Boaedon cf. angolensis Bocage, 1895

Conradie, Werner, Bills, Roger & Branch, William R., 2016, The herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and lower Cuando river catchments of south-eastern Angola, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 126) 10 (2), pp. 6-36 : 22

Boaedon cf. angolensis Bocage, 1895

Angola House Snake

Material: PEM R 21846 (50).

Comment: This unusual pale yellow-green specimen ( Fig. 9g ) is referable to the Boaedon lineatus-fuliginosus complex. A specimen of similar coloration was photographed in the upper Cuito River (James Kydd: 13°09’05.0”S 18°28’50.0”E). Kelly et al. (2011) demonstrated complex cryptic diversity with numerous deep lineages in house snakes of the B. lineatus-fuliginosus complex. On morphology, Hughes (1997) referred specimens from East and South Africa to B. capensis Duméril and Bibron, 1854 , and this has been adopted in the most subsequent literature (see Uetz 2016). However, southern African specimens fall into a number of well-defined clades ( Kelly et al. 2011) that cannot all be accommodated under B. capensis . The name Boaedon lineatus var. angolensis Bocage, 1895 has not been considered for western populations. Laurent (1956) noted that populations from Angola to Katanga could be distinguished morphologically, but took no taxonomic action and the availability of Bocage’s angolensis was not discussed. Unfortunately, neither a type or type locality was nominated for the taxon, and Bocage’s material was also lost in the fire that destroyed the museum in Lisbon.

Figures

Fig. 9. Selective amphibians and reptiles from south-easternAngola.A. Ptychadena taeniocelis; B. Xenopus petersii; C. Ptychadena cf. grandisonae; D. Ichnotropis spp; E. Causus cf.rasmusseni; F.Causus cf.rasmusseni; G. Boaedon cf.angolensis; H. Trachylepis cf. spilogaster.