Nominal taxa of Spalerosophis diadema (Schlegel, 1837) from Iraq to Pakistan — two centuries of confusion (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubrinae)

Abstract

Nominal taxa of Spalerosophis diadema (Schlegel, 1837) from Iraq to Pakistan -two centuries of confusion (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubrinae). -The original descriptions of nominal species-group taxa of Spalerosophis diadema (Schlegel, 1837) from Iraq to Pakistan are scrutinized, the status of extant and presumably lost type spécimens and alleged original séries assessed, scale characters of populations from the Euphrates to the Indus Valley analyzed, and taxonomic implications discussed. The origin of the supposedly missing type material of Coluber diadema Schlegel (vicinity of Bushehr, Iran) remains inconclusive. Morphologically, its description best fits S. d. cliffordii (Schlegel, 1837) from North Africa to Iraq and Khuzestan (Iran). S. d. schirasianus (Jan, 1863) is a distinct subspecies from Turkménistan and the Zagros Range to Baluchistan (Pakistan).Eastern Diadem snake populations, yet to be properly named, are referred to as S. d. diadema auct.

A contribution to taxonomy and biology of Spalerosophis diadema diadema (Schlegel, 1837) along with a new record of Spalerosophis atriceps (Fischer, 1885) from the Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir, India (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)

“…The number of ventrals showing sexual dimorphism in both species as observed in the present study (Table 2) is a diagnostic characteristic feature of S. diadema (Marx 1959;Schätti et al 2010).…”

“…The probable reasons behind the confusion in the identification of Spalerosophis spp. are: the different counting of scales of the head, printing lapses and different descriptions of supranumeral scales in the pileus region, particularly the prefrontals (Dumeril et al 1854;Gunther 1864;Zugmayer 1905;Schmidt 1930;Marx 1959;Minton 1966;Baig and Masroor 2008;Schätti et al 2010). In present study, labelled sketches of scales of the pileus region (Fig.…”

“…Genus Spalerosophis Jan, 1865 of the family Colubridae has a very large range of distribution in arid and semi-arid regions from North Africa in the west through Arabia, Iran and Pakistan to central India in the east (Marx 1959;Minton 1966;Mertens 1969;Gasperetti 1988;Whitaker and Captain 2004, 2015Sharma 2007;Schätti et al 2010;Sindaco et al 2013;Uetz 2015;Yadollahvandmiandoab et al 2018). The systematics and taxonomy of S. diadema (Schlegel, 1837) from the Euphrates and the Caspian Sea to the Indian subcontinent need clarification (Schätti et al 2010). The probable reasons behind the confusion in the identification of Spalerosophis spp.…”

“…Minton (1966) reported that the Indo-Pakistan segment is represented by Spalerosophis arenarius (Boulenger, 1890), S. diadema diadema (Schlegel, 1837), S. diadema schirazianus (Jan, 1863) and S. atriceps (Fischer, 1885). Spalerosophis atriceps was considered a species of its own by Minton (1966), Baig and Masroor (2008), Schätti et al (2009Schätti et al ( , 2010, Whitaker and Captain (2015) and colour morph of adult S. diadema by Marx (1959), Mertens (1969) and Khan (2006). In the present study, we too have considered S. atriceps as a valid species.…”

“…Pooch District which is located in the Pir Panjal range of Western Himalayas) in particular is supposed to be mainly caused by the remoteness of the area and by the area's instability since the 1990s owing to its location near the border of Pakistan. The presence of S. diadema in India was put in question for investigations and confirmation by Schätti et al (2010) due to the absence of its mapping by Baig and Masroor (2008) and due to reporting based on subadult specimens. In the current study, the occurrence of Spalerosophis spp.…”