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Issue: Vol. 5285 No. 1: 15 May 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-05-15
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.5
Page range: 133-148
Abstract views: 496
PDF downloaded: 32

Tropidonotus nicobarensis Sclater, 1891 is a junior synonym of Thamnophis saurita (Linnaeus, 1766) (Squamata: Serpentes: Natricinae)

Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship; Villanova University; Villanova; PA; 19085 USA
Department of Vertebrate Zoology; National Museum of Natural History; Smithsonian Institution; Washington; DC; 20013 USA; Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences; School of Life Sciences; Pondicherry University; Puducherry; 605014; India
Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship; Villanova University; Villanova; PA; 19085 USA
Reptilia India introduced species Nicobar Islands nomenclature North america Reptiliasnakes taxonomy

Abstract

Tropidonotus nicobarensis Sclater, 1891 is an enigmatic snake currently referred to the natricine genus Hebius Thompson, 1913. No specimens have been recorded since the original discovery of the name-bearing type in the late 19th century, which was allegedly collected on Kamorta Island in India’s Nicobar Archipelago. Recently, a second observation of this species was reported from Havelock Island (Swarajdweep) in the nearby Andaman Archipelago. However, the snake in question is clearly conspecific with another natricine, Thamnophis saurita (Linnaeus, 1766), native to eastern North America. This discovery prompted us to examine the type specimen of Tropidonotus nicobarensis, which revealed that it too is conspecific with Thamnophis saurita. The provenance of the Tropidonotus nicobarensis type specimen and the Havelock Island snake are discussed, with the latter likely representing an introduced animal.

 

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