Annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution
Author
Schleip, Wulf D.
Author
O'Shea, Mark
text
ZooKeys
2010
66
29
80
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.66.683
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.66.683
1313-2970-66-29
Genus
Python Daudin, 1803
Synonyms:
Aspidoboa
Sauvage, 1884 -
Hoser 2004
Helionomus
Gray -
Hoser 2004
(incorrect subsequent spelling, APP4)
Shireenhoserus
Hoser, 2004 (junior synonym of
Enygrus
Wagler)
Distribution:
Head (2005)
reported remains of an indeterminate python from Miocene-age strata of the Siwalik Group of Pakistan. From the known distribution of extant species, this is likely to be a species of
Python
.
Remarks:
Hoser (2004)
split this genus into several genera, e.g.,
Aspidoboa
Sauvage (for breitensteini, brongersmai, and curtus),
Broghammerus
Hoser (for reticulatus), and
Shireenhoserus
Hoser (for anchietae and regius). However,
Hoser (2004)
overlooked
Enygrus
Wagler, 1830 (also see
McDowell 1979: 9-10, 28
), which makes
Shireenhoserus
a subjective junior synonym of
Enygrus
Wagler. He further intended to resurrect
Heleionomus
Gray, 1842 (for sebae and natalensis) but spelt the name as "
Helionomus
". This constitutes an incorrect subsequent spelling (APP4), although the name
Helionomus
was already listed in
Gray 1841
but is considered a nomen nudum (see remarks for
Heleionomus
). Only molurus and bivittatus would have remained within
Python
. Evidence from genetic studies reveal that with the exception of reticulatus and timoriensis, which were placed into
Broghammerus
(see comments there) by
Rawlings et al. (2008)
, no further splitting of the clade
Python
is indicated. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships of several species (e.g., regius and anchietae, molurus and bivittatus, and sebae and natalensis) have not been fully resolved (e.g.,
Douglas et al. 2010: fig. 4-6
). Other groups (e.g. the curtus-group sensu lato) are currently under study.