpentes ,
vol.3 of Reptilia, in Fauna Sinica [ M] .Science , Press ,
Beijing , 1998.
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