Published online at
http://zoonova.afriherp.org
by Afriherp Communications, Greenford, United Kingdom
Editors:
Prof Aurelio MaloValenzuela (Universidad de Alcala, Madrid, Spain) (Ecology)
Dr Andrew Whittington (FlyEvidence, Torbay, Devon, UK) (Entomology)
Lynn Raw (Afriherp Communications, Greenford, UK) (Herpetology)
(Managing and Production)
( prospective editorial board members or peer reviewers should e-mail submit(at)afriherp.org to register their interest.)
No.
Title
Author/s
Pages
Published Date
1
Redescription of the South African dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion nemorale Raw 1978 (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), and description of two new species — AbstractThis paper reexamines the taxonomic status of the dwarf-chameleon species, Bradypodion nemorale, which was described from the indigenous forests of Nkandla and Qudeni north of the Tugela Valley (Raw, 1978). Since that time additional populations have been found at Entumeni Forest, Dlinza Forest, Eshowe and Ongoye Forest. While these have all been regarded as a single species (Branch, 1988, 1998) this paper shows that there are actually three distinct taxa in this area. Bradypodion nemorale is therefore redescribed and diagnoses and descriptions are provided for the two new species, B. nkandlae n. sp. and B. caeruleogula n. sp.
Catalog of the Genus Varanus (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) with new designations of a neotype and a lectotype — AbstractMost of the descriptive taxonomy of the genus Varanus pre-dates the introduction of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) making the tracking of types a tedious effort. This catalog is an effort to fill a void in the taxonomy of the varanids by providing a list of the extant taxa, abbreviated synonymy, type specimens, type localities and relevant literature citations as far as is currently known. Type locality errors for several species are corrected. New lectotype and neotype specimens have been designated for V. salvator celebensis and V. kordensis respectively.
First Record of Reptilian Dracunculiasis from Southern Africa — AbstractThis paper reports on the first recorded case of a guinea-worm (Dracunculus sp.) infection in Southern Africa. This was in a wild caught specimen of Southern African Python (Python natalensis) from Swaziland (eSwatini). The symptoms and treatment are described as well as details of the larvae and adult nematodes.
A New Species of Scelotes (Sauria: Scincidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa — AbstractAn isolated new species of serpentiform dwarf burrowing skink closely related to Scelotes guentheri Boulenger 1887 and S. bourquini Broadley 1994, is described from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The current taxonomy of the genus in KwaZulu-Natal is considered. The relationship to these two related species as well as other species of Scelotes in the wider area is discussed.
A further case of foetal development of oviducal eggs in a South African Blind Snake, Afrotyphlops bibronii (A. Smith) (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) — AbstractThe development of full-term embryos within unlaid eggs retained in utero in the Typhlopid species Afrotyphlops bibronii (A. Smith, 1846) (formerly Typhlops bibronii) has previously been reported by Erasmus and Branch (1983) and subsequently in popular books. A further observation of fully developed embryos in the unlaid eggs of Afrotyphlops bibronii is reported. Some of the literature relating to Typhlopid reproduction is briefly reviewed. While some Typhlopid snakes are known to have short incubation times indicating foetal development in the unlaid eggs, the presence of full term juveniles in oviducal eggs of Typhlopids has only been reported in A. bibronii as mentioned above and in T. diardi Schlegel, 1839 (now Argyrophis diardii) as was first reported by Wall (1918).
Observations on Abnormalities in South African Reptiles — AbstractAbnormalities or aberrations in various reptiles are briefly discussed. Details and photographs are provided of some abnormalities observed in a few South African species. These include major differences in the body scales of a specimen of Pseudocordylus subviridis, deformed full-term foetuses of Causus rhombeatus and Boaedon capensis, minor differences in head scales in Dendroaspis angusticeps, Tropidosaura montana natalensis, Philothamnus occidentalis and Philothamnus semivariegatus, as well as colour mutations in Philothamnus spp. and other snakes.
On the Status of Scelotes bourquini Broadley and Scelotes guentheri Boulenger (Sauria: Scincidae) from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa — AbstractThe relationship between S. bourquini Broadley 1994 and the presumed extinct species Scelotes guentheri Boulenger 1887 from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is re-examined using data from the holotypes of both species as well as additional material of S. bourquini. Historical records provide a suggestion that the type locality of S. guentheri may be incorrect. The evidence presented indicates that S. guentheri is actually still extant and that S. bourquini is conspecific and a junior synonym.
An Approach to Small Animal Ecological Studies, and their Relevance to Reptile Husbandry — AbstractCare of captive reptiles, particularly wild-caught ones, is often unsatisfactory, especially with respect to cage environment and behaviour. Thorough understanding of each species’ biology, ecology and behaviour can do much to minimize health and welfare problems arising from inappropriate husbandry practices. An approach to ecological studies on small vertebrates is outlined and its relevance to reptile husbandry, tested over half a century of clinical practice, is illustrated through synopses of a field study and three clinical cases..
Two additional specimens of Naja (Boulengerina) nana (Serpentes: Elapidae) with notes on captive husbandry and behaviour — AbstractTwo additional specimens of the newly described species of water cobra Naja (Boulengerina) nana Collet & Trape, 2020, from Lac Mai-Ndombe in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo are described. Since both specimens are longer than any of the type series and both also exhibit some variation from the type series, this paper serves to draw attention to this variation while also providing additional information on the captive husbandry and biology of the species. Both specimens have unusual anal arrangements. The female also has unusual fusions of the 6th supralabials with the anterior and lower posterior temporals and only two rather than three supralabials in contact with the nasal. Observations on the husbandry, diet, reproduction and behaviour of captives are also provided..
Morphology and taxonomic notes on Oxycanus fuliginosa Rothschild from Western Papua, Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) — AbstractDetails of external and genitalic morphology are described and illustrated for three male specimens of Oxycanus fuliginosa (Rothschild, 1915), a central highland species of Western Papua, New Guinea. Distinguishing features are documented for the genitalia and comparisons are made with other related genera. The absence of subanal sclerites in this species is of potential phylogenetic interest, and the tergosternal sclerite shares features with other species of Oxycanus Walker, 1856, and most other Old World oxycanine Hepialidae.
New species of Eudalaca Viette, 1950 ghost moth from Karkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) — AbstractEudalaca cipollai sp. n. is described from a forest reserve in a Mistbelt forest of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The species is characterized by a dark brown forewing with several prominent white patches. These features are distinct from all other Eudalaca Viette, 1950 species. Inclusion of the species within Eudalaca is justified by the prominent expanded blade-like structure of the distal valva in the male genitalia that is characteristic of many Eudalaca species and absent from other southern African genera where genitalia are described. The monophyletic status of Eudalaca and other southern African genera is briefly reviewed. It is suggested that the male genitalia of the monobasic Leto Hübner, 1820 are most similar to that of Gorgopis Hübner, 1820, while the male genitalia of the monobasic Chilean genus Blanchardinella Nielsen, Robinson & Wagner, 2000 show greater structural similarity with Gorgopis and Eudalaca than other South American genera.
New species of Thitarodes Viette, 1968 ghost moth
from Kumaun Himalaya, India (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)
— AbstractA new species of Thitarodes Viette is described from the montane habitat of Balmiya in the western Himalaya of Uttarakhand, India. Genitalia are described and illustrated for male and female specimens. The species is distinctive for its sinuate-shaped valva of the male genitalia and this feature distinguishes it from all other Thitarodes species where the male genitalia is described and illustrated. The male and female genitalia also distinguish this species from the other five Thitarodes species recorded from the Himalaya. Based on current records for the harvesting of the Ophiocordyceps fungus that parasitises Thitarodes in this region, the moth appears to be widespread in alpine habitats of at least the eastern regions of Uttarakhand, which currently represents the western-most geographic limit for the distribution of Thitarodes. This short account details the first photographic evidence of death-feigning in a juvenile Naja mossambica Peters, 1854 (Naja (Afronaja) mossambica Peters, 1854) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, accompanied by figures displaying threat posture and death-feigning.
The First Photographic Evidence of Death-Feigning in Naja mossambica (Serpentes: Elapidae)
— AbstractThis short account details the first photographic evidence of death-feigning in a juvenile Naja mossambica Peters, 1854 (Naja (Afronaja) mossambica Peters, 1854) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, accompanied by figures displaying threat posture and death-feigning. Records of this behaviour in other species including photographs are considered and referenced.
The real world structure of biodiversity illustrated by the biogeography and systematics of some plants, lizards, birds, and dragonflies
— AbstractExamples are drawn from regional animal and plant distributions to show how distributions of taxa are spatially correlated with tectonic structures of the Earth. Spatial correlations of distributions with Earth's tectonics are illustrated for the Jurassic Lebombo-Mwenetzi monocline, the plate boundary between Indo-Australia and the Pacific, and the East Pacific Rise. These examples illustrate how biodiversity has a coherent spatial and phylogenetic structure that is not confined to the biological composition of organisms alone. This tectonic relationship is evidence for the global structure of biodiversity being directly derived from the geography of ancestral distributions in the Mesozoic, and shows how some distributional boundaries have remained geographically stable for tens of millions of years. The spatial and tectonic correlations show that biodiversity is phylogeny and biogeography that, together with their correlation with global tectonics, makes biodiversity an empirical evolutionary reality.
Taxonomic status of Thitarodes armoricanus (Oberthür, 1909)
of China (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)
— AbstractThe external genitalia of the female holotype of Thitarodes armoricanus (Oberthür, 1909) are illustrated and described for the first time. In addition, the genitalia of a male specimen attributed to this species are also described and illustrated. The lack of any or adequate illustrations of the female genitalia for most Thitarodes species precludes a comparative evaluation of the species represented by the holotype. The male genitalia of T. armoricanus show the presence of a strongly sclerotized basal spur on the valva that is characteristic of most Thitarodes species. On the basis of differences in forewing colour pattern we treat T. altissima (Daniel, 1940) stat. rest. as a distinct species. For clarification of Thitarodes’ taxonomy and systematics it is essential that detailed illustrations of male and female genitalia are published for all species to complement future morphological and molecular studies.
A new species of Endoclita C. & R. Felder, 1874 ghost moth from Karimganj District of Assam, India, with comments on the genus in northeastern India, and clarification of E. signifer (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)
— AbstractA new species, Endoclita makundae sp. nov., from the state of Assam, represents the first new species of Endoclita described for India in the last 60 years. The external female genitalia are illustrated and described. We suggest the species name E. signifer can be applied with confidence only to populations in Meghalaya and northern Bangladesh. Data on genitalic illustrations in the literature are provided for all Endoclita species from India. Conservation concerns for Endoclita and its forest habitats in northeastern India are discussed.
A new species of trapdoor spider of the genus Conothele Thorell, 1878 (Mygalomorphae: Halonoproctidae) from the Eastern Ghats, India
— AbstractA new species of Conothele Thorell, 1878 is described from the Eastern Ghats based on two male specimens collected from Kanger Valley National Park, Chhattisgarh. This is the second species of the genus from India to be described on the basis of male specimens. The new species is similar to Conothele oglaei Sanap, Pawar, Joglekar & Khandekar, 2022 from the Western Ghats but differs from that species in leg supination and in the number of labial cuspules.
Historical and Current Misuse of Gender Agreement
in the Names of South African Lizard Species — AbstractSome South African lizard species have been given the incorrect adjectival endings to their species names when transferring species from genera of one gender to that of another gender over the past 120 years. Three instances are discussed: the first uses an incorrect subsequent spelling of the species name (anguineus instead of anguinus) declined in the correct gender; the second (mirus) is currently used in the correct form while the third (caffer) is currently still using the original masculine gender although now combined with a generic name of another gender. Examples of the use of the adjectives afer, afra, afrum and caffer, caffra, caffrum in both botany and zoology are provided. It concludes that the correct spellings of these names should be amended to agree in gender with that of whatever genus they are currently assigned.
New species of Phassus Walker ghost moth from northeastern
Mexico and notes on its biogeographic significance (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) — AbstractA new species of Phassus Walker, Phassus zapalinamensis sp. n., is described from northeastern Mexico based on a single male and female from the Parque Ecoturístico El Chorro (Coahuila) and the Área Natural Protegida Estatal "Cerro La Mota"(Nuevo León), with supplementary geographic records from photos posted at inaturalist.org. Conspecificity of the specimens is supported by a 100% bootstrap in the COI gene. Adults, male and female genitalia and external appearance are illustrated. The forewing pattern is most similar to P. huebneri (Geyer, [1838]), a species known only from illustration of the female moth which probably represents several cryptic species in Mexico and Central America. A syntype female specimen of Phassus marcius Druce, 1892 and a syntype female of Phassus argentiferus Walker, 1856 are designated here as respective lectotypes. The new species extends the previously documented range of Phassus between Central America and the trans-Mexican Volcanic belt, to almost the Mexico-United States border. This is currently the northernmost limit known for any genus of Hepialidae with Central or South American affinities. We discuss the potential evolutionary significance of the distributional boundary with respect to the possible role of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Mojave-Sonora Megashear fault system and earlier magmatic arcs in northern Mexico.
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