Mmmmmm. Molecules and Invasions...interesting - though a bit confusing to one that is not part of the molecular illuminati, but definitely interesting. I am a little surprised at the apparent relatively recent separation of the two Oxyuranus scutellatus members...I think you should go over your data again or apply some other bit of molecular gymnastics because I have seen both scutellatus and canni - and I considered them to be parapatric species - and if my suspicion is correct, then I think they may have differentiated more than your present data indicates. You alluded to the genus Oxyuranus also including microlepidotus as most others seem to believe, but I feel this should be revisited to - Parademansia has two quite different populations of microlepidotus within it, one in south-western New South Wales (Yes, the species is NOT EXTINCT within this State as is commonly believed) and the other in south-western Queensland and north-eastern South Australia. Sure, they have some similarities, but I still believe that their similarity to Pseudonaja may indicate more than just convergence. But on scutellatus I agree with your rejection of barringeri - although I still remain convinced that scutellatus will be found to be a polytypic species within Australia. Similarly, I suspect that variation within canni itself may be more significant than hitherto realized. As for your treatment of Acanthophis, well you guys are pretty much on the right track I think, and much more needs to be done of course, for when you look at more material it will become clearer I feel. As for "Pseudechis" well as I have long maintained, the traditional use of this genus for that assemblage of species makes no ecological or morphological sense at all. I still hold the view that Pseudechis contains only the porphyriacus populations. The australis members (except the weigelli complex) should be placed within Cannia. The weigelli complex are so distinct that Ross Wellington and I almost placed them in a separate genus back when we described weigelli in 1987, but decided not to as "Cannia" seemed like an easier pill for others to swallow at the time (yes, we were being conservative!). Hoser's "Pailsus" may in fact be an available generic name for the weigelli complex, but this will have to be for others to determine with more certainty than I can.

Anyway, I enjoyed your paper (with the exception of the boring stuff about molecules), as I have always had a keen interest in biogeography. Keep it up. 7/10 for effort.



Richard Wells

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