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Issue: Vol. 5729 No. 3: 16 Dec. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-16
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.3.5
Page range: 469-476
Abstract views: 139
PDF downloaded: 7

Brygophis coulangesi (Domergue, 1988) (Serpentes: Pseudoxyrhophiidae) and its taxonomic relationship with respect to Compsophis (Günther, 1882)

Life Sciences Section; Negaunee Integrative Research Center; The Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago; IL 60605 USA.
Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale; Faculté des Sciences; Université d’Antananarivo; BP 906; Antananarivo 101; Madagascar.
Illinois Natural History Survey; Prairie Research Institute; University of Illinois; Urbana-Champaign; Champaign; IL 61820; USA.
Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale; Faculté des Sciences; Université d’Antananarivo; BP 906; Antananarivo 101; Madagascar.; Association Vahatra; lot VA 38 LB Ter A; Ambohidempona-Tsiadana; Antananarivo101; Madagascar.
Reptilia Gemsnakes Madagascar Malagasy snakes Compsophis coulangesi comb. nov. Squamata

Abstract

Described in 1988, the monotypic Malagasy snake Brygophis coulangesi (Domergue, 1988) has rarely been seen, with only two vouchered specimens in collections and never before included in any molecular phylogenetic studies. Here, using recently collected tissue samples from two Brygophis coulangesi from northeastern Madagascar, we sequenced the commonly used barcoding gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I to determine placement of these two Brygophis specimens with respect to the similar and more well-known genus Compsophis (Günther, 1882). Unsurprisingly, given its previously noted morphological similarity to Compsophis, we find that Brygophis is deeply nested within Compsophis and thus should be referred to as Compsophis coulangesi comb. nov. 

 

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How to Cite

Ruane, S., Rakotoarimalala, F., Kuhn, A.L. & Raselimanana, A.P. (2025) Brygophis coulangesi (Domergue, 1988) (Serpentes: Pseudoxyrhophiidae) and its taxonomic relationship with respect to Compsophis (Günther, 1882). Zootaxa, 5729 (3), 469–476. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.3.5