Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk). Latest update: October 31st, 2023. Taxonomy of the family Colubridae Bibliography of the genus Platyceps Biodiversity of the family Colubridae Genus Platyceps Flat-headed Whip Snakes, (Racers) Flachkopf-Zornnattern Fladhovedede Pilsnoge 1840 Tyria Bonaparte [not Tyria Huebner 1819 (Insecta); not Tyria Fitzinger 1826 (Serpentes)] (type species: Coluber dahlii Schinz 1833) 1843 Dendrophilus Fitzinger [not Dendrophilus Leach 1817 (Insecta)] (type species: Tyria dahlii = Tyria najadum Eichwald 1831) 1857 Etairejus Jan [nomen oblitum] (type species: Zamenis rhodorachis Jan 1865; syn. Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014) 1857 Pseudoperiops Jan [nomen oblitum] (type species: Pseudoperiops persicus = Coluber ventromaculatus Gray & Hardwicke 1834; syn. Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014) 1860 Platyceps Blyth [nomen protectum] (type species: Platyceps semifasciatus) (Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014) 1895 Acanthocalyx Cope (type species: Coluber ventromaculatus Gray & Hardwicke 1834) 1895 Tylanthera Cope (type species: Coluber florulentus Geoffroy 1827) 1924 Argyrogena Werner (type species: Argyrogena rostrata Werner 1924; syn. Deepak, Narayanan, Mohapatra, Dutta, Melvinselvan, Khan, Mahlow & Tillack 2021) Contents: 27 species, of which 11 (40.7%) are endemic. Endemism: 0% 100% Remarks: Formerly included in Coluber (e.g., Böhme (ed.) 1993; Smith 1943). Also the nominal genus Argyrogena was previously included in Coluber, then revalidated as a separate genus (Wilson 1967), but most recently synonymized with Platyceps. Another species, Mopanveldophis zebrinus, was formerly included in Platyceps. Distribution: Africa, SE. Europe, Middle East, W. Asia. Reported from: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chad, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt (incl. Sinai), Eritrea (incl. Dahlak Archipelago), Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece (incl. Aegean Islands [incl. Dodecanese Islands (incl. Rhodes)]), India (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia (incl. Farasan Islands [Sarso Island]), Serbia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey (incl. European Turkey), Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen. Platyceps afarensis Djibouti Whip Snake, Afar Racer Djibouti-Zornnatter Djibouti-pilsnog 2004 Platyceps afarensis Schätti & Ineich Distribution: Djibouti. Platyceps bholanathi Nagarjunasagar Whip Snake Nagarjunasagar-Zornnatter Nagarjunasagar-pilsnog 1976 Coluber bholanathi Sharma Eremiophis bholanathi Welch 1988 Argyrogena bholanathi Sanyal, Dattagupta & Gayen 1993 Platyceps bholanathi Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014 Remarks: Probably a synonym of gracilis (Schätti & Utiger 2001). Distribution: India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana). Platyceps brevis Somali Dwarf Whip Snake, Somali Dwarf Racer, Somali Racer Somalische Zwerg-Zornnatter Somalisk Dværgpilsnog 1895 Zamenis brevis Boulenger Coluber brevis Parker 1932 Haemorrhois brevis [sic] Welch 1982 Eremiophis brevis Welch 1983 Platyceps brevis Schätti & Utiger 2001 1895 Zamenis smithi Boulenger (Schätti & Charvet 2003) Coluber smithi Parker 1932 Coluber florulentus smithii Loveridge 1945 Haemorrhois florulentus smithi [sic] Welch 1982 Coluber brevis smithi Schätti in Lanza 1990 Platyceps brevis smithi Schätti & Utiger 2001 Platyceps smithi Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 1925 Zamenis tripraeocularis Werner (Schätti & Charvet 2003) 1930 Zamenis boschisi Scortecci (Schätti & Charvet 2003) Coluber boschisi Parker 1932 Coluber brevis boschisi Lanza 1963 1935 Coronella semiornata fuscorosea Loveridge (Schätti & Charvet 2003) Other common names: smithi: Southern Flowered Whip Snake, (Smith's Racer) Remarks: Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) and Spawls, Mazuch & Mohammad (2023) treated smithi as a separate species, but without discussion. Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania. Platyceps collaris Red Whip Snake, Reddish Whip Snake, Red-headed Whip Snake Rötliche Zornnatter Rødlig Pilsnog 1878 Zamenis dahlii var. collaris Müller [not Coluber collaris Menetries 1832] Coluber najadum collaris Werner 1935 Coluber collaris Schätti, Baran & Maunoir 2001 Platyceps collaris Schätti & Utiger 2001 1919 Zamenis dahlii rubriceps Venzmer (Schätti, Baran & Maunoir 2001) Coluber najadum rubriceps Mertens 1940 Coluber rubriceps Baran 1976 Platyceps collaris rubriceps Smíd, Aghová, Velenská, Moravec, Balej, Naumov, Popgeorgiev, Üzüm, Avci & Jablonski 2021 1985 Coluber rubriceps thracius Rehak (Schätti, Baran & Maunoir 2001; Smíd, Aghová, Velenská, Moravec, Balej, Naumov, Popgeorgiev, Üzüm, Avci & Jablonski 2021) Distribution: Bulgaria, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey (incl. European Turkey). Platyceps elegantissimus Elegant Whip Snake, Most Beautiful Whip Snake, Elegant Racer Pracht-Zornnatter Pragtpilsnog 1878 Zamenis elegantissimus Günther Coluber elegantissimus Flower 1933 Haemorrhois elegantissimus [sic] Welch 1983 Eremiophis elegantissimus Welch 1983 Platyceps elegantissimus Schätti & Utiger 2001 Distribution: Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. Platyceps florulentus Egyptian Whip Snake, Flowered Snake, Flowered Racer, (Geoffroy's Racer) Ägyptische Zornnatter Ægyptisk Pilsnog 1827 Coluber florulentus Geoffroy Zamenis florulentus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril 1854 Eremiophis florulentus Welch 1983 Platyceps florulentus Schätti & Utiger 2001 Haemorrhois florulentus Chirio & LeBreton 2007 1932 Coluber keniensis Parker (Schätti 1988) Eremiophis keniensis Welch 1983 Coluber florulentus keniensis Schätti 1988 Platyceps florulentus keniensis Schätti & Utiger 2001 Other common names: florulentus: Nile Flowered Snake keniensis: Lake Baringo Whip Snake Remarks: Previously included perreti. Martens' (1997) record from Syria is erroneous (Schätti 2004). North African records (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya) refer to Hemorrhois algirus, previously regarded as a subspecies of florulentus (e.g., Kramer & Schnurrenberger 1963). Distribution: Chad, Egypt (incl. Sinai), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda. Platyceps gracilis Indian Slender Whip Snake, Graceful Rat Snake, Graceful Dhaman Grazile Schlanknatter Venus-pilsnog 1862 Zamenis gracilis Günther Coluber gracilis Smith 1943 Eremiophis gracilis Welch 1988 Argyrogena gracilis Ingle 2001 Platyceps gracilis Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014 Distribution: India (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan). Platyceps insulanus Farasan Whip Snake, Farasan Racer Farasan-Zornnatter Farasan-pilsnog 1965 Coluber insulanus Mertens Platyceps insulanus Cunningham 2010 Remarks: Recorded with certainty only from the island Sarso (=Sindi Sarso), but based on pieces of shed skin found on the neighbouring island Sarad Sarso, the species presumably occurs on that island as well (Mertens 1965). Distribution: Saudi Arabia (Farasan Islands: Sindi Sarso Island). Platyceps josephi Tamil Nadu Whip Snake, (Joseph's Racer) Tamil-Nadu-Zornnatter Tamil Nadu-pilsnog 2021 Platyceps josephi Deepak, Narayanan, Mohapatra, Dutta, Melvinselvan, Khan, Mahlow & Tillack Remarks: Previously regarded as the southernmost population of plinii (in older literature referred to as "Argyrogena fasciolatus"). Distribution: India (Tamil Nadu). Platyceps karelini Spotted Desert Whip Snake, Banded Desert Racer Gebänderte Wüsten-Zornnatter Båndet Ørkenpilsnog 1838 Coluber karelini Brandt Zamenis karelinii Strauch 1873 Zamenis ventrimaculatus karelini [sic] Boettger 1888 Haemorrhois karelini [sic] Welch 1983 Eremiophis karelini Welch 1983 Platyceps karelini Schätti & Utiger 2001 1838 Coluber chesneii Anderson Platyceps karelini chesneii Schätti, Kucharzewski, Masroor & Rastegar-Pouyani 2012 Platyceps "chesneii" Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013 Remarks: Previously included mintonorum and rogersi. The taxon chesneii represents populations previously treated as ventromaculatus, but later transferred (as subspecies) to karelini, along with rogersi (Schätti, Kucharzewski, Masroor & Rastegar-Pouyani 2012). The inclusion of rogersi under karelini was subsequently rejected by Sinaiko, Magory-Cohen, Meiri & Dor (2018). All previous records of ventromaculatus from Iran westwards are now assigned to chesneii (except those which refer to rogersi). Both species are present in Pakistan. Distribution: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan. Platyceps largeni Dahlak Whip Snake Dahlak-Zornnatter Dahlak-pilsnog 2001 Coluber largeni Schätti Platyceps largeni Schätti & Utiger 2001 Distribution: Eritrea (Dahlak Archipelago). Platyceps messanai Nogal Valley Whip Snake, (Messana's Racer) Nogal-Zornnatter Nogal-pilsnog 1989 Coluber messanai Schätti & Lanza Platyceps messanai Schätti & Charvet 2003 Distribution: Somalia. Platyceps mintonorum Chagai Whip Snake, (Mintons' Desert Racer) Chagai-Zornnatter Chagai-pilsnog 1969 Coluber karelini mintonorum Mertens Platyceps karelini mintonorum Ananjeva, Orlov, Khalikov, Darevsky, Ryabov & Barabanov 2006 Platyceps mintonorum Schätti & Stutz 2005 Distribution: Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. Platyceps najadum European Slender Whip Snake, Light Green Whip Snake, Olive Slender Racer Europäische Schlanknatter Slank Pilsnog, (Dahls Snog (P. n. dahli)) 1831 Tyria najadum Eichwald Coluber najadum Mertens & Müller 1928 Haemorrhois najadum [sic] Welch 1980 Eremiophis najadum Welch 1983 Platyceps najadum Schätti & Utiger 2001 1831 Tyria ocellata Eichwald (Böhme (ed.) 1993) 1832 Coluber olivaceus Dwigubskij (Böhme (ed.) 1993) 1833 Coluber dahlii Schinz Coluber najadum dahlii Mertens & Wermuth 1960 Haemorrhois najadum dahlii [sic] Welch 1983 Platyceps najadum dahlii Schätti & Utiger 2001 1912 Zamenis dahlii immaculata Schreiber (Böhme (ed.) 1993) 1980 Coluber najadum kalymnensis Schneider Haemorrhois najadum kalymnensis [sic] Welch 1983 Platyceps najadum kalymnensis Böhme 2010 1993 Coluber atayevi Tuniyev & Shammakov (Schätti 2004) Platyceps najadum atayevi Schätti 2004 Platyceps atayevi Nagy, Lawson, Joger & Wink 2004 1994 Coluber najadum albitemporalis Darevsky & Orlov 2001 Coluber schmidtleri Schätti & McCarthy (Schätti & Schmitz 2006) Platyceps schmidtleri Schätti & Utiger 2001 Platyceps najadum schmidtleri Schätti & Schmitz 2006 Other common names: atayevi: Atayev's Whip Snake dahli: Dahl's Whip Snake schmidtleri: Red-bellied Slender Whip Snake Remarks: Some authors regard atayevi as a separate species (e.g., Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014). Also schmidtleri is regarded by some as a separate species (e.g., Kamali 2020). Some records from Cyprus refer to Hierophis cypriensis (Baier, Sparrow & Wiedl 2009). Presence of najadum in Cyprus was first reported by Bucknill & Boulenger (1910), but regarded as questionable by Baier, Sparrow & Wiedl (2009), however, it was recently confirmed for the island (Göcmen, Atatur, Budak, Bahar, Yildiz & Alpagut-Keskin 2009; Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013). Most of the old records of najadum from Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon might refer to collaris (Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013). Distribution: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece (incl. Aegean Islands [incl. Dodecanese Islands (incl. Rhodes)]), Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Turkey (incl. European Turkey), Turkmenistan. Platyceps najadum © Henrik Bringsøe Platyceps noeli Quetta Whip Snake, Brahui Racer Quetta-Zornnatter Quetta-pilsnog 2014 Platyceps noeli Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski Distribution: Pakistan. Platyceps perreti Cameroon Whip Snake Kamerunische Zornnatter Camerounsk Pilsnog 1988 Coluber florulentus perreti Schätti Platyceps florulentus perreti Schätti & Utiger 2001 Haemorrhois florulentus perreti Chirio & LeBreton 2007 Platyceps perreti Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014 Remarks: Chippaux & Jackson (2019) claimed the distribution to reach as far "west" (obviously east!) as Sudan. No other references have been found to support the presence of the species in neither Chad, nor Sudan. Distribution: Cameroon, Nigeria. Platyceps plinii Banded Whip Snake, Banded Racer, Fasciolated Rat Snake, Banded Dhaman Gebänderte Zornnatter, (Gefleckte Peitschennatter) Båndet Pilsnog 1820 Natrix Plinii Merrem Coluber plinii Boie 1827 Platyceps plinii Deepak, Narayanan, Mohapatra, Dutta, Melvinselvan, Khan, Mahlow & Tillack 2021 1839 Coluber curvirostris Cantor (syn. Deepak, Narayanan, Mohapatra, Dutta, Melvinselvan, Khan, Mahlow & Tillack 2021) 1924 Argyrogena rostrata Werner (syn. Deepak, Narayanan, Mohapatra, Dutta, Melvinselvan, Khan, Mahlow & Tillack 2021) Remarks: In older literature known as "Argyrogena fasciolatus", or "Coluber fasciolatus", a name which now represents Lycodon fasciolatus. Presence in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand is considered undocumented (Deepak, Narayanan, Mohapatra, Dutta, Melvinselvan, Khan, Mahlow & Tillack 2021). Previously included the population now assigned to josephi. Distribution: Bangladesh, India (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Pakistan. Platyceps rhodorachis Wadi Whip Snake, Wadi Racer, Cliff Whip Snake, Desert Racer, Red-striped Wood Snake, Braid Snake, (Jan's Cliff Racer, Jan's Whip Snake, Jan's Desert Whip Snake) Wadi-Zornnatter Wadi-pilsnog 1861 Platyceps semifasciatus Blyth [nomen oblitum] (Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014) 1863 Zamenis rhodorachis Jan [nomen protectum] (Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014) Haemorrhois rhodorachis [sic] Welch 1983 Eremiophis rhodorachis Welch 1983 Argyrogena rhodorachis Sharma & Sharma 1976 Platyceps rhodorachis Schätti & Utiger 2001 1871 Gonyosoma dorsale Anderson (Smith 1943; Perry 2012) 1871 Zamenis ladacensis Anderson Coluber rhodorachis ladacensis Nilson & Andrén 1981 Coluber ladacensis Das 2003 Platyceps rhodorachis ladacensis Khan 2004 Platyceps ladacensis Perry 2012 1893 Zamenis ladacensis subnigra Boettger (Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014) Coluber rhodorachis subniger Lanza 1988 Platyceps subnigra [sic] Perry 2012 2000 Coluber rhodorachis kashmirensis Khan & Khan Platyceps rhodorachis kashmirensis Khan 2004 Other common names: kashmirensis: Kashmir Cliff Racer ladacensis: Ladakh Whip Snake, Ladakh Racer, Eastern Cliff Racer, Stripeless Wood Snake Remarks: Previously included the populations now assigned to saharicus. Records from N. Africa, NW. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel refer to saharicus (Baha el Din 2006; Schätti & McCarthy 2004; Perry 2012). Distribution: Afghanistan, China (Tibet), Djibouti, Eritrea (incl. Dahlak Archipelago), Ethiopia, India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen. Platyceps rogersi Helwan Desert Whip Snake, (Spotted Racer, Rogers' Racer) Helwan-Zornnatter, (Andersons Pfeilnatter, Rogers Renner) Helwan-pilsnog 1893 Zamenis rogersi Anderson Coluber rogersi Flower 1933 Platyceps rogersi Inger & Clark 1943 Haemorrhois rogersi [sic] Welch 1982 Eremiophis rogersi Welch 1983 Platyceps karelini rogersi Schätti, Kucharzewski, Masroor & Rastegar-Pouyani 2012 Remarks: Taxonomic status uncertain. Downgraded from species status to subspecies of karelini by Schätti, Kucharzewski, Masroor & Rastegar-Pouyani (2012), although indicated already by Schätti (2006). Nevertheless, retained as a valid species by many authors (e.g., Ibrahim 2013; Geniez 2015; Werner 2016; Bauer, DeBoer & Taylor 2017). The inclusion of rogersi under karelini was rejected by Sinaiko, Magory-Cohen, Meiri & Dor (2018), who regarded the decision as unsupported. However, they suggested further research to resolve the status of rogersi. Records from Iraq are assumed to refer to karelini chesneii, following Schätti 2004 [as "cf. ventromaculatus"]). Distribution: Egypt (incl. Sinai), Israel, Jordan, Libya, Syria. Platyceps saharicus Sarahan Cliff Racer, Sahara Racer Sahara-Zornnatter Sahara-pilsnog 1910 ? Zamenis rhodorhachis [sic] tessellata Werner "1909" (status uncertain; Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014) Platyceps tessellata Perry 2012 2004 Platyceps saharicus Schätti & McCarthy Remarks: This species represents what was previously regarded as the African and some of the Arabian populations of rhodorachis. Status and origin of tessellata is uncertain (Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014). Perry (2012) regarded it as conspecific with saharicus and synonymized saharicus with tessellata (as P. tessellatus), which was followed by Werner (2016). Distribution: Algeria, Chad, Egypt (incl. Sinai), Eritrea (incl. Dahlak Archipelago), Ethiopia, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan. Platyceps scorteccii Dura Mareb Whip Snake, (Scortecci's Racer) Dura-Zornnatter Dura-pilsnog 1963 Coluber scorteccii Lanza Eremiophis scorteccii Welch 1983 Platyceps scortecci [sic] Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 Distribution: Somalia. Platyceps sinai Sinai Whip Snake, Sinai Banded Snake, Sinai Banded Racer Sinai-Zornnatter Sinai-pilsnog 1956 Lytorhynchus sinai Schmidt & Marx Coluber sinai Schätti & Wilson 1986 Haemorrhois sinai [sic] Welch 1983 Hemorrhois sinai Schlüter 2005 Platyceps sinai Baha el Din 2006 Distribution: Egypt (Sinai), Israel, Jordan. Platyceps sindhensis Sindh Whip Snake Sindh-Zornnatter Sindh-pilsnog 2014 Platyceps sindhensis Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski Distribution: Pakistan. Platyceps somalicus Ogaden Whip Snake, Ogaden Racer, Audo Racer Ogaden-Zornnatter Ogaden-pilsnog 1896 Zamenis somalicus Boulenger Coluber somalicus Parker 1932 Haemorrhois somalicus [sic] Welch 1982 Eremiophis somalicus Welch 1983 Platyceps somalicus Schätti & Charvet 2003 Remarks: Listed as a Somali species by Welch (1982), but in spite of its name, somalicus is known only from Ethiopia (Lanza 1990; Largen & Rasmussen 1993; Schätti & Charvet 2003). Distribution: Ethiopia. Platyceps taylori Somali Whip Snake, (Taylor's Whip Snake, Taylor's Racer) Somalische Zornnatter Somalisk Pilsnog 1949 Coluber taylori Parker Eremiophis taylori Welch 1983 Platyceps taylori Schätti & Utiger 2001 Distribution: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia. Platyceps variabilis Arabian Whip Snake, Variable Racer Arabische Zornnatter Arabisk Pilsnog 1905 Zamenis variabilis Boulenger Coluber variabilis Scortecci 1932 Haemorrhois variabilis [sic] Welch 1983 Eremiophis variabilis Welch 1983 Platyceps variabilis Schätti & Utiger 2001 1931 Coluber thomasi Parker (Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014) Haemorrhois thomasi [sic] Welch 1983 Eremiophis thomasi Welch 1983 Platyceps thomasi Egan 2007 Platyceps variabilis thomasi Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014 1986 Coluber manseri Leviton (Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014) Coluber variabilis manseri Schätti & Gasperetti 1994 Platyceps manseri Egan 2007 Platyceps variabilis manseri Schätti, Tillack & Kucharzewski 2014 Distribution: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Platyceps ventromaculatus Spotted Whip Snake, Glossy-bellied Whip Snake, Glossy-bellied Racer, (Gray's Racer, Hardwick's Rat Snake) Gefleckte Zornnatter Plettet Pilsnog 1834 Coluber ventromaculatus Gray & Hardwicke Zamenis ventrimaculatus [sic] Günther 1858 Tyria ventrimaculata [sic] Cope 1862 Platyceps ventromaculatus Inger & Clark 1943 Haemorrhois ventromaculatus [sic] Welch 1983 Eremiophis ventromaculatus Welch 1983 Argyrogena ventromaculatus Murthy 1985 2000 Coluber ventromaculatus bengalensis Khan & Khan [not Coluber bengalensis Gray 1842] (Schätti & Schmitz 2006) Platyceps ventromaculatus bengalensis Khan 2004 2000 Coluber ventromaculatus indusai Khan & Khan (Schätti & Schmitz 2006) Platyceps ventromaculatus indusai Khan 2004 2002 Coluber ventromaculatus khanorum Barabanov [substitute name for Coluber ventromaculatus bengalensis Khan & Khan 2000] Other common names: bengalensis: Bengal Racer indusai: (Sind Racer) Remarks: Now restricted to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (Schätti 2006; Jablonski, Basit, Farooqi & Masroor 2022). Records from Iran and westwards refer to rogersi and karelini chesneii (Schätti 2006; Schätti, Kucharzewski, Masroor & Rastegar-Pouyani 2012), although perpetuated by some authors (e.g., Safaei-Mahroo & al. 2015). Records from Uzbekistan (e.g.; Biswas & Sanyal 1977, Minton 1966, Smith 1943) refer to rhodorhachis (Terentjev & Chernov 1949; Schätti & Schmitz 2006). Records from Jammu & Kashmir (India) and Nepal are regarded as erroneous (Schätti 2006; Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013). Records from Himachal Pradesh and possibly Uttarakhand (India) need confirmation (Schätti 2006). The latter are provisionally included herein. Distribution: Afghanistan, India (Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand), Pakistan.