Hapsidophrys smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837)

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 : 76

Hapsidophrys smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837)

Figure 18B

Dendrophis smaragdina Schlegel, 1837: 237 . Type locality: “Gold Coast”, Ghana.

Leptophis gracilis Hallowell, 1844 . Type locality: “ Liberia, W. Africa ”.

Leptophis smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837) : Hallowell 1854b: 100.

Hapsidophrys coeruleus Fischer, 1856: 111 . Type locality: none provided; but according to the general comments: “WestAfrika”.

Gastropyxis smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837) : Cope 1861b: 558.

Ahaetulla smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837) : Sclater 1891: 35.

Hapsidophrys smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837) : Boettger 1889: 279

Tropidophidion steini Werner, 1902: 335 . Type locality: “ Boké am Rio Nunez ”, Guinea.

Distribution. This species extends from Gambia to Uganda, and southward to northern Angola. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Bioko ( Boulenger 1894) at San Carlos and Natividad (Hacienda Natividad) ( Bocage 1895 a, 1903; Mertens 1964a) and in Río Muni at Cabo San Juan ( Boulenger 1905) and Monte Alén National Park ( Lasso et al. 2002), including Monte Mitra ( Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) ( Map 21A ).

Comments. One of the commonest snake species in Río Muni. The specimens erroneously recorded by Martínez y Sáez (1886) and Pérez del Val (2001) as H. lineatus (MNCN 20286–20289 and MNCN 20290–20293) are herein regarded as H. smaragdina .

Specimens examined. Thirty-seven specimens. Equatorial Guinea (without specific locality), July 1891 ( MNCN 23810 ) . Island of Elobey (2 specimens) and Río Muni, from Río Campo to Río Benito (2 specimens) ( MNCN 20286–20289 ) . Río Muni: without specific locality, likely part of the material examined by Boulenger (1905) from Cabo San Juan ( MNCN 22571 , 22572 , 22573–22575 ) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom , December 1987 ( EBD 27733) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacon (road from Bata to Ayamiken), August 1987 ( EBD 27531), 20 May 1987 ( EBD 24965), 03 February 1987 ( EBD 25013–25014 ) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom , 1990 (B9572, EBD 31502) ; Nvom (road from Aconibe to Asoc), 08 May 1987 ( EBD 24964) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang), March 1987 ( EBD 24966) ; Asonga, Bata , 08 April 1986 ( EBD 20785) ; Miboman (road to Bata, Km 29), 15 November 1986 ( EBD 20832) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang), 28 July 1987 ( EBD 27535) ; Mongomo , 16 April 1986 (EBD 20786, EBD 20788) ; Suguisa, Niefang , 29 November 1985 ( EBD 20787) ; Ayene to Niefang , 15 June 1986 ( EBD 20941) ; Bata ( EBD 23091) ; Colegio la Salle, Bata , 1967 ( EBD 2859 ) ; Ncoaebeñ (=Ncoeakieñ), 16 June 1984 ( EBD 18360) ; Niefang (road to Evinayong), 15 October 1984 ( EBD 18366) ; Road from Movó to Bata , Km 14, 13 June 1984 ( EBD 18371) ; Bata , Litoral ( MNCN 22570 ) . Bioko ( MNCN 20290–20293 ; MNCN 22568–22569 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 18. From left to right: lateral, dorsal and ventral views of the head of: Hapsidophrys lineatus (A) (MNCN 23815), Hapsidophrys smaragdina (B) (MNCN 22572), and Philothamnus carinatus (C) (EBD 25022). Photos: AS-V.

MAPS 21 A–C. Distribution maps for Equatorial Guinean records of (A) Hapsidophrys smaragdina; (B) Philothamnus carinatus; (C) Philothamnus girardi.