ON THE VALIDITY OF THE NAME ECHIS-COLORAT US AND THE TYPE LOCALITY OFECHIS-MEGALOCEPHALUS

After the examination of the type specimens, Cherlin and Borkin (1990) suggested that Echis froenatus Dumeril, Bibron et Dumeril, 1854 shoul d be considered as a valid senior synonym of E. coloratus Gunther, 187 8. However, according to the Opinion 1176 of the International Comissi on of Zoological Nomenclature, the latter name is considered as a vali d one, because it is widely used in zoological and toxicological liter ature. The type locality of E. megalocephalus Cherlin, 1990 seems to b e restricted to Nokra Island (Dakhlak Archipelago, the Red Sea, Ethiop ia).