Molecular and morphological analysis confirms two additional species of python (Antaresia) on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland

Antaresia is a genus of small (<1.4 m) python species inhabiting mainland Australia, with one species (A. papuensis) recently described from New Guinea and several islands in the Torres Strait. Currently, only Antaresia maculosa peninsularis is formally known to occur in Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland on the Australian mainland. We used molecular and morphological data to examine whether populations of Antaresia in northern Cape York comprised several distinct taxa (namely: A. childreni, A. maculosa peninsularis, and A. papuensis). A phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b locus recovered samples of Antaresia from far northern Cape York as part of the same clade as A. papuensis from New Guinea and islands in the Torres Strait. Further to the south, we found that A. m. peninsularis and A. childreni occur in sympatry together. With the possible exception of colouration and pattern, we found no aspects of scalation that allow for easy and consistent visual distinction between the three taxa on Cape York. We discuss our finding in the context of biogeography of the region.