Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Laurenti, 1768)

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 : 33

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Laurenti, 1768)

Material (eleven specimens): Six adult specimens (MHNCUP/RE P183–187, REP 190, formerly UP-MHNFCP- 040694, 040691, 040693, 017415, 040692 and 040695 respectively; Fig. S70 ), collected from N’Dalla Tando/ N’Dalla Tango/N’Dalla [=N’dalatando] [-9.30000º, 14.91667º, 782 m a.s.l.] Kwanza Norte Province, date unknown; one adult specimen (MHNCUP/REP 188), collected from unknown locality, date unknown; one adult specimen (MHNCUP/REP 189, formerly UP-MHNFCP-154857), collected from unknown locality, date unknown; three juvenile specimens (MHNCUP/REP 337–339), collected from unknown locality, date unknown.

Comments: Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia is a widespread species, occurring in various habitats of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of rainforest and arid regions; it can be found throughout Angola apart from the southwestern desert ( Marques et al. 2018; Engelbrecht et al. 2020). Ferreira (1904) cited as “ Leptodira hotamboeia ” adults from “the Quanza riverbanks and the Lagoon” and “Chingo”. From the second paper, Ferreira (1906) cited a large number of specimens (adults and juveniles), from “Cafuxi”, “Golungo Alto”, “Rio Luinha”, “Mésso Cassuco”, “Cambondo”, “N’Golla Bumba” and “Katála”. Although specimens MHNCUP/REP 183–187, REP 190 are all identified as originating from N’dalatando, it is possible that it was a transcription error and among those are some of Ferreira’s citations. The same way, specimens MHNCUP/REP 188–189, 337–339 might also comprise part of the author’s cited specimens. Through molecular analysis, Engelbrecht et al. (2020) recently confirmed the monophyly of C. hotamboeia . The authors also identified six different infraspecific clades from the analysis, with “clade 2” being restricted to the southern tip of the Republic of Congo extending to Angola.

Figures

FIGURE S70. Specimen of Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (MHNCUP/REP 187), from N’dalatando. Photo by Bruna Santos.