Acanthophis rugosus is found in the Merauke area in south-central New Guinea - an area transected by the Papua New Guinea/West Papua (Irian Jaya) border. A. rugosus occurs both on the PNG and West Papuan sides of the border.

The red-form Acanthophis laevis pictured is a typical colouration seen in many of the southern forests of New Guinea ranging from Gulf Province in PNG to the western coastal lowlands of southern West Papua. This colouration also occurs at elevations of up to around 1000 metres ASL in PNG, and probably does the same in West Papua.

If both species were sourced by Indonesian collectors then they are almost certainly both West Papuan animals from south of the central mountain ranges. The A. rugosus would definately be from Merauke, and since red phase A. laevis are also found just inland from Merauke, it may well be from there also.

Cheers
Australian Herpetology ONLINE


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David Williams
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PNG Snakebite Research Project

Australian Venom Research Unit
School of Medicine
University of Melbourne
Parkville, Vic, 3010

School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Taurama Campus
University of Papua New Guinea
Boroko, NCD, PNG

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