Posted by:
paalexan
at Fri Sep 5 16:04:59 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by paalexan ]
The split was made in 1977, in this paper:
ROSSMAN-D-A; EBERLE-W-G. `PARTITION OF THE GENUS NATRIX WITH PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN NATRICINE SNAKES.' Herpetologica-. 1977; 33 (1): 34-43.
The abstract of the paper is:
`The generic distinctiveness of each of the geographically isolated species clusters currently placed in the genus Natrix is demonstrated by investigations of blood proteins, chromosomes, scutellation, cranial osteology and hemipenes. The European species retain the name Natrix. Nerodia is revived for the North American species, and the names SINONATRIX and AFRONATRIX are proposed for the Asian and African genera, respectively. Nerodia and the 8 other New World natricine genera [Adelophis, Clonophis, Regina, Seminatrix, Storeria, Thamnophis, Tropidoclonion and Virginia] are placed in a new tribe, the THAMNOPHIINI, to emphasize the closeness of their relationship. Possible evolutionary trends are discussed for all characters except blood proteins.'
Having not read the paper, I don't know what features in particular of the traits mentioned were important, but that at least gives the general idea...
Patrick Alexander
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RE: When and why did Nerodia split from Natrix? - paalexan, Fri Sep 5 16:04:59 2003