Calliophis, Maticora and Sinomicrurus - Oriental Coral Snakes
Calliophis maculiceps (roadkilled specimen)
Calliophis, Maticora and Sinomicrurus - Oriental Coral Snakes
Calliophis maculiceps (roadkilled specimen)
Slowinski et al. (2001) analysed the phylogeny
of oriental coral snakes (together with New World coral snakes) by means
of both morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The generic
classification of these snakes has been subject to confusion and controversy
for some time, with some species being assigned to the genus Hemibungarus,
but without much robust evidence (see
comments on Elapidae 1999 page). The present study identified three
main evolutionary groupings within Oriental coral snakes, which the authors
recognise as distinct genera:
(i) Calliophis, a tropical Asian
genus including the species C. beddomei, C. bibroni, C.
gracilis, C. maculiceps, C. melanurus, C. nigrescens,
C.
intestinalis and C. bivirgatus. Note that Maticora is
treated as a synonym of Calliophis.
(ii) Hemibungarus, which contains
the single Philippine species H. calligaster.
(iii) Sinomicrurus, a new genus,
which contains a series of subtropical species: S. hatori, S.
japonicus,
S. kelloggi, S. macclellandi and S. sauteri.
Both molecular and morphological studies support the hypothesis that this
assemblage constitutes the sister group to the New World coral snakes.
Hydrophis - Sea Snakes
Rasmussen et al. described a new sea snake, Hydrophis sibauensis. Unlike most other members of the genus, this new species is restricted to a river system. The three known specimens were found more than 1000 km up-river from the coast in the River Sibau, an affluent of the River Kapuas, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Although other sea snakes are also sometimes found in estuaries or the lower reaches of rivers, this new species is unique in occurring such a long distance from the sea. The only other strictly freshwater sea snakes live in lakes close to the coast.