Psammophis lineolatus (Brandt, 1838)

Wagner, Philipp, Bauer, Aaron M., Leviton, Alan E., Wilms, Thomas M. & Böhme, Wolfgang, 2016, A Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Afghanistan *, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (13), pp. 457-565 : 514

Psammophis lineolatus (Brandt, 1837:col. 243)

1837 Coluber (Taphrometopon) lineolatus Brandt , Note sur quatre nouvelles espèces de serpents de la côte occidentale de la mer Caspienne et la Perse septentrionale, découvertes par M. Kareline. Bulletin Scientifique publié par l’Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg 3:cols. 241–244.

HOLOTYPE.— ZISP 2042 , from “sur la côte orientale de la mer Caspienne [= coast of the Caspian sea], dans la Turcomanie et dans le nord de la Perse [= northern Iran], notamment dans les environs d’Astrabad [= Gorgan, Golestan province, Iran].”

LOCALITIES.— Ag Chah [Mazar-i-Sharif Prov.] ( SNM 59–60); 45 km S Andkhoy ( CAS 120496); Murichaq, N Bala Murghab [Herat Prov.] ( MMB 28493); 8 km ESE Jalalabad, direction to Sarsahi ( MM 28494); near Kunduz ( MMB 28495); 65–75 km W of Mazar-i-Sharif ( CAS 120539); vic. Pagham ( FMNH 161184); 30 km SE Shindand ( CAS 120497) [see pl. 13, fig. 6 for distribution].

REMARKS.— Sclater (1891: 49 f.) mentioned one specimen (ZSI 13135) as “ Taphrometopon lineolatum ” from “Zindijan near Tirphul” and two others (ZSI 13136) from “near Tirphul”, collected by the “Afghan Boundary Commission ( Aitchison 1889). These are, most probably, the specimens that are later mentioned by Boulenger (1889:103) and donated to the ZSI collection. Moreover, Boulenger (1889) refers to four specimens from “Tirphul” that are probably represented by BMNH 1886.9.21. 115–117 and BMNH 1886.9.21. 14 [sic; the correct number is 114]. Moreover, Boulenger (1896:152) also mentioned one specimen from “ Helmand ”. Clark (1990) collected specimens from amongst vegetation on firm clay or baked earth terrain.