Mecistops leptorhynchus ( Bennett, 1835 )

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 : 17

Mecistops leptorhynchus ( Bennett, 1835)

Figure 6A

Crocodilus leptorhynchus Bennett, 1835: 129 . Type locality: “apud Fernando Po ” (near Bioko; no populations of this species are known in Bioko). Holotype likely originated from Central Africa and shipped to England (where the type is housed) via Bioko ( Shirley et al. 2018). Type locality corrected to Central Africa ( Shirley et al. 2018).

Mecistops leptorhynchus ( Bennett, 1835) : Shirley et al. 2018: 151 .

Distribution. It is widespread throughout Central Africa, from Gabon to Cameroon and the Central African Republic, eastward to Tanzania and Zambia. In Equatorial Guinea it occurs in Río Muni at Monte Alén National Park ( Lasso et al. 2002). Indirect signs of this species were also found in Monte Mitra at Monte Alén National Park ( Gonwouo & Nsang 2005); the only specimen examined by us is from coastal Río Muni ( Map 1A ).

Comments. Previously known as Mecistops cataphractus Cuvier, 1825 . Shirley et al. (2018) recognized two species within M. cataphractus . Consequently, they resurrected M. leptorhynchus as a valid species from Central Africa, whereas M. cataphractus remains restricted to western Africa. There are no known populations of this species in Bioko. Although reports of large-sized crocodilians on the beaches of Bioko have been mentioned ( Bocage 1895a), they were probably the result of accidental dispersal from the Central African mainland ( Mertens 1964a). Mecistops leptorhynchus is harvested as bush-meat for local consumption in Río Muni ( Figure 6A from Gabon) ( Fa et al. 2002). In 1964, during a visit to Río Muni, the zoologist J.A. Valverde noted its low abundance ( Valverde 2004).

Specimens examined. One specimen. Río Muni: Mbini, 1985 (EBD 25129).

Figures

MAPS 1 A–C. Distribution maps for Equatorial Guinean records of (A) Mecistops leptorhynchus; (B) Osteolaemus tetraspis; (C) Pelusios gabonensis.

FIGURE 6. A) Mecistops leptorhynchus (specimen photographed from Agouma River, Lambaréné, Gabon). Photo IDlR. B) Osteolaemus tetraspis (Lake Atoc, Monte Alén National Park). Photo: IDlR.