Remarks on the Scientific Name of the African Puff AdderAuthor(s): Robert MertensSource: Copeia, Vol. 1968, No. 3 (Aug. 31, 1968), pp. 621-622Published by: American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1442036 .

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HERPETOLOGICAL NOTES HERPETOLOGICAL NOTES

Twenty-five individuals (14 females; 11 males; mean total length, 23.8 cm) were se- lected randomly from the original sample. Of these, 24 were found to be neotenic. When examined, the neotenous larvae exhib- ited well-developed external and internal genitalia. Dissections of females revealed large, numerous, ovarian eggs (average diam- eter approximately 2.0 mm). The eggs were similar to those described for an adult A. t. diaboli by Bishop (1947) (i.e., pigmented on top and yellow below). Clusters of sper- matozoa were observed in cross sections of testes indicating that spermatogenesis was well underway. Lung dimensions equalled those of several terrestrial adults examined.

No positive evidence is available explain- ing the occurrence of neotenic salamander larvae in Devils Lake. Levi and Levi (1955) examined the possible relationship between neotenic salamanders and the presence of equally large or larger fish. Reporting on an earlier study conducted at Emerald Lake in Tennessee, they indicated that the lake contained a sizeable population of neotenic A. t. nebulosum larvae. The lake was later stocked with trout and the neotenic larvae disappeared. They surmised that the trout "conflicted" with the neotenic forms but not with the larvae which metamorphosed normally. "Conflict" is not defined, but it probably refers to predation or perhaps a seasonal competition for an ecological niche.

The vertebrate composition in Devils Lake was discussed earlier. Besides the predomi- nant salamander larvae, only stickleback and fathead minnows are found. It is unreason- able to believe that they would exert preda- tion or competition pressures on the sala- manders. Furthermore, winter conditions kill the fish populations but apparently do not affect the salamanders. Thus, the lack of density-dependent factors (e.g., predation, competition) influencing the salamander population may be associated with neoteny in Devils Lake.

LITERATURE CITED

ARMSTRONG, R., D. ANDERSON, AND E. CALLENDER. 1966. Primary productivity measurements at Devils Lake, North Dakota. Proc. N. Dak. Acad. Sci. 20:136-149.

BISHOP, S. C. 1944. A new neotenic plethodont salamander, with notes on related species. Copeia 1944(1): 1-5.

. 1947. Handbook of salamanders. Cor- nell Univ. Press, Ithaca, New York.

CRAIG, V. 1962. The axolotl "walking fish."

Twenty-five individuals (14 females; 11 males; mean total length, 23.8 cm) were se- lected randomly from the original sample. Of these, 24 were found to be neotenic. When examined, the neotenous larvae exhib- ited well-developed external and internal genitalia. Dissections of females revealed large, numerous, ovarian eggs (average diam- eter approximately 2.0 mm). The eggs were similar to those described for an adult A. t. diaboli by Bishop (1947) (i.e., pigmented on top and yellow below). Clusters of sper- matozoa were observed in cross sections of testes indicating that spermatogenesis was well underway. Lung dimensions equalled those of several terrestrial adults examined.

No positive evidence is available explain- ing the occurrence of neotenic salamander larvae in Devils Lake. Levi and Levi (1955) examined the possible relationship between neotenic salamanders and the presence of equally large or larger fish. Reporting on an earlier study conducted at Emerald Lake in Tennessee, they indicated that the lake contained a sizeable population of neotenic A. t. nebulosum larvae. The lake was later stocked with trout and the neotenic larvae disappeared. They surmised that the trout "conflicted" with the neotenic forms but not with the larvae which metamorphosed normally. "Conflict" is not defined, but it probably refers to predation or perhaps a seasonal competition for an ecological niche.

The vertebrate composition in Devils Lake was discussed earlier. Besides the predomi- nant salamander larvae, only stickleback and fathead minnows are found. It is unreason- able to believe that they would exert preda- tion or competition pressures on the sala- manders. Furthermore, winter conditions kill the fish populations but apparently do not affect the salamanders. Thus, the lack of density-dependent factors (e.g., predation, competition) influencing the salamander population may be associated with neoteny in Devils Lake.

LITERATURE CITED

ARMSTRONG, R., D. ANDERSON, AND E. CALLENDER. 1966. Primary productivity measurements at Devils Lake, North Dakota. Proc. N. Dak. Acad. Sci. 20:136-149.

BISHOP, S. C. 1944. A new neotenic plethodont salamander, with notes on related species. Copeia 1944(1): 1-5.

. 1947. Handbook of salamanders. Cor- nell Univ. Press, Ithaca, New York.

CRAIG, V. 1962. The axolotl "walking fish."

Mont. Wildl., Mont. Fish Game Comm. (Re- print.)

DEMARCO, M. N. 1952. Neoteny and the uro- genital system in the salamander Dicamptodon ensatus (Eschscholtz). Copeia 1952(3): 192-193.

DUNN, E. R. 1940. The races of Ambystoma tigrinum. Copeia 1940(3):154-162.

GRAF, W., S. G. JEWETT, JR., AND K. L. GORDON. 1939. Records of amphibians and reptiles from Oregon. Copeia 1939(2): 100-104.

LEVI, H. W. AND L. R. LEVI. 1955. Neotenic salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum, in the Elk Mountains of Colorado. Copeia 1955(4):309.

NOBLE, G. K. 1931. The biology of the Am- phibia. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.

OSBORN, H. L. 1900. A remarkable axolotl from North Dakota. Am. Nat. 34:551-562.

. 1901. On some points in the anatomy of a collection of axolotls from Colorado, and a specimen from North Dakota. Ibid. 35:887- 904.

POWERS, J. H. 1903. The causes of acceleration and retardation in the metamorphosis of Am- bystoma tigrinum; a preliminary report. Am. Nat. 37:385-410.

. 1907. Morphological variation and its causes in Ambystoma tigrinum. Stud. Zool. Lab., Univ. Nebr. 71, 6:197-273.

PROSSER, C. L. AND F. A. BROWN, JR. 1961. Com- parative animal physiology. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila., Pa.

REESE, R. W. AND H. M. SMITH. 1951. Pattern neoteny in the salamander Eurycea lucifuga Rafinesque. Copeia 1951(3):243-244.

SLATER, J. R. 1934. Ambystoma tigrinum in the state of Washington. Copeia 1934(3):189-190.

. 1937. Notes on the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, in Washington and Idaho. Herpetologica 1:81-83.

SWENSON, H. A. AND B. R. COLBY. 1955. Chemi- cal quality of surface water in Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota. U. S. Geol. Surv. Water- Supply Pap. 1295.

WHEELER, G. C. AND J. WHEELER. 1966. The am- phibians and reptiles of North Dakota. Univ. N. Dak. Press, Grand Forks.

YOUNG, R. T. 1924. The life of Devils Lake, North Dakota. Pub. N. Dak. Biol. Sta.

DOUGLAS W. LARSON, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Cor- vallis, Oregon 97331.

REMARKS ON THE SCIENTIFIC NAME OF THE AFRICAN PUFF ADDER.-In a note on the correct name for the African

puff adder (i.e., Bitis arietans Merrem, 1820), Peters and Broadley (1967:864) remarked on the fact that I replaced the name arietans by its senior synonym Cobra lachesis Laurenti, 1768 (Mertens, 1937:16). They wrote as fol- lows: "Mertens did not indicate that he had re-examined specimens or early literature to verify Boulenger's synonymy, but he did drop arietans and start using lachesis, and

Mont. Wildl., Mont. Fish Game Comm. (Re- print.)

DEMARCO, M. N. 1952. Neoteny and the uro- genital system in the salamander Dicamptodon ensatus (Eschscholtz). Copeia 1952(3): 192-193.

DUNN, E. R. 1940. The races of Ambystoma tigrinum. Copeia 1940(3):154-162.

GRAF, W., S. G. JEWETT, JR., AND K. L. GORDON. 1939. Records of amphibians and reptiles from Oregon. Copeia 1939(2): 100-104.

LEVI, H. W. AND L. R. LEVI. 1955. Neotenic salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum, in the Elk Mountains of Colorado. Copeia 1955(4):309.

NOBLE, G. K. 1931. The biology of the Am- phibia. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.

OSBORN, H. L. 1900. A remarkable axolotl from North Dakota. Am. Nat. 34:551-562.

. 1901. On some points in the anatomy of a collection of axolotls from Colorado, and a specimen from North Dakota. Ibid. 35:887- 904.

POWERS, J. H. 1903. The causes of acceleration and retardation in the metamorphosis of Am- bystoma tigrinum; a preliminary report. Am. Nat. 37:385-410.

. 1907. Morphological variation and its causes in Ambystoma tigrinum. Stud. Zool. Lab., Univ. Nebr. 71, 6:197-273.

PROSSER, C. L. AND F. A. BROWN, JR. 1961. Com- parative animal physiology. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila., Pa.

REESE, R. W. AND H. M. SMITH. 1951. Pattern neoteny in the salamander Eurycea lucifuga Rafinesque. Copeia 1951(3):243-244.

SLATER, J. R. 1934. Ambystoma tigrinum in the state of Washington. Copeia 1934(3):189-190.

. 1937. Notes on the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, in Washington and Idaho. Herpetologica 1:81-83.

SWENSON, H. A. AND B. R. COLBY. 1955. Chemi- cal quality of surface water in Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota. U. S. Geol. Surv. Water- Supply Pap. 1295.

WHEELER, G. C. AND J. WHEELER. 1966. The am- phibians and reptiles of North Dakota. Univ. N. Dak. Press, Grand Forks.

YOUNG, R. T. 1924. The life of Devils Lake, North Dakota. Pub. N. Dak. Biol. Sta.

DOUGLAS W. LARSON, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Cor- vallis, Oregon 97331.

REMARKS ON THE SCIENTIFIC NAME OF THE AFRICAN PUFF ADDER.-In a note on the correct name for the African

puff adder (i.e., Bitis arietans Merrem, 1820), Peters and Broadley (1967:864) remarked on the fact that I replaced the name arietans by its senior synonym Cobra lachesis Laurenti, 1768 (Mertens, 1937:16). They wrote as fol- lows: "Mertens did not indicate that he had re-examined specimens or early literature to verify Boulenger's synonymy, but he did drop arietans and start using lachesis, and

621 621

This content downloaded from 141.72.238.211 on Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:38:49 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

COPEIA, 1968, NO. 3 COPEIA, 1968, NO. 3

many herpetologists have since followed this lead."

This interpretation is partly incorrect for I was able (1937:16) to refute the opinion expressed by Stejneger (1936:140), who re- garded Cobra lachesis Laurenti a nomen dubium. I expressly mentioned that this name rests on a figure published by Seba (1735:pl. 94, fig. 2). With regard to charac- ters derived from general shape and pattern, this figure clearly represents the common African puff adder. It is remarkable that Laurenti (1768:104) expressly mentions in his description the dark interocular trans- verse band ("fascia nigra transversa per oculos"). This character is highly character- istic of African puff adders (especially from southern parts), and therefore a confusion with other "Cobra" species described by Laurenti is not possible. For this reason I cannot understand (a) why Stejneger came to the conclusion that Laurenti's lachesis would be "practically unidentifiable," and (b) how it comes that Peters and Broadley still retain this unjustified opinion.

When I replaced the specific name arietans by its senior synonym lachesis in 1937 this action was inevitable (in accordance with the provisions of the Code then in force). But now I am glad that we do have a legal basis (Direction 1) which permits us to return to the long-established usage of the name arie- tans Merrem, 1820.

LITERATURE CITED

LAURENTI, J. N. 1768. Specimen medicum exhi- bens synopsis reptilium. Wien.

MERTENS, R. 1937. Reptilien und Amphibien aus dem siidlichen Inner-Afrika. Abh. Senckenb. Naturf. Ges. 435:1-23.

PETERS, J. A. AND D. BROADLEY. 1967. The sci- entific name of the African puff adder. Copeia 1967(4):864-865.

SEBA, A. 1735. Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio etc., 2. Amster- dam.

STEJNEGER, L. 1936. Types of the amphibian and reptilian genera proposed by Laurenti in 1768. Copeia 1936(3):133-141.

ROBERT MERTENS, Senckenberg-Museum, Frankfort a. Main, Germany.

BODY TEMPERATURES OF QUIESCENT SATOR GRANDAEVUS IN NATURE.- Sator grandaevus, a sceloporine lizard en- demic to Cerralvo Island in the Gulf of Cali- fornia, Mexico, seems to have a characteristic thermal response during periods of peak en-

many herpetologists have since followed this lead."

This interpretation is partly incorrect for I was able (1937:16) to refute the opinion expressed by Stejneger (1936:140), who re- garded Cobra lachesis Laurenti a nomen dubium. I expressly mentioned that this name rests on a figure published by Seba (1735:pl. 94, fig. 2). With regard to charac- ters derived from general shape and pattern, this figure clearly represents the common African puff adder. It is remarkable that Laurenti (1768:104) expressly mentions in his description the dark interocular trans- verse band ("fascia nigra transversa per oculos"). This character is highly character- istic of African puff adders (especially from southern parts), and therefore a confusion with other "Cobra" species described by Laurenti is not possible. For this reason I cannot understand (a) why Stejneger came to the conclusion that Laurenti's lachesis would be "practically unidentifiable," and (b) how it comes that Peters and Broadley still retain this unjustified opinion.

When I replaced the specific name arietans by its senior synonym lachesis in 1937 this action was inevitable (in accordance with the provisions of the Code then in force). But now I am glad that we do have a legal basis (Direction 1) which permits us to return to the long-established usage of the name arie- tans Merrem, 1820.

LITERATURE CITED

LAURENTI, J. N. 1768. Specimen medicum exhi- bens synopsis reptilium. Wien.

MERTENS, R. 1937. Reptilien und Amphibien aus dem siidlichen Inner-Afrika. Abh. Senckenb. Naturf. Ges. 435:1-23.

PETERS, J. A. AND D. BROADLEY. 1967. The sci- entific name of the African puff adder. Copeia 1967(4):864-865.

SEBA, A. 1735. Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio etc., 2. Amster- dam.

STEJNEGER, L. 1936. Types of the amphibian and reptilian genera proposed by Laurenti in 1768. Copeia 1936(3):133-141.

ROBERT MERTENS, Senckenberg-Museum, Frankfort a. Main, Germany.

BODY TEMPERATURES OF QUIESCENT SATOR GRANDAEVUS IN NATURE.- Sator grandaevus, a sceloporine lizard en- demic to Cerralvo Island in the Gulf of Cali- fornia, Mexico, seems to have a characteristic thermal response during periods of peak en-

vironmental temperatures. Activity during the early afternoon is markedly diminished and search reveals individuals perched in the shade of bushes and trees. These appar- ently quiescent lizards have body tempera- tures approaching the ambient air tempera- tures and below those of active lizards. This putative response was noted during a study of Sator from 24 October to 9 November 1961 on Cerralvo Island. Compared to other sceloporine lizards, Sator occupies a great many habitats including sand dunes, thick vegetation, and rocky arroyos.

All temperatures were recorded with a single Schultheis quick-registering thermom- eter; readings were made to the closest 0.10 C. Ambient air temperaures were recorded where the animal was first seen and after shading the thermometer from direct sun- light. Body temperatures were recorded by inserting the thermometer into the cloaca within seconds after shooting the lizards with .22 dust shot. Criteria for validity of these records are discussed elsewhere (Soule, 1963).

Data obtained from lizards under cloudy conditions or when the wind velocity was estimated at over 5 mph were not considered reliable, and so 39 out of my 73 recordings have been deleted. Cowles and Bogert (1944) stated that for a variety of reasons it was necessary to delete about 80% of their data. Among the records I deleted were five for lizards in bushes and trees. Two of these were basking under partly cloudy conditions between 0900 and 1030 hr; their body tem- peratures were 27.6? and 29.2? C. The other three were recorded at 1045, 1400, and 1430 hr with body temperatures and estimated wind velocities (in parentheses) of 35.8? (5 mph), 36.4? (8 mph), and 33? (5 mph), re- spectively. Inclusion of these records would not affect the results.

The remaining data for Sator are shown in Fig. 1. Two distinct body temperature classes can be seen: one group has body temperatures between 30? and 33? from 1100 to 1415 hr in bushes and trees on shaded perches; another group has body tem- peratures between 33? and 40? throughout the day, but much more frequently on ter- restrial than arboreal perches. The body temperatures of lizards in the lower group do not depart as far from the corresponding air temperatures as do those in the upper group (t = 2.74; P < .005). Hence, it ap- pears that during the warm, midday hours

vironmental temperatures. Activity during the early afternoon is markedly diminished and search reveals individuals perched in the shade of bushes and trees. These appar- ently quiescent lizards have body tempera- tures approaching the ambient air tempera- tures and below those of active lizards. This putative response was noted during a study of Sator from 24 October to 9 November 1961 on Cerralvo Island. Compared to other sceloporine lizards, Sator occupies a great many habitats including sand dunes, thick vegetation, and rocky arroyos.

All temperatures were recorded with a single Schultheis quick-registering thermom- eter; readings were made to the closest 0.10 C. Ambient air temperaures were recorded where the animal was first seen and after shading the thermometer from direct sun- light. Body temperatures were recorded by inserting the thermometer into the cloaca within seconds after shooting the lizards with .22 dust shot. Criteria for validity of these records are discussed elsewhere (Soule, 1963).

Data obtained from lizards under cloudy conditions or when the wind velocity was estimated at over 5 mph were not considered reliable, and so 39 out of my 73 recordings have been deleted. Cowles and Bogert (1944) stated that for a variety of reasons it was necessary to delete about 80% of their data. Among the records I deleted were five for lizards in bushes and trees. Two of these were basking under partly cloudy conditions between 0900 and 1030 hr; their body tem- peratures were 27.6? and 29.2? C. The other three were recorded at 1045, 1400, and 1430 hr with body temperatures and estimated wind velocities (in parentheses) of 35.8? (5 mph), 36.4? (8 mph), and 33? (5 mph), re- spectively. Inclusion of these records would not affect the results.

The remaining data for Sator are shown in Fig. 1. Two distinct body temperature classes can be seen: one group has body temperatures between 30? and 33? from 1100 to 1415 hr in bushes and trees on shaded perches; another group has body tem- peratures between 33? and 40? throughout the day, but much more frequently on ter- restrial than arboreal perches. The body temperatures of lizards in the lower group do not depart as far from the corresponding air temperatures as do those in the upper group (t = 2.74; P < .005). Hence, it ap- pears that during the warm, midday hours

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