The Australian zoologist

Abstract

A new species of Python (Family Boidae) is described from two male specimens from the Arnhem Land escarpment of northern Australia. The new species is considered to belong to the reticulatus group of the genus Python and may be distinguished from all other species by its high ventral and subcaudal scale counts. An account is given of meristic variation of the dorsal scale rows of the new species and comparison made with other species. INTRODUCTION About ten species of pythons belonging to four genera are known from Australia (Cogger, 1975). The most recent critical work concerning the Pythoninae is that of McDowell ( 1975) whose generic definitions are followed here. McDowell has divided the genus Python into the molurus and reticulatus groups; the latter possessing infralabial pits set in a deep groove, slit-like supralabial pits set diagonally, hemipenis with proximally directed chevron-like flounces, and the upper lip below the eye light-coloured and similar in colour to the rest of the upper lip. The reticulatus group includes Python amethistinus, P. boeleni, P. spilotus, P. reticulatus and, possibly, P. timorensis. Two specimens of a boid snake from Arnhem Land in northern Australia appear to belong to this group also and are described herein as a new species. The specific name is derived from Oenpelli, the settlement nearest to the type locality. Python oenpelliensis n. sp.

Want to request an excerpt?