Monopeltis Smith, 1848

Marques, Mariana P., Ceríaco, Luis M. P., Blackburn, David C. & Bauer, Aaron M., 2018, Diversity and Distribution of the Amphibians and Terrestrial Reptiles of Angola Atlas of Historical and Bibliographic Records (1840 - 2017), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 65, pp. 1-501 : 207-211

Genus Monopeltis Smith, 1848

Monopeltis anchietae (Bocage, 1873) ANCHIETA’S WORM LIZARD

Lepidosternon (Phractogonus) Anchietae Bocage 1873a:247 , figs. 1–4. Holotype: MBL T46.525 (collector J.A. d’Anchieta) destroyed by fire 18 March 1978. Type locality: “Humbe, dans l’interieur de Mossamedes, près des bords de la rivière Cunene ” [= Humbe, near Cunene River], Cunene Province, Angola.

Monopeltis okavangensis Monard 1931:95 , fig. 5. Syntypes: MHNC 91.0614 - 15 , NMBA 13331 (collector A. Monard). Type locality: “ Vila da Ponte ” and “Kakindo” [= Cuvango and Caquindo], Huíla and Cuando Cubango provinces, Angola.

Monopeltis devisi ( Monard 1937b:69) . Holotype: MHNC 91.0620 (collector A. Monard). Type locality: “Mupa,” Cunene Province, Angola.

Monopeltis A nchietae: Bocage (1895a:28, 1897a:194).

Monopeltis anchietae : Loveridge (1941c:410), Frade (1963:252), Gans (1967:84, 1976:1, 2005:35), Broadley et al. (1976:377), Broadley (1997b:8), Branch (1998:124), Broadley and Measey (2010).

Monopeltis okavangensis : Monard (1937b:68).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern.

Global distribution: The species is known from Angola, Namibia (Caprivi Strip and Damaraland) and Botswana.

Ocurrences in Angola ( Map 158 ): The species occurs in the southern Angola, exclusive of the arid southwest. Huíla: “Kuvangu (= Vila da Ponte)” [-14.46667, 16.30000] ( Monard 1931:95, 1937b:69; Loveridge 1941c:410, 412; Gans 1967:84, 2005:35, Broadley et al. 1976:377, 381). Cunene: “Mupa” [-16.18333, 15.75000] ( Monard 1937b:69; Loveridge 1941c:410, 412; Gans 1967:84, 2005:35; Broadley et al. 1976:377, 381); “Humbe” [-16.68333, 14.90000] ( Bocage 1873a:247, 1895a:28, 1897a:194; Loveridge 1941c:410; Gans 1967:84, 2005:35; Broadley et al. 1976:377, 381; Broadley 1997b:8). Cuando Cubango: “Kakindo (= Caquindo)” [-15.45000, 17.05000] ( Monard 1931:95, 1937b:68; Loveridge 1941c:410, 412; Broadley et al. 1976:377, 381; Gans 2005:35).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

MHNC specimens of the nominal taxa described by Monard (1931, 1937), were originally without a formal catalogue numbering system and were listed as “LCFM (unnumbered) by Gans (2005) ” and earlier workers.

The synonyms Monopeltis okavangensis

Monard, 1931 and Monopeltis devisi Monard,

1937 are based on the most northernly records for the species ( Loveridge 1941 c, Broadley et al. 1976; Gans 2005). Monopeltis anchietae is sympatric with M. capensis Smith, 1848 at some localities in the western part of its range

(Broadley et al. 1976), and also with M. infuscata Broadley, 1997 at “Humbe” in Cunene

Province ( Broadley 1997b).

Monopeltis infuscata Broadley, 1997 INFUSCATE WEDGE-SNOUTED WORM LIZARD

Monopeltis infuscata Broadley 1997b:6 . Holotype: NMZB 6072 (collector W. Howells). Type locality: “Nottingham Estates, Beitbridge District , Zimbabwe.”

Monopeltis capensis : Bocage (1873b:216, 1895a:28), Loveridge (1941c:425), Gans (1967:85).

Monopeltis capensis capensis : Loveridge (1941c:425).

Monopeltis sphenorhynchus : Gans (1997:47).

Monopeltis capensis capensis (var. B): Broadley et al. (1976:388).

Monopeltis infuscata : Branch (1998:126), Gans (2005:36) .

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is known from southwestern Angola, south through Namibia to Northern Cape, southwestern to

Botswana.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 159): The species occurs in southern Angola adjacent to the Namibian border, exclusive of the arid southwest. Cunene: “Humbe” [-16.68333,

14.90000] ( Bocage 1873b:216, 1895a:28;

Loveridge 1941c:425; Gans 1967:86; Broadley et al. 1976:388; Broadley 1997b:8). Cuando

Cubango: “Tumbo (= Tumbole River)”

[-14.45462, 16.59369] (Broadley et al.

1976:388; Broadley 1997b:8). Undetermined

Locality: “Sturuba” (Broadley et al. 1976:388;

Broadley 1997b:8).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

Broadley et al. (1976) identified three allopatric forms of Monopeltis capensis capensis (A. Smith, 1848) that differed mainly in MAP 159. Distribution of Monopeltis infuscata in Angola.

some differences and tansferred the Angolan records to Group B (= var. B). Later, Broadley (1997b) described Monopeltis infuscata Broadley, 1997 allocating these specimens to the new taxon ( Gans 2005). Monopeltis infuscata is sympatric with Monopeltis anchietae Bocage, 1973 at “Humbe,” Cunene Province ( Broadley 1997b).

Monopeltis luandae Gans, 1976 LUANDA WORM LIZARD (Endemic)

Monopeltis luandae Gans 1976:3 , fig. 2. Holotype: AMNH 111338 (collector J.A. Quartau). Type locality: “on the ground in Luanda on the road toward the mouth of the Quanza River , Angola.”

Monopeltis luandae : Broadley et al. (1976:437),

Gans (2005:36).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not

Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is known from Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 160): The species is known from the type locality “ Luanda.” Luanda: “on the ground in Luanda on the road toward the mouth of the Quanza River ”

( Gans 1976:3, 2005:36; Broadley et al.

1976:437, 440); “ Luanda ” [-8.83333,

13.26667] ( Gans 1976:3, 2005:36; Broadley et al. 1976:437, 440); “Airport, Luanda ”

[-8.83333, 13.26667] ( Gans 1976:3, 2005:36;

Broadley et al. 1976:437, 440).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

This species is only known from the type MAP 160. Distribution of Monopeltis luandae in series. Angola .

Monopeltis perplexus Gans, 1976 WEDGE-SNOUTED WORM LIZARD (Endemic)

Monopeltis perplexus Gans 1976:6 , fig. 3. Holotype: AMNH 47732 (collector Vernay-Angola Expedition). Type locality: “Hanha or Capelongo,” Angola.

Monopeltis perplexus : Broadley et al. (1976:413), Gans (2005:37).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is known from southwestern Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola ( Map 161 ): The type locality is one of the two sites “Hanha” or “Capelongo.” Benguela: “Hanha” [-13.30000, 14.20000] ( Gans 1976:6, 2005:37; Broadley et al. 1976:413, 416). Huíla: “Capelongo” [-14.88333, 15.08333] ( Gans 1976:6, 2005:37; Broadley et al. 1976:413, 416).

Taxonomic and distributional notes: Monopeltis perplexus is only known from the type locality, which is one of two disparate sites (Broadley et al. 1976c; Gans 2005). This species is allopatric from all other forms, differing from Monopeltis capensis Smith, 1848 and Monopletis anchietae (Bocage, 1873) (Broadley et al. 1976) .

Monopeltis vanderysti de Witte, 1922 VANDERYST’S WORM LIZARD Monopeltis Vanderysti de Witte 1922:66 , pl. 1, figs. 1, 1a–c. Lectotype: MRAC 1872 (collector R.P. Vanderyst) designated by Gans (1967). Type locality: “Wombali, Leverville (dist. du Kwango); Lac Leopold II; Kasai” [ Democratic Republic of Congo], restricted to “Wombali (dist. Lac Leopold II), Zaire ” by Gans (1967:86-87).

Monopeltis vanderysti vilhenai Laurent 1954a:66 , figs. 16–18. Holotype: MRAC 17503 (formerly MD 5040 ) (collector A. Barros Machado). Type locality: “ Région de Dundo ” [= Dundo], Lunda Norte Province, Angola.

Monopeltis vanderysti vilhenai : Laurent (1964a:84), (Gans 1867:87).

Monopeltis vanderysti : Broadley et al. (1976:431), Gans (2005:38).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not

Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is known from south-central Democratic Republic of Congo into adjacent Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 162): The species is known from the far north of Angola.

Lunda Norte: “Dundo” [-7.36667, 20.83333]

( Laurent 1954a:66, 1964a:84; Gans 1967:87;

Broadley et al. 1976:437; Gans 2005:38).

Uíge: “Sanza Pombo” [-7.14833, 16.37422]

(Broadley et al. 1976:436; Gans 2005:38).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

According to Broadley et al. (1976) the description of Monopeltis vanderysti vilhenai by Laurent (1954a) contains various errors,

and the purported diagnostic characters do not differentiate it from the nominotypical form MAP 162. Distribution of Monopeltis vanderysti in ( Gans 2005). Angola.

Monopeltis welwitschii (Gray, 1865) WELWITSCH’S WORM LIZARD (Endemic) Dalophia Welwitschii Gray 1865a:455 , figs. 7–8. Syntypes: BMNH 1946.8.20.89–90 (formerly BMNH

64.7.13.34–35) (collector F. Welwitsch). Type locality: “ Angola; Pungo-Andongo ,” Malanje Province ,

Angola. Monopeltis Welwitschii : Gray (1865b:377), Bocage (1895a:29, 1897a:194). Monopeltis welwitschii : Loveridge (1941c:431), Frade (1963:252), Gans (1967:87, 2005:38). Dalophia Welwitschii : Broadley et al. (1976:376).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is known only from Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 163): The species is only known from the type locality

“Pungo-Andongo” but may extend to the south of the type locality and to other provinces (e.g.,

Kwanza Sul; Bié). Malanje: “Pungo-Andongo” [-9.66667, 15.58333] ( Gray 1865a:455,

1865b:377; Bocage 1895a:29, 1897a:194;

Loveridge 1941c:432; Gans 1967:87, 2005:38;

Broadley et al. 1976:376).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

This species description ( Gray, 1865a) published in the “Proceedings of the Zoological

Society of London” was reprinted ( Gray

1865b) in “Annals and Magazine of Natural

History” under the heading Proceedings of

Learned Societies, creating some subsequent confusion as to the correct citation of the paper. Broadley et al. (1976) noted that Angola

M

AP. 163. Distribution of Monopeltis welwitschii in Dalophia welwitschii Gray, 1865 was the species of the Dalophia group closest to Monopeltis . In fact, Dalophia welwitschii Gray, 1865 is the type species of the genus Dalophia , yet despite this Gans (2005) both recognized Dalophia as valid and listed this taxon under Monopeltis . This paradox appears to have been an oversight on the part of Gans (2005). Resolution through phylogenetic analysis has been hampered by the fact that M. welwitschii is known only from the type specimens. Should it actually belong in Monopeltis , the next available generic name for remaining Dalophia would be Tomuropeltis Laurent, 1947 (type species Monopeltis giganteus Peracca, 1903 ).

Figures

MAP 158. Distribution of Monopeltis anchietae in in Angola.

MAP 161. Distribution of Monopeltis perplexus in Angola.