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Type: Article
Published: 2019-11-07
Page range: 168–174
Abstract views: 99
PDF downloaded: 2

Patterns of head shape and scutellation in Drymarchon couperi (Squamata: Colubridae) reveal a single species

Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA.
Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA.
The Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation, Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 3755 NW Hwy 17-92, Sanford, Florida 32771, USA.
Altamaha Environmental Consulting, 414 Club Drive, Hinesville, Georgia 31313, USA.
Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA. Present address, USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA.
Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 3200 College Ave, Davie, Florida 33314, USA.
Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn Museum of Natural History, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA.
Reptilia Squamata Colubridae

Abstract

Krysko et al. (2016a) used analyses of DNA sequence data to reveal two genetic lineages of Drymarchon couperi. The Atlantic lineage contained specimens from southeastern Georgia and eastern peninsular Florida, and the Gulf Coast lineage contained specimens from western and southern peninsular Florida as well as western Florida, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi. In a second paper Krysko et al. (2016b) analyzed morphological variation of the two lineages, which allowed them to restrict D. couperi to the Atlantic lineage and to describe the Gulf Coast lineage as a new species, Drymarchon kolpobasileus. This taxonomic discovery was remarkable for such a large, wide-ranging species and was notable for its impact on conservation. Because of population declines, particularly in western Florida, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi, D. couperi (sensu lato) was listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (United States Fish and Wildlife Service 1978, 2008) and repatriation of the species to areas where it had been extirpated was listed as a priority conservation goal (United States Fish and Wildlife Service 1982, 2008). Such repatriation efforts were attempted in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, starting in 1977 (Speake et al. 1987), but failed to create viable populations, likely because too few snakes were released at too many sites (Guyer et al. 2019; Folt et al. 2019a). A second attempt at repatriation was started in 2010 and concentrated on release of snakes at a single site in Alabama (Stiles et al. 2013). However, Krysko et al. (2016a) criticized this repatriation effort because it appeared to involve release of D. couperi (sensu stricto) into the geographic region occupied by D. kolpobasileus (as diagnosed in Krysko et al. 2016b).

 

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