New Tiger species

South African snakes with venoms that are not considered to be medically important.

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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Westley Price » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:13 pm

Any updates on this thread? Or did anyone contact Wulf in this regard?

It's strange that so few members seem interested in this topic. I thought it was great news to see work being done on a genus so often overlooked. Something other than Cordylus for a change, haha.

How long has it been that I've heard of polystictus would be described as a new specie, but it has never happened.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby ptenopus » Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:24 pm

I am wondering if this snake has been described yet? I was at Wulf's house in Nov. 08 and he said nothing about it, other than "there is still an undesribed species from Namibia" .
Also, any other specimens been found?
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Bushviper » Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:50 pm

ptenopus they have found something even more frustrating. A Telescopus with no markings and just a single dot on its neck. The shedded skin has been sent to the university to check where it might fall. I know Wulf was waiting for some other DNA results before continuing with his work.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Pythonodipsas » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:06 pm

Yeah this has been a long time coming. Wulf told me in the year 2000 they are working on the new species.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Westley Price » Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:21 pm

BV, do you mind sharing a bit about where this unpatterned Telescopus was found? Was it also in Namibia?
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby nvlooi » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:38 pm

I have found a definite T. polystictus on Aninaus Pass near Steinkopf in Namaqualand.


BV- was that up to date the only specimen found so far south?
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Durban Keeper » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:07 pm

Fascinating stuff hey. I'm with wes, more info in the patternless!

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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Bushviper » Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:19 pm

Westley the pattenless one is in Swakopmund if I am not mistaken. It seems to have been found nearby.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Westley Price » Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:08 pm

Thanx BV. Seems a trip up to Nam is in order, haha.

I'm curious as to if it is a different species or just a genetic trait. I guess only time and DNA will tell.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby ptenopus » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:32 am

Hmmm,
interesting to say the least. Is it noticeably different (scales, size, head structure, etc.) than a typical beetzi? Hopefully i will be in the nothern half of Namibia this year, and i will have my eyes peeled for Telescopus. It would be great to see the genus grow!
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Bushviper » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:34 pm

I spoke to Wulf on Friday and he is just waiting for the DNA results from the University of Pretoria. Once he has that he can finish this off. I think he is getting as frustrated as the rest of us.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Rob » Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:21 am

Here is the snake with 1 spot.
It was found between Ariemsvlei, Namibia and South African Border post at Nakop. It is with the guy who found it and in good hands. (As you can see) :)
As already stated, Wulf Haacke is revising the genus.

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Photo belongs to Mr John Visser
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Westley Price » Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:44 am

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

It looks like a large Aparallactus, haha. It does appear to be a bit stockier than the beetzi that I usually see, but otherwise the head shape and ground colour seem very similar.

My vote is for this to be simply a patternless T. beetzi.

Thanx for that Rob.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Bushviper » Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:22 am

Yes Rob thanks for the picture. The owner refused to have any cuts made on the snake (even belly scales) but did quickly remove the last shedding and send that for DNA analysis. It seems he feels that if it dies then they cut it up and not before. The shedding actually helped in another way as well because scale counts could be made more easily than on a live (or dead) snake.

I guess calling the snake "Spot" would be a bit corny? Look, see Spot slither. Slither Spot slither. Takes me back to my grade one.
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Re: New Tiger species

Postby Rob » Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:40 am

Well even cornier, they call it "One spot" haha
Who cares, still very cool.
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