The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T191919A2015468
Amphiesma leucomystax, White-lipped Keelback
Assessment by: Stuart, B., Thy, N. & Nguyen, T.Q.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Stuart, B., Thy, N. & Nguyen, T.Q. 2012. Amphiesma leucomystax. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2012: e.T191919A2015468. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20121.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Natricidae
Taxon Name: Amphiesma leucomystax David, Bain, Quang Truong, Orlov, Vogel, Ngoc Thanh & Ziegler,
2007
Common Name(s):
• English:
White-lipped Keelback
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2012
Date Assessed:
September 1, 2011
Justification:
Listed as Least Concern on the basis that, although this snake is restricted to relatively intact forest, it is
mainly associated with upland forest which is at little risk from human activities, and occurs in many
protected areas over a relatively wide area.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
This snake has been reported from many locations between 400 and 1,500 m asl. in central Viet Nam's
Truong Son Mountains In Lao PDR the species has been reported from Phou Hin Poun National
Biodiversity Conservation Area, Nakai District, Khammouan Province, and from Xe Sap National
Biodiversity Conservation Area, Kaleum District, Xe Kong Province (Stuart and Heatwole 2008). There is a
recent record from Virachey National Park in northeastern Cambodia (Mondolkiri Province) (Stuart et al.
2010).
Country Occurrence:
Native: Cambodia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Viet Nam
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Amphiesma leucomystax – published in 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Amphiesma leucomystax – published in 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
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Population
This snake is often found within its range in central Viet Nam (Q.T. Nguyen pers. comm. September
2011), and is locally abundant in Lao PDR (B. Stuart pers. comm. September 2011).
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
Das (2010) reports that this snake is associated with both lowland and montane evergreen monsoon
forests, although it is primarily an upland species. It has been recorded near streams in mixed
dipterocarp and pine forests (Stuart and Heatwole 2008). It has been found in secondary forest, but is
less common here than in primary habitat, and it is absent from non-forested areas (Q.T. Nguyen and B.
Stuart pers. comm. September 2011).
Systems: Terrestrial
Use and Trade
There are no reports of this species being utilized.
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
Habitat loss through deforestation may threaten this species in parts of its range. Human pressures on
forest within this species' distribution include logging, slash-and-burn agriculture and smallholder
farming. Upland forest in this region is however at less risk than lowland forest, and so these processes
probably don't represent major threats to this snake.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
No conservation measures are in place for this species. This snake is known from many protected areas
in all three countries within its range.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Stuart, B., Thy, N. & Nguyen, T.Q.
Reviewer(s):
Bowles, P. & Cox, N.A.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Amphiesma leucomystax – published in 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
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Bibliography
Das, I. 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New Holland, London.
David, P., R.H. Bain, N.Q. Truong, N.L. Orlov, G. Vogel, V.N. Thanh, T. Ziegler. 2007. A new species of the
natricine snake genus Amphiesma from the Indochinese Region (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae).
Zootaxa 1462: 41-60.
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 19 June 2012).
Nguyen, V.S., Ho, T.C. and Nguyen, Q.T. 2009. Herpetofauna of Vietnam. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am
Main.
Stuart, B.L. and Heatwole, H. 2008. Country records of snakes from Laos. Hamadryad 33(1): 97-106.
Stuart, B.L., Rowley, J.J.L., Neang, T., Emmett, D.A. and Sitha, S. 2010. Significant new records of
amphibians and reptiles from Virachey National Park, northeastern Cambodia. Cambodian Journal of
Natural History 2010(1): 38-47.
Uetz, P. and Hallermann, J. 2010. The TIGR Reptile Database. Rockville Available at: http://www.reptiledatabase.org/.
Citation
Stuart, B., Thy, N. & Nguyen, T.Q. 2012. Amphiesma leucomystax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2012: e.T191919A2015468. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20121.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
Disclaimer
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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Amphiesma leucomystax – published in 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
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Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry
-
Suitable
-
1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
-
Suitable
-
1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane
-
Suitable
-
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.1. Shifting
agriculture
Ongoing
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
Ongoing
Unknown
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
Ongoing
Unknown
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming
5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood
harvesting -> 5.3.3. Unintentional effects:
(subsistence/small scale)
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 400
Upper elevation limit (m): 1500
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Amphiesma leucomystax – published in 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
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Population
Population severely fragmented: Unknown
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Amphiesma leucomystax – published in 2012.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T191919A2015468.en
6
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™