This 60 cm roadkill specimen was found in the Gobe area, Southern Highlands Province of PNG.

Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Tropidonophis novaeguineae
Maximum Size : 82 cm

References : H6

The New Guinea Keelback is one of the smaller species of the genus Tropidonophis, of which from 11 to 13 species occur in PNG.

The roadkill specimen illustrated here was found in the Gobe area, Southern Highlands Province at an altitude of around 800 metres. The area is dominated by limestone karst scenery and primary forest. Keelbacks are recognised as being semi-aquatic in their habits, however in a karst area there is little standing water and few permanent streams.

It may be that this species has evolved away from the keelbacks normal diet of aquatic frogs and fish towards a diet of other vertebrates, possibly leaf litter frogs and forest floor lizards such as skinks or geckos. However, little is reported about this species ecology.

	Close-up of the flank showing scale pattern.
	Close-up of the scales showing the faint keels.

The New Guinea Keelback has a head slightly larger than the body, large eyes, and a moderately long tail. The scales are slightly keeled (i.e. possess a raised ridge along the middle of each scale).

The species is known to occur in the Western, Gulf and Central provinces of PNG : the specimen shown here may be a first record for the Southern Highlands Province. Its range also extends towards parts of the Indonesian province of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya).