Aparallactus modestus ( Günther, 1859 )

Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto, Calvo-Revuelta, Marta & Riva, Ignacio De La, 2022, Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea, Zootaxa 5202 (1), pp. 1-197 : 95-97

Aparallactus modestus ( Günther, 1859)

Figure 24A

Elapops modestus Günther, 1859: 161 . Type locality: “ West Africa ”.

Pariaspis plumbeatra Cope, 1860b: 242 . Type locality: “ Liberia ”.

Elapops (Calamaria) petersii Jan, 1862: 32 . Type locality: “ Costa d’ oro”.

Aparallactus peraffinis Werner, 1897: 404 . Type locality: “ Kamerun, Hinterland ”.

Aparallactus modestus ubangensis Boulenger, 1897b: 279 . Type locality: Zongo , Ubangi Rapids, Belgian Congo.

Aparallactus flavitorques Boulenger, 1901b: 11 . Type locality: “ Lubué , Kasai, Belgian Congo ” .

Aparallactus dolloi Werner 1902: 346 . Type locality: Banzyville , Ubangi River, Belgian Congo.

Aparallactus congicus Werner 1902: 346 . Type locality: Lingunda , Belgian Congo.

Aparallactus batesii Boulenger, 1907: 325 . Type locality: Kribi , French Cameroon.

Aparallactus christyi Boulenger, 1910: 512 . Type locality: Mabira Forest , Chagwe, Uganda.

Aparallactus nigrocollaris Chabanaud, 1916: 377 . Type locality: French Congo.

Aparallactus nigrocollaris roucheti Chabanaud, 1916: 378 . Type locality: French Congo.

Guyomarchia unicolor Angel, 1923: 348 . Type locality: French Congo (probably from near Sangha).

Aparallactus graueri Werner 1924: 42 . Type locality: “ Beni , Belgian Congo ”.

Distribution. This species is widespread across the forests from Guinea to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded from Río Muni at Monte Alén National Park ( Lasso et al. 2002) ( Map 26C ).

Comments. Two subspecies are currently recognized: A. modestus modestus and A. modestus ubangensis Boulenger, 1897 . The latter only occurs from Uganda to the Democatric Republic of the Congo. The morphological traits of the Equatoguinean specimens examined by us are congruent with the nominal subspecies (i.e., only the sixth upper labial in contact with the parietal).

Specimens examined. Thirteen specimens. Río Muni: Bata, 1987 ( EBD 27517) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang) ( EBD 24968) ; Miboman (road to Niefang), 29 July 1984 ( EBD 20944) ; Miboman (road Bata-MovoNiefang), August 1987 (EBD 27526, EBD 27538) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom , 01 August 1987 ( EBD 25030–25032 ) ; Miboman (Bata-Niefang) ( EBD 25033–25034 ) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom , 22 February 1988 ( EBD 27737) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom ( EBD 27532–27533 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 24. From left to right: lateral, dorsal and ventral views of the head of: Aparallactus modestus (A) (EBD 27538), Polemon collaris (B) (EBD 20943), and Polemon notatus (C) (in the EBD collection, without EBD number). Photos: AS-V.

MAPS 26 A–C. Distribution maps for Equatorial Guinean records of (A) Hydraethiops melanogaster; (B) Natriciteres fuliginoides; (C) Aparallactus modestus.