#Crutchfieldus

[snakebusters]

A reclassification of the Rattlesnakes

Hoser, R. T. 2012. A reclassification of the Rattlesnakes; species formerly exclusively referred to the Genera Crotalus and Sistrurus and a division of the elapid genus Micrurus. Australasian Journal of herpetology 11:2-24. Published 8 April 2012. Full text at http://www.herp.net

ABSTRACT The genus Crotalus as referred to by most taxonomists up to now failed to properly distinguish relationships within the group commonly defined as “rattlesnakes”. This paper principally redefines the phylogenetic rattlesnakes at genus and subgenus levels, formally naming well-recognised species and species groups at genus level for the first time in a configuration never previously published. In contrast to all previous classifications of the rattlesnakes this paper subdivides them into 9 genera, for which names were previously available for a total of five. For the other four genera, they are formally defined, diagnosed and named for the first time. A further eight well-defined subgenera are also defined and named for the first time. The Coral Snake genus Micrurus Wagler 1824 sensu lato, consists of in excess of 70 species level taxa. Notwithstanding the conservative physical attributes of the genus as recognised, clear and obvious divisons warrant recognition at genus level. One new genus is named herein. In turn it is divided into three subgenera. Keywords: new taxa; snake; rattlesnake; taxonomy; Crotalus; Sistrurus; Micrurus; Piersonus; Cummingea; Hoserea; Matteoea; Caudisona; Aechmophrys; Uropsophus; Rattlewellsus; Edwardsus; Cottonus; Smythus; Pillotus; Sayersus; Mullinsus; Crutchfieldus; Hoserelapidea; Troianous; Binghamus.