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Taxonomic history

Leiopython or Bothrochilus?

Earlier in 2008, Rawlings et al. (2008) published a widely recognized work suggesting synonymizing the genus Leiopython with Bothrochilus Fitzinger, 1843. Both genera were monotypic (containing only one species) and were considered sister taxa based on their genetic analysis. Schleip (2008) had still used the genus Leiopython in his work, which was published at the end of 2008. Rawlings et al. (2008) had actually used genetic material from a southern species but referred to it as Leiopython albertisii. Since the genus was not monotypic anymore, and genetic analyses of the newly introduced species by Schleip were pending, the synonymization of Leiopython with Bothrochilus was not followed. As it happens, another work by Reynolds et al. (2014) suggested to synonymize Leiopython with Bothrochilus, however, this time some followed (e.g. the IUCN). However, looking at the material examined in the case of Leiopython and Bothrochilus, the authors did not provide newer information than had already been published by Rawlings et al. (2008). There are so many morphological differences between the White-lipped pythons (genus Leiopython) and the Ringed python (Bothrochilus boa) that I am still reluctant to give up Leiopython until further research on both genera is conducted.

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