Colubridae - 2002 Publications

Xyelodontophis - Dagger-toothed vine snake

Broadley & Wallach (2002) present a review of the tribe Dispholidini (which hitherto included the genera Dispholidus, Thelotornis, Thrasops and Rhamnophis), and describe a new genus and species, Xyelodontophis ulugurensis, form the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. The new species is known from two specimens. Externally, these snakes are most similar to Thelotornis, but lack a horizontal pupil and differ in several internal characters. In particular, the posterior maxillary teeth are greatly enlarged, ungrooved, and flat and curved, hence the suggested common name of Dagger-toothed vine snake. The venom (Duvernoy's) gland is intermediate in size between Dispholidus and Thelotornis, so that this species should be regarded as potentially dangerous. However, it appears to be rare and restricted to the small Uluguru mountain range, and no bites are known.

Indonesian Boiga - Mangrove snakes

Orlov & Ryabov (2002) described a new species of Boiga form the island of  Tanahjampea, south of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Boiga tanahjampeana. The new species is distinct from other species of the genus in lacking a distinct pattern: both adults and juveniles are grey suffused with yellowish coloration, and only the scale edges are darker. Additionally, this form is unusually stout-bodied for a Boiga. It had been traded in the exotic reptile trade for some years prior to its description. The same authors also describe what appears to be a black colour form of B. cyanea from Benkulu Province, Sumatra.
Revision of southern African Psammophis - sand snakes

Broadley (2002) revised the systematics of the genus Psammophis in southern Africa (south of Latitude 12° S). The main changes brought about by this revision were: (i) recognition of Psammophis trinasalis and P. namibensis as separate species from P. leightoni, with which they were formerly regarded as conspecific; (ii) recognition of  P. orientalis as a separate species rather than as a subspecies of  P. subtaeniatus;  (iii) P. brevirostris and P. leopardinus, previously regarded as subspecies of P. sibilans, are recognised as full species.

Psammophis zambiensis - Zambian whip snake

Hughes and Wade (2002) described the new species Psammophis zambiensis from parts of northern and eastern Zambia. The new species is externally most similar to the Namibian P. leopardinus, but differs in having lower tooth counts, and it differs from sympatric P. mossambicus in having lower ventral and subcaudal scale counts. The authors emphasise that the entire P. sibilans complex, to which the new form belongs, requires extensive revision.





Back