Cyclanorbis elegans ( Gray, 1869 )

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 : 23

Cyclanorbis elegans ( Gray, 1869)

Baikiea elegans Gray, 1869: 222 . Type locality: “Africa”. Restricted by lectotype designation at “ Niger River drainage in west Africa” by Webb (1975).

Cyclanorbis elegans ( Gray, 1869) : Boulenger 1889: 272.

Cyclanorbis oligotylus Siebenrock, 1902: 465 . Type locality: “ Ägypten ”.

Distribution. It has a wide but patchy distribution and is currently known from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia ( Mazuch et al. 2016; Rhodin et al. 2017). The presence of this species in Equatorial Guinea has been overlooked ( Map 3A ).

Comments. The examined specimen (EBD 31388) stands out by its large size, exhibiting a carapace length of 51 cm. There are no previous records of this genus in Equatorial Guinea ( Mazuch et al. 2016; Rhodin et al. 2017). This newly recorded population of C. elegans in Río Campo (North of Río Muni) represents the southernmost record for the genus. The label of the examined specimen indicates that it contained in its stomach dates of nipa palm ( Nypa fruticans ) with unidentified crabs, snails, and mud.

Specimens examined. One specimen. Río Muni: Yengüe, Ntem River, 21 February 1988 ( EBD 31388) .

Figures

MAPS 3A–C. Distribution maps for Equatorial Guinean records of (A) Cyclanorbis elegans; (B) Trionyx triunguis; (C) Agama lebretoni.