Nucras Gray, 1838

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 : 221-222

Genus Nucras Gray, 1838

Nucras scalaris Laurent, 1964 SCALED SANDVELD LIZARD (Endemic)

Nucras scalaris Laurent 1964a:58 , fig. 17. Holotype: MD 5401 . Type locality: “Alto Chicapa,” Lunda Sul, Angola.

Nucras scalaris : Arnold (1989:21), Bischoff (1991:20), Richman and Böhm (2013).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Data Deficient

Global distribution: The species is endemic to Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 176): The species is only known from two localities in northeastern Angola. Lunda Sul: “Alto Cuilo” [-10.01667, 19.55000] ( Laurent 1964a:58; Richman and Böhm 2013); “Alto Chicapa” [-10.88333, 19.23333] ( Laurent 1964a:58; Richman and Böhm 2013).

Taxonomic and distributional notes: This is a poorly known species and further research is needed in order to assess its taxonomy, distribution and conservation status (Bichoff 1991; Richman and Böhm 2013). We recently examined the type specimens (holotype and three paratypes), which had not been seen by researchers since Laurent (1964a), owing to the inaccessibility of the Dundo MAP 176. Distribution of Nucras scalaris in Angola. collection .

Nucras aff. tessellata ( Smith, 1838) WESTERN SANDVELD LIZARD

L [acerta]. tesselata ( Smith 1838:92) . Lectotype: BM 1946.8.6.3 (formerly BMNH 65.5.4.40, along with paralectotype, now BMNH 1946.8.6.2) (collector A. Smith) designated by Broadley (1972:27). Type locality: “Eastern parts of the Cape Colony,” South Africa; “Districts on the western coast of Southern Africa, particulary Little Namqualand” fide Broadley (1972:27).

Nucras tessellata var. taeniolata : Bocage (1895a:30).

Nucras tessellata var. taeniolata : Boulenger (1910:474).

Nucras intertexta var. holubi : Boulenger (1917:208, 1920:20).

Nucras tessellata : Monard (1937b:73), Laurent (1964a:56).

Nucras ornata : Broadley (1965b:23).

Nucras tessellata : Broadley (1972:30).

Nucras tessellata : Arnold (1989:213), Edwards et al. (2013b:4), Bates et al. (2014:171), Ceríaco et al. (2016b:56).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not applicable (taxonomic status unclear).

Global distribution: The nominal species is distributed from the southwestern Western Cape Province in South Africa, through central Namibia and southwestern Botswana. The taxon occurring in Angola is certainly a different species.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 177): The species occcurs in the southwestern Angola, from the Namibe desert to the plateau at Caconda. Huíla: “Caconda” [-13.73333, 15.06667] ( Bocage 1895a:30; Broadley 1972:31); “Kapelongo” [-14.88333, 15.08333] ( Monard 1937b:73; Broadley 1972:31). Namibe: “Maconjo” [-15.01667, 13.20000] ( Bocage 1895a:30; Broadley 1972:31;

Ceríaco et al. 2016b:56); “ km 34 de lar oute de

Moçâmedes à Sá da Bandeira ” [-15.50000,

12.16667] ( Laurent 1964a:56; Broadley

1972:31; Ceríaco et al. 2016b:56). Cunene:

“ Donguena, Mossamedes” [-17.01667,

14.71667] ( Boulenger 1910:472, 1917:210,

1920:20; Broadley 1972:31).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

Bocage (1895a) recorded Nucras from

“Maconjo” and “Caconda” collected by Anchieta and identified them as belonging to N. taeniolata ( Smith, 1838) . Boulenger (1910) also allocated his specimens from “Dongoena”

(= Mossamedes fide Boulenger 1910) to this species, but subsequently ( Boulenger 1917,

1920) transferred them to N. holubi (Steindachner, 1882) . Broadley (1972) revised the

Nucras tessellata complex and recognised MAP 177. Distribution of Nucras aff. tessellata in Angola.

three subspecies: Nucras tessellata tessellata ,

Nucras tessellata livida (now a full species) and an unnamed subspecies of Nucras tessellata from Angola. Broadley also noted that the Angolan specimens were similar to N. taeniolata , but believed that more material was needed before the status of Angolan populations could be settled. Edwards et al. (2013b) confirmed the sister species relationship of N. tessellata to N. taeniolata , however, a detailed molecular investigation is still needed to resolve the position and status of Angolan Nucras , which may represent one or more new species (W.R. Branch, pers. comm., January 2017).