12p Yellow-Spotted Philippine Pitviper
12p Red-tailed Blind Snake
12p Philippine Forest Cat Snake
12p Luzon Forest Cat Snake
Miniature Sheets of 16 (Four
Se-tenants B/4) (6,400)
100p Souvenir Sheets of Four (5,000)
25p Philippine Variable Paradise Snake
25p Eastern Visayas Wolf Snake
25p Zigzag-lined Keelback
25p Philippine Whip Snake
Note: Due to spot laminations on
souvenir sheets, the stamp values on each stamp of the souvenir
sheets were raised to 25p in contrast with the four individual
stamps on the se-tenant B/4 with values of 12p (single domestic
rate) only, having NO spot laminations.
Designer: Victorino Z. Serevo
Contributors:
Dr. Arvin C. Diesmos, Ph.D., Scientist III,
In-charge, Herpetology Sec., Zoology Div., National Museum of the
Philippines, Manila.
Mae Lowe L. Diesmos, M.Sc., Asst. Professor,
Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila.
First Day Covers: Manila
ENDEMIC SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINES
Yellow Spotted Philippine Pitviper (Trimeresurus flavomaculatus).
Small in length, moderately long bodied, short, prehensile
tailed snake. Can grow to a maximum of about 0.95 meters. Head is
sub-triangular shaped, broad, slightly flattened and distinct from
narrow neck. Snout is moderately short.
Eyes are medium in size with
vertically elliptical pupils.
Found in damper lowland plains and jungle of the Philippines.
Mainly a nocturnal and arboreal snake that will often descend
to the ground in search of prey.
Feeds mainly on frogs, geckos and fishes and some small
mammals.
Red–tailed Blind Snake
(Malayotyphlops ruficauda).
This poorly known species is endemic to the Philippines,
where it has been recorded from the islands of Luzon including Mount
Isarog, Tablas and Marinduque.
There is no information available on the population abundance
of this species. It appears to be known from very few specimens.
Philippine Forest Cat Snake
(Boiga philippina).
Boiga philippina, also known as the tawny cat-eyed
snake or Philippine cat snake, has a very slender body that usually
reaches lengths of up to 7 feet. The big head is of typical Boiga fashion
with big eyes and elliptical pupils much like a cat's eye. The white
chin extends down the neck to almost half of its body. Body
coloration maybe tan, light brown, brown, coffee-color to a pale
orange. The underside is made-up of big belly scute scales that is
usually tan to orange in color. Underneath the scales of the neck
are yellow, black and white markings. Tongue color is black with
white or gray tips.
Luzon Forest Cat Snake (Boiga
dendrophila divergens). One
of the biggest cat snake species, averaging 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) in
length. It is considered
mildy venomous. Although its
venom is said to be slightly stronger than most Boiga species, its
rounded mouth is very unlikely to cause an envenomating bite. If it
does come to a point of envenomation, there is swelling in the bite
area that usually subsides within two to three days. No fatalities
have been reported so far.
Philippine Variable Paradise Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi variabilis).
Paradise tree snake or Paradise flying snake, Chrysopelea
paradisi, is a species of snake found in southeastern Asia. It can,
like all species of its genus Chrysopelea, glide by stretching the
body into a flattened strip using its ribs. It is mostly found in
moist forests and can cover a horizontal distance of about 100
meters in a glide from the top of a tree. Slow motion photography
shows an undulation of the snake's body in flight while the head
remains relatively stable, suggesting controlled flight. They are
mildly venomous with rear fangs and also can constrict their prey,
which consists of mostly lizards and bats.
Eastern Visayas Wolf Snake
(Lycodon ferroni).
This recently described species is endemic to the island of Samar in
the Philippines where it is currently known only with certainty from
the type specimen collected.
Very little is known about the natural history of this
species. Lanza (1999) records that "The specimen was collected at 7
a.m., right at the entrance of a cave situated 20 m above the bed of
La Blanca Aurora River, on a steep slope covered by a thick forest".
The only confirmed collection took place within the proposed
Samar Island Natural Park. There is a need to ensure that natural
habitat is adequately maintained within the species known range.
Additional field studies are needed on Samar to better understand
the distribution, natural history and threats to this snake.
Zigzag-lined Keelback(Rhabdophis
lineata). Named after
Latin “linea”, meaning stripe or line. Endemic to the Philippines
(Basilan, Bohol, Mindanao, Samar, Leyte).
These snakes are hesitant to strike, but they have a potent
venom. In the 1970s they were considered being harmless and traded
as pets, but a few severe and lethal bites later, they were
reclassified as dangerous venomous snakes.
Philippine Whip Snake
(Dryophiops philippina.
Also known as the keel-bellied whipsnake or simply Philippine
whipsnake, endemic to the Philippines.
Its body is about 3 to 6 feet long. Coloration is dark brown
or black, sometimes gray above and often with a light green or pale
blue flecks. The tongue is bright red. Cream or white colored
lateral stripes on each side are bisected by dark blackish lines,
which are nearly continuous along the dorsolateral stripe.
It has a broad head, large eyes in proportion to the head,
and a slender neck. It is
docile but a very nervous snake. If the area where it is residing is
disturbed, it may spring up to flee, or remain very still. It can
remain motionless for extended periods of time but usually it is
always on the move.