Species Demansia reticulata (Gray, 1842)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Lycodon reticulatus Gray, J.E. 1842. Description of some hitherto unrecorded species of Australian reptiles and batrachians. pp. 51-57 in Gray, J.E. (ed.). The Zoological Miscellany. London : Treuttel, Würz & Co. [54] [objective synonym; nomen protectum].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1946.1.19.79 ♂, Australia.
  Paralectotype(s) BMNH 1946.1.19.78 ♂, same data as lectotype.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Storr, G.M. 1978. Whip snakes Demansia (Elapidae) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 6: 287-301.
• Tortrix australis Gray, J.E. 1841. A catalogue of the species of Reptiles and Amphibia hitherto described as inhabiting Australia, with a description of some new species from Western Australia. Appendix E. pp. 422–449 in Grey, G. Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39, under the authority of Her Majesty's Government. London : T. & W. Boone Vol. 2. [432, 444] [nomen oblitum].

  Type data:

   Neotype BMNH 1946.1.19.79 (lectotype of Lycodon reticulatus Gray, 1842), Australia.
  Status unknown, MNHPA (original types lost, collection whereabouts unknown), New Holland [Australia].

  Subsequent designation references:

  Shea, G.M. 2024. Tortrix australis Gray, 1841, a senior synonym of Demansia reticulata (Gray, 1842) (Elapidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 39: 001-008 [4].
• Demansia reticulata cupreiceps Storr, G.M. 1978. Whip snakes Demansia (Elapidae) of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 6: 287-301 [295].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM R34555, Callagiddy, WA [25°02'S 11°401'E].

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Nankivell, J.H., Maryan, B., Bush, B.G. & Hutchinson, M.N. 2023. Whip it into shape: Revision of the Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837) complex (Squamata: Elapidae), with a description of a new species from central Australia. Zootaxa 5311(3): 301-339 [314]
• Shea, G.M. 2024. Tortrix australis Gray, 1841, a senior synonym of Demansia reticulata (Gray, 1842) (Elapidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 39: 001-008

 

Generic Combinations

• Demansia cupreiceps (Storr, 1978). —
  Wells, R.W. & Wellington, C.R. 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology Supplementary Series 1: 1-61 [Date published September, 1985] [45] (in part)
• Demansia reticulata (Gray, 1842). —
  Günther, A. 1858. Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xvi 281 pp. [212] (new combination)
  Shea, G.M. & Scanlon, J.D. 2007. Revision of the Small Tropical Whipsnakes previously referred to Demansia oliviacea (Gray, 1842) and Demansia torquata (Günther, 1862) (Squamata: Elapidae). Records of the Australian Museum 59(2): 117-142

 

Introduction

Shea (2024) established that Tortrix australis Gray, 1841, is a senior synonym of Lycodon reticulata Gray, 1842 (= Demansia reticulata). With the original type/s of Tortrix australis lost Shea (2024) designated the lectotype of D. reticulata as neotype however, to maintain stability in nomenclature, also applied Article 23.9 of the Code of Zoological Nomenclature to make T. australis a nomen oblitum, and L. reticulatus a nomen protectum.

 

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Widespread throughout the dry temperate, semiarid to arid areas of west coastal and adjacent interior and northwestern WA, outlier populations in the southern Kimberley

Australian Endemic.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

WA: Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Carnarvon (CAR), Dampierland (DL), Gascoyne (GAS), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), Murchison (MUR), Northern Kimberley (NK), Pilbara (PIL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Yalgoo (YAL)

General References

Nankivell, J.H., Maryan, B., Bush, B.G. & Hutchinson, M.N. 2023. Whip it into shape: Revision of the Demansia psammophis (Schlegel, 1837) complex (Squamata: Elapidae), with a description of a new species from central Australia. Zootaxa 5311(3): 301-339

Shea, G.M. & Scanlon, J.D. 2007. Revision of the Small Tropical Whipsnakes previously referred to Demansia oliviacea (Gray, 1842) and Demansia torquata (Günther, 1862) (Squamata: Elapidae). Records of the Australian Museum 59(2): 117-142 [140] (recognised in key with full species status by these authors)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
07-Feb-2024	SQUAMATA	02-Oct-2024	MODIFIED
04-Feb-2023	ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827	28-Nov-2022	MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024		26-Aug-2013	MODIFIED
08-Mar-2011		02-May-2011	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)