Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, Zoosystema 33 (3), pp. 325-360 : 338

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/z2011n3a4
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B7FC4E-C030-6E7C-FF2D-FC516B5FE200
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857
status

Treatment

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 40 specimens ( MRAC 29452 View Materials , MRAC 29460 View Materials and MRAC 29463 View Materials , Badou; MRAC 29561 View Materials , Fazao; MRAC 29731 View Materials , Edifou; MRAC 29743 View Materials , Atakpame; MRAC 73014.0017 View Materials , 73014.0062 View Materials - 63 View Materials , Notse; MRAC A7036.0008 View Materials - 09 View Materials , MRAC A7036.0022 View Materials , GHS-W 0056, GHS-Togo 14, GHS-Togo 90, Sodo Zion; MRAC A7036.0007 View Materials , GHS-W 0011, GHS-W 0037, GHS-W 0039, GHS-W 1001, GHS-W 1003-04, GHS-W 1184, GHS-W 1186, GHS-W 1201, GHS-W 1223-24, GHS-W 1299-1300, GHS-Togo 83, T 221 , Agave; GHS-W 0001, GHS-W 1237, GHS-W 1239, GHS-W 1241-1242, GHS-W 1248, GHS-W 1251, and GHS-W 1287, Yo [Agome Yo], T 192 , Alédjo) .

MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 420 to 2070 mm; 17-21 MSR, smooth and oblique; 210-223 Ven, smooth; 62-73 Sc, paired; anal single; 7-8 supralabials; 8-9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2-3 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 or 3.

DISTRIBUTION. — This species is more abundant in the forested area of the country (ER IV), although it is common in ER II, III and V and also present in ER I. Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 23) recorded this species from Missahohe and Bismarkburg (now Adele) and from the

Kete-Kratchi, now in Ghana. It was also mentioned from Togo by Broadley (1968), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1970), Harding & Welch (1980), Roman (1984), Rasmussen (1995a), Spawls & Branch (1995), David & Ineich (1999) and Leaché et al. (2006).

REMARK

This species presents two morphs in Togo, namely a “savannah morph” observed in Aledjo (T 192) area and a “forest morph” in ER IV. They differ by the dorsal yellow rings, which are more contrasting in specimens of the savannah morph.