The Status of Telescopus hoogstraali Schmidt and Marx 1956 and the Telescopus fallax Fleischmann 1831 Complex (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae)

Abstract

The genus Telescopus is comprised of various species and subspecies. Those forms which inhabit the northeastern Mediterranean area are all related to T. fallax Fleischmann 1831 and pose a special taxonomic problem, as recent research has revealed clines connecting them zoogeographically. Evolutionary aspects are discussed and the importance of a general revision of the species group is stressed. Telescopus hoogstraali was described in 1956 from Central Sinai. Since then additional material has been collected between the southernmost limit of T. fallax syriacus and the known area of distribution of Telescopus hoogstraali. Several transitional specimens collected in the area of Beer-Sheva show a cline in the number of dorsal bands from low numbers in the north to high numbers in the south. On the basis of transitional specimens, pholidotical identity and absence of sympatry of the two forms, Telescopus hoogstraali is placed as a subspecies of Telescopus fallax. CR - Copyright © 1977 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles