Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872

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 : 94

Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872

Figure 23B

Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872: 28 . Type locality: “ Gabon ”.

Helicops marginatus Fischer, 1883: 11 . Type locality: “Süd-Amerika”.

Helicops lineofasciatus Sauvage, 1884: 203 . Type locality: “ Majumba ( Congo)”.

Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872 : Boulenger 1893: 281.

Distribution. This species ranges from Cameroon to Republic Democratic of the Congo. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Río Muni at Monte Alén National Park ( Lasso et al. 2002), including Monte Mitra ( Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) ( Map 26A ).

Comments. The genus Hydraethiops is sister to Heliophis ( Deepak et al. 2021).

Specimens examined. Forty specimens. Equatorial Guinea: without specific locality ( EBD 25131) . Río Muni: Miboman , December 1987 ( EBD 27728–27729 ) ; Miboman, 30 km from Bata , 14 October 1985 ( EBD 20962) , 14 October 1985 ( EBD 20967) ; Miboman (Km 27, road from Movo to Bata ), 15 November 1985 ( EBD 20963–20964 ) , 15 February 1986 ( EBD 20969) , 29 July 1985 ( EBD 22771) ; Miboman (road to Niefang ), 06 October 1985 ( EBD 20965–20966 ) , 29 March 1986 (EBD 20968, EBD 20970) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang ) ( EBD 24937– 24941 ) , 28 July 1987 ( EBD 27513, EBD 27554–27555 ) ; Miboman (Km 30, road to Niefang ), 01 February 1987 ( EBD 24942–24947 ) ; Miboman (road of Bata-Movo-Niefang), August 1987 ( EBD 27522–27529 ) ; Río Miong, Noayong, 23 km from Evinayong , 16 April 1987 ( EBD 24936) ; Mongomo , 16 April 1986 ( EBD 20961) ; Yengüe , 26 February 1988 ( EBD 27763–27764 ) ; province of Litoral (without specific locality) (EBD 27739).

Figures

FIGURE 23. From left to right: lateral, dorsal and ventral views of the head of: Grayia smythii (A) (EBD 31510), Hydraethiops melanogaster (B) (EBD 27739), and Natriciteres fuliginoides (C) (MNCN 23814). Photos: AS-V.

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