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Zeitschrift/Journal: Herpetozoa

Jahr/Year: 2002

Band/Volume: 15_1_2

Autor(en)/Author(s): Kuch Ulrich, Yuwono Frank Bambang

Artikel/Article: First record of Brown cf. Texilis (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854)from , Indonesia 75-78 ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at

HERPETOZOA 15(1/2): 75-78 75 Wien, 30. Juni 2002

First record of Brown Snakes Pseudonaja cf. textilis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854) from Papua, Indonesia (: Serpentes: )

Erstnachweis von Braunschlangen, Pseudonaja cf. textilis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854), furPapua, Indonesien (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae)

ULRICH KUCH & FRANK BAMBANG YUWONO

KURZFASSUNG Braunschlangen {Pseudonajä) sind in Australien weit verbreitet und stellen dort eine der medizinisch be- deutsamsten Schlangengattungen dar. Auf der Insel Neuguinea wurden Braunschlangen erstmals 1953 entdeckt. Heute sind sie dort aus einem kleinen Gebiet im Südosten Papua-Neuguineas (Central Province, Milne Bay Province und Oro Province) bekannt. Dieses disjunkte Vorkommen wurde mit einer möglichen unbeabsichtigten Einschleppung während des Zweiten Weltkrieges erklärt. Wir berichten über den Erstnachweis von Braun- schlangen - Pseudonaja cf. textilis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854) - aus der Gegend um Merauke im Südosten von Papua (Indonesien), ca. 800 km westlich der bisher bekannten Fundorte. Die Schlangen wurden dort erstmals 1993 gefunden und seitdem regelmäßig gefangen. Mit gegenwärtiger Kenntnis betrachten wir Braunschlangen auf der Insel Neuguinea daher als autochthonen Bestandteil der Fauna und nicht als das Resultat einer kürzlich erfolgten Verschleppung australischer Tiere.

ABSTRACT

Brown Snakes {Pseudonaja) are widely distributed in where they are considered to be one of the medically most important genera. In , Brown Snakes were first discovered in 1953. They are currently known only from a small area in southeastern Papua New Guinea (Central, Milne Bay and Oro Pro- vinces). This disjunct distribution has been explained by possible accidental introductions in the course of the Second World War. We report on the first record of Brown Snakes - Pseudonaja cf. textilis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854) - from the area of Merauke in southeastern Papua, Indonesia, about 800 km west of the previously known New Guinea localities. Brown Snakes were first collected in this area in 1993 and since then have been reg- ularly captured. With present knowledge we therefore regard Brown Snakes in New Guinea as a native faunal ele- ment, and not as the result of a recent introduction of Australian specimens.

KEY WORDS

Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae: Pseudonaja cf. textilis; venomous snakes; geographical distribution; new country record; Merauke, Papua, Indonesia; Papua New Guinea; New Guinea

Brown Snakes of the Pseudo- Pseudonaja is a complex genus, and naja GÜNTHER, 1858 are very widely distrib- the classification of its members is in need uted in Australia. These medium-sized to of revision. Seven are traditionally large, slender and quick-moving elapid recognized but poorly defined (COGGER snakes inhabit a great variety of and 1992). Variability at the individual and pop- are a major source of snakebite. They are con- ulation level as well as ontogenetical sidered to be Australia's most dangerous changes are substantial, and certain wide- group of snakes because of the high incidence spread taxa comprise several as yet unde- of bites and the occurrence of sudden and scribed species (MENGDEN 1985). unexpected collapse and death in victims of In the island of New Guinea, Brown Brown Snake envenomation (SUTHERLAND Snakes were first collected by the 1953 1992; SUTHERLAND & LEONARD 1995). Archbold Expedition, from localities in ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at

76 U. KucH & F. B. YUWONO

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea: a Germany. Although Brown Snakes are very female was found at Menapi, Cape Vogel, quick-moving and difficult to capture, they and a male was collected at Baiawa, Moi are relatively frequently found in collections Biri Bay (MCDOWELL 1967: 536). In the late of live elapid and colubrid snakes from the 1950s, Brown Snakes were believed to be vicinity of Merauke (personal observation). rare in Papua New Guinea and confined to a Therefore, we believe that Brown Snakes localized area in Milne Bay and Oro Pro- are not uncommon in southeastern Papua. vinces (WORRELL 1961; O'SHEA 1996). We consequently regard members of the O'SHEA (1996) lists Embogo and Popon- genus Pseudonaja as a native faunal element detta in Oro Province and Dogura, Moi Biri of New Guinea and not the result of a recent Bay, in Milne Bay Province as additional introduction from Australia. localities for which voucher specimens The present record is consistent with exist. SLATER (1968) suggested these New the observation that all "northern" Aus- Guinean records originated from specimens tralian genera of elapids as well as species or accidentally introduced by Aus- from genera regarded as "eastern" and tralian military forces or agricultural equip- "western" Australian also occur in New ment during the 1940's. This hypothesis was Guinea (COVACEVICH 1989). In common supported by the apparent absence of Brown with most of those Australian species of rep- Snakes from suitable in the southern tiles and amphibians which also occur in regions of the Central and Western New Guinea, the Brown Snakes of the Provinces of Papua New Guinea, which are Merauke area belong to the group of grass- situated between the Papua New Guinea land and open- inhabitants, which pre- population and the range of the Australian sumably had ample opportunity for colo- species of Pseudonaja (O'SHEA 1990). nization across extensive land bridges dur- However, serum samples obtained ing times of Pleistocene low sea levels from several snakebite patients from locali- (COVACEVICH 1989). ties in Papua New Guinea's Central Pro- MCDOWELL (1967) identified the two vince have shown positive ELISA test specimens from Papua New Guinea as results for Pseudonaja venom, suggesting a Eastern Brown Snakes, Pseudonaja textilis presence of Brown Snakes in these areas (DuMÉRiL, BIBRON & DuMÉRiL, 1854), and (O'SHEA 1996: 217). There is currently no noted that they resembled and such record from the Western Province of North Australian specimens. The taxonomic Papua New Guinea, and nothing has been status of the Brown Snakes from Merauke, reported about the possible presence of as suggested by mitochondrial DNA se- Brown Snakes in Papua, Indonesia (DE quence data and morphological analysis, Roou 1917; DE HAAS 1950; SUPRIATNA will be addressed elsewhere. Pending the 1995; O'SHEA 1996; ISKANDAR & COLIJN outcome of these studies we provisionally 2001). refer to these snakes as Pseudonaja cf. tex- We can now document the first record tilis. of Brown Snakes for the area of Merauke in Several factors render P. textilis one of southeastern Papua, Indonesia, about 800 the most dangerous and deadly snake km west of the previously known New species of Australasia. It commonly attains Guinea localities. Brown Snakes from this total lengths of 1.5 m with a maximum of area were first obtained from local collectors about 2.5 m (Gow 1989; COGGER 1992), is in 1993 and since then have been regularly extremely fast-moving, alert and easily captured. One of the first specimens to be aroused. It retaliates vigorously when threat- captured has been deposited in the herpeto- ened, striking swiftly and usually delivering logical collection of the Senckenberg several bites in rapid succession (MCPHEE Museum (Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 1959; WORRELL 1970; MIRTSCHIN et al. SMF 81544). About 40 live Pseudonaja 1990). BROAD et al. (1979) found the venom from the Merauke area have been kept in the of P. textilis to be more toxic to mice than collection of the second author between any other Australian snake except the Inland 1993 and 2000, and approximately ten are Taipan Oxyuranus microlepidotus (MCCOY, currently housed in private collections in 1879). It has presynaptic and postsynaptic ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at

Brown Snakes {Pseudonaja cf. textilis) in Papua, Indonesia 77

neurotoxic activity in addition to procoagu- (SUTHERLAND 1992; SUTHERLAND & LEON- lant activity due to a potent prothrombin ARD 1995). activator (MEBS et al. 1979; BARNETT et al. Pseudonaja textilis thrives in dis- 1980; MASCI et al. 1988) and contains the turbed habitats and is common in the farm- strongest known terrestrial neurotoxin lands of eastern Australia. This species feeds (COULTER et al. 1979). Despite the fact that primarily on small and mammals, Brown Snakes are short-fanged, with poor and introduced are a preferred prey abilities to penetrate clothing when biting, in many areas (SHINE 1989). It would thus and a low average venom yield (3 mg per seem logical that contact between Brown milking; GREER 1997), their bites caused a Snakes and humans in Papua is not limited mortality of 8.6 % before therapy to snake collectors, and P. cf. textilis may became available in Australia (FAIRLEY well contribute to the regional snakebite 1929), and they account for more than half problem. of all fatalities reported in recent years

REFERENCES

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78 U. KucH & F. B. YUWONO

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DATE OF SUBMISSION: April 12th, 2002 Corresponding editor: Heinz Grillitsch

AUTHORS: Ulrich KUCH, Sektion Herpetologie, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany < [email protected] >; Frank Bambang YUWONO, P. T. Vivaria Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Makaliwe Raya 24, Grogol, Jakarta 11450, Indonesia.