Published online at
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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.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: ZooNova will become an online only publication as from issue no. 5.
(Online only papers will not be organised under volumes but simply by number)
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There has been little demand for print copies and since this is not a print on demand publication when print stocks run out they will not be reprinted.
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