Atheris cf. squamigera

Santos, Bruna S., Marques, Mariana P., Bauer, Aaron M. & Ceríaco, Luis M. P., 2021, Herpetological results of Francisco Newton’s Zoological Expedition to Angola (1903 – 1906): a taxonomic revision and new records of a forgotten collection, Zootaxa 5028 (1), pp. 1-80 : 28

Atheris cf. squamigera (Hallowell, “1854” 1855)

Material (two specimens): One adult specimen (MHNCUP/REP 318, formerly UP-MHNFCP-017432; Fig. S53 ), collected from Golungo Alto [-9.13333º, 14.76667º, 666 m a.s.l.] Kwanza Norte Province, date unknown; one adult specimen (MHNCUP/REP 319, formerly UP-MHNFCP-017413), collected from unknown locality, date unknown.

Comments: Atheris squamigera is endemic to West and Central Africa, with a distribution ranging from Nigeria to Kenya and from Tanzania to northern Angola (including the Cabinda enclave) ( Marques et al. 2018; Chippaux & Jackson 2019). The taxonomic status of other putative valid forms traditionally associated with A. squamigera , as Atheris anisolepis Mocquard, 1887 , Atheris laeviceps Boettger, 1887 or Atheris lucani Rochebrune 1885 , remains problematic (see Ceríaco et al. 2020c; Collet & Trape 2020; Spawls & Branch 2020). This is particularly relevant to the study of Angolan populations of Atheris cf. squamigera , as most of these forms were described from very close to the northern Angolan border, and the diagnostic characters of both are not clearly defined yet. A detailed morphological review of the group is currently underway (Ceríaco et al. unpublished data). Ferreira (1906) reported an adult specimen of “ Atheris squamiger ” from “Golungo Alto”, that upon analysis we find likely to match MHNCUP/REP 318, although the specimen had no locality attached. This species was first described from the type locality “near the river Gaboon, Guinea ” (Hallowell “1854” 1855). Marques et al. (2018) denoted the need for further study regarding this species, to assess whether it constitutes a species complex or is subject to geographical variation.

Figures

FIGURE S53. Specimen of Atheris cf. squamigera (MHNCUP/REP 318), from Golungo Alto. Photo by Bruna Santos.