Acanthocercus branchi Wagner, Greenbaum and Bauer, 2012b: 22

Wagner, Philipp, Greenbaum, Eli, Bauer, Aaron M., Kusamba, Chifundera & Leaché, Adam D., 2018, Lifting the blue-headed veil - integrative taxonomy of the Acanthocercus atricollis species complex (Squamata: Agamidae), Journal of Natural History 52 (13 - 16), pp. 771-817 : 795-797

Acanthocercus branchi Wagner, Greenbaum and Bauer, 2012b: 22 , figs. 1–2a

( Figure 11 )

2012 Acanthocercus branchi Wagner, Greenbaum & Bauer, A new species of the Acanthocercus atricollis complex ( Squamata : Agamidae ) from Zambia. Salamandra 48: 21–30.

Holotype

ZFMK 88682 , from ‘dense Miombo woodland close to the ZAWA head office near Chipata’ , Zambia.

Description

A small to medium sized species with a total length up to 313 mm (SVL: 83–131 mm, x = 113.2 mm, n = 4), tail short, about 1.4 times longer than SVL (SVL/TL: 0.65–0.75 mm, x = 0.71 mm, n = 4). Head distinctly broad in males, as in other species of the genus. Ear openings about the same size as the eyes, with the tympanum visible. Occipital scale lacking, but a parietal shield including a pineal window present. Nostril pear-shaped, slightly convex and below the canthus rostralis. Vertebral crest indistinct. Scales arranged in 103–130 (x = 115.5, n = 4) rows around midbody, and 67–81 (x = 71.2, n = 4) longitudinal rows along the vertebrae. Matrix scales small, usually smooth and scattered with pale, enlarged and keeled scales. Enlarged scales not organized into clusters, but indistinct transverse rows between the limbs present. Vertebral scales keeled, with a higher density of enlarged scales than on the flanks, sometimes giving an impression of a margin between the vertebral area and flanks. Gular scales flat, smooth, juxtaposed and becoming smaller towards the gular fold. Ventral scales small and smooth, in 79–95 (x = 87.8, n = 4) longitudinal rows. Males usually with two continuous rows of 21–25 (x = 22.8, n = 4) precloacal pores; it is assumed these are lacking in females, as is typical for most agamids.

Distribution

In Zambia the species is known from localities within the Luangwa (Chipata) and Zambezi (Lusaka) valleys ( Figure 10 ) . In Lusaka, it is known from three localities: Great

30 = Chongoni Forest Reserve; 31 = Lilongwe; 32 = 30 miles NNW of Furancungo; 33 = Chifumbazi; 34 = Chikowa; 35 = Chipata; 36 = Katete; 37 = 30 km W of Katete; 38 = Petauke; 39 = Chakwenga River; 40 = 80 km E of Lusaka; 41 = Lusaka; 42 = Ruwa near Harare; 43 = Fern Valley; 44 = Mt. Sei, Melsetter; 45 = Mt. Silinda; 46 = Bulawayo; 47 = Rhodes Grave, Matobo Hills; 48 = Krueger National Park; 49 = Hoedspruit Airforce base; 50 = 7 km N of Chibuto; 51 = Gaborone; 52 = Gabane; 53 = Otse; 54 = 12 km N of Lydenberg; 55 = Gerlachshoop [Mission Station]; 56 = Loskopdam; 57 = Waterval Onder; 58 = Barberton; 59 = Louwscreek; 60 = Delagoa Bay (Maputo); 61 = Ponta do Ouro; 62 = Mkuze Game Reserve; 63 = Somkele; 64 = Empangeni; 65 = Durban; 66 = Umfolozi; 67 = Tugela Estates [Farm]; 68 = Rustenberg [Farm]; 69 = Lunda; 70 = Malange; 71 = Lydenburg (=Mashishing); 72 = Wonderboom, near Pretoria; 73 = Woodbush; 74 = Komatipoort.

East Road and Makishi Road, both within the town, and the Pioneer Camp about 25 km outside Lusaka on the road to Malawi. In Malawi it is recognized from Lilongwe and the Chongoni Forest Reserve, south-east of Lilongwe. Moreover, new records show its presence in Zimbabwe (Ruwa, near Harare; P. Wagner pers. observation) and the Rift Valley in south-eastern DRC (Manono, Katanga Province) where the species could be sympatric with other members of the A. atricollis group.

Habitat and ecology

This species is a tree dweller as is ‘typical’ for the atricollis complex. In Chipata it was collected in dense Miombo woodland with large trees and a structured canopy. In Lusaka it was captured on a solitary tree close to the Great East Road, near Manda Hill Shopping Mall. At both localities, small colonies were observed ( Wagner et al. 2012b).

Figures

Figure 10. Distribution of Acanthocercus atricollis, A. branchi and A. cyanocephalus. The numbers refer to the specific localities.

Figure 11. Holotype (ZFMK 88682) of Acanthocercus branchi, from Chipata, Zambia.