New genus for Maculophis/Elaphe bella

HEMIPENIS MORPHOLOGY OF Coronella bella STANLEY, 1917 WITH COMMENTS ON TAXONOMIC AND NOMENCLATURAL ISSUES OF RATSNAKES (SQUAMATA: COLUBRIDAE: COLUBRINAE: Elaphe AUCT.)
Klaus-Dieter Schulz, Wolfgang Böhme, and Frank Tillack
Russian Journal of Herpetology: Vol. 18, No. 4, 2011, pp. 273 – 283

The hitherto unknown everted hemipenis of Coronella bella Stanley, 1917, currently Elaphe bella (see, e.g.,Schulz et al., 2000; Nguyen et al., 2009), is described and figured for the first time. It is compared with the everted hemipenes of the related genera Rhadinophis Vogt, 1922, Euprepiophis Fitzinger, 1843, and Oreocryptophis Utiger, Schätti and Helfenberger, 2002 within the former collective genus Elaphe auct. (Schulz, 1996). The molecular phylogenetic position of this species basal to Oreocryptophis and Euprepiophis (Burbrink and Lawson, 2007) is mirrored by its hemipenial characters. The new generic name Maculophis assigned to E. bella by the latter authors lacks a diagnosis, has not explicitly been stated as intentionally new and is therefore unavailable. It is therefore replaced by Archelaphe gen. nov. proposed here.

We discuss also the status of Rhadinophis Vogt, 1922 and Rhynchophis Mocquard, 1897. Moreover, we correct some wrong endings of species names in regard to the gender of the respective genera, and we point on several superfluous colubrine genus-group and species-group synonyms unintentionally created by erroneous spelling.


 

New species of Elaphe

Tuesday, 22 March 2011 15:28

Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal a Unique Species of Elaphe (Serpentes, Colubridae) New to Science
Authors: LING et al.

Abstract The snakes comprising the monophyletic group referred to as ratsnakes are found throughout Asia, Europe and the New World. Recently, three snake samples likely belonging to the ratsnakes were collected in Zoige County, Sichuan Province, China. Species identity was difficult to delimit morphologically because the specimens were juveniles and partially damaged. Subsequently, a molecular phylogenetic approach was used. Portions of three mitochondrial genes (cyt b, ND4 and 12S rRNA) were sequenced and analyzed. The results showed that they were sister to the genus Elaphe. Very little genetic variation was found among the three samples. The minimum genetic distances between these samples and those within Elaphe were greater than any currently recognized species within the genus. We conclude that this likely represents a new species within the genus Elaphe. Adult specimens and a morphologic description are needed for further study.

A new paper has been submitted for publication describing the species and should be published some time this year.

What we know so far is it will be in the genus Elaphe and specimens have been found in Zoige County, Sichuan Province, China.

I've talked to Frank Burbrink one of the authors and he describes the new species as a 'little beaut'.


   

Blue Beauty Scientific Name

Monday, 12 July 2010 00:29

The Blue Beauty has been proved to be a distinct taxon and assigned the subspecies of Orthriophis taeniurus callicyanous

Named in honor of Trevor Smith (UK) who coined the name 'Blue Beauty' the scientific name is from the latin Kallos meaning 'Beauty' & kyaneous 'dark blue, cyan'.

There are two 'colour phases' of O.t. calllicyanous The Blue Beauty & The yellow Beauty

Also there is a new subspecies from Myanmar & Thailand, named after Notker Helfenbeger (Switzerland). Orthriophis taeniurus helfenbergeri.

The paper is in German with an English Summary, is 24 pages long exc. references and has many photos to illustrate the different subspecies. Distribution maps for the two new subspecies and new locality details for mocquardi & yunnanensis. Apart from discussions on the variability in the Orthriophis taeniurus complex, distribution and natural history data is provided. A key to identification and table of scale counts

Übersicht der Variationen des Orthriophis taeniurus Unterarten-Komplexes mit Anmerkungen zum Status von Coluber taeniurus pallidus RENDAHL, 1937 und der Beschreibung einer neuen Unterart (Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae)

Klaus-Dieter SCHULZ
Sauria June 2010

The Beauty Snake clade now consists of 9 subspecies:

Orthriophis t. callicyanous.- Blue Beauty Snake / Yellow Beauty
Orthriophis t. grabowski - Indonesian Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. mocquardi - Mocquard's Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. taeniurus - Chinese Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. yunnanensis - Yunnan Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. friesi - Taiwan Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. ridleyi - Ridley's Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. schmackeri - Ryuku Beauty Snake
Orthriophis t. helfenbergeri - Helfenberger's Beauty Snake

   

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Welcome to Ratsnake Zone

I'm so pleased that your search, brought you here. The purpose of this website is two fold, firstly it is a place where I can show case my Ratsnakes and offer their offspring for sale. Secondly as an information portal, via articles.

I am a private breeder based in the UK, with a keen interest in all Ratsnakes, especially Elaphe dione, of which I keep and breed several localities and morphs.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy your visits - Sue x