2009年5月16日 星期六

彩虹蚺下各"亞種"皆被提升為"種"

文獻來源: Passos P, Fernandes R (2008) Revision of the Epicrates cenchria Complex (Serpentes: Boidae). Herpetological Monographs 22(1): 1-30 [摘要下載]

Abstract
The Epicrates cenchria complex is endemic to the Neotropical region, occurring in mainland portions of Central and South America. The taxonomic status of the nine currently recognized subspecies (E. c. alvarezi, E. c. assisi, E. c. barbouri, E. c. cenchria, E. c. crassus, E. c. gaigei, E. c. hygrophilus, E. c. maurus, and E. c. polylepis), were evaluated based on external morphology, osteology, and hemipenis characters. Results obtained through quantitative and qualitative analyses support the recognition of E. alvarezi, E. assisi, E. cenchria, E. crassus, and E. maurus as distinct species based on statistically robust delimitation of species boundaries.