Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5346 No. 4: 20 Sept. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-09-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5346.4.3
Page range: 403-419
Abstract views: 710
PDF downloaded: 297

On the importance of types and the perils of “en passant” taxonomy: a brief history of the typification of Coluber naja Linnaeus, 1758 (Serpentes: Elapidae) and its implications, with the designation of a lectotype

Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor; School of Natural Sciences; Bangor University; Bangor LL57 2UW; Wales; UK
Museum für Naturkunde; Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung; Invalidenstraße 43; 10115 Berlin; Germany
Reptilia nomenclature taxonomy neotype lectotype holotype en passant taxonomy Linnaeus Elapidae Naja naja

Abstract

In response to the recent in passing (“en passant”) taxonomic decision to split Naja naja (Linnaeus) and recognise the Sri Lankan populations as a separate species, N. polyocellata Deraniyagala, we analyse the evidence underlying the proposal and its nomenclatural implications. The proposed split is weakly supported by the available evidence, so that retaining N. naja as a single species seems appropriate until further analysis. Moreover, the proposal raises several issues concerning types, type locality and nomenclature. Linnaeus’ description of Coluber naja was based on a single preserved specimen seen by him (now lost) and several illustrations in Seba’s Thesaurus. The specimens that were the basis of these illustrations constitute part of the type series. Two of the latter specimens, ZMB 2795 and 2796, have been rediscovered in the collections of the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. Here, we describe them, and determine that both are of Sri Lankan origin. To settle the question of the type and type locality of this iconic taxon, we designate ZMB 2796 as lectotype for the species, thereby implicitly restricting the type locality to Sri Lanka. The name “polyocellata” thus becomes a subjective junior synonym of Coluber naja, and the name Naja brasiliensis Laurenti, 1768 an objective junior synonym thereof. Any taxonomic recognition of additional diversity within N. naja would thus require the renaming of Indian, not Sri Lankan spectacled cobras, but should await a significant body of convincing evidence. We caution against taxonomic decisions taken “in passing”, based on limited evidence and without in-depth assessment of their nomenclatural implications.

 

References

  1. Abyerami, S. & Sivashanth, K. (2008) Diversity of snakes from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11, 1969–1978. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2008.1969.1978
  2. Andersson, L.G. (1899) Catalogue of Linnean type-specimens of snakes in the Royal Museum in Stockholm. Bihang till Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens. Handlingar, 24, 1–35.
  3. Bauer, A.M. & Günther, R. (2013) Origin and identity of the von Borcke collection of amphibians and reptiles in the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin: A cache of Seba specimens? Zoosystematics and Evolution, 89, 167–185. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoos.201300005
  4. Boeseman, M. (1970) The vicissitudes and dispersal of Albertus Seba’s zoological specimens. Zoologische Mededelingen, 44, 177–206, 4 pls.
  5. Bossuyt, F., Meegaskumbura, M., Beenaerts, N., Gower, D.J., Pethiyagoda, R., Roelants, K., Mannaert, A., Wilkinson, M., Bahir, M.M., Manamendra-Arachchi, K., Ng, P.K.L., Schneider, C.J., Oommen, O.V. & Milinkovitch, M.C. (2004) Local endemism within the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot. Science, 306, 479–481. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1100167
  6. Boulenger, G.A. (1896) Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III, Containing the Colubridae (Opisthoglyphae and Proteroglyphae), Amblycephalidae, and Viperidae. British Museum (Natural History), London, London, xiv + 727 pp.
  7. Burbrink, F.T. (2001) Systematics of the Eastern Ratsnake Complex (Elaphe obsoleta). Herpetological Monographs, 15, 1–53. https://doi.org/10.2307/1467037
  8. Burbrink, F.T., Gehara, M., McKelvy, A.D. & Myers, E.A. (2021) Resolving spatial complexities of hybridization in the context of the gray zone of speciation in North American ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus complex). Evolution, 75, 260–277. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14141
  9. Burriel-Carranza, B., Tarroso, P., Els, J., Gardner, A., Soorae, P., Mohammed, A.A., Tubati, S.R.K., Eltayeb, M.M., Shah, J.N., Tejero-Cicuéndez, H., Simó-Riudalbas, M., Pleguezuelos, J.M., Fernández-Guiberteau, D., Šmíd, J. & Carranza, S. (2019) An integrative assessment of the diversity, phylogeny, distribution, and conservation of the terrestrial reptiles (Sauropsida, Squamata) of the United Arab Emirates. PLOS ONE, 14, e0216273. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216273
  10. Daszkiewicz, P. & Bauer, A.M. (2003) The confiscation and replacement of herpetological collections by France under the First Republic and Empire, with notes on an historically important collection sent to Vienna in 1815. Newsletter and Bulletin of the ISHBH, 4, 15–27.
  11. Daszkiewicz, P. & Bauer, A.M. (2006) Specimens from the second collection of Albertus Seba in Poland: the Natural History Cabinet of Anna Jablonowska (1728–1800). Bibliotheca Herpetologica, 6, 16–20.
  12. Deka, A., Bhatia, S., Santra, V., Bharti, O.K., Lalremsanga, H.T., Martin, G., Wüster, W., Owens, J.B., Graham, S., Doley, R. & Malhotra, A. (2023) Multilevel comparison of Indian Naja venoms and their cross-reactivity with Indian polyvalent antivenom. Toxins, 15, 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15040258
  13. Deraniyagala, P.E.P. (1939) A new colour variety of cobra from Ceylon & South India. Ceylon Journal of Science, 21, 233–235.
  14. Deraniyagala, P.E.P. (1945) Some new races of the python, Chrysopelea, binocellate cobra and tith-polonga inhabiting Ceylon and India. Spolia Zeylanica, 24, 103–113.
  15. Deraniyagala, P.E.P. (1960) The taxonomy of the cobras of south-eastern Asia. Spolia Zeylanica, 29, 41–63.
  16. Deraniyagala, P.E.P. (1961) The taxonomy of the cobras of south-eastern Asia, Part 2. Spolia Zeylanica, 29, 205–232.
  17. Dubey, K.M., Chaubey, A.K., Gaur, A.S. & Joglekar, M.V. (2022) Evolution of Ramasetu region as a link between India and Sri Lanka during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Quaternary Research, 111, 166–176. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2022.41
  18. Fritz, U. & Schmidtler, J.F. (2020) The Fifth Labour of Heracles: Cleaning the Linnean stable of names for grass snakes (Natrix astreptophora, N. helvetica, N. natrix sensu stricto). Vertebrate Zoology, 70 (4), 621–665. https://doi.org/10.26049/VZ70-4-2020-07
  19. Harrington, S. & Burbrink, F.T. (2022) Complex cycles of divergence and migration shape lineage structure in the common kingsnake species complex. Journal of Biogeography, 50 (2), 341–351. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14536
  20. Hillis, D.M. (2019) Species delimitation in herpetology. Journal of Herpetology, 53, 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1670/18-123
  21. International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th Edition. The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, 306 pp.
  22. Kaempfer, E. (1712) Amoenitatum exoticarum politico-physico-medicarum fasciculi V : quibus continentur variae relationes, observationes & descriptiones rerum Persicarum & ulterioris Asiae : multâ attentione in peregrinationibus per universum orientem collectae. Typis & impensis Henrici Wilhelmi Meyeri, aulae Lippiacae typographi, Lemgoviae [Lemgo], 32 + 912 p. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.147012
  23. Kazandjian, T.D., Petras, D., Robinson, S.D., van Thiel, J., Greene, H.W., Arbuckle, K., Barlow, A., Carter, D.A., Wouters, R.M., Whiteley, G., Wagstaff, S.C., Arias, A.S., Albulescu, L.-O., Plettenberg Laing, A., Hall, C., Heap, A., Penrhyn-Lowe, S., McCabe, C.V., Ainsworth, S., da Silva, R.R., Dorrestein, P.C., Richardson, M.K., Gutiérrez, J.M., Calvete, J.J., Harrison, R.A., Vetter, I., Undheim, E.A.B., Wüster, W. & Casewell, N.R. (2021) Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. Science, 371, 386–390. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb9303
  24. Laurenti, J.N. (1768) Austriaci viennensis Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Johan. Thom Nob. de Trattnern, Viennae, 214 pp.
  25. Leaché, A.D., Zhu, T., Rannala, B. & Yang, Z. (2019) The spectre of too many species. Systematic Biology, 68, 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syy051
  26. Linnaeus, C. (1749) Amoenitates academicae seu dissertationes variae physicae, medicae botanicae antehac seorsim editae nunc collectae et auctae cum tabulis aeneis. Godofredum Kiesewetter, Holmiae et Lipsiae, 563 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.910
  27. Linnaeus, C. (1754) Museum Regis Adolphi Friderici regis svecorum, gothorum, vandalorumque, haer. norv. duc. slesv. hols. storm. ditm. com. oldenb. del menhorstiae. etc. etc. Nimalia rariora imprimis, et exotica, quadrupedia, aves, Amphibia, Pisces, Insecta, Vermes describuntur et determinantur, latine et svetice cum iconibus. Kongliga Tryckeriet, Stockholm, 4 + xxx + 95 + 14 + xxxi pp.
  28. Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systemae naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. 10th Edition. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 824 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542
  29. Müller, F. (1887) Fünfter Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel, 8, 249–296. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.19447
  30. O’Shea, M. & Kaiser, H. (2018) Erroneous environs or aberrant activities? Reconciling unexpected collection localities for three New Guinea Worm-eating Snakes (Toxicocalamus, Serpentes, Elapidae) using historical accounts. Herpetological Review, 49, 189–207.
  31. Padial, J.M., Miralles, A., De la Riva, I. & Vences, M. (2010) The integrative future of taxonomy. Frontiers in Zoology, 7, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-9994-7-16
  32. Peters, J.A. (1960) The snakes of the subfamily Dipsadinae. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 114, 1–224, 8 pls.
  33. Pyron, R.A. & Burbrink, F.T. (2009) Systematics of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula; Serpentes: Colubridae) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy. Zootaxa, 2241 (1), 22–32. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2241.1.2
  34. de Queiroz, K. (1998) The general lineage concept of species, species criteria, and the process of speciation. A conceptual unification and terminological recommendations. In: Howard, D.J. & Berlocher, S.H. (Eds.), Endless Forms. Species and Speciation. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, pp. 57–75.
  35. de Queiroz, K. (2007) Species concepts and species delimitation. Systematic Biology, 56, 879–886. https://doi.org/10.1080/10635150701701083
  36. Ratnarathorn, N., Nadolski, B., Sumontha, M., Hauser, S., Suntrarachun, S., Khunsap, S., Laoungbua, P., Radcliffe, C.A., Vasaruchapong, T., Tawan, T. & Chanhome, L. (2023) An expanded description, natural history, and genetic variation of the recently described cobra species Naja fuxi Shi et al., 2022. Vertebrate Zoology, 73, 257–276. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.73.e89339
  37. Rohling, E.J., Fenton, M., Jorissen, F.J., Bertrand, P., Ganssen, G. & Caulet, J.P. (1998) Magnitudes of sea-level lowstands of the past 500,000 years. Nature, 394, 162–165. https://doi.org/10.1038/28134
  38. Saikumari, Y.K., D’Souza, C. & Dhananjaya, B.L. (2015) Geographic variation in the peptidome fraction of the venom of Naja naja naja (Indian cobra) species as analysed by MALDITOF; implications on antivenin development. Journal of Toxin, 1 (2), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.13188/2328-1723.1000008
  39. Seba, A. (1734) Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio, et iconibus artificiosissimis expressio, per universam physices historiam. Opus, cui, in hoc rerum genere, nullum par exstitit. Ex toto terrarum orbe collegit, digessit, descripsit, et depingendum curarit Albertus Seba, etzela oostfrisius, Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum Collega Xenocrates dictus; Societatis Regiae Anglicanae, et Instituti Bononiensis, sodalis. Tomus I. Janssonio-Waesbergias, J. Wetstenium, and Gul. Smith, Amsterdam, [28] + 178 pp., 111 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.14110
  40. Seba, A. (1735) Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio, et iconibus artificiosissimis expressio, per universam physices historiam. Opus, cui, in hoc rerum genere, nullum par exstitit. Ex toto terrarum orbe collegit, digessit, descripsit, et depingendum curarit Albertus Seba, etzela oostfrisius, Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum Colleha Xenocrates dectus; Societatis Regiae Anglicanae, et Instituti Bononiensis, sodalis. Tomus II. J. Wetstenium, Gul. Smith, and Janssonio-Waesbergias, Amsterdam, [30] + 154 pp., 114 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.14110
  41. Senji Laxme, R.R., Attarde, S., Khochare, S., Suranse, V., Martin, G., Casewell, N.R., Whitaker, R. & Sunagar, K. (2021) Biogeographical venom variation in the Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja) underscores the pressing need for pan-India efficacious snakebite therapy. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15, e0009150. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009150
  42. Shashidharamurthy, R. & Kemparaju, K. (2007) Region-specific neutralization of Indian cobra (Naja naja) venom by polyclonal antibody raised against the eastern regional venom: A comparative study of the venoms from three different geographical distributions. International Immunopharmacology, 7, 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2006.08.014
  43. Shi, S.-C., Vogel, G., Ding, L., Rao, D.-Q., Liu, S., Zhang, L., Wu, Z.-J. & Chen, Z.-N. (2022) Description of a new cobra (Naja Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) from China with designation of a neotype for Naja atra. Animals, 12, 3481. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243481
  44. Sintiprungrat, K., Watcharatanyatip, K., Senevirathne, W.D.S.T., Chaisuriya, P., Chokchaichamnankit, D., Srisomsap, C. & Ratanabanangkoon, K. (2016) A comparative study of venomics of Naja naja from India and Sri Lanka, clinical manifestations and antivenomics of an Indian polyspecific antivenom. Journal of Proteomics, 132, 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2015.10.007
  45. Sites, J.W. & Marshall, J.C. (2003) Delimiting species: a Renaissance issue in systematic biology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 18, 462–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(03)00184-8
  46. Strickland, J.L., Smith, C.F., Mason, A.J., Schield, D.R., Borja, M., Castañeda-Gaytán, G., Spencer, C.L., Smith, L.L., Trápaga, A., Bouzid, N.M., Campillo-García, G., Flores-Villela, O.A., Antonio-Rangel, D., Mackessy, S.P., Castoe, T.A., Rokyta, D.R. & Parkinson, C.L. (2018) Evidence for divergent patterns of local selection driving venom variation in Mojave Rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus). Scientific Reports 8, 17622. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35810-9
  47. Sukumar, A. (2021) Indian Cobra (Naja naja). iNaturalist. Available from: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/101466755 (accessed April 2023)
  48. Thireau, M., Sprackland, R.G. & Sprackland, T. (1998) A report on Seba’s specimens in the herpetological collection of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, and their status as Linnaean types. The Linnean, 13, 38–45.
  49. Thorpe, R.S., Pook, C.E. & Malhotra, A. (2007) Phylogeography of the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) complex in relation to variation in the colour pattern and symptoms of envenoming. Herpetological Journal, 17, 209–218.
  50. Vaz, G.G. (2000) Age of relict coral reef from the continental shelf off Karaikal, Bay of Bengal: Evidence of Last Glacial Maximum. Current Science, 79, 228–230.
  51. Wallach, V. (2011) Synonymy and preliminary identification of the snake illustrations of Albertus Seba’s “Thesaurus” (1734–1735). Hamadryad, 35, 1–190.
  52. Wallach, V., Williams, K.L. & Boundy, J. (2014) Snakes of the World. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1227 pp. Available from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781482208481 (accessed 1 January 2021)
  53. Whitaker, R. & Captain, A. (2004) Snakes of India: the Field Guide. Draco Books, Chennai, 481 pp.
  54. Wüster, W. (1990) Population Evolution of the Asiatic cobra (Naja naja) species complex. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, v + 263 pp.
  55. Wüster, W. (1998) The cobras of the genus Naja in India. Hamadryad, 23, 15–32.
  56. Wüster, W. & McCarthy, C.J. (1996) Venomous snake systematics: implications for snake bite treatment and toxinology. In: Bon, C. & Goyffon, M. (Eds.), Envenomings and the Treatments. Fondation Marcel Mérieux, Lyon, pp. 13–23.
  57. Wüster, W. & Thorpe, R.S. (1992) Asiatic cobras: population systematics of the Naja naja species complex (Serpentes: Elapidae) in India and Central Asia. Herpetologica, 48, 69–85.
  58. Wüster, W., Warrell, D.A., Cox, M.J., Jintakune, P. & Nabhitabhata, J. (1997) Redescription of Naja siamensis (Serpentes: Elapidae), a widely overlooked spitting cobra from S.E. Asia: geographic variation, medical importance and designation of a neotype. Journal of Zoology, 243, 771–788. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb01975.x
  59. Zancolli, G., Calvete, J.J., Cardwell, M.D., Greene, H.W., Hayes, W.K., Hegarty, M.J., Herrmann, H.-W., Holycross, A.T., Lannutti, D.I., Mulley, J.F., Sanz, L., Travis, Z.D., Whorley, J.R., Wüster, C.E. & Wüster, W. (2019) When one phenotype is not enough: divergent evolutionary trajectories govern venom variation in a widespread rattlesnake species. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286, 20182735. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.2735