Ota et al. (1999) investigated patterns of variation in the Hemibungarus japonicus complex in the Ryukyu Islands and on Taiwan. Three subspecies of H. japonicus are recognised from the Ryukyus: H.j. japonicus from Amamioshima and adjacent islands; H.j. boettgeri from Tokunoshima, Okinawa and adjacent islets; and H.j. takarai from Kunejima and several islets north of Okinawa. On Taiwan, two separate species were recognised: H. hatori from the northern half of Taiwan, and H. sauteri from the southern half of the island.
The generic classification of Asiatic coral snakes requires further research. All were formerly included in the genus Calliophis (e.g., Smith, 1943; Golay, 1985). However, based on differences in jaw musculature, McDowell (1987) informally suggested that the Oriental coral snakes should be split into three genera, and this was implemented by Golay et al. (1993) and David & Ineich (1999): the genus Calliophis contains the species C. bibroni, C. gracilis, and C. melanurus; Hemibungarus contains H. calligaster, H. hatori, H. japonicus, H kelloggi, H. macclellandi, and H. sauteri; Finally, the species formerly known as Calliophis beddomei, C. maculiceps and C. nigrescens were assigned to Maticora by Golay et al. (1993). Further, more rigorous analyses of the phylogenetic relationships among Asian coral snakes are needed to test this classification. See later review by Slowinski et al (2001)

• David, P. & I. Ineich (1999) Les serpents venimeux du monde: systématique et répartition. Dumerilia 3: 3-499.
• Golay, P. (1985) Checklist and Keys to the Terrestrial Proteroglyphs of the World. Elapsoidea, Geneva.
• Golay, P., H.M. Smith, D.G. Broadley, J.R. Dixon, C. McCarthy, J.-C. Rage, B. Schätti, & M. Toriba (1993). Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World. A Checklist. Azemiops, Geneva.
• McDowell, S.B. 1987. Systematics. In: Seigel, R.A., Collins, J.T., Novak, S.S.  (Eds.), Snakes - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, pp. 3-50
• Ota, H., I. Akiko & J.-T. Lin (1999) Systematic review of the Elapid snakes allied to Hemibungarus japonicus (Günther, 1868) in the East Asian Islands, with the description of a new subspecies from the Central Ryukyus. Journal of Herpetology, 33: 675-687.
• Smith, M.A. (1943) Fauna of British India: Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol. III, Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London.

Mane (1999) described Elapsoidea trapei from extreme southeastern Senegal. The new species differs from sympatric E. semiannulata moebiusi in having 6 rather than 7 supralabials, the 2nd and 3rd (rather than 3rd and 4th) in contact with the eye, and a dark brown rather than light venter, as well as more subtly in other chracateritsics.This brings the total number of Elapsoidea species known from African to 10: E. boulengeri (southern parts of Africa), E. broadleyi (Somalia), E. chelazziorum (Somalia), E. guentheri (south-central Africa), E. laticincta (Central Africa), E. loveridgei (Central and East Africa), E. nigra (Tanzania), E. semiannulata (widespread south of Sahara), E. sunderwallii (southern Africa) and E. trapei (Senegal).

• Mane, Y. (1999) Une espèce nouvelle du genre Elapsoidea (Serpentes, Elapidae) au Sénégal. Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France, 91: 13-18.

Jorge da Silva & Sites (1999) revised the classification of the Micrurus frontalis complex. Based on their analysis of various aspects of colour pattern and other morphological characters, they recognised the following seven species: Micrurus frontalis, from central Brazil (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Espírito Santo) and eastern Paraguay; M. altirostris from southern Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay, Uruguay and northwestern Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes and northern Entre Ríos Provinces); Micrurus baliocoryphus from northeastern Argentina and southwestern Paraguay; M. brasiliensis from northern central Brazil (northern Goiás, southern Tocantins and Bahia); Micrurus diana from Santa Cruz Province, Bolivia; M. pyrrhocryptus, from Argentina (south to Río Negro Province) as well as northwestern Paraguay and southern Bolivia; and Micrurus tricolor, from Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul) and eastern Bolivia. Micrurus frontalis multicinctus is a synonym of M. altirostris.

• Jorge da Silva, N. & J.W. Sites (1999) Revision of the Micrurus frontalis complex (Serpentes: Elapidae). Herpetological Monographs 13: 142-194.

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