Boulengerina

Boulengerina
Boulengerina annulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Subfamily: Elapinae
Genus: Naja
Subgenus: (Boulengerina)
Dollo, 1886

Boulengerina is a genus (or subgenus) of elapid snakes known commonly as water cobras, so named because of their semi-aquatic nature. The genus was recognised to have two species, which are found in central and southern Africa. Some recent molecular studies have suggested that the genus Boulengerina should be synonymised with Naja, because the water cobras are closely related to some species of Naja [1]

Wallach, Wüster and Broadley, re-ranked Boulengerina as a subgenus within Naja comprising the two species already recognised as forming genus Boulengerina plus Naja melanoleuca, as Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca, and the species formerly known as Paranaja multifasciata, now Naja (Boulengerina) multifasciata.[2]

Etymology

The generic name, Boulengerina, is in honor of Belgian-born British herpetologist George Albert Boulenger.[3]

Species

Geographic distribution

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nagy ZT, Vidal N, Vences M, Branch WR, Pauwels OSG, Wink M, Joger U. 2005. Molecular systematics of African Colubroidea (Squamata: Serpentes). In: Huber BA, Sinclair BJ, Lampe K-H (Editors). 2005. African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems. Bonn: Museum Koenig. pp. 221–228.
  2. ↑ Wallach V, Wüster W, Broadley DG. 2009. In praise of subgenera: taxonomic status of cobras of the genus Naja Laurenti (Serpentes: Elapidae). Zootaxa 2236: 26-36. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/zt02236p036.pdf
  3. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Boulengerina, p. 33).

External links