2004. Volume 11. No. 2. Contents

EXPANDED DESCRIPTION OF THE POORLY KNOWN PITVIPER Trimeresurus kanburiensis SMITH, 1943, WITH CONFIRMATION OF THE VALIDITY OF Trimeresurus venustus VOGEL, 1991 (REPTILIA: SERPENTES: CROTALIDAE)

Patrick David, Gernot Vogel, Montri Sumontha, Olivier S. G. Pauwels, and Lawan Chanhome

The description of the rare Thai species Trimeresurus kanburiensis Smith, 1943 is expanded on the basis of recently collected specimens. We provide a detailed comparison with Trimeresurus venustus, a species described from South Thailand and regarded by several authors as a synonym of Trimeresurus kanburiensis. The existence of 14 characters differentiating the populations referred to Trimeresurus kanburiensis from those regarded as Trimeresurus venustus definitely supports the validity of this latter species.

Keywords: Reptilia, Serpentes, Crotalidae, Trimeresurus kanburiensis, Trimeresurus venustus, Thailand.

IDENTIFICATION OF SOME EURASIAN SPECIES OF Elaphe (COLUBRIDAE, SERPENTES) ON THE BASIS OF VERTEBRAE

Viatcheslav Yu. Ratnikov

The description of trunk vertebrae of eight species of the genus Elaphe is given. These are: Elaphe climacophora, Elaphe dione, Elaphe longissima, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Elaphe rufodorsata, Elaphe schrencki, Elaphe situla, Elaphe taeniura.

Keywords: Snakes (Colubrinae, Elaphe), Eurasia (former USSR), osteology, trunk vertebrae.

DISTRIBUTION OF Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri MERTENS, 1952 (SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE) IN HUNGARY

Gábor Herczeg, Tamás Tóth, Tibor Kovács, Zoltán Korsós, and János Török

Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri is the northernmost subspecies of the snake-eyed skink (the only representative of the genus in Europe), and an endemic species of the Carpathian Basin. Despite of its unique status in the Hungarian herpetofauna and its strict protection, no recent summary has been provided on its distribution in the country. In the last attempt, Dely (1978) presented 40 localities of the subspecies. Here we give an updated distribution of the subspecies (100 localities), based on records from the literature, collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum (HNHM), field surveys made by the authors and observations of field researchers. The current conservation status of A. k. fitzingeri in Hungary is discussed and an updated distribution map is provided.

Keywords: Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri, snake-eyed skink, Hungary, distribution.

REDUCED STATE OF SKIN SENSE ORGANS IN Sphenodon punctatus (RHYNCHOCEPHALIA: SPHENODONTIDAE) AND ITS PHYLOGENETICAL VALUE

Tatjana N. Dujsebayeva, Natalia B. Ananjeva, and Larissa K. Iohanssen

The topography, morphology and numerical distribution of skin sense organs in Sphenodon punctatus integument are studied. Skin sense organs of different diameter are recorded for all the scales from the head and body. The scales of the body, tail and limbs bear, as a rule 1, rarely 2, receptors per scale. Maximal number of skin sense organs (1 - 3 per scale) is shown for the labial shield and scales. The reduced state of skin sense organ number in Sphenodon punctatus is discussed for evaluation of this character state and with regards to the present interpretation of primitive metameric condition of these structures.

Keywords: Rhynchocephalia, Sphenodon punctatus, skin sense organs, morphology, topography.

TWO NEW LYGOSOMINE SKINKS OF THE GENUS Sphenomorphus FITZINGER, 1843 (SAURIA, SCINCIDAE) FROM NORTHERN VIETNAM

Ilya S. Darevsky, Nikolai L. Orlov, and Ho Thu Cuc

Two new species of Sphenomorphus are described from different parts of northern Vietnam (northeastern Tonkin and northern Annam). The paper reports some details of their natural history. Sphenomorphus cryptotis sp. nov. lives in habitats closely associated with water, being a good swimmer and diver. The secretive ear opening and the presence of a long laterally compressed tail in S. cryptotis are regarded as adaptive markers of its aquatic mode of life. Sphenomorphus devorator sp. nov. is an arboreal species, commonly hunting for and eating arboreal grasshoppers (genus Gigantettix Gorochov 1998) on the trunks of big trees.

Keywords: Sphenomorphus, Scincidae, Vietnam, new species, taxonomy, hunting behavior, external ear opening, Gigantettix.

RE-EVALUATION OF Kestrosaurus HAUGHTON, A CAPITOSAURID TEMNOSPONDYL AMPHIBIAN FROM THE UPPER BEAUFORT GROUP OF SOUTH AFRICA

Michael A. Shishkin, Bruce S. Rubidge, John Hancox, and Johann Welman

The enigmatic temnospondyl amphibian Kestrosaurus (K. dreyeri) Haughton from the Lower Triassic of the Karoo Basin, South Africa, long considered a mastodonsaurid or benthosuchid relative, is shown to be a typical capitosaurid closely related to the coeval European genus Parotosuchus, based on a reinvestigation of its cranial morphology. Field observation showed that the provenance of the Kestrosaurus holotype occurs in the lower part of the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone of the Upper Beaufort Group, rather than in the Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone as was formerly thought. A new graphic restoration of the Kestrosaurus holotype suggests that "Capitosaurus" haughtoni Broili and Schröder from the same part of the Cynognathus Zone, is a junior synonym of Kestrosaurus. The same generic attribution is suggested for the holotype of the coeval "Wetlugasaurus" magnus Watson. Study of new capitosaurid material from the lower division (subzone A) of the Cynognathus Zone of the north-west Free State demonstrated that Kestrosaurus is the most common amphibian of this subzone. Apart from the type species, available data allow for the recognition of an additional species, Kestrosaurus kitchingi sp.nov.

Keywords: temnospondyls, capitosaurid morphology, Triassic, South Africa, Karoo, Cynognathus Zone.

A NEW SPECIES OF Trimeresurus (OPHIDIA: VIPERIDAE: CROTALINAE) FROM KARST REGION IN CENTRAL VIETNAM

Nikolai L. Orlov, Sergei A. Ryabov, Bui Ngok Thanh, and Ho Thu Cuc

Description of a new species of Trimeresurus genus from karst region in Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam is given. Short data on natural history and comparison with species of Trimeresurus s. l. are provided. Special focus is made on comparison with Thai's species Cryptelytrops kanburiensis and C. venustus from limestone tropical forest.

Keywords: new species, rear snakes, new records, Trimeresurus, Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam.

ON THE OCCURENCE OF THE ZAGROS MOUNTAIN TORTOISE, Testudo perses PERÄLÄ, 2002 IN TURKEY

Oguz Türkozan, Kurtulus Olgun, Ertan Taskavak, and Ferhat Kiremit

This study substantiates the presence of Testudo perses Perälä, 2002 in Turkey. A total of 10 (4, 5, 1 juvenile) tortoises were examined from Hakkari region in the vicinity of Iranian border. Based on anal scute characteristics and metric values, the ten specimens from Hakkari region are assignable to Testudo perses.

Keywords: mountain tortoise, Testudo perses, Turkey.

NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF SNAKES FROM NAGALAND, NORTHEAST INDIA, WITH 19 NEW RECORDS FOR THIS STATE

J. Meren Ao, Patrick David, Sabitry Bordoloi, and Annemarie Ohler

We present a preliminary list of 41 species of snakes from the State of Nagaland, established on the basis of collections by the first author (41 specimens of 33 different species) and literature (eight species). Among our collection, 19 species are new records for the state. All these species were previously known from India. A preliminary biogeographic analysis suggests that the snake fauna is mostly East Himalayan, then Oriental. Indian components reach in Nagaland their easternmost limit.

Keywords: Reptilia, Serpentes, India, Nagaland, new records.