Herpetological notes. No. 5
Abstract
Recent investigation shows that Rhynchoelaps bertholdi belongs to an entirely different genus of snakes from other species generally placed in the same genus. R. bertholdi has what may be described as typical elapine type head scalation, whilst other members of the group have a shovel-shaped snout, with a more or less oblique arrangement of head shields, naturally conforming to the disposition of the bones of the skull. Only one member of the shovel-snouted group has a more or less normal type arrangement of shields, but it is quite distinct from bertholdi. This species is fasciolata, originally named Rhinelaps fasciolatus Gunther, but in this the nasal is widely separated from the preocular: Jan, in Rev. et Mag. Zool., p. 518, Dec. 1858, first mentioned E. bertholdi with Rhynchoelaps proposed as a subgenus, but there was no description. In the same magazine, 1859, 2, ii, p. 123 he uses the name Simoselaps, genotype E. bertholdi and gave a fairly full description; so it would appear that Simoselaps should be used; but because of common usage I propose at present to refer it to Rhynchoelaps bertholdi. Etc.
