Snake morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny
A study of the microdermatoglyphic patterns in snakes has been initiated (A. Bergreen, cand.scient. project) and a study of dentitional phenomena in the genus Dipsadoboa* has been completed (J.B. Rasmussen).
Reviews of the East African members of the genus Elapsoidea* (A. Jakobsen, cand.scient. project) and on the West African Dipsadoboa unicolor complex* (J.B. Rasmussen) have been completed. Revisionary work of the genus Crotaphopeltis* has been continued, including (with I. Ineich, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris) studies of the genus in Central Africa (J.B. Rasmussen). A comprehensive monograph on sea snakes has been initiated (A.R. Rasmussen, with several colleagues from England, India, Thailand and Indonesia). An English version of Reinhardt's description of some new snake species has been accepted for publication (J.B. Rasmussen & B. Hughes, London). Studies of snakes of the Udzungwa Mts. (Tanzania) have been initiated; these include papers on Thelotornis kirtlandii (completed) and (with K.M. Howel,, Dar-es-Salaam) on the endemic viper Adenorhinos barbouri.
A phylogenetic study of African colubrids based on DNA sequence data has been initiated, including an analysis of intraspecific variation in the montane rainforest species Crotaphopeltis tornieri (P. Gravlund, ph.d. project). A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Dipsadoboa* has been completed (J.B. Rasmussen).