Annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution

Abstract

McDiarmid et al. (1999) published the first part of their planned taxonomic catalog of the snakes of theworld. Since then, several new python taxa have been described in both the scientific literature and nonpeer-reviewed publications. This checklist evaluates the nomenclatural status of the names and discussesthe taxonomic status of the new taxa, and aims to continue the work of McDiarmid et al. (1999) for thefamily Pythonidae, covering the period 1999 to 2010. Numerous new taxa are listed, and where appropriaterecent synonymies are included and annotations are made. A checklist and a taxonomic identificationkey of valid taxa are provided. © W.D. Schleip, M. O'Shea.