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Full Journal (Including Covers) ISSUE 20, PUBLISHEDAustralasian 10 Journal JULY of 2013Herpetology 1 ISSN 1836-5698 (Print) ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) AustralasianAustralasian JournalJournal ofof HerpetologyHerpetology Hoser 2013 - Australasian Journal of Herpetology 18:2-79. Available online at www.herp.net ContentsCopyright- on Kotabipage Publishing two. - All rights reserved 2 AustralasianAustralasian Journal Journal of ofHerpetology Herpetology Issue 20, 10 July 2013 Contents Two new species of True Cobra in the genus ISSN 1836-5698 (Print) Boulengeria Dollo, 1886 from West Africa ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) and South Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 3-7. A new subspecies of Rinkhals Hemachatus haemachatus (Bonnaterre, 1790) from Southern Africa. (Serpentes: Elapidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 8-10. A further division of the African Burrowing Asps, Atractaspis Smith 1849 with the erection of a new genus and two new subgenera. ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 11-19. Four new species of snake from Central Africa (Serpentes: Colubridae) and (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 20-25. Chrismaxwellus: A new genus of Colubrid snake from south-west Africa. ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 26-29. Three new genera of Ground Snakes from Middle and South America (Serpentes: Dipsadidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 30-32. Division of the Asian Snake Genera Liopeltis Fitzinger, 1843 and Gongylosoma Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes:Colubridae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 33-40. Further division of the tree snake genus Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890, including the erection of three new genera to accommodate divergent species groups (Serpentes: Charlespiersonserpeniidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 41-46. Revisiting the Australian “White-lipped Snakes” of the genus Drysdalia Worrell, 1961, (sensu lato) including two new subgenera and two new subspecies (Serpentes: Elapidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 47-51. How fast can they crawl? Distribution of snakes in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Raymond T. Hoser, pp. 52-63. Australasian Journal of Herpetology Publishes original research in printed form in relation to reptiles, other fauna and related matters, including the subjects of classification, ecology, public interest, legal, captivity, exposure of frauds, “academic misconduct”, etc. It is a peer reviewed printed journal published in hard copy for permenant public scientific record in accordance with the Zoological Code (Ride et al. 1999), with a sizeable print run and has a global audience. Full details of acquiring copies, either printed or in identical form online, editorial policies, publication procedure, author submission guidelines, peer review guidelines, legal matters, advantages of publication in this journal and the like can be found by following links from: http://www.herp.net Published by Kotabi Pty Ltd PO Box 599 ISSN 1836-5698 (Print) Doncaster, Victoria, 3108. ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) Australia. Hoser 2013 - Australasian Journal of Herpetology 19:3-8. Copyright. All rights reserved. Online journals (this issue) do notAvailable appear for online a month at after www.herp.net the actual and listed publication date of the printed journals. MinimumCopyright- print run Kotabi of first printingsPublishing is always - All at leastrights fifty reservedhard copies. Australasian Journal of Herpetology Australasian Journal of Herpetology 20:3-7. ISSN 1836-5698 3(Print) Published 10 July 2013. ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) Two new species of True Cobra in the genus Boulengeria Dollo, 1886 from West Africa and South Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae). RAYMOND T. HOSER 488 Park Road, Park Orchards, Victoria, 3114, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9812 3322 Fax: 9812 3355 E-mail: [email protected] Received 4 April 2013, Accepted 2 May 2013, Published 10 July 2013. ABSTRACT The African True Cobras, have been a source of newly described species in recent times. Since 2000, three new species have been formally named. These are: Spracklandus nubiae (Wüster and Broadley, 2003), Spracklandus ashei (Wüster and Broadley, 2007) and Uraeus senegalensis (Trape, Chirio, Broadley and Wüster, 2009) all the result of division of widespread taxa. This paper names a fourth and fifth new species from Africa. The first species is from the forested zone west of the Dahomey Gap. Boulengeria jackyhoserae sp. nov. is formally named according to the Zoological Code (Ride et al. 1999). It had been long confused with the morphologically similar and closely related species Boulengeria melanoleuca (Hallowell, 1857), (also more widely known as Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857) from forested areas of central Africa east of the Dahomey gap. Another species confused with Boulengeria melanoleuca, namely B. adelynhoserae sp. nov. from South Africa and immediately adjacent areas, is also formally described according to the Zoological Code. The new species Boulengeria jackyhoserae sp. nov. is most readily separated from the species Boulengeria melanoleuca (Hallowell, 1857) in the field by obvious differences in labial and ventral markings, in particular those of the fore-body. All three species are allopatric. Keywords: Taxonomy; True Cobras, Africa, Naja, Boulengeria; Spracklandus; new species; jackyhoserae; Liberia; Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ivory Coast; Dahomey Gap; adelynhoserae; Kwazulu Natal; South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. INTRODUCTION The African True Cobras, remain a source of newly described Wellsus Hoser, 2009 is in fact a junior synonym for Uraeus species in recent times. Wagler, 1830 and so the latter name should be used for that group; as done within this paper. Since 2000, three new species have been formally described and named, namely Spracklandus nubiae (Wüster and Broadley, Notwithstanding the last identified error in terms of the 2003), Spracklandus ashei (Wüster and Broadley, 2007) and nomenclature of Hoser, 2009, the proposed classification of Uraeus senegalensis Trape, Chirio, Broadley and Wüster, 2009 Hoser, 2009 remains the best fit model for the True Cobras and all the result of division of widespread taxa and the naming of so is the basis of the higher-level nomenclature within this well-known regionally distinct forms. paper. This is especially when an attempt is made to have consistent genus-level classification across the Serpent genera. Also, well-known variants have also been resurrected from synonymy of better known species both in Africa and in terms of In 2009, while conducting fieldwork and inspections of Asian Cobra taxa. collections in Africa, it became apparent that one or more regional variants of the Forest Cobra Boulengeria melanoleuca Hoser 2009, reclassified the African True Cobras at the generic (Hallowell, 1857), (also more widely known as Naja melanoleuca level, dividing Naja as then known into four groups based on Hallowell, 1857) came in a number of apparently regionally divergence times as indicated below, these being: distinct colour phases. 1 - Asian True Cobras (Naja Laurenti, 1768) 25 MYA (million The best known variants were the so-called brown phase from years ago) (minimum 16 MYA); South Africa and nearby and the so-called black-phase, with 2 - Spitting Cobras (Spracklandus Hoser, 2009) 23 MYA; distinct labial bands from the forested areas of West and Central 3 - African Non-spitting Cobras (Wellsus Hoser, 2009) 21 MYA; Africa, the distribution centre of the species as (then) 4 - Boulengerina group (Boulengerina Dollo, 1886) 21 MYA. recognized. Hoser 2013 - Australasian Journal of Herpetology 20:3-7. Available online at www.herp.net Copyright- Kotabi Publishing - All rights reserved 4 Australasian Journal of Herpetology Inspection of large numbers of preserved specimens, live American Museum of Natural History, in New York, USA is a specimens and photos of live specimens from all known parts of government-owned facility that allows access to its specimens the range of the taxon identified as “Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, by scientists. 1857” showed a most significant division being that between Paratypes: those west of the Dahomey Gap (being essentially within Togo Three specimens at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Benin) and the nominate form found east of there, both Harvard, USA. being so-called black or dark forms. These are: While there were a number of trend differences between the two dark coloured forms identified by myself, the most obvious and MCZ Herp R-51634 from 3 miles northeast of Suacoco, Gbanga, consistent differences between the two forms is the colouration Liberia, Africa. of the upper labial scales and also the size and shape of some MCZ Herp R-51815 from Cuttington College, Suacoco, Liberia, of the head shields. Africa, and Due to the fact that the key traits separates those specimens MCZ Herp R-5709, from Cape Palmas, Liberia, Africa. West of the Dahomey Gap from all others found across a wide The Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, USA is a facility swathe of western, central and even into southern Africa, it is that allows access to its specimens by scientists. apparent that the western specimens do in fact consist of an Diagnosis: Until now the species Boulengeria jackyhoserae sp. undescribed species-level taxon being more divergent and nov. would have been identified as a regional variant of the distinct than all the rest. Forest Cobra Boulengeria melanoleuca (Hallowell, 1857), (also On this basis I herein describe the new taxon as a species more widely known as Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857) from according to the Zoological Code (Ride et al. 1999) below. West Africa in forested areas west of the Dahomey
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