A Nomenclatural Review of Ahaetulla nasuta (Lacépède, 1789): resurrection of Ahaetulla fusca (Duméril, Bibron et Duméril, 1854) for the populations of the Indochinese Region (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)

Patrick David, Bartoz Nadolski, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh, Omkar Dilip Adhikari, Achyuthan N. Srikanthan

Abstract


The recent revision of the Ahaetulla nasuta complex in South Asia (India and Sri Lanka) resulted in a major modification of the systematics of this previously wide-ranging species. Ahaetulla nasuta sensu stricto is now endemic to Sri Lanka while other species inhabit Peninsular India. We here analyze the status of the nominal taxa including those considered synonyms of this species. Based on this analysis, we show that populations inhabiting the eastern part of the range of the former species Ahaetulla nasuta auctorum, namely Myanmar and the Indochinese Region, should be referred to Ahaetulla fusca (Duméril, Bibron et Duméril, 1854), a taxon we here resurrect from synonymy at species level. Its neotype is redescribed. We also discuss the status of populations inhabiting Myanmar. This first-phase revision sets the stage for regional workers to solve the taxonomy of the genus Ahaetulla based on fresh materials and collections across Myanmar and Indochina.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-1-19-34

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