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— 5 . Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 9(2) [Special Section]: 39-55 (el10). The snakes of Niger Mean-Frangois Trape and Youssouph Mane lInstitut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD), UMR MIVEGEC, Lahoratoire de Paludologie el de Zoologie Medicate, B.P. 1386, Dakar, SENEGAL — Abstract. We present here the results of a study of 1,714 snakes from the Republic of Niger, West Africa, collected from 2004 to 2008 at 28 localities within the country. Based on this data, supplemented with additional museum specimens (23 selected specimens belonging to 10 species) and reliable literature reports, we present an annotated checklist of the 51 snake species known from Niger. Psammophis sudanensis is added to the snake fauna of Niger. Known localities for all species are presented and, where necessary, taxonomic and biogeographic issues discussed. Key words. Reptilia; Squamata; Ophidia; taxonomy; biogeography; species richness; venomous snakes; Niger Re- public; West Africa Citation: Trape J-F and Mane Y. 2015. The snakes of Niger. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 9(2) [Special Section]: 39-55 (el10). Copyright: ©2015 Trape and Mane. This is an open-access article distributed underthe terms ofthe Creative CommonsAttribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use for non-commercial and education purposes only, in any medium, provided the original author and the official and authorized publication sources are recognized and properly credited. The official and authorized publication credit sources, which will be duly enforced, are as follows: official journal title Amphibian & Reptile Conservation officialjournal website <amphibian- ; reptile-conservation.org> Received: 11 July 2015; Accepted: 25 November 2015; Published: 29 December 201 Introduction Roux-Esteve (1974), Hughes (1976, 1983, 1998), Hahn and Roux-Esteve (1979), Broadley (1984), Chirio and Few studies have been dedicated to the snake fauna of Ineich (1991), Hahn and Wallach (1998), Trape (2002), the Republic of Niger, the largest country ofWest Africa Broadley and Hughes (2000), Wtister and Broadley with 1,267,000 km2 between latitudes 11° and 24°N, and (2003), Trape and Mane (2006a, 2006b), Trape et al. longitudes 0° and 16°E (Fig. 1). The northern part of the (2006, 2009, 2012), Crochet et al. (2008), Chirio et al. country is Saharan (Fig. 2), the central and southeastern (2011), and Sindaco et al. (2013). parts Sahelian (Fig. 3-4), and the southcentral and southwestern parts Soudanian (Fig. 5). Elevation is low Materials and Methods m in most parts of the country, ranging from 200 to 700 m, the highest point reaching 2,022 m in Air Mountains, In January 2004 and February-March 2005, we deposited an area of special biogeographical interest in the Sahara cans or buckets halffilled with formaldehyde orethanol in — desert (Fig. 6). Several snake specimens collected during 22 villages in Niger. Cans or buckets one per village We various Saharan expeditions were reported by Pellegrin were housed by the chief of the village. asked the (1909), Angel (1932, 1936), Angel and Lhote (1938), villagers to deposit in these containers the snakes they Villiers (1950a, 1950b) and Joger (1981). The snake killed when they were occasionnaly encountered in A fauna of Air Mountains was investigated by Villiers the vicinity of their village. modest award (300 (1950a) and Kriska (2001). Important snake collections CFA, i.e., approximately 0.6 US $) was given for each — were made in southwestern Niger by Roman (1974, preserved specimen. In most parts of Niger as in most W — 1984), and in National Park by Chirio (2009). Snakes parts of Africa all species of snakes are feared and observed in the Termit Massif were reported by Ineich systematically killed when they are encountered. Thus, et al. (2014). These specimens and/or additional material the objective ofthe award was to acknowledge the effort from Niger were included in several revisions or regional of carrying killed snakes from surrounding fields to the studies, in particular by Papenfuss (1969), Leviton and village, this without encouraging snake search andkilling. Anderson (1970), Roman (1972, 1974, 1977, 1984), Visits to the villages were organized in February-March Correspondence. Email: '[email protected] [email protected] Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 39 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | Trape and Mane * jj*tf/ ^ a*V m, )// 23N * **9 4- ’ 1 f' \±r \/• A 22N y\LC#«*m RIA ii _/*'yy^(,A *1* | f*‘T,t1-r£/iZi' & / M‘ 1[ J/•*'/&\. Vd * * w k* ,4V“jiIVK/rB J *-i ' i- 21N < . J / - f. , r.t , 20N * v - - - 19N \ q J 8 24 :\s 1 ^ 18N ' • - X. 'Zf* • IVIAL 12 ' 4HP i 1 17N ER JIG * r* . _ 16N J fJgr 1 / 15N gI2Q 19 M Y k \D C:h> 14N 111n iWn’)jV) 23 ] i. v » 3 13 b 7 18 1511 J/ I 13N F * 26 12N N 6 |IG TIN 0 2E 4E 6E 8E 10E 12E 14E 16E Fig. 1. Map ofNiger with location ofcollection localities. See Table 1 for locality numbers. Colors for vegetation areas: Sudanian / Sahelo-Sudanian: green; Sahelian: light green; Saharan: yellow for sandy areas, white for stony areas, grey for rocky and mountain- ous areas. 2005, September-October 2005, and January 2008 to revisions of several genera (Trape et al. 2009, Trape et retrieve the specimens. During travels we also collected al. 2012) and further taxonomic analysis (Trape et al., snakes at six additional localities. The 28 collecting unpublished). Forrecent changes in snake generic names, localities (Table 1 and Fig. 1) were distributed either in we usually follow those adopted in the reptile database of the southern part of the country (ll052’N-14052’N: 21 Uetz and Hosek (http://www.reptile-database.org/). localities), where average annual rainfall ranges from mm 800 to 300 with a South-North gradient, or in the Results northern arid part of the country (15°06’N-19°07,N: 7 localities), including Air Mountains, where rains range We collected a total of 1,714 specimens and examined mm from 250 to less than 50 (Mahe et al. 2012). 23 selected additional specimens from IFAN (two speci- MNHN BEV Most specimens were deposited at the Institut de mens), (17 specimens), (one specimens) or Recherche pour le Developpement (Dakar, Senegal; Chirio’s private collection (three specimens). They be- — acronym: IRD), but some specimens including those of longed to 43 species. Eight additional species are known Rhagerhis moilensis used for comparison with the type with certainty from Niger but were not represented — series of Rhamphiophis maradiensis were donated among the specimens we examined. Museum to the national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France; acronym: MNHN). We also examinated selected Family Typhlopidae Gray, 1845 specimens from Niger from the Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire in Dakar (acronym: IFAN), the Afrotyphlops lineolatus (Jan, 1864) Laboratoire de Bioecologie des Vertebres in Montpellier Material: One specimen. MNHN (acronym: BEV), and Laurent Chirio private Locality: Tela (1). collection. Literature records: Gaya (Chirio 2009, in error). Specimens were identified to species according to Remark: Our Tela specimen, the first known from Niger, classical identification keys for West African snakes was quoted in error from Gaya by Chirio (2009). (Trape and Mane 2006b, Chippaux 2006), recent Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 40 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | The snakes of Niger Table 1 Collection localities of snakes in Niger (this study). *A: January 2004 - February 2005; B: March 2005 - October 2005; . C: November 2005 - January 2008; D: occasional encounters during travels. No of No of Sampling N° Locality Latitude Longitude Elevation Region specimens species period* m 1 Aborah 15°53’N 06°53’E 510 Central 3 2 B m 2 Ahole 13°33’N 04°01’E 225 South Central 150 9 A, B, C m 3 Baboul 13°42’N 08°35’E 454 South Central 62 8 A, B m 4 Chetimari 13°12’N 12°25’E 314 South East 60 6 A, B, C m 5 Cissia 13°52’N 10°25’E 390 South East 80 13 A, B, C 6 Gaya 11°52’N 03°26’E 170 m South West 1 1 D m 7 Goudoumaria 13°42’N lLll’E 348 South East 10 3 B m A 8 Gougaram 18°27’N 07’48’E 503 Air 1 1 m A 9 Iferouane 19°03’N 08°25’E 660 Air 1 1 m 10 Karosofoua 13°37’N 06°37’E 316 South Central 91 10 A, B, C m 11 Kelle 14°16’N 10°06’E 456 South East 9 9 B, C m A 12 Korri Solomi 17°37’N 07°40’E 467 Air 2 2 m 13 Kusa 13°42’N 09°34’E 406 South Central 19 8 A, B m 14 Malbaza 13°57’N 05°30’E 324 South Central 51 5 B, C m D 15 Maradi 13°47’N 07°26’N 411 South Central 1 1 16 Niamey (airport) 13°28’N 02°10’E 226 m South West 1 1 D m 17 Piliki 13°08’N 01°57’E 210 South West 159 15 B, C m 18 Saboulayi 13°30’N 07°50’E 440 South Central 70 8 A, B, C m 19 Saouna 15°07’N 05°42’E 401 Central 1 1 B m D 20 Simiri (vicinity) 14°02’N 02°05’E 244 South West 1 1 21 Taghmert (6 km N) 19°06’N 09°02’E 794 m Air 1 1 D m D 22 Tahoua 14°52’N 05°16’E 387 South Central 2 1 m 23 Tarka Dakouara 14°12’N 08°49’E 465 South Central 315 10 A, B, C m A 24 Tchintoulous 18°34’N 08°47’E 826 Air 1 1 m 25 Tekhe 14°01’N 06°01’E 323 South Central 209 11 B, C m 26 Tela 12°08’N 03°28’E 193 South Central 170 21 A, B, C m 27 Toundi Farkia 14°02’N 01°32’E 208 South West 20 5 B, C m 28 Tounga Yacouba 13°55’N 05°26’E 306 South Central 223 10 A, B, C Afrotyphlops punctatus (Leach, 1819) Myriopholis algeriensis (Jacquet, 1895) Material: One specimen. Material: One specimen. Locality: Bimi N’Konni (1, coll. MNHN). Locality: Agadez (1, coll. MNHN). Literature records: Birni N’Konni (Pellegrin 1909, Pa- Literature records: Agadez (Angel 1932, as Leptotyph- SW penfuss 1969, Roux-Esteve 1974); Niger (Roman lops macrorhynchus), Agadez (Angel and Lhote 1938, 1974: One specimen). Villiers 1950a, as Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus Air ); (Kriska 2001, as Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus Agadez ); Family Leptotyphlopidae Stejneger, 1892 (Trape 2002, as Leptotyphlops algeriensis). Myriopholis adleri (Hahn and Wallach, 1998) Myriopholis houeti (Chabanaud, 1917) Material: Two specimens. Material: Two specimens. Locality: Gaya (2, coll. Chirio). Locality: Kelle (1), Gaya (1, coll. Chirio). Literature records: Gaya (Chirio 2009). Literature records: Gaya (Chirio 2009). Remarks: Despite the rarity of records, this species now appears to occupy the whole sudano-sahelian belt from Myriopholis cairi (Dumeril and Bibron, 1844) Senegal to Chad but avoids the more sahelian areas Material: Eight specimens. contrary to Myriopholis houeti (Trape 2006b, Trape, in Locality: Bilma (8, coll. MNHN). preparation). Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 41 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | Trape and Mane Fig. 2. The Tenere desert nearAdrar Chiriet (19°17’N, 09°14’E). Literature records: Bilma (Angel 1936, Angel and Lhote Eryx muelleri Boulenger, 1892 1938, as Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus bilmaensis; Hahn Material: 104 specimens. and Roux-Esteve 1979, Hahn and Wallach 1998, Trape Localities: Aborach (1), Ahole (17), Baboul (2), Cheti- 2002, as Leptotyphlops cairi)\ Teouar (Villiers 1950a, mari (4), Cissia (2), Karosofoua (2), Kelle (1), Kusa (1), 1950b, as Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus bilmaensis). Maradi (1), Saboulayi (8), Tarka Dakouara (30), Tekhe Remarks: IFAN 47-4-38 from Teouar (Air Mountains) (9), Tela (17), Toundi Farkia (2), Tounga Yacouba (7). SW is apparently lost: we have been unable to find it in Da- Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: 27 speci- kar or Paris. However, data on this specimen provided by mens); Air (Kriska 2001); Alambare, Gaya, Gourgou, Villiers (1950b) exclude Myriopholis algeriensis, Myrio- Koure (Chirio 2009); Termit (Ineich et al. 2014). pholis boueti, Myriopholis adleri, and Myriopholis lan- zai, and fit well with Myriopholis cairi. Family Pythonidae Fitzinger, 1826 Tricheilostoma bicolor (Jan, 1860) Python regius (Shaw, 1802) Material: One specimen. Material: No specimen collected. Locality: Niamey Airport (1). Literature records: SW Niger (Roman 1974: Two speci- Literature records: Niamey, Tapoa (Hahn and Roux- mens); Alambare (Chirio 2009). Esteve 1979, Hahn and Wallach 1998, as Leptotyphlops bicolor)\ Gaya, Campement Nigercar (Chirio 2009). Python sebae (Gmelin, 1788) Material: No specimen collected. SW Family Boidae Gray, 1825 Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: Four speci- NW mens); 11 km of Niamey (Broadley 1984); Gaya, Eryx colubrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Mekrou-Direct (Chirio 2009). Material: Three specimens. Remarks: In Sahelo and Sahelo-Soudanian areas, this Localities: Cissia (1), Tarka Dakouara (2). species is associated with perennial rivers, lakes, and Literature records: Agadez, Tabello (Villiers 1950a, marshlands. None of our study villages was located near 1950b, Papenfuss 1969); Air (Kriska 2001). the Niger River (Fig. 7), Lake Chad or other perennial Remarks: In Niger this species was known from Air waters. km Mountains and Tamesna, i.e., 300 north of Tarka Dakouara and Cissia, but not from the southern part of Family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger, 1843 km the country. Since Cissia is only 60 from northeast- ern Nigeria and shares similar sahelian vegetation, our Subfamily Atractaspidinae Bourgeois, 1968 data suggest that this species may also reach this country where it has never been mentioned. Atractaspis micropholis Giinther, 1872 Material: 11 specimens. Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 42 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 I I I The snakes of Niger Fig. 3. Atypical view of the Sahel north ofNiamey (14°05’N, 01°42’E). Localities: Kusa (1), Maradi (1, coll. MNHN), Saboulayi Literature records: SW Niger (Roman 1974: Four speci- (9). mens); Gaya (Chirio 2009). Literature records: Kusa, Saboulayi, Maradi (Trape et al. 2006); Gaya (Chirio 2009). Gonionotophis grand (Gunther, 1863) Material: No specimen examined. Atractaspis watsoni Boulenger, 1908 Literature records: Gourgou (Chirio 2009). Material: 33 specimens. Localities: Bimi N’Konni (1, coll. MNHN), Chetimari Lycophidion semicinctum (Dumeril, Bibron and Du- (2), Cissia (1), Karosofoua (5), Malbaza (1), Piliki (6), meril, 1854) Saboulayi (1), Tekhe (16). Material: One specimen. Literature records: Birni N’Konni (Pellegrin 1909, as Locality: Tela (1). Atractaspis nigra (holotype), see Trape et al. 2006); Birni Literature records: Gayia (Chirio 2009). N’Konni (Laurent 1950, Papenfuss 1969, as Atractaspis SW microlepidota micropholis Niger (Roman 1974, Mehelya crossi (Boulenger, 1895) ); as Atractaspis microlepidota micropholis Karosofoua, Material: 11 specimens. ); Ader de Tahoua (Trape et al. 2006); Gourgou (Chirio Locality: Tela (11). 2009). Literature records: Gayia (Chirio 2009). Remarks: The Tela records were plotted on the grid map Subfamily Lamprophiinae Fitzinger, 1843 in Trape and Mane (2006b). Recently, Kelly et al. (2011) dumped several file snakes into the genus Gonionoto- Boaedonfuliginosus (Boie, 1827) phis. However, on the basis of dentition and osteology Material: 16 specimens. there appear to be several genera involved (D.G. Broad- Localities: Chetimari (1), Cissia (2), Karosofoua (1), Pi- ley, in litt.) and thus we prefer to provisionally keep all liki (2), Tekhe (8), Tela (2). the West African file snakes in the genus Mehelya. SW Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: Nine specimens); Alambare, Dagaraga, Tapoa (Chirio 2009). Subfamily Prosymininae Kelly, Barker, Villet and Broadley, 2009 Boaedon lineatus Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril, 1854 Material: Three specimens. Prosymna greigerti collaris (Sternfeld, 1908) Locality: Tela (3). Material: Five specimens. Localities: Piliki (2), Tela (2), Tounga Yacouba (1). Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 43 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | Trape and Mane Fig. 4. Field in the Sahel near Chetimari in southwestern Niger during the dry season (13°15’N, 12°28’E). SW Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974, as Prosymna Localities: Baboul (3 + 1 univittatus), Cissia (3), Gou- meleagris Two specimens); Alambare, Gaya, La Tapoa doumaria (6), Kelle (1), Kusa (1), Piliki (6 + 3 univit- : (Chirio 2009); Alambare, Koure, La Tapoa, Malbaza (in tatus), Tela (8). SW error), Piliki, Tounga Yacouba, Tela (Chirio et al. 2011). Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974); Gaya, La Tapoa (Chirio 2009). Subfamily Psammophiinae Dowling, 1967 Remarks: The satus of univittatus initially described from northern Cameroon is unclear. Hughes (circa 1998, Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia (Gunther, 1864) unpublished document) reports specimens from Mali, Material: One specimen. Niger (La Tapoa, Garin, Maradi, Soku), Nigeria, Camer- Locality: Maradi (1, coll. MNHN). oon, and Central African Republic). This taxon is char- Literature records: Maradi (Chirio and Ineich 1993, acterized by a single vertebral brown line, and lacking Broadley and Hughes 2000; picture of the Maradi speci- those usually present on the flanks in elegans. It appears men in Trape and Mane 2006b). sympatric with elegans in Niger and is also distributed in Burkina Faso where five specimens from Bam area Psammophis aegyptius Marx, 1958 (13°20’N, 01°30’W) of Roman’s collection are attribut- Material: Three specimens. able to univittatus (J.-L. Trape, unpublished). Molecular BEV Localities: Korri Solomi (1), Adrar Bous (1, coll.), studies are needed to clarify whether univittatus deserves MNHN Oued Er Roui (1, coll.). taxonomic recognition or is simply intraspecific varia- Literature records: Agadez (Villiers 1950a, 1950b, Pa- tion. penfuss 1969, as Psammophis schokari cliff ofTiguidit ); (Dragesco-Joffe 1993, as Psammophis schokari), Termit Psammophis lineatus (Dumeril, Bibron, and Dumeril, (Ineich et al. 2014). 1854) Remarks: It is unclear if P. schokari also occurs in Ni- Material: No specimen examined. SW ger (see Dragesco-Joffe 1993), but all specimens we ex- Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974, as Dromo- amined had the high number of ventrals of P. aegyptius phis lineatus: 23 specimens); Point triple (Chirio 2009). (Trape and Mane 2006b). Psammophis praeornatus (Schlegel, 1837) Psammophis elegans (Shaw, 1802) Material: Ten specimens. Psammophis elegans univittatus Perret, 1961 Localities: Cissia (5), Kelle (1), Malbaza (1), Piliki (1), Material: 32 specimens, including four univittatus. Tekhe(l), Tela (1). Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 44 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | The snakes of Niger W Fig. 5. View ofthe Sudan savannain NationalParkin southwesternNigerduring the dry season (12°25’N, 02°30’E). SW Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974, as Dromo- mentals and a typical head pattern, with a median yellow phispraeornatus 13 specimens); Gaya, La Tapoa (Chirio line starting from the back ofthe rostral and reaching the : 2009). front of the parietals, i.e., crossing the median part of the frontal contrary to P. sibilans. Psammophis sibilans (Linnaeus, 1758) Material: 622 specimens. Rhagerhis moilensis (Reuss, 1834) Localities: Ahole (52), Baboul (22), Chetimari (42), Material: 18 specimens. Cissia (50), Goudoumaria (3), Karosofoua (64), Kelle Localities: Ahole (4), Baboul (1), Chetimari (1), Cissia MNHN (1), Kusa (6), Malbaza (30), Piliki (28), Saboulayi (30), (6), Gari’n Bakwai (3, coll.), Kelle (1), Kusa (1), Saouna (1), Tarka Dakouara (100), Tekhe (80), Tela (20), Tarka Dakouara (3), Tounga Yacouba (1). Toundi Farkia (4), Tounga Yacouba (89). Literature records: Between Air and Adrar (Angel and Literature records: Azzel (Villiers 1950a, 1950b, Papen- Lhote 1938); Gari’n Bakwai (Chirio and Ineich 1991, SW fuss 1969); Niger (Roman 1974: 101 specimens); as Rhamphiophis maradiensis Termit (Dragesco-Joffe ); Alambare, Dagaraga, Gaya, Gourgou, Koure, La Tapoa, 1993); Air, Tamesna (Kriska 2001); Termit (Ineich et al. Moli Haoussa, campement Nigercar (Chirio 2009). 2014). Remarks: We attribute these specimens to P. sibilans Remarks: Chirio and Ineich (1991), when describing Rh- (type locality: Egypt) pending a comprehensive molecu- amphiophis maradiensis on the basis of three specimens lar study that incorporates specimens from the full range from Gari’n Bakwai near Maradi (Niger), unfortunately ofthe P sibilans complex. Such specimens are character- omitted to compare their new species with Rhagerhis We ized by five infralabials in contact with the first pair of moilensis. have examined the types ofRhamphiophis MNHN. We mentals, a divided anal, and a more-or-less striped dorsal maradiensis that are preserved in consider pattern, with at least a black and white chain on the scales the two species to be synonymous as they have the same of the vertebral line (this chain is occasionally absent in head shape, body color pattern, and meristic data. Ventral the Sahel, but always present in Sudan and Guinea sa- counts ranged from 166 to 172 in males and from 165 vanna areas). to 182 in females for our material from Niger. To facili- tate further comparisons, our material is now deposited Psammophis sudanensis Werner, 1919 in MNHN. Material: One specimen. Locality: Tarka Dakouara (1). Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus (Reinhardt, 1843) Remarks: First record for Niger. This species is charac- Material: 26 specimens. terized by four infralabials in contact with the first pair of Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 45 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | Trape and Mane Fig. 6. View ofAir Mountains in northern Niger (19°06’N, 08°54’E). Localities: Ahole (1), Karosofoua (1), Simiri (1), Tekhe Literature records: Ahole, Baboul, Karosofoua, Piliki, (5), Tela (3), Tounga Yacouba (15). Korri Solomi, Saboulayi, Tarka Dakouara (Trape and Literature records: SW Niger (Roman 1974: three speci- Mane 2006a); Gaya (Chirio 2009). mens); Dogondoutchi, Maradi, Sakabal, Gari’n Bakwai (Chirio and Ineich 1991). Lytorhynchus diadema (Dumeril, Bibron, and Dumeril, 1854) Family Colubridae Oppel, 1811 Material: No specimen examined. N Literature records: 39 miles of Tanout (Leviton and Subfamily Colubrinae Oppel, 1811 Anderson 1970). Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Laurenti, 1768) Meizodon coronatus (Schlegel, 1837) Material: 14 specimens. Material: Two specimens. Localities: Ahole (4), Piliki (1), Tarka Dakouara (1), Tela Localities: Karosofoua (1), Tela (1). (5), Tounga Yacouba (5). Literature records: Gaya (Chirio 2009). Literature records: Bebeye, Bimi N’Konni (Pellegrin Remark: The Tela specimen, the first known from Ni- 1909, as Leptodira hotamboeia); Birni N’Konni (Pa- ger, appeared in the distribution map of Trape and Mane SW penfuss 1969); Niger (Roman 1974: 34 specimens); (2006b). Alambare, La Tapoa, Mekrou-Direct, Point triple (Chirio 2009). Philothamnus irregularis (Leach, 1819) Material: Nine specimens. Dasypeltis gansi Trape and Mane, 2006 Locality: Tela (9). SW Material: Three specimens. Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: seven speci- Localities: Cissia (1), Piliki (1), Tela (1). mens); Gaya, Gourgou (Chirio 2009). Literature records: Cissia, Piliki, Tela (Trape and Mane 2006a); Alambare, Gaya, La Tapoa, Point triple (Chirio Philothamnus semivariegatus smithi Bocage, 1882 2009). Material: Four specimens. Locality: Tela (4). Dasypeltis sahelensis Trape and Mane, 2006 Remarks: Trape and Mane (2006b) attributed West Afri- Material: 70 specimens. can populations ofP. semivariegatus to a distinct subspe- — Localities: Ahole (2), Baboul (2), Cissia (3), Karosofoua cies “R semivariegatus ssp ” differing from the nomi- (4), Piliki (15), Korri Solomi (1), Saboulayi (1), Tarka nal subspecies by its dorsal coloration: almost uniformly Dakouara (31), Tekhe (1), Tela (5), Tounga Yacouba (5). green in West Africa, versus green with black crossbars Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 46 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 I I I The snakes of Niger Fig. 7. The Niger River nearAyorou in eastern Niger (14°42’N, 00°55’E). in southern, eastern, and central Africa. Trape and Balde Karosofoua, Saboulayi, Baboul, Kelle, Tondi Farkia (2014) revived smithi Bocage, 1882, for this subspecies. (Crochet et al. 2008); Gaya, Koure (Chirio 2009). Literature records: Gourgou (Chirio 2009). Remark: The Tela specimens, the first known from Ni- Subfamily Grayiinae Kelly, Barker and Villet, ger, appeared in the distribution map of Trape and Mane 2003 (2006b). Grayia smithi (Leach, 1818) Spalerosophis diadema cliffordi (Schlegel, 1837) Material: One specimen. Material: 86 specimens. Localities: Gaya (1). SW Localities: Ahole (18), Tchintoulous (1), Baboul (8), Cis- Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: 24 speci- sia (1), Karosofoua (3), Kelle (1), Kusa (3), Saboulayi mens). (7), Tarka Dakouara (33), Tekhe (5), Tounga Yacouba Remarks: No specimen was collected by Chirio (2009) in W (6). National Park, but Roman’s collection comprised 24 Literature records: Vicinity ofAgadez (Angel and Lhote specimens from southwestern Niger, most of them prob- 1938, as Coluber diadema)', Agadez, Tabello (Villiers ably collected along the Niger River or its perennial and 1950a, 1950b, as Coluber diadema Agadez, Tabello semi-perennial tributaries. ); SW (Papenfuss 1969); Niger (Roman 1974: 18 specimens); Air (Kriska 2001). Family Natricidae Boie, 1827 Telescopus tripolitanus (Werner, 1909) Natriciteres olivacea (Peters, 1854) Material: 73 specimens. Material: No specimen examined. Localities: Ahole (22), Baboul (1), Karosofoua (2), Kelle Literature records: southwestern Niger, without locality (1), Malbaza (5), Piliki (7), Saboulayi (1), Tarka Dak- (Roman 1984). ouara (5), Tekhe (18), Tela (2), Toundi Farkia (2), Toun- Remarks: Roman (1984) also reported Natriciteresfullg- ga Yacouba (7). inoides (Gunther, 1858) from Niger, but it was probably Literature records: Tahoua (Angel and Lhote 1938, Pa- a misidentified N. olivacea since he confused the two penfuss 1969, as Taborphis variegatus)', Agadez, Tabello species in Burkina Faso (see Trape 2005). The rare, con- (Villiers 1950a, 1950b, Papenfuss 1969, as Taborphis ob- firmed records of N. fuliginoides in West Africa are all tusus Niamey (Villiers 1951, Papenfuss 1969, as Tabor- located close to rainforest areas (Trape, in preparation). ); SW phis variegatus)', Agadez (Papenfuss 1969); Niger SW (Roman 1974, as Telescopus obtusus 19 specimens); Family Elapidae Boie, 1827 : Niger (Roman 1977: six mapped localities); Air (Kriska 2001, as Telescopus obtusus)', Agadez, Tabelot, Maradi, Elapsoidea semiannulata moebiusi (Werner, 1897) Piliki, Tela, Ahole, Tounga Yacouba, Malbaza, Tekhe, Material: One specimen. Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 47 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 | | | Trape and Mane SW Locality: Tela (1). Fiterature records: Niger (Roman 1974: six speci- Literature records: SW Niger (Roman 1974: one specimens); Dagaraga, Gaya, Fa Tapoa, Mod Haoussa (Chirio men); Gayia, La Tapoa (Chirio 2009). 2009). Naja haje (Linnaeus, 1758) Cerastes cerastes (Finnaeus, 1758) Material: Eight specimens. Material: Three specimens. Localities: Cissia (3), Tahoua (2), Tekhe (3). Focadty: Aborah (2), Iferouane (1). Literature records: Agadez (Villiers 1950a, Papenfuss Fiterature records: Dungas, Nguigmi (Pedegrin 1909, as SW 1969); Niger (Roman 1974: one specimen probably Cerastes cornutus)\ Agadez, Kaouar, Chirfa, Djado (An- attributable to Naja senegalensis)\ Air, Tamesna (Kriska gel and Fhote 1938); Agadez, Dabaga, Oued In Kakane 2001); Cissia, Tekhe, Tahoua, Zinder (Trape et al. 2009); near In Gad, Kori Tessouba (Villiers 1950a, Papenfuss Gayia (Chirio 2009). 1969); Agadez (Villiers 1950b); 120 km SE ofArlit (Jo- ger 1981); Air, Tamesna (Kriska 2001); Termit (Ineich et Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857 al. 2014). See also Trape and Mane (2006b) and Sindaco Material: No specimen examined. et al. (2013). SW Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: four speci- Remark: The Iferouane specimen had no “horns.” mens). Cerastes vipera (Finnaeus, 1758) Naja nigricollis Reinhardt, 1843 Material: One specimen. km N Material: 66 specimens. Focality: Six ofTaghmert (1). Localities: Goudoumaria (1), Kusa (4), Piliki (14), Tela Literature records: Erg of Bilma, erg of Tenere, cliff (39), Toundi Farkia (8). of Tiguidit, Termit (Dragesco-Joffe 1993); Air (Kriska SW Literature records: Niger (Roman 1974: 19 speci- 2001); Termit (Ineich et al. 2014). See also Trape and mens); Dagaraga, Gayia, La Tapoa, Moli Haoussa, Point Mane (2006b) and Sindaco et al. (2013). triple (Chirio 2009). Echis leucogaster Roman, 1972 & Naja nubiae Wtister Broadley, 2003 Material: 446 specimens. Material: Two specimens. Focalities: Ahole (29), Baboul (22), Chetimari (10), Locality: Irabellaben (2, coll. IFAN). Karosofoua (6), Kelle (1), Malbaza (14), Piliki (62), Sab- Fiterature records: Irabellaben (Villiers 1950a, 1950b, oulayi (13), Tarka Dakouara (110), Tekhe (64), Tela (19), Papenfuss 1969, as Naja nigricollis Wtister and Broad- Toundi Farkia (4), Tounga Yacouba (92). , ley 2003, Trape and Mane 2006b); Air (Kriska 2001, as Fiterature records: Tabello (Villiers 1950a, 1950b, as Naja nigricollis). Echis carinatus)', route de Dosso, Oualam, Boubon, Nia- W km km N km mey, five ofNiamey, 10 ofNiamey, 15 NW Naja senegalensis Trape, Chirio, and Wtister, 2009 of Niamey, 27 km S of Niamey, Tondikouare, Kou- Material: Three specimens. tere, Hamdallaye, Koure, Sarandobeni, Tagabati, Saguia, Focalities: Karosofoua (2), Tela (1). Tiourridi, Sargadji, Doulgou, Malgorou, Kolo, Sokorbe SW Fiterature records: Karosofoua, Tela (Trape et al. 2009); (Roman 1972); Niger (Roman 1974: 82 specimens); campement Nigercar (Chirio 2009). Boubon, Fido (Roman 1976); Agadez, Tabello, Boubon, Doulgou, Koure, Malgorou, Niamey, Sargadji, Tin Akof, Family Viperidae Oppel, 1811 Tiourdi (Hughes 1976); 10 km N of Dabnou, Dogon- Doutchi (Joger 1981); Gaya, Koure (Chirio 2009); Ter- Bitis arietans (Merrem, 1820) mit (Ineich et al. 2014). See also Trape and Mane (2006b) Material: Four specimens. and Sindaco et al. (2013, as Echispyramidum). Focalities: Cissia (2), Kusa (2). Fiterature records: Kimbouloua (Pellegrin 1909); Aga- Echis ocellatus Stemmier, 1970 dez, Azzel, Dabaga, Tassesset (Villiers 1950a, as Bitis la- Material: 25 specimens. chesis); Tassenet (Villiers 1950b, as Bitis lachesis); Tas- Focalities: Piliki (9), Tela (17). SW sesset (Papenfuss 1969), Niger (Roman 1974: four Fiterature records: Bebeye (Pedegrin 1909, as Echis car- SW specimens); Air (Kriska 2001); Gaya, Mekrou-Direct inatus Boubon, Gaya, Tiouridi (Roman 1972); Ni- ); (Chirio 2009). ger (Roman 1974: seven specimens); Boubon, Fido (Ro- man 1976); Bebeye, Boubon, Gaya, Tiouridi (Hughes Causus maculatus (Hallowell, 1842) 1976); Alambare, Gaya (Chirio 2009). Material: One specimen. Focadty: Piliki (1). Amphib. Reptile Conserv. 48 December 2015 Volume 9 Number 2 el10 I | |