Nyctophilopython oenpelliensis (GOW, 1977)
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Nyctophilopython oenpelliensis
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| Higher Taxa | Pythonidae, Henophidia, Pythonoidea, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Oenpelli Rock Python G: Oenpelli-Python |
| Synonym | Python oenpelliensis GOW 1977 Nyctophilopython oenpelliensis — WELLS & WELLINGTON 1985 Morelia oenpelliensis — KLUGE 1993 Morelia oenpelliensis — MATTISON 1995: 177 Morelia oenpelliensis — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 173 Morelia oenpelliensis — COGGER 2000: 613 Nyctophilopython oenpelliensis — HOSER 2001 Morelia oenpelliensis — MATTISON 2007: 179 Simalia oenpelliensis — REYNOLDS et al. 2014 Morelia oenpelliensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 453 Morelia oenpelliensis — COGGER 2014: 828 Simalia oenpelliensis — BARKER et al. 2015: 13 Nyctophylopython oenpelliensis — BARKER et al. 2015: Table 1 (in error) Nawaran oenpelliensis — ESQUERRÉ et al. 2020 Nyctophilopython oenpelliensis — KAISER et al. 2020 |
| Distribution | Australia (Northern Territory) Type locality: 6.5 km south-west of Oenpelli (12°21’S, 133°01’E), NT, Australia |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: NTM R0840 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis and definition (genus): A lineage endemic to northern Australia that underwent a rapid divergence from Antaresia and Morelia, and showing intermediate traits between the two. They are slender and long snakes, with adults up to over 4 meters in total length, larger than any Morelia and especially the dwarfed Antaresia. Pale brownish to olive coloration, with longitudinal rows of large dark blotches. Enlarged nasal, internasal, anterior pre-frontals, supraocular and frontal symmetrical head shields. The posterior prefrontals are usually several smaller asymmetrical scales. In Morelia head scales are smaller and more divided, in Antaresia and Simalia there are no small divided posterior prefrontals. Heat pits present on rostral, first three supralabials and posterior infralabial scales. They are the only pythons with over 400 ventral scales. Along with Aspidites, this is one of the two python genera that are endemic to Australia (Esquerré et al. 2020). Diagnosis: “A genus of large elongate pythons possessing strongly prehensile tails, deeply pitted anterior labials, indistinct parietal shield formation that results in almost total dorsal head scale fragmentation, fragmented loreals, smooth body scales in 70 rows, from about 425 to 450 ventral scutes, entire anal scale, 155 to 165 subcaudals (anterior few entire, remainder divided), oviparous reproduction and a maximum size of around 5 metres. Known only from the extreme northern sector of the Northern Territory.” (Wells & Wellington 1985: 42). |
| Comment | Type species: Python oenpelliensis GOW 1977 is the type species of the genus Nawaran gen. nov. Esquerré et al. 2020. Python oenpelliensis is also the type species of the genus Nyctophilopython Wells & Wellington 1985. We follow Kaiser et al. 2020 in recognizing Nyctophilopython over Nawaran. Note that the name Morelia oenpelliensis would be equally acceptable and phylogenetically correct. |
| Etymology | Nawaran is the traditional name of the snake given by the people of Arnhem Land, where Nawaran oenpelliensis lives. |
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