Thamnosophis lateralis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854)
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Thamnosophis lateralis
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| Higher Taxa | Pseudoxyrhophiidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Lateral Water Snake |
| Synonym | Leptophis lateralis DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 544 Dromicus madagascariensis GÜNTHER 1872 Dromicus baroni BOULENGER 1888 Tropidonotus lateralis — BOULENGER 1893: 248 Liopholidophis lateralis — MOCQUARD 1904 Natrix lateralis — BARBOUR 1918: 487 Liopholidophis lateralis — GUIBÉ 1954: 241 Liopholidophis lateralis — GLAW & VENCES 1994: 337 Liopholidophis lateralis — CADLE 1996: 420 Liopholidophis lateralis — GLAW et al. 2001 Bibilava lateralis — GLAW et al. 2007 Thamnosophis lateralis — CADLE & INEICH 2008 Thamnosophis lateralis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 727 Bibilava lateralis — BORER 2019 |
| Distribution | Madagascar Type locality: "Madagascar" |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Lectotype: MNHN-RA 1999.8232 (formerly MNHN-RA 7312A); paralectotypes: MNHN-RA 7312 and MNHN-RA 1999.8233 (formerly MNHN-RA 7312B) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus Thamnosophis): Thamnosophis is diagnosed by unique hemipenial characters, including unusual depressions at the tips of each lobe of the bilobed organs, and lobes set off from the base of the organ by a nude gap, giving the false impression of capitation (Cadle 1996:436–443, Cadle & Ineich 2008). Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 6177 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Type species: Leptophis lateralis DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1854 is the type species of the genus Bibilava (GLAW et al. 2007) and the genus Thamnosophis JAN 1863 (WALL 1923). Similar species: T. stumpffi, T. epistibes, T. martae. The variation in the extent of the dorsolateral stripes among the syntypes of Leptophis lateralis has led to some nomenclatural confusion. Some authors have placed L. lateralis, in part, in the synonymy of the nominal species Dromicus stumpffi Boettger or Ptyas infrasignatus Günther (e.g., Boulenger 1893; Cadle 1996) or have considered these species identical (e.g., Guibé 1954, 1958; Mocquard 1904). Guibé (1954, 1958) placed these names and several other nominal taxa in the synonymy of L. lateralis, thinking that there was a single, wide-ranging species exhibiting extensive variation in color pattern. This confusion persisted until it was partially sorted out by Domergue (“1972” [1973]) and further resolved by Cadle (1996; see footnote 10). |
| Etymology | Apparently named after the lateral stripes. The genus was apparently named after Greek thamnos (θάμνος), bush, thicket, shrub + Greek ophis, (ὄφις), a serpent, snake (similar to the North American genus Thamnophis). |
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