Taxonomic revision of the snake genus echis (viperidae).
II. An analysis of taxonomy and description of new forms
V. A. Cherlin Zoological Institute, ussr Academy of Sciences (Leningrad)
15 morphological characters (body proportions and scalation) and their variation throughout the area of genus Echis, and geographical distribution of these snakes (n=489) were examined. It was found that the genus Echis consists of 3 subgenera. I. Subgenus Echis inhabits southern India and Sri Lanka. It includes 1 species: E. cannatus (E. с carinatus, E. с sinhaleyus). II. Subgenus Turaneehis subgen. nov. inhabits south-eastern Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, southern deserts of Middle Asia, western Pakistan and northern India. It includes 3 species: E. multisquamatus, E. sochureki (E. s. sochureki, E. s. astolae), E. froenatus. III. Subgenus Toxicoa inhabits south-western Arabia and northern Africa. It includes 8 species: E. pyramidum (E. p. pyramidum, E. p. leakeyi, E. p. lucidus ssp. nov.), E. arenicola (E. a. arenicola, E. a. leucogaster), E. ocellatus, E. jogeri sp. nov., E. varia (E. v. varia, E. v. darevskii ssp. nov., E. v. borkini ssp. nov., E. v. aliaborri comb. nov.), E. megalocephalus sp. nov., E. hughesi sp. nov. and E. khosatzkii sp. nov.
The analysis of phylogenetic relations, paleontology, morphological variation and paleogeography shows that genus Echis might originate in Iran-Turan region in Miocene-Lower Pliocene. The hypothetic phylogenetic scheme, the ways of their distribution and the identification key are given.
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Рис. IV. Внешний вид голотипов новых форм африканских эф рода Echis (подрод Toxicoa) с востока Африки и из Аравии: 1 – Е. megalncephalus sp. nov., 2 – Е. khasatzkii sp. nov., 3 – E. hughesi sp. nov.
Рис. V. Внешний вид голотипов африканских эф рода Echis (подрод Toxiсоа) из западной Африки: 1 – Е. aretiicola arenicola Boie, 2 – Е. jogeri sp. nov., 3 – Е. pyrainidum lucldus ssp. nov.
Рис. VI. Внешний вид представителей вида Echis varia Reuss: 1 – E. v. varia Reuss, 2 – Eu v. darevskii ssp. nov. (голотип), 3 – Е. v. Horkinl ssp. nov. (голотип)