Issue 23, Australasian Journal of Herpetology ISSN 1836-5698 (Print)1 Published on 30 August 2014. ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) AustralasianAustralasian JournalJournal ofof HerpetologyHerpetology Hoser 2014 - Australasian Journal of Herpetology 22:2-8. Available online at www.herp.net Contents Copyright- Kotabi Publishing - All rights reservedContents onon pagepage 22 2 AustralasianAustralasian Journal Journal of ofHerpetology Herpetology Issue 23, 30 August 2014 Contents A long overdue taxonomic rearrangement of the New Guinea Crowned Snakes, currently referred to the genus Aspidomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes:Elapidae). ...... Raymond T. Hoser, 3-9. Smythkukri hunneangorum a new species of Kukri Snake from Cambodia (Serpentes: Oligodonini: Smythkukri; Geddykukrius). ... ...Raymond T. Hoser, 10-12. New snake taxa from Australasia, Asia and Africa. ... Raymond T. Hoser, 13-21. Tidying up Death Adder taxonomy (Serpentes: Elapidae: Acanthophis): including descriptions of new subspecies and the first ever key to identify all recognized species and subspecies within the genus. ... Raymond T. Hoser, 22-34. From a history of genus mergers to an overdue break-up: A new and sensible taxonomy for the Asiatic Wolf Snakes Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, 35-51. Korniliostyphlops a new genus of Blindsnake from the island of Socotra. ... Raymond T. Hoser, 52-53. A long overdue taxonomic rearrangement of the Uromastycinae (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae). ... Raymond T. Hoser, 54-64. All photos in AJH Issues 1-23 are by Raymond Hoser. 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) Hoser 2013 - Australasian Journal of Herpetology 19:3-8. Australia. Copyright. All rights reserved. Online journals (this issue) do Availablenot 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 Publishingprintings is always - All at rightsleast fifty reserved hard copies. Australasian Journal of Herpetology Australasian Journal of Herpetology 23:3-9. ISSN 1836-5698 3(Print) Published 30 August 2014. ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) A long overdue taxonomic rearrangement of the New Guinea Crowned Snakes, currently referred to the genus Aspidomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes:Elapidae). RAYMOND T. HOSER 488 Park Road, Park Orchards, Victoria, 3114, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9812 3322 Fax: 9812 3355 E-mail: snakeman (at) snakeman.com.au Received 2 November 2013, Accepted 1 December 2013, Published 30 August 2014. ABSTRACT As generally recognized at present, the principally New Guinea genus Aspidomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 consists of three morphologically similar species, all found in the New Guinea region. Morphological studies, notably that of McDowell and Cogger (1967) have shown the three nominate forms to be divergent in terms of conservative traits such as hemipene morphology. Regional forms of these are also sufficiently differentiated to warrant taxonomic recognition. Recent molecular studies, including that of Metzger et al. (2010) have further shown each of the three widely recognized species of Aspidomorphus to be composite along the same lines as indicated by the morphological data published by McDowall (1967). Metzger et al. (2010) also showed that the three widely recognized species of the present time, each consist of widely divergent lineages, warranting individual taxonomic recognition at the genus level. Following on from these past studies and merging the results, this paper takes a conservative position and splits Aspidomorphus into three genera, two being named and defined for the first time in accordance with the Zoological Code (Ride et al. 1999). Furthermore, Aspidomorphus muelleri (Schlegel, 1837) as presently recognized is divided into four species, two formally named for the first time; as well as two new subspecies, both formally named for the first time; Aspidomorphus schlegeli (Günther, 1872) is divided into two species, one formally named for the first time and Aspidomorphus lineaticollis (Werner, 1903) is divided into six species, with four formally named for the first time. The subtribe Aspidomorphina Hoser, 2012, is herein elevated to full tribe status, thereby becoming Aspidomorphini tribe nov. Keywords: Taxonomy; Australasia; New Guinea; Indonesia; Papua; Irian Jaya; Milne Bay; Elapidae; Micropechiini; Aspidomorphini; Aspidomorphina; genus; Aspidomorphus; species; muelleri; schlegeli; lineaticollis; lineatus; interruptus; new genera; Walmsleyus; Pilgerus; new species; coggeri; keneficki; anstisae; assangei; nardellai; macki; mooreae; new subspecies; macdowelli; tamisi. INTRODUCTION As generally recognized at present, the principally New Guinea However, recent molecular studies, including that of Metzger et genus Aspidomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 consists of three al. (2010) have also shown each of the three widely recognized morphologically similar species, all found in the New Guinea species of Aspidomorphus to be composite and along the same region. Morphological studies, notably that of McDowell and lines as indicated by the morphological data published by Cogger (1967) have shown the three nominate forms to be McDowall and Cogger in 1967. Metzger et al. (2010) also divergent in terms of conservative traits such as hemipene showed that the three widely recognized species of the present morphology and scalation. time, each consist of widely divergent lineages, warranting individual taxonomic recognition at the genus level. Regional forms of these are also sufficiently differentiated to warrant taxonomic recognition. Following on from these past studies of both McDowall and Cogger (1967) and Metzger et al. (2010) as well as other lesser History has shown McDowall to have failed to realize the studies of these snakes, including my own, as well as relevant taxonomic significance of differences in morphology of snakes studies of other New Guinea taxa (e.g. Zug 2004) and merging as first identified in his landmark taxonomic studies of the latter the results, this paper takes a conservative position and splits twentieth century. Hoser 2014 - Australasian Journal of Herpetology 23:3-9. Available online at www.herp.net Copyright- Kotabi Publishing - All rights reserved 4 Australasian Journal of Herpetology Aspidomorphus into three genera, two being named and defined (2010), O’Shea (1996), Parker (1936), Pyron et al. (2013), Ruiter for the first time in accordance with the Zoological Code (Ride et (1960), Schlegel (1837), Tiedemann and Grillitsch (1999), al. 1999). Werner (1899, 1903, 1925), Williams and Parker (1964), Worrell It should be noted that in terms of divergence, these newly (1961, 1963a, 1963b) and sources cited therein. named genera are considerably more divergent than other well In view of the findings of Metzger et al. (2010) and Pyron et al. recognized Australasian elapid genera such as the genera (2013), the subtribe Aspidomorphina Hoser, 2012, as defined by Tropidechis Günther, 1863, Notechis Boulenger, 1896 and Hoser (2012), is herein elevated to full tribe status, thereby Austrelaps Worrell 1963, with all three as a group being far less becoming Aspidomorphini tribe nov. by effectively adopting the divergent. same diagnosis. The subtribe Aspidomorphina should be also Furthermore, Aspidomorphus muelleri (Schlegel, 1837) as maintained to allow for the inevitable need for use when dealing presently recognized is divided into four species, two formally with fossil material. named for the first time; as well as two new subspecies, both TRIBE ASPIDOMORPHINI TRIBE NOV. formally named for the first time; Aspidomorphus schlegeli (Terminal Taxon: Aspidomorphus muelleri) (Günther, 1872) is divided into two species, one formally named Diagnosis: Separated from all other Australasian and for the first time and Aspidomorphus lineaticollis (Werner, 1903) Melanesian land dwelling (non-sea snake) elapids and others in is divided into six species, with four formally named for the first the tribe Micropechiini by the following suite of characters: time. Snakes of moderate to slender build, usually around 400 mm in McDowall and Cogger (1967) did an excellent job of defining total length as adults and never more than 650 mm as adults; differences between the various taxa identified within this paper head flattened and slightly distinct from the neck which is with little need to add further diagnostic material in order to noticeably narrower but not unduly narrow; shortish tail, small to differentiate the relevant taxa. As it happens, there is strong medium sized eye with a vertically elliptical pupil, although this is merit in publishing a species diagnosis that is both relatively