Elapidae - 2005 Publications

Acanthophis spp. - death adders

 Acanthophis rugosus                                           Acanthophis laevis

Wüster et al. (2005) analysed the phylogeography of the death adders (genus Acanthophis). The systematics of the genus had previously been confused due to several amateur "revisions" and species descriptions (see Elapidae 1998 update). Due to the fact that mitochondrial DNA on its own cannot determine species limits, the authors refrained from a formal reclassification of the genus. However, they identified several major groups within the genus. Major findings include:

- The New Guinea death adders were found to comprise two lineages, the Acanthophis laevis complex and Acanthophis rugosus. Neither is close to either A. antarcticus or A. praelongus, contrary to the older literature.
- Acanthophis praelongus is confined to northern Queensland and most closely related to A. antarcticus, but not related to the death adders from the Top and and northern Western Australia.
- The Northern Territory populations are most closely related to A. rugosus, and appear to comprise two major lineages, one from the Barkly Tableland and from the northern floodplains, the other from Merauke (Irian Jaya), and higher lying areas of the Northern Territory and northwestern Queensland. The entire group is referred to as the Acanthophis rugosus complex, with the possibility that the Barkly + floodplain populations may represent a valid species, for which the name Acanthophis hawkei is available.

• Wüster , W., A.J. Dumbrell, C. Hay, C.E. Pook, D.J. Williams & B.G. Fry (2005) Snakes across the Strait: Trans-Torresian phylogeographic relationships in three genera of Australasian snakes (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis, Oxyuranus and Pseudechis). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34(1): 1-14. pdf

Pseudechis - Australian black snakes


Pseudechis australis                          Pseudechis rossignolii

Wüster et al. (2005) analysed mitochondrial DNA sequences of all species and a number of populations of the genus Pseudechis. Broadly, the phylogeny of the genus obtained was similar to that of Mengden et al. (1985). However, the new study resolved the affinities of a number of taxa of uncertain status described recently in the grey literature (Wells & Wellington, 1985; Hoser et al., 1998, 2000; see Wüster et al., 2001, for comments). The genus Pailsus Hoser 1998 was found to be rooted within the P. australis - P. butleri complex, and thus a synonym of Pseudechis. However, sequences representing the taxa described by Hoser as Pailsus pailsei and Pailsus rossignolii were found to be highly distinct from Pseudechis australis, and these two forms, together with another specimen possibly assignable to P. weigeli (Wells & Wellington, 1987) very probably represent valid species of the genus Pseudechis. The remaining populations of Pseudechis australis were found to be very homogenous.

• Hoser, R. (1998).  A new snake from Queensland, Australia (Serpentes: Elapidae). Monitor 10: 5-9.
• Hoser, R. (2000) A new species of snake (Serpentes: Elapidae) from Irian Jaya. Litteratura Serpentium 20: 178-186.
• Wells, R.W. & C.R. Wellington (1987) A new species of proteroglyphous snake (Serpentes: Oxyuranidae) from Australia. Australian Herpetologist 503: 1-8.
• Wüster , W., B. Bush, J.S. Keogh, M. O'Shea & R. Shine (2001) Taxonomic contributions in the "amateur" literature: comments on recent descriptions of new genera and species by Raymond Hoser. Litteratura Serpentium 21: 67-79, 86-91. pdf
• Wüster , W., A.J. Dumbrell, C. Hay, C.E. Pook, D.J. Williams & B.G. Fry (2005) Snakes across the Strait: Trans-Torresian phylogeographic relationships in three genera of Australasian snakes (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis, Oxyuranus and Pseudechis). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34(1): 1-14. pdf

Notechis - Australian tiger snakes


Notechis scutatus - Reevesby Isd., South Australia

Keogh et al. (2005) analysed the phylogeography of the genus Notechis, the Australian tiger snakes, using sequences from five mitochondrial genes. They found extremely low levels of genetic divergence across the genus. The main subdivision was between populations from southwestern and southeastern Australia. Within southeastern Australia, divergences were minimal (maximum 0.38%), despite the presence of great variation in body size and pattern. This demonstrates that the enormous differences in size and coloration between different populations of tiger snakes, which has led to the description of two species (N. scutatus and N. ater) and a number of subspecies, is the result of rapid and repeated parallel evolution. The authors conclude that body size and pattern do not constitute useful taxonomic markers in this group, and propose that all tiger snakes should be considered part of a single, widespread but variable species, Notechis scutatus.

• Keogh, J.S., I.A.W. Scott & C. Hayes (2005) Rapid and repeated origin of insular gigantism and dwarfism in Australian tiger snakes. Evolution 59(1): 226-233.

Pseudechis australis group - mulga snake, king brown snake

Kuch et al. (2005) resolved the phylogeography of the Pseudechis australis group using sequences of two mitochondrial genes. Their data revealed four highly distinct haplotype clades, corresponding to the New Guinea populations, the large, widespread Australian mulga snake (Pseudechis australis sensu stricto), found to be genetically highly homogeneous across its Australia-wide range, a population from the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and a heteregeneous fifth clade containing populations from NW Queensland and the northwestern Northern Territory. Kuch et al. (2005) argue that their results, coupled with morphological differences, suggest the existence of five distinct species in the complex, although the authors refrain from discussing their nomenclature due existing confusion in this regard.

• Kuch, U., J.S. Keogh, J. Weigel, L.A. Smith & D. Mebs (2005) Phylogeography of Australia's king brown snake (Pseudechis australis) reveals Pliocene divergence and Pleistocene dispersal of a top predator. Naturwissenschaften 92: 121–127.

Micrurus surinamensis - Aquatic coral snake

Passos & Fernandes (2005) analysed variation in scalation, osteology and hemipenis int he coral snake Micrurus surinamensis. Populations from the Orinoco drainage of Venezuela and eastern Colombia, and parts of the upper Rio Negro in adjoining parts of Brazil, previously recognised as a separate subspecies, were found to be a clearly distinct, diagnosable taxon, and thus raised to full species status: Micrurus nattereri. The most convenient distinguishing feature is the higher ventral scale count in M. nattereri (males: 180-195 compared to 156-174; females: 193-215 compared to 169-187).

• Passos, P. & D.S. Fernandes (2005) Variation and taxonomic status of the aquatic coral snake Micrurus surinamensis (Cuvier, 1817) (Serpentes: Elapidae). Zootaxa 953: 1-14.

Laticauda - Sea kraits

Heatwole et a l. (2005) investigated patterns of morphological geographic variation in sea kraits of the Laticauda colubrina complex. Among other conclusions, they recognise the validity of Laticauda frontalis from Vaunatu, and describe a new species, Laticauda guineai, from the southern coast of Papua New Guinea. The new species is distingished from other species of the L. colubrina complex primarily due to the larger number of dark crossbands (> 47) around the body.

• Heatwole, H., S. Busack & H. Cogger (2005) Geographic variation in sea kraits of the Laticauda colubrina complex (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hydrophiinae: Laticaudini). Herpetological Monographs 19: 1-136.

Bungarus slowinskii - Red River krait

Kuch et al. (2005) describe a new species of krait from Lao Cai and Yen Bai Provinces, northern Vietnam: Bungarus slowinskii. The new species is most similar and most closely related to Bungarus bungaroides, a form restricted to northern Myanmar (Burma). It shares with that species the peculiarity of having divided subcaudals (undivided in other kraits), but differs in having fewer and slightly wider white body bands (27-33 vs 46-60) consisting of white scales with black bases and margins, as opposed to black scales with white margins in B. bungaroides. The new species is named after Joseph B. Slowinski, lately Associate Curator of Herpetology at the California Academy of Sciences, who made lasting contributions to our knowledge of the herpetofauna of Myanmar. Joe died of a bite by a Bungarus multicinctus during an expedition to Myanmar in September 2001. See http://jacq.org/jbs-slowinski.htm for more information on Joe's life and tragic death.

• Kuch, U.,  D. Kizirian, N. Q. Truong, R. Lawson, M.A. Donnelly & D. Mebs (2005) A new species of krait (Squamata: Elapidae) from the Red River System of Northern Vietnam. Copeia 2005: 818-833.

Boulengerina synonymised with Naja

Nagy et al. (2005) use mitochondrial and nuclear genes to reconstruct the phylogeny of African colubroid snakes. Their results reveal strong support for the paraphyly of Naja relative to Boulengerina, which appears to be the sister taxon of Naja melanoleuca. In consequence, Nagy et al. argue for the synonymisation of Boulengerina with Naja, an approach followed by Branch (2005).

· Branch, B. (2005) A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa. Struijk Publishers, Cape Town.

• Nagy, Z.T., N. Vidal, M. Vences, W.R. Branch, O.S.G. Pauwels, M. Wink & U. Joger (2005) Molecular systematics of African Colubroidea (Squamata: Serpentes). Pp. 221-228 in: African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems (B.A. Huber, B.J. Sinclair & K.H. Lampe, Eds.). Springer Verlag, Berlin.

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