Coluber dora Daudin, 1803

Published, First, 2012, 3473, Zootaxa 3473, pp. 1-60 : 9

Coluber dora Daudin, 1803

Coluber dora Daudin, 1803: 191 ; based on Russell (1801 [in 1801–1809]: 6, pl. 5, “Dora”).—Type locality. Not given; stated as “ in Bengala ” by Merrem (1820: 119).—Onomatophore: Holotype. Specimen depicted by Russell (1801 [in 1801–1809]: pl. 5).

Status. A taxon here regarded as a subjective synonym of Xenochrophis piscator . Synonymized with Tropidonotus umbratus by Schlegel (1837: 310). Should dark coloured, large specimens inhabiting northeastern India deserve a distinct taxonomic position, we here select Coluber mortuarius Daudin, 1803 as having priority over C. dora Daudin, 1803 .

Comments. Russell applied this name to another specimen with an extensive black pattern. This kind of pattern is sometimes found in some specimens from northeastern India (as the specimens shown on the plate called Naugealled Keaka), often associated with a large size in adult females (see below). The status of this specimen and of others depicted by Russell not mentioned here is planned to be discussed elsewhere.