Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland

512 Pages·2015·30.48 MB·English

SURICATA 1
Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles
of South Africa, Lesotho and
Swaziland
Edited by
Michael F. Bates, William R. Branch,
Aaron M. Bauer, Marius Burger, Johan Marais,
Graham J. Alexander & Marienne S. de Villiers
Pretoria
2014
SURICATA
Suricata is the genus name of the suricate (meerkat), which is near-endemic to the arid western parts of southern Af-
rica (occurring in Namibia, South Africa and Botswana; and just entering into a very small area in the extreme south of
Angola). Behaviourally, suricates are socially inclusive and innately inquisitive, symbolising the commitment of South
African National Biodiversity Insitute (SANBI) to include all biodiversity and serve all of Africa, and the scientific curiosity
that precedes and drives research and publication of research results. Sister journal to SANBI’s Strelitizia, Suricata is a
peer-reviewed journal and publishes original and applied research such as monographs, revisions, checklists, Red Lists,
Atlases, and Faunas of any taxa belonging to Regnum Animalia (the Animal Kingdom).
Edited by
Michael F. Bates, William R. Branch, Aaron M. Bauer, Marius Burger, Johan Marais,
Graham J. Alexander & Marienne S. de Villiers
TECHNICAL EDITOR: Alicia Grobler
DESIGN & LAYOUT: Elizma Fouché
COVER DESIGN: Sandra Turck
FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Bryan Maritz
BACK COVER PHOTOGRAPHS (top to bottom): W.R. Branch (first two photographs), J. Marais, W.R. Branch,
M. Burger, S. Parusnath
2014 Edition 1, Impression 1
2014 Edition 1, Impression 2
Recommended citations:
Reference to book:
BATES, M.F., BRANCH, W.R., BAUER, A.M., BURGER, M., MARAIS, J., ALEXANDER, G.J. & DE VILLIERS, M.S.
(eds). 2014 (reprint 2014). Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata
1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
References to chapters, including family accounts:
BRANCH, W.R. & BAUER, A.M. 2014 (reprint 2014). Systematics and Phylogeny. In M.F. Bates, W.R. Branch, A.M.
Bauer, M. Burger, J. Marais, G.J. Alexander & M.S. de Villiers (eds), Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South
Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
References to species and subspecies accounts:
BOYCOTT, R.C. 2014 (reprint 2014). Pelomedusa subrufa (Bonnaterre, 1789). In M.F. Bates, W.R. Branch, A.M.
Bauer, M. Burger, J. Marais, G.J. Alexander & M.S. de Villiers (eds), Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South
Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
ISBN: 978-1-919976-84-6
Obtainable from: SANBI Bookshop, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
Tel.: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.sanbi.org
Printed by: Business Print, Tel.: + 27 12 843 7600, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.businessprint.co.za,
Address: P.O. Box 29942, Sunnyside, 0132 South Africa.
Copyright © 2014 by South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners.
The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of SANBI. The authors and publisher have made their best efforts to
prepare this book, and make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents
herein. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned and no responsibil-
ity is accepted by the publisher or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising from the contents of this publication.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the credits accurately comply with the information supplied by the authors.
SURICATA 1 (2014) iii
Contents
Author address list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Acknowledgements ............................................................... viii
Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiv
Foreword ...................................................................... xv
Message from SANBI .............................................................. xvi
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
SECTION 1. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1: Introduction .......................................................... 1
1. Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Organization of SARCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1 Initial buy-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2 Core funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.3 Project team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.4 Project governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.5 Authors and editors ....................................................... 2
2.6 Members of the public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3. Data ...................................................................... 3
3.1 Data referencing ......................................................... 3
3.2 Species inventory ........................................................ 3
3.3 Data sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.3.1 Field surveys ....................................................... 3
3.3.2 Virtual Museum ..................................................... 6
3.4 Database management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.4.1 Distribution database ................................................. 6
3.4.2 Conservation assessment database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.5 Data presentation ........................................................ 7
3.6 Data strengths and weaknesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.6.1 Geographical coverage ................................................ 9
3.6.2 Species coverage .................................................... 9
3.6.3 Other limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER 2: Systematics and Phylogeny. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1. Chelonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2. Crocodylia .................................................................. 11
3. Squamata .................................................................. 11
4. Sauria .................................................................... 12
4.1 Agamidae .............................................................. 12
4.2 Chamaeleonidae ......................................................... 13
4.3 Cordylidae ............................................................. 14
4.4 Gekkonidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.5 Gerrhosauridae .......................................................... 14
4.6 Amphisbaenidae ......................................................... 14
4.7 Lacertidae ............................................................. 15
4.8 Scincidae .............................................................. 15
4.9 Varanidae .............................................................. 16
5. Serpentes .................................................................. 16
5.1 Typhlopidae ............................................................ 16
5.2 Leptotyphlopidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.3 Pythonidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.4 Viperidae .............................................................. 17
5.5 Colubroidea ............................................................ 17
5.6 Lamprophiidae .......................................................... 17
5.6.1 Atractaspidiinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.6.2 Lamprophiinae ...................................................... 20
5.6.3 Psammophiinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.6.4 Pseudoxyrhophiinae .................................................. 20
5.7 Elapidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.8 Natricidae and Colubridae .................................................. 20
Concluding remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CHAPTER 3: Conservation status, diversity, endemism, hotspots and threats ...................... 22
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 22
1.1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
1.2 Background ............................................................ 22
iv SURICATA 1 (2014)
2. DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM .................................................... 24
2.1 Diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.2 Endemicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3. CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.1 Coverage .............................................................. 27
3.2 Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.3 Changes from previous assessments ........................................... 31
3.4 Most threatened taxonomic groups ............................................ 35
4. THREATS .................................................................. 37
4.1 Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation ...................................... 37
4.2 Pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.3 Human disturbance (tourism/recreation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.4 Harvesting ............................................................. 40
4.5 Accidental mortality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.6 Climate change .......................................................... 40
4.7 Invasive aliens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5. HOT SPOTS ................................................................ 42
5.1 Distribution of reptile diversity and endemism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5.1.1 Total reptile diversity .................................................. 43
5.1.2 Endemic reptile diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5.1.3 Chelonian diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.1.4 Lizard diversity ...................................................... 45
5.1.5 Snake diversity ...................................................... 45
5.2 Distribution of reptiles of conservation concern .................................... 46
5.2.1 Chelonians ........................................................ 47
5.2.2 Lizards ........................................................... 47
5.2.3 Snakes ........................................................... 48
6. CONCLUSIONS .............................................................. 48
6.1 Recommended conservation actions ........................................... 48
6.2 Conservation planning ..................................................... 49
6.3 Future conservation assessments .............................................. 49
7. CONCLUDING REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 2. FAMILY, SUBFAMILY, GENUS, SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES ACCOUNTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Introduction to accounts .......................................................... 51
Family accounts ............................................................ 51
Subfamily accounts .......................................................... 51
Genus accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Species/subspecies accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
CHAPTER 4: FAMILY PELOMEDUSIDAE .............................................. 53
Genus Pelomedusa Wagler, 1830—marsh terrapins ................................... 54
Genus Pelusios Wagler, 1830—hinged terrapins ...................................... 55
CHAPTER 5: FAMILY CHELONIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Genus Caretta Rafinesque, 1814—loggerhead turtles .................................. 59
Genus Chelonia Brongniart, 1800—green turtles ..................................... 61
Genus Eretmochelys Fitzinger, 1843—hawksbill turtles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Genus Lepidochelys Fitzinger, 1843—ridley turtles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
CHAPTER 6: FAMILY DERMOCHELYIDAE ............................................. 67
Genus Dermochelys Blainville, 1816—leatherback turtles ............................... 68
CHAPTER 7: FAMILY TESTUDINIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Genus Chersina Gray, 1831—angulate tortoises ...................................... 71
Genus Homopus Duméril & Bibron, 1835—dwarf tortoises (padlopers) ...................... 72
Genus Kinixys Bell, 1827—hinged-back tortoises ..................................... 76
Genus Psammobates Fitzinger, 1835—tent and geometric tortoises ........................ 80
Genus Stigmochelys Gray, 1873—leopard tortoises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
CHAPTER 8: FAMILY CROCODYLIDAE ............................................... 86
Genus Crocodylus Laurenti, 1768—true crocodiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
CHAPTER 9: FAMILY GEKKONIDAE ................................................. 89
Genus Afroedura Loveridge, 1944—African flat geckos ................................. 90
Genus Afrogecko Bauer, Good & Branch, 1997—African leaf-toed geckos .................... 100
Genus Chondrodactylus Peters, 1870—giant geckos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Genus Colopus Peters, 1869—ground geckos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Genus Cryptactites Bauer, Good & Branch, 1997—salt marsh geckos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Genus Goggia Bauer, Good & Branch, 1997—pygmy geckos ............................. 108
Genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817—tropical house geckos ............................... 114
Genus Homopholis Boulenger, 1885—velvet geckos ................................... 115
Genus Lygodactylus Gray, 1864—dwarf day geckos ................................... 117
Genus Pachydactylus Wiegmann, 1834—thick-toed geckos .............................. 125
SURICATA 1 (2014) v
Genus Phelsuma Gray, 1825—day geckos .......................................... 145
Genus Ptenopus Gray, 1865 [1866]—barking geckos .................................. 146
CHAPTER 10: FAMILY AMPHISBAENIDAE ............................................ 148
Genus Chirindia Boulenger, 1907—pink round-headed worm lizards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Genus Dalophia Gray, 1865—blunt-tailed worm lizards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Genus Monopeltis A. Smith, 1848—African shovel-snouted worm lizards .................... 152
Genus Zygaspis Cope, 1885—purple round-headed worm lizards .......................... 156
CHAPTER 11: FAMILY LACERTIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Genus Australolacerta Arnold, 1989—Southern rock lizards .............................. 159
Genus Heliobolus Fitzinger, 1843—bushveld lizards ................................... 160
Genus Ichnotropis Peters, 1854—rough-scaled sand lizards .............................. 161
Genus Meroles Gray, 1838—desert and savanna lizards ................................ 162
Genus Nucras Gray, 1838—sandveld lizards ........................................ 166
Genus Pedioplanis Fitzinger, 1843—sand lizards ..................................... 173
Genus Tropidosaura Fitzinger, 1826—mountain lizards ................................. 177
Genus Vhembelacerta Edwards, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, Measey, Tolley & Branch—Soutpansberg rock
lizards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
CHAPTER 12: FAMILY CORDYLIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Subfamily Cordylinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Genus Chamaesaura Schneider, 1801—grass lizards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Genus Cordylus Laurenti, 1768—girdled lizards ...................................... 186
Genus Hemicordylus Smith, 1838—cliff lizards ...................................... 194
Genus Karusasaurus Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011—karusa lizards .......... 196
Genus Namazonurus Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011—nama lizards .......... 197
Genus Ninurta Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011—blue-spotted lizards .......... 199
Genus Ouroborus Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011—armadillo lizards .......... 200
Genus Pseudocordylus A. Smith, 1838—crag lizards .................................. 201
Genus Smaug Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011—dragon lizards .............. 208
Subfamily Platysaurinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Genus Platysaurus A. Smith, 1844—flat lizards ...................................... 213
CHAPTER 13: FAMILY GERRHOSAURIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Genus Broadleysaurus Bates & Tolley, 2013—rough-scaled plated lizards .................... 225
Genus Cordylosaurus Gray, 1865 [1866]—dwarf plated lizards ........................... 226
Genus Gerrhosaurus Wiegmann, 1828—plated lizards ................................. 227
Genus Matobosaurus Bates & Tolley, 2013—giant plated lizards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Genus Tetradactylus Merrem, 1820—plated snake lizards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
CHAPTER 14: FAMILY SCINCIDAE .................................................. 237
Subfamily Acontinae ......................................................... 238
Genus Acontias Cuvier, 1816 [1817]—legless skinks .................................. 238
Genus Typhlosaurus Wiegmann, 1834—blind legless skinks ............................. 253
Subfamily Lygosominae ....................................................... 256
Genus Afroablepharus Greer, 1974—snake-eyed skinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Genus Cryptoblepharus Wiegmann, 1834—coral rag skinks .............................. 258
Genus Mochlus Günther, 1864—writhing skinks ...................................... 259
Genus Trachylepis Fitzinger, 1843—typical skinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Subfamily Scincinae .......................................................... 269
Genus Scelotes Fitzinger, 1826—dwarf burrowing skinks ............................... 269
CHAPTER 15: FAMILY VARANIDAE ................................................. 282
Genus Varanus Merrem, 1820—monitor lizards ...................................... 283
CHAPTER 16: FAMILY CHAMAELEONIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Genus Bradypodion Fitzinger, 1843—dwarf chameleons ................................ 286
Genus Chamaeleo Laurenti, 1768—typical chameleons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
CHAPTER 17: FAMILY AGAMIDAE .................................................. 302
Genus Agama Daudin, 1802—agamas ............................................ 303
Genus Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843—tree and rock agamas ............................ 308
CHAPTER 18: FAMILY TYPHLOPIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Genus Afrotyphlops Broadley & Wallach, 2009—African blind snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Genus Megatyphlops Broadley & Wallach, 2009—giant blind snakes ....................... 313
Genus Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843—Australasian blind snakes ........................ 315
Genus Rhinotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843—beaked blind snakes ............................. 316
CHAPTER 19: FAMILY LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Genus Leptotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843—typical thread snakes ............................. 319
Genus Myriopholis Hedges, Adalsteinsson & Branch, 2009—many-scaled thread snakes ......... 324
Genus Namibiana Hedges, Adalsteinsson & Branch, 2009—Namib thread snakes .............. 325
vi SURICATA 1 (2014)
CHAPTER 20: FAMILY PYTHONIDAE ................................................ 327
Genus Python Daudin, 1803—pythons ............................................ 328
CHAPTER 21: FAMILY VIPERIDAE .................................................. 329
Genus Bitis Gray, 1842—African adders ........................................... 330
Genus Causus Wagler, 1830—night adders ......................................... 340
CHAPTER 22: FAMILY LAMPROPHIIDAE ............................................. 342
Subfamily Atractaspidiinae ..................................................... 343
Genus Amblyodipsas Peters, 1857—purple-glossed snakes .............................. 343
Genus Aparallactus Smith, 1849—centipede-eaters ................................... 347
Genus Atractaspis Smith, 1849—stiletto snakes ...................................... 349
Genus Homoroselaps Jan, 1858—harlequin snakes ................................... 351
Genus Macrelaps Boulenger, 1896—KwaZulu-Natal black snakes ......................... 353
Genus Xenocalamus Günther, 1868—quill-snouted snakes .............................. 354
Subfamily Lamprophiinae ...................................................... 358
Genus Boaedon Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854—house snakes ......................... 358
Genus Gonionotophis Boulenger, 1893—file snakes ................................... 360
Genus Inyoka Branch & Kelly, 2010—Swazi rock snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Genus Lamprophis Fitzinger, 1843—dwarf house snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Genus Lycodonomorphus Fitzinger, 1843—water and ground snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Genus Lycophidion Fitzinger, 1843—wolf snakes ..................................... 369
Subfamily Psammophiinae ..................................................... 372
Genus Dipsina Jan, 1863—dwarf beaked snakes ..................................... 372
Genus Hemirhagerrhis Boettger, 1896—bark snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Genus Psammophis Boie, 1825—sand and grass snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Genus Psammophylax Fitzinger, 1843—African grass snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Genus Rhamphiophis Peters, 1854—beaked snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Subfamily Pseudoxyrhophiinae .................................................. 384
Genus Amplorhinus A. Smith, 1847—many-spotted snakes .............................. 384
Genus Duberria Fitzinger, 1826—slug-eaters ........................................ 385
Genus Montaspis Bourquin, 1991—cream-spotted mountain snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Subfamily Lamprophiidae: Incertae sedis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Genus Prosymna Gray, 1849—shovel-snouted snakes .................................. 388
Genus Pseudaspis Fitzinger, 1826—mole snakes ..................................... 392
CHAPTER 23: FAMILY ELAPIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Subfamily Elapinae .......................................................... 394
Genus Aspidelaps A. Smith, 1849—shield cobras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Genus Dendroaspis Schlegel, 1848—mambas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Genus Elapsoidea Bocage, 1866—garter snakes ...................................... 399
Genus Hemachatus Fleming, 1822—Rinkhals ....................................... 402
Genus Naja Laurenti, 1768—cobras .............................................. 403
Subfamily Hydrophiinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Genus Hydrophis Latreille, 1802—sea snakes ....................................... 407
CHAPTER 24: FAMILY COLUBRIDAE ................................................ 408
Genus Crotaphopeltis Fitzinger, 1843—herald snakes .................................. 409
Genus Dasypeltis Wagler, 1830—egg-eaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Genus Dipsadoboa Günther, 1858—cat-eyed tree snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Genus Dispholidus Duvernoy, 1832—Boomslang ..................................... 414
Genus Meizodon Fischer, 1856—African smooth snakes ................................ 415
Genus Philothamnus Smith, 1840—green snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
Genus Telescopus Wagler, 1830—tiger snakes ....................................... 420
Genus Thelotornis A. Smith, 1849—twig snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
CHAPTER 25: FAMILY NATRICIDAE ................................................. 424
Genus Natriciteres Loveridge, 1953—marsh snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
REFERENCE LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
APPENDIX 1: IUCN Red List definitions and Categories and Criteria ............................ 456
APPENDIX 2: Current and past conservation status of select reptile taxa assessed, including all taxa of con-
cervation concern .............................................................. 462
APPENDIX 3: Endemic and near-endemic reptile taxa in the Atlas region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 468
APPENDIX 4: Alien reptiles recorded in the wild in the Atlas region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
Index to scientific names ........................................................... 478
Index to common names ........................................................... 482