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New distribution records and population density of the Critically Endangered Tarzan Chameleon (Calumma tarzan), eastern Madagascar Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Alain JV Rakotondrina, Raphali R Andriantsimanarilafy, Hanta J Razafimanahaka, Achille P Raselimanana, Rikki Gumbs, Caleb Ofori-Boateng, Jody M Taft, Fanomezana M Ratsoavina
The distribution and population density of the Critically Endangered Tarzan Chameleon (Calumma tarzan) in eastern humid forests of Madagascar was studied using line transect-distance sampling. Base...
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A new bullfrog from southern Africa (Pyxicephalidae, Pyxicephalus Tschudi, 1838) Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Louis H du Preez, Edward C Netherlands, Mark-Oliver Rödel, Alan Channing
Four species of African bullfrogs are currently recognised. We describe a new species from southern Africa, which can be distinguished on the basis of morphology, advertisement call and DNA sequenc...
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Burrow site selection in the Sungazer (Smaug giganteus): a threatened South African endemic lizard Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Wade K Stanton-Jones, Daniel JD Natusch, Graham J Alexander
Elucidating factors that drive microhabitat selection in a species is important for informing the conservation management of the species. For species that use microhabitats as long-term refuge site...
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A new species of gracile blind snake in the genus Letheobia (Squamata: Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) from Sagalla Hill, south-eastern Kenya Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Patrick K Malonza
The members of the typhlopid Letheobia pallida group are characterised by having a divided or split ocular scale. Letheobia wrayi sp. nov., differs from all other members of this group by having a ...
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The impact of Eucalyptus plantations on herpetofaunal diversity, Maputo National Park, Mozambique Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 PR Jordaan, A Wilken, X Combrink
Exotic afforestation has proven detrimental to biodiversity in general, however only a few studies documenting the impact of timber plantations on herpetofaunal diversity have been published within...
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Distribution, habitat and vulnerability to climate change of the Endangered Leptopelis xenodactylus Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-15 Kirsty J. Kyle, Louis H. Du Preez, James Harvey, Adrian J. Armstrong
Leptopelis xenodactylus is a little-known, Endangered species of frog that is thought to be endemic to the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. In an effort to determine the distribution of this...
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Systematics of the Thirteen-scaled Green Snake Philothamnus carinatus (Squamata: Colubridae), with the description of a cryptic new species from Central and East Africa Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-02 Eli Greenbaum, Olivier S. G. Pauwels, Václav Gvoždík, Eugene R. Vaughan, Teslin Chaney, Michael Buontempo, Mwenebatu M. Aristote, Wandege M. Muninga, Hanlie M. Engelbrecht
Recent molecular phylogenies of African Green Snakes suggested the geographically widespread species Philothamnus carinatus includes at least two distinct lineages. We utilised an integrative taxon...
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A new species of African legless skink, genus Acontias Cuvier, 1816 “1817” (Squamata: Scincidae) from Serra da Neve inselberg, south-western Angola Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-02 Mariana P. Marques, Diogo Parrinha, Arthur Tiutenko, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Aaron M. Bauer, Luis M. P. Ceríaco
During a recent survey of the Serra da Neve inselberg in south-western Angola, a population of legless skinks of the genus Acontias was found. Only three species of this genus have been recorded fo...
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A new anuran genus from the fossil sites of Langebaanweg and Cooper’s Cave, South Africa Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-02 Thalassa Matthews, Christine Steininger
Enigmatic frog ilia were recovered from two geographically and temporally disparate fossil sites in South Africa, namely the Early Pliocene (5.1 Ma) fossil site of Langebaanweg (south-western Cape)...
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Frog and reptile conservation through the lens of South Africa’s nature-based cultural practices Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-02 Fortunate M Phaka, Jean Hugé, Maarten PM Vanhove, Louis H du Preez
Ethnoherpetology improves our understanding of the conservation implications of nature-based cultural practices through investigations of the influence of traditional culture on frog and reptile sp...
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Advertisement call description of the exceedingly rare Phrynomantis affinis (Anura: Microhylidae), with comparisons to P. bifasciatus and range extensions for both species Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-10-23 Francois S Becker, Alan Channing
Despite a relatively broad distribution in Africa, the Spotted Rubber Frog, Phrynomantis affinis, is extremely rarely encountered. Only 18 specimens from 12 localities have been collected with a fe...
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Testing the thermal melanism hypothesis for Cape Cobras (Naja nivea) using community science photographic data Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-10-22 Jody M Barends, Kim J Scholtz
Animal colour is a highly adaptive phenotypic trait that can respond to several selection pressures, including those facilitated by variations in climate. The thermal melanism hypothesis predicts t...
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A targeted survey for the Durban Dwarf Burrowing Skink Scelotes inornatus (Smith 1849) at Bluff Nature Reserve and Treasure Beach in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with notes on sympatric herpetofauna Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-10-20 AJ Armstrong, PR Jordaan
A survey for the Critically Endangered Durban Dwarf Burrowing Skink Scelotes inornatus (Smith 1849) was conducted in two protected areas in Durban, South Africa, in August and September 2021. Twelv...
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The low-frequency vocal repertoire of adult African dwarf crocodiles Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-08-13 Agata Staniewicz, Gráinne McCabe, Marc Holderied
Acoustic techniques are rapidly becoming powerful tools for species monitoring and biodiversity assessment. These methods can be particularly appropriate for forest-dwelling crocodiles which are di...
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A new species of threadsnake in the genus Myriopholis (Squamata: Scolecophidia: Leptotyplophidae) from southeastern Kenya Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-08-04 Patrick K. Malonza
A new threadsnake species from the family Leptotyphlopidae, Myriopholis mackayi sp. nov., is described from the Tsavo area in southeastern Kenya. Myriopholis mackayi sp. nov. is a member of the Myr...
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Notes on lung development in South African ghost frogs (Anura: Heleophrynidae) Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-04-25 Jackson R Phillips, Jens Reissig, Gary Kyle Nicolau
ABSTRACT Lungs are a prototypical trait of most tetrapods, but some amphibians have become secondarily lungless over evolutionary time. Anuran (frog) tadpoles offer an opportunity to examine lung loss from an evolutionary perspective, because there are many independent instances where lungs are not inflated until adulthood, and so are functionally lost. Lung loss is typically associated with living
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Detailed description and observations of the tadpole of Amnirana albolabris (Anura: Ranidae) from southeastern Gabon Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-04-19 Joanna G Larson, Breda M Zimkus
ABSTRACT We provide an expanded description of the tadpole of Amnirana albolabris (Ranidae) that includes external linear morphometrics and colouration across a developmental series ranging from Gosner stages 26–42. This description is based on material collected in Batéké Plateau National Park in south-eastern Gabon. The diurnal tadpoles are strikingly bright orange in life, a colouration that provides
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A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, Third Edition Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-04-11 Bryan Maritz
Published in African Journal of Herpetology (Vol. 72, No. 1, 2023)
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Genetic diversity of the mantellid frog Blommersia blommersae, and description of a new anuran species from south-eastern Madagascar Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-03-13 Miguel Vences, Moritz Armerding, Jörn Köhler, Frank Glaw
ABSTRACT A range-wide assessment of genetic variation in one mitochondrial (16S rRNA) and one nuclear-encoded (Rag-1) gene fragment of the widespread Madagascar frog Blommersia blommersae revealed the presence of up to 12 deep genetic lineages. Many of these differed by genetic distances >3% in the 16S gene. In the Ranomafana area in the southern central east of Madagascar, two mitochondrial lineages
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Call repertoire of Ptychadena uzungwensis (Anura: Ptychadenidae) to complement molecular and morphological identification of the species from the Soutpansberg, South Africa. Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2023-03-03 Ferdi De Lange, Edward C Netherlands, Louis H Du Preez
ABSTRACT The identity of adults and tadpoles of Ptychadena uzungwensis from the Soutpansberg range in northern South Africa was confirmed using a combination of morphological characters and molecular analysis. Detailed vocalisation analysis was made and used to complement existing species identification methods. This study confirms the presence of P. uzungwensis in South Africa. Sound recordings obtained
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An inventory of amphibian roadkill in the western Soutpansberg, Limpopo province, South Africa Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-09-27 Thabo I Hlatshwayo, Eduard M Stam, Wendy J Collinson-Jonker, Abeda Dawood
ABSTRACT Increasing linear infrastructure development often impacts habitats and wildlife negatively. Roads, in particular, have numerous threats to wildlife with the most noticeable direct impact being roadkill, and this requires urgent conservation interventions. To assess amphibian roadkill, driven surveys were conducted on three regional roads around the western Soutpansberg in the Vhembe Biosphere
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Is it like night and day? Nocturnal versus diurnal perch use by dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion pumilum) Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-09-03 Krystal A Tolley
Arboreal chameleons must navigate a complex, three-dimensional landscape consisting of trees, bushes and/or grasses of various sizes. This complexity equates to the microhabitat of chameleons, that...
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Thermal physiology of Tropical House Geckos (Hemidactylus mabouia) in a cool temperate region of South Africa. Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-08-18 S Welman, I Ibarzabal
Temperature profoundly influences the functioning of ectotherms and understanding the thermal biology of invasive species affords valuable insights regarding the suitability of different habitats. ...
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Digging adaptations evolved independently in two lineages of Psammophiid snake: evidence from cranial morphology Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-07-20 Nick Sekits, Walter Tunnell-Wilson, Kate Jackson
ABSTRACT The Beaked Snakes (Rhamphiophis) are semi-fossorial snakes with reinforced snouts adapted for digging. The Skaapstekers (Psammophylax) are generalist terrestrial snakes. Both belong to the family, Psammophiidae. The Striped Beaked Snake (Kladirostratus acutus) was originally assigned to the genus Rhamphiophis, because of its beak-like snout. However, molecular evidence indicates that K. acutus
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New records and a notable observation of potentially predator-avoiding amplectic behaviour in Boophis erythrodactylus from Madagascar Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-04-14 Robin Kurian Abraham, Carl Richard Hutter
ABSTRACT The Red-fingered Bright-eyed Frog Boophis erythrodactylus is an endemic, range-restricted arboreal frog found only in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. We report new localities for this species, along with locality records for its sister species B. tasymena, including localities where they occur in sympatry, which has never been reported before. We also document evidence for the existence
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On the identity of west Saharan geckos of the Tarentola ephippiata complex (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae), with comments on an extreme case of syntopy with their close relative T. annularis Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-04-07 Thore Koppetsch, Wolfgang Böhme
ABSTRACT Tarentola geckos have a widespread geographic distribution and occur both in the Palearctic and Afrotropical realms, as well as the Neotropical region. Particularly, across North Africa phenotypically similar and cryptic species can be found, like the west Saharan members of the T. ephippiata complex. However, the taxonomic relationships and phylogeographic patterns of these geckos are not
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Thirty years of amphibian surveys in the Ukagurus Mountains of Tanzania reveal new species, yet others are in decline Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-03-17 H Christoph Liedtke, John V Lyakurwa, Lucinda P Lawson, Michele Menegon, Marina Garrido-Priego, Jean Mariaux, Wilirk Ngalason, Alan Channing, Nisha R Owen, Gabriela B Bittencourt-Silva, Mark Wilkinson, Joanna G Larson, Václav Gvoždík, Simon P Loader
ABSTRACT Records of biodiversity over time are important resources for assessing conservation priorities. However, such baseline data are missing for regions of key biodiversity importance. The Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania are known for their species richness and endemism, but not all mountain blocks have received the same attention. The Ukaguru Mountains, for example, have only infrequently been
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Tribute to a legend of southern African herpetology: Wulf Dietrich Haacke (1936–2021), with a bibliography of his herpetological contributions Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-03-07 Michael F Bates, Graham J Alexander, Aaron M Bauer
Abstract Windhoek-born Wulf Dietrich Haacke’s career as a herpetologist while associated with the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria spanned more than 50 years. He passed away on 30 June 2021 at the age of 84. This tribute summarises various aspects of his life and achievements, and their significance to African herpetology, including his involvement with the Herpetological Association of Africa. Wulf’s
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Convergence and vicariance: speciation of chameleons in the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa, and the description of three new species of Bradypodion Fitzinger, 1843 Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-03-03 Krystal A Tolley, Colin R Tilbury, Marius Burger
ABSTRACT The mechanisms that underpin ecological speciation, morphological convergence and the evolution of ecological morphotypes (ecomorphs) in squamates have allowed for a better appreciation of the speciation process in chameleons. In particular, attention has been drawn to several populations of chameleons (Sauria, Chamaeleonidae, Bradypodion) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa. Previous
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Shedding light on a threatened midwife toad: fine-scale niche modelling of the Moroccan endemic Alytes maurus (Pasteur and Bons 1962) Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-02-07 David Donaire-Barroso, Axel Hernandez, Daniel Escoriza
ABSTRACT Alytes maurus is one of the lesser-known amphibians of northwestern Africa. This small toad appears in several fragmented subpopulations in the mountainous systems of northern Morocco and it is threatened by deforestation and the pollution of streams. In this study, we evaluate, for the first time, the environmental factors (habitat and climate) that may influence its presence, by comparing
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Tropidosaura essexi Hewitt, 1927 (Reptilia: Lacertidae) is live bearing: the only viviparous African lacertid Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-02-06 Gary K Nicolau, Emily A Jackson, Adriaan Jordaan, Graham J Alexander
ABSTRACT Viviparity has evolved independently multiple times within squamate reptiles. In the Lacertidae, two genera and several species from the Northern Hemisphere are known to be viviparous. However, although viviparity is present in many African reptiles, all African lacertids were considered exclusively oviparous. The lacertid genus Tropidosaura is restricted to mountainous grassland habitats
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Mistaken identity: challenges with specimen identification for morphologically conservative skinks (Trachylepis) leads to taxonomic error Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-01-31 Kirstin Stephens, Graham J Alexander, Buyisile G Makhubo, Nicolas S Telford, Krystal A Tolley
It is commonly recognised that natural history datasets contain locality errors that can compromise the utility of those datasets. However, another source of error in these datasets is taxonomic mi...
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Out on a limb: female chameleons (Bradypodion pumilum) position themselves to minimise detection, whereas males maximise mating opportunity Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-01-25 Alexander D Rebelo, Res Altwegg, Eric M Katz, Krystal A Tolley
ABSTRACT Although reproductive strategies are poorly documented in chameleons, sperm storage has been confirmed among some species for which male reproductive success may be maximised by increasing the number of females inseminated and/or preventing subsequent female copulation with rival males. Behaviour, such as mate searching, may enable males to maximise the number of mating opportunities with
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Long-term field study of the behaviour of Xenopus laevis (Pipidae) in a small dam Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-01-24 Andreas Elepfandt, Alexander Gutsche, Werner J Fischer, Wera Leujak, Phillip J Bishop
ABSTRACT A study of the behaviour of Xenopus laevis in a small dam in South Africa was continued annually from 1992 until 1999. All individuals were tagged. The annual number of frogs varied between 22 and 109 by migration. The sex ratio remained balanced. Most subadults stayed for just one season, whereas half of the adults remained longer. Some individuals reappeared after one or more years of absence
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Fatal chytridiomycosis in the Moroccan midwife toad Alytes maurus and potential distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis across Morocco Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2022-01-17 Barbora Thumsová, David Donaire-Barroso, El Hassan El Mouden, Jaime Bosch
ABSTRACT Multiple threats, including emerging infectious diseases, are contributing to the extinction of amphibians worldwide. One of the most devastating diseases is the fatal amphibian skin disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The presence of Bd in North Africa was described in 2011 and this included the distribution range of the endemic Moroccan midwife
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Current-day distribution of the rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) in central South Africa and Lesotho: An evaluation based mainly on photographic and videographic records from social media Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-12-16 Michael F Bates, Cora S Stobie
ABSTRACT The rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) is a well-known venomous elapid found in greater South Africa and the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe. To evaluate its current-day (mostly 2012–2021) distribution in central South Africa and Lesotho, we examined various media sources, including Facebook, for photographic and videographic records. Records were posted or shared to a Facebook group Free State
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Bone-by-bone: A detailed skull description of the White-headed dwarf gecko Lygodactylus picturatus (Peters, 1870) Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-10-15 Javier Lobon-Rovira, Aaron Bauer
ABSTRACT The Lygodactylus genus is one of the most species-rich genera of gekkonid lizards in Africa. It is one of relatively few exclusively diurnal geckos’ lineages and its members include some of the smallest gekkonids. Osteological features within Lygodactylus have never been addressed in detail. We here provide a detailed bone-by-bone skull description of Lygodactylus picturatus to expand the
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Biodiversity hotspot revisited: reptile and amphibian assemblages of the Uluguru Mountain Forest Reserves, south-eastern Tanzania Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-10-15 Felix J Mkonyi
ABSTRACT Although the knowledge about the Tanzanian reptiles and amphibians has drastically increased in recent years, the knowledge on the amphibian and reptile fauna of the remaining forest reserves of the Uluguru Mountains (UMs) is only partially known. Amphibians and reptiles were studied in 17 forest reserves and sampled using diurnal and nocturnal time-constrained visual encounter surveys, acoustic
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A comparison of calcium and phosphorus in components of fertile and size-matched unbanded Nile crocodile eggs Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-10-11 GJ Brown, PBC Forbes, JG Myburgh, JO Nöthling
ABSTRACT Research in other species suggests that the source of embryonic calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) for Crocodylus niloticus is likely yolk and shell. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), the Ca and P concentration and content of 30 fertile eggs was determined within 10 days prior to anticipated hatching, and compared with those of size-matched unbanded eggs
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Distribution, ecology, and conservation of Philochortus zolii in Mauritania: implications for the long-term persistence of an endangered lizard Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-10-06 Marisa Naia, Andack S Sow, João Campos, Zeine El Abidine Sidatt, José C Brito
ABSTRACT Philochortus zolii is a globally endangered lizard known only from five localities scattered across North Africa. The population is thought to be decreasing, but there are almost no data about this Sahara-Sahel endemic lizard. Recently, a sixth population was found in Mauritania, at the coastal peripheral zone of the Diawling National Park, which constitutes a remarkable opportunity to gather
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A can of worms: Identification issues and morphological conservatism in a large sample of African Green and Bush Snakes (Colubridae: Philothamnus) from Minziro Forest, Tanzania Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-10-01 Tejs Gørgens Nielsen, Sofie Holdflod Nielsen, Peter Gravlund, David Moyer, Anders Galatius, Morten E Allentoft
ABSTRACT The African green snakes of the genus Philothamnus include c. 21 recognised species distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the species exhibit high morphological conservatism, exist sympatrically, and can have high population densities. This is presumably the reason why the number of species, their systematics, and taxonomy remain debated, and this may compromise the ability to conduct
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Ethnomedicinal use of pythons by traditional medicine practitioners in Ghana Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-10-01 Maxwell K Boakye, Edward D Wiafe, Meyir Y Ziekah
ABSTRACT The use of Python spp. for traditional medicine purposes has been recorded, but there is a dearth of information on the versatility of body parts used for the treatment of human ailments. This study aimed to determine the medicinal knowledge and level of agreement among traditional medicine practitioners in Ghana on the use of pythons for the treatment of human ailments. Ethnozoological data
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African Journal of Herpetology: Bibliography and taxonomic discoveries of the past ten years Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-09-01 Jens Reissig
ABSTRACT During the past ten years, the African Journal of Herpetology has published various papers regarding African Herpetology from all corners of the African continent. The journal is published twice per annum with an average of six articles per issue. Below is listed all publications, as well as taxonomic discoveries that appeared in the journal over the past decade.
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Fire associated exertion myopathy as a mechanism contributing to mortality in Chamaesaura macrolepis (Cope 1862) Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-07-09 PR Jordaan, JCA Steyl
ABSTRACT Following a fire event, an abnormally high number of Chamaesaura macrolepis (Cope 1862) road mortalities were observed on two sections of tar road south of Maputo Special Reserve, Maputo Province, Mozambique. Although most specimens were driven over by vehicles, three intact individuals were collected on the shoulder of the tarred road surface, without exhibiting any external signs of vehicular
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Species-specific or assemblage-wide decline? The case of Arthroleptides dutoiti Loveridge, 1935 and the amphibian assemblage of Mount Elgon, Kenya Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-05-13 Jacob M Ngwava, Christopher D Barratt, Elizabeth Boakes, Beryl A Bwong, Alan Channing, Olivia Couchman, Stefan Lötters, Patrick K Malonza, Vincent Muchai, Julius K Nguku, Joash Nyamache, Nisha Owen, Victor Wasonga, Simon P Loader
ABSTRACT The frog Arthroleptides dutoiti Loveridge, 1935 Loveridge A. 1935. Scientific results of an expedition to rain forest regions in East Africa 1. New reptiles and amphibians from East Africa. Bull Mus comp Zool Harvard, 79:1–19. [Google Scholar], endemic to Mount Elgon, East Africa was last collected in 1962 and has not been observed since. The species is regarded as Critically Endangered by
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Testing assertions of dietary specialisation: a case study of the diet of Aparallactus capensis Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-05-13 Bryan Maritz, Aadam Rawoot, Ryan van Huyssteen
ABSTRACT The lack of detailed natural history information required to precisely characterise the diets of many organisms often results in the use of generalised descriptions of those diets. These descriptions can become dogmatic, and should be challenged with novel observational data when those data become available. We tested the characterisation of cape centipede eaters (Aparallactus capensis) as
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A pilot study on the use of DNA metabarcoding for diet analysis in a montane amphibian population from North Africa Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-06-04 Ana Pereira, Mohamed Amine Samlali, Abderrahim S’Khifa, Tahar Slimani, D James Harris
ABSTRACT Although dietary studies are essential to design effective conservation strategies for amphibians, non-invasive studies using microscopy assessment of faecal material are known to have limitations. We assessed the use of DNA metabarcoding to determine diet in the Moroccan painted frog Discoglossus scovazzi. Nineteen families of insects were identified, and resolution of prey taxonomy to the
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Leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell, 1928) mortality caused by electrified fences in central South Africa and its impact on tortoise demography Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-01-25 Sharon Holt, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Beryl Wilson, Daryl Codron
ABSTRACT The leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is among the most ubiquitously distributed chelonian species in Africa. As with other chelonians, however, the species’ slow growth rate, coupled with low survivorship of juveniles, make it susceptible to declines under regimes of environmental perturbation. Here we studied the impact of electrified fences, a key source of mortality for many South
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Taxonomic revision of the Jita snakes (Lamprophiidae: Boaedon) from São Tomé and Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea), with the description of a new species Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2021-01-15 Luis MP Ceríaco, Ana Lisette Arellano, Robert C Jadin, Mariana P Marques, Diogo Parrinha, Jakob Hallermann
ABSTRACT The taxonomic status of the São Tomé and Príncipe islands ‘Cobras Jitas’, genus Boaedon, has been a subject of confusion. Historically, these island populations have been referred to as part of either the Boaedon fuliginosus species complex or Boaedon capensis species complex, two of the most taxonomically challenging groups of African snakes, or considered a distinct taxonomic entity, B.
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William Roy Branch: Bibliography, taxonomic discoveries and patronyms Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-08-31 Michael F Bates, Aaron M Bauer
ABSTRACT William Roy Branch (1946–2018) was the most prolific Africa-based herpetologist of his era. His 659 herpetological contributions, spanning 47 years, include field and photographic guides, taxonomic revisions, phylogenies, ecological studies, annotated checklists, conservation assessments, type catalogues, notes on natural history, geographical distribution and snakebite, book reviews, editorials
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A tribute to William Roy Branch (1946–2018): Doyen of African Herpetology Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-08-11 Michael F Bates, Aaron M Bauer
London-born William Roy Branch spent nearly 50 years working as a herpetologist while associated with Port Elizabeth Museum. Bill, as he was known, passed away at home in Port Elizabeth on 14 October 2018, at the age of 72, after battling motor neurone disease. This tribute summarises various aspects of his life, his achievements, and their significance to African herpetology, with special reference
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A tribute to William Roy Branch (1946–2018): Doyen of African Herpetology Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-08-11 Michael F Bates, Aaron M Bauer
ABSTRACT London-born William Roy Branch spent nearly 50 years working as a herpetologist while associated with Port Elizabeth Museum. Bill, as he was known, passed away at home in Port Elizabeth on 14 October 2018, at the age of 72, after battling motor neurone disease. This tribute summarises various aspects of his life, his achievements, and their significance to African herpetology, with special
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A dwarf among giants: phylogenetic position of the elusive Angolan Adder (Bitis heraldica) and biogeographic affinities of Angolan Afromontane regions Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-07-08 Luis MP Ceríaco, Krystal A Tolley, Mariana P Marques, Matthew P Heinicke, Aaron M Bauer
ABSTRACT The Angolan Adder, Bitis heraldica (Bocage, 1889), is endemic to the Angolan central plateau and is one of the most poorly known and rarely observed species of African snakes. The phylogenetic placement of B. heraldica within the four subgenera of the genus Bitis (Bitis, Macrocerastes, Calechidna, Keniabitis) has been problematic. The few recent taxonomic and phylogenetic revisions dealing
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Kissing cousins: a review of the African genus Limnophis Günther, 1865 (Colubridae: Natricinae), with the description of a new species from north-eastern Angola Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-07-08 Werner Conradie, V Deepak, Chad Keates, David J Gower
ABSTRACT The African natricine genus Limnophis is represented by two species: Limnophis bicolor Günther, 1865 and Limnophis bangweolicus (Mertens, 1936). They are stout-bodied, semi-aquatic snakes that mostly feed on fish and amphibians, and occur from Botswana and Namibia in the south throughout most of Zambia and Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the north. We gathered new material
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A review of the Angolan House snakes, genus Boaedon Duméril, Bibron and Duméril (1854) (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae), with description of three new species in the Boaedon fuliginosus (Boie, 1827) species complex Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-07-08 Jakob Hallermann, Luis MP Ceríaco, Andreas Schmitz, Raffael Ernst, Werner Conradie, Luke Verburgt, Mariana P Marques, Aaron M Bauer
ABSTRACT An integrative taxonomic review of the genus Boaedon in Angola is provided. A molecular phylogeny, based on 99 genetic samples for which the mitochondrial markers 16S rRNA have been sequenced, reveals 23 monophyletic species-level groups in Africa and indicates the presence of nine species in Angola. Based on both phylogenetic and morphological data, we revalidate and designate a neotype for
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Rediscovery, range extension, habitat and phylogenetic relation of the endemic Scaled Sandveld Lizard Nucras scalaris Laurent, 1964 (Sauria: Lacertidae) in the central Angolan plateau Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-07-08 Ninda L Baptista, Krystal A Tolley, Marc Bluhm, Manfred Finckh, William R Branch
ABSTRACT The Scaled Sandveld Lizard Nucras scalaris Laurent, 1964 is a poorly known lacertid endemic to north-eastern Angola and is only known from the type series collected more than half a century ago. The original description provided a comprehensive morphological description, but there was a lack of information regarding its evolutionary relationships and habitat associations. A recent discovery
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The reptiles of Tinhosa Grande islet (Gulf of Guinea): A taxonomic update and the role of Quaternary sea level fluctuations in their diversification Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-07-02 Luis MP Ceríaco, Justin Bernstein, Ana C Sousa, Mariana P Marques, Aaron M Bauer, Sietze J Norder
ABSTRACT The reptile fauna of Tinhosa Grande islet, Gulf of Guinea, comprises an endemic skink, Trachylepis adamastor, and an unidentified species of gecko of the genus Hemidactylus. Until recently, no molecular data were available for either species, impeding their phylogenetic placement. However, due to several synapomorphic characters, it was suggested that the Tinhosa Grande population would be
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Seasonal habitat utilisation and morphological characteristics of Chamaeleo dilepis on Telperion Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-07-02 Trevor L O’Donoghue, Kerry Slater, Leslie R Brown
ABSTRACT Limited information on the habitat utilisation and seasonal activity of flap-necked chameleons (Chamaeleo dilepis) is available. We investigated habitat utilisation, seasonal distribution, and sexual dimorphism of C. dilepis on Telperion Nature Reserve (a privately protected natural area) in South Africa. Seven broad plant habitat units were surveyed for one year, which included a wet and
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Systematics of Hyperolius mitchelli Loveridge, 1953 and Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Schiøtz, 1975 (Anura: Hyperoliidae) and assignment of populations from northern Tanzania Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-06-16 Beryl A Bwong, Christopher D Barratt, Simon P Loader, Joash O Nyamache, Michele Menegon, Patrick K Malonza, Peter Nagel, Lucinda P Lawson
ABSTRACT The taxonomic validity of the East African reed frogs Hyperolius mitchelli Loveridge, 1953 and Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Schiøtz, 1975 has been questioned in the literature, with the latter having been recognised as a distinct lineage, but also synonymised as a colour variant of H. mitchelli. The recent description of a new closely related congener from Mozambique, Hyperolius stictus (Conradie
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Disease driven extinction in the wild of the Kihansi spray toad, Nectophrynoides asperginis Afr. J. Herpetol. (IF 1.5) Pub Date : 2020-04-24 Ché Weldon, Alan Channing, Gerald Misinzo, Andrew A Cunningham
ABSTRACT The Kihansi spray toad, Nectophrynoides asperginis, became extinct in the wild despite population monitoring and conservation management of its habitat in the Kihansi gorge, Tanzania. Previous investigations have indicated human induced habitat modification, predators, pesticides and disease as possible causes of a rapid population decline and the species extirpation. Here, we systematically