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Here we provide the first phylogenetic analysis that include Afrogecko ansorgii and a detailed morphological comparison with other species of leaf-toed geckos. For this purpose, we used two mitochondrial (16S, ND2) and four nuclear (RAG1, RAG2, CMOS, PDC) genes to produce a robust phylogenetic reconstruction. This allowed us to show that A. ansorgii is not related as previously believed to circum-Indian Ocean leaf-toed geckos and is rather more closely related to other Malagasy leaf-toed geckos. Additionally, we explore and compare osteological variation in A. ansorgii skulls through High Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography with previously published material. This allowed us to describe herein a new genus, Bauerius gen. nov., and additionally provide a detailed redescription of the species (including the first description of male material), supplementing the limited original description and type series, which consisted of only two females.

Angola has experienced an incredible increase of the knowledge of its herpetofauna over the past decade. However, accurate biodiversity inventories remain deficient for certain regions of particular conservation interest. We therefore provide an updated checklist of Iona National Park’s herpetofauna, with 75 recorded species, including five amphibians and 70 reptiles, 40 of these recorded for the first time in Iona National Park. These species comprise ~80% of the reptile diversity of Namibe Province. Therefore, this work recognises Iona National Park as the most reptile-diverse protected area in Angola and is potentially one of the richest in southern Africa. Consequently, this work enhances the importance of specific conservation plans in the area and the need for further investigation into the hidden biodiversity of this region.

We here describe a new species of feather-tailed leaf-toed gecko, Kolekanos, from southern Benguela Province, Angola, based on morphological and osteological evidence, supported by phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial data. The new species adds to the rapidly growing and newly-recognised endemic biodiversity of Angola, doubling the number of Kolekanos species, breaking the pattern observed within other closely-related African members of a clade of circum-Indian Ocean leaf-toed geckos – Ramigekko, Cryptactites and Afrogecko – all of which are presently monotypic. The new species is easily distinguished from K. plumicaudus, based on spine-like (as opposed to feather-like) scales on the margins of the original tail. Phylogenetic analyses also recovered the new taxon as monophyletic, with a well-supported sister relationship to K. plumicaudus, from which it differs by a substantial 24.1% NADH-dehydrogenase subunit 2 mitochondrial gene uncorrected p-distance.

Bauerius gen. nov. (Figs. 2–4) Type species. Phyllodactylus ansorgii Boulenger, 1907 Etymology. We name this new genus of gecko after Professor Aaron M. Bauer, renowned herpetologist at Villanova University (USA), in recognition of his large contributions to African herpetology, mainly to the biodiverse Gekkonidae group. The name is a conversion to the Latin nominative of the name “ Bauer ”. Definition. Bauerius gen. nov. is distinguished by the other leaf-toed geckos based on combinations of the following characters: moderate size (45 mm maximum SVL), with largely elongated head and body, and slender, rounded, semi-prehensile and non-ornamented tail. Well-ossified skull, elongated, oval (almost egg shaped), which displays no co-ossification with the overlying skin, and wider posterior snout region than postoccipital region. Parietal and fronto-parietal sutures well sealed. Frontal and nasal unpaired. Otostapes imperforate. Maxilla widely overlapping frontal, nasal, and prefrontal bones. Jugal bone reduced, almost vestigial. 14 scleral ossicles. 25–26 maxillary, 10–11 premaxillary and 31 dentary tooth loci. Surangular and compound bone fused. Splenial bone small and uniform, without alveolar foramen. 3 pairs of cervical ribs, 2 pairs of sternal ribs, and 3 pairs of uniform mesosternal ribs. Bauerius gen. nov. has 26 presacral vertebrae (paired Atlas, Axis, 5 cervical, 18 thoracic and 1 lumbar vertebrae) and one pair of well-developed cloacal bones. Digits are free and bear a single pair of dilated terminal adhesive pads (‘leaf toes’); the phalangeal formula is 2-3-4-5-3 (manus)/2-3-4-5-4 (pes); claws greatly reduced but present on all digits. Dorsal scalation consists of small and smooth granular scales, without tubercular scales. Males with 6–8 precloacal pores. One pair of postcloacal spurs. The eye bears a vertical pupil with crenate margins. Content. Bauerius ansorgii (Boulenger, 1907)

Schismaderma branchi sp. nov. (Figs. 6���10) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 5C42BEA8-4D3E-4659-9A16-B60C19012B7B Holotype. ZMB 91630, adult male, road between Mussolo and Dumba Cambango, 10��06���40������ S, 17��19���58������ E, elevation ~ 1100 m a.s.l., Malanje Province, Angola, small depression near road, 26September 2016, coll. Pedro Vaz Pinto. Paratypes. Female. PEM A14246, a few kilometres south of Mussolo on a road between Cangandala National Park and Luando Strict Reserve, 10��08���56������ S, 17��21���00������ E, elevation ~ 1100 m a.s.l., Malanje Province, Angola, small pond near road, 27 October 2015, coll. Pedro Vaz Pinto (Fig. 7). Males. CHL 0338, road between Mussolo and Dumba Cambango, 10��08���51������ S, 17��20���59������ E, elevation ~ 1100 m a.s.l., Malanje Province, Angola, small pond near road, 26 September 2016, coll. Pedro Vaz Pinto; ZMB 91628, road between Mussolo and Dumba Cambango, 10��08���51������ S, 17��20���59������ E, elevation ~ 1100 m a.s.l., Malanje Province, Angola, small pond near road, 26September 2016, coll. Pedro Vaz Pinto; ZMB 91629, road between Mussolo and Dumba Cambango, 10��08���51������ S, 17��20���59������ E, elevation ~ 1100 m a.s.l., Malanje Province, Angola, small pond near road, 26 September 2016, coll. Pedro Vaz Pinto. Additional material. Tadpoles. PEM A14307, road between Mussolo and Dumba Cambango, 10��06���08������ S, 17��19���50������ E, elevation ~ 1100 m a.s.l., Malanje Province, Angola, pond near the road, 17 November 2017, coll. Pedro Vaz Pinto (Fig. 9). Etymology. This new species is named after William Roy (Bill) Branch (1946���2018) as a tribute to this inspiring and passionate scientist, in recognition of his crucial role in African herpetology. He correctly suggested from an early stage that we were dealing with an undescribed Angolan Schismaderma, and strongly encouraged the collection of additional material and the investigative work leading to the current paper. Bill tragically passed away in October 2018, but his efforts and dedication during the last few years of his career had a major impact on the renascence of Angolan herpetology. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations. The species epithet is used as an invariable noun in apposition to the generic name. We suggest Angolan Red Toad and Sapo-vermelho de Angola as English and Portuguese common names, respectively. Diagnosis. The molecular results confirm that the new species is a member of the family Bufonidae and the genus Schismaderma. This is also shown by the presence of granular ventral skin, pupil horizontally elongated in bright light, a conspicuous tarsal fold, inner metatarsal tubercle small and not flanged, no adhesive terminal discs on fingers and toes, and no hard claws on toes on adults (Du Preez & Carruthers 2017). The genus Schismaderma is characterized by moderate-size, presence of external tympanum and tarsal fold, absence of externally visible parotoid glands, a prominent glandular fold running from above the tympanum laterally to near the groin and demarcating dorsal and ventral surfaces, dorsal skin granular, with reddish colouration and flat warts, ventral colouration white with bold black reticulations. This combination of features distinguishes Schismaderma from all other southern African bufonid genera and all other toad species in Angola. The back is usually uniformly coloured, sometimes carrying a pair of mid-dorsal dark blotches. The venter is heavily mottled in black, the gular region in males suffused with dark grey. The soles of hand and feet are black, with white single subarticular tubercles. The tympanum is clearly discernible, very large and rounded, the horizontal diameter larger than distance between eye and nostril. The tadpoles are also characteristic of Schismaderma, with a horse-shoe shaped fold of vascularised skin on the back (Channing et al. 2012; Viertel & Channing 2017). Schismaderma branchi sp. nov. can be distinguished from the only other congener, S. carens, by its smaller size; ventral skin of hind limbs, belly, chest and throat heavily mottled in black (Figs. 6B, 7B) (lightly speckled or immaculate in S. carens); fewer and smoother tubercles on the palm of hands and sole of feet (Fig. 8E���H) (prominent, well-developed, and more numerous in S. carens); and larger inner metatarsal tubercle in relation to shortest toe. Males of S. branchi sp. nov. have shorter NL, TLB, TE, UEW, TypH and IMT, and longer EL, ED, TypW and FTL than males of S. carens. Description of the holotype. ZMB 91630 (Fig. 6) is a moderate-sized adult male (SUL 66.7 mm, with robust limbs (Fig. 6). Head triangular, longer than wide (24.9 mm x 23.4 mm); short snout (8.1 mm), projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; rostral tip slightly rounded in dorsal, ventral and lateral views. Loreal region concave, canthus rostralis rounded. Internarial region flat, small nostrils, directed dorsolaterally, much closer to the snout tip than to eyes. Tympanum and tympanic annulus clearly discernible. Tympanum diameter (6.9 mm) approximately 1.1 times eye diameter (6.1 mm). Eye diameter approximately 1.3 times eye-nostril distance (4.7 mm); eye diameter 0.6 times interorbital distance (10 mm). Interorbital distance approximately 2.8 times internarial distance (3.6 mm). Upper eyelid width 5.3 mm. Prominent eyes; not projecting laterally out of margin of head in dorsal view, projecting about 50% above margin of head in lateral view, not visible ventrally. Eye pupil ellipsoid oriented horizontally. Well-developed limbs and digits. Thigh length 25.9 mm. Crus (tibiofibula) length 24.0 mm. Foot length 22.9 mm. First toe length 5.2 mm. Hand length 14.7 mm. Forearm length 14.9 mm. Tarsal fold present. No webbing on hands. Fingers with no terminal bulbs or discs. Nuptial pads on fingers absent. Relative length of fingers IV>III>I>II. Fingers and toes with rounded tips, and rounded, not very prominent single subarticular tubercles. A small round thenar tubercle and a large flat palmar tubercle on right hand (Fig. 6D). Relative length of toes IV>III=V>II>I. Three phalanges of toe IV free of webbing; a well-developed margin of web reaching distal phalanges. Toes with small and single subarticular tubercles. Prominent oval inner metatarsal tubercle (2.8 x 1.9 mm), more than half the size of shortest toe, and around two times the size of outer metatarsal tubercle (1.7 x 1.3 mm) (Fig. 8H). Both feet have an oval abrasion of the skin on the heel, between the inner and outer metatarsal tubercles (Fig. 6B,E). Dorsal granular skin with flat warts and with numerous, prominent conical asperities (Fig. 6A) with a pale edge and a very small dark tip, only visible with magnifying glass. Parotoid glands absent or not visible externally. Lateral glandular ridge extending from above tympanum to near leg insertion. Skin of ventral surfaces and flanks granular (Fig. 6A���B). Colouration: After four years preserved in formalin, dorsal ground colour greyish-brown; plain dorsum with no markings; small darker blotches in fore and hind limbs. Lateral ridge paler dorsally and darker ventrally, flanks greyish-brown, darker than dorsum, mottled in black (Fig. 6A). Tympanum with colour similar to dorsum, centre of tympanum with a paler blotch. Dorsal snout similar in colour and pattern to dorsum. Dorsal surface of forelimbs and fingers white with black blotches similar to ventral colouration. Lateral surface dark red speckled with black markings becoming more evident towards the belly. Dorsal surface of hind limbs greyish-brown with dark black markings. One dark blotch in middle of thigh. Base colour of dorsal foot greyish-brown; with scattered dark blotches, extending across toes. Region surrounding cloaca white heavily mottled in black. Margin of upper jaw greyish-brown with small dark markings posterior and anterior to eye. Vocal sac diffuse dark grey. Throat, belly, and ventral and anterior surfaces of fore and hind limbs white, heavily mottled in black; mottling slightly thinner in posterior part of the ventral region (Fig. 6B). Soles of hands and feet black with white tubercles. Webbing of feet black with thin white edge (Fig. 8H). The holotype was collected in the breeding season (as all other collected adults, see below). It is unclear if the colour might be duller during other parts of the year, as observed in S. carens (see Fig. 3). Variation of paratypes. In life, dorsal ground colour bright red. Iris golden with black pupil. Little variation was observed in the four paratypes. Three paratypes (CHL 0338; ZMB 91628; ZMB 91629) are smaller than the holotype (SUL S. carens (Channing & R��del 2019). Tadpole morphology. Tadpoles at Gosner stage 26 (Gosner 1960) have a morphology and behaviour typical of Schismaderma tadpoles, i.e. concerning body shape, presence of a horse-shoe shaped fold of vascularised skin on the back (Fig. 9B), and congregating in compact schools (Fig. 11F) (Channing et al. 2012). Lateral view (Fig. 9A): body round to ovoid. Head fold is present with the posterior edge free from the main body. Body width nearly equal to the body height. Snout oblique. Mouth directed ventrally. Spiracle sinistral, tubular, small, joined to body wall, positioned laterally and situated midbody. Dorsal view (Fig. 9B): snout rounded. Nasals rounded, large (0.2 mm), positioned laterally, closer to eyes than to pupils. Eyes moderately sized (ED 8.6% of body length), positioned and directed dorsally; central parietal eye clearly visible. Ventral view (Fig. 9C): internal collided intestine clearly visible through dermal skin. LTRF: 2/3. Size: Total length 13.7���17.8 mm and BL 5.3���7.8 mm. Tail 135% of the BL. Table 9 summarizes all measurements. Colouration in preservative: Body dark brown-black. Ventrum paler with scattered darker pigmentation and transparent anterior dermal skin. Tail musculature more heavily pigmented than fins. Advertisement call. The species was first found while calling in large, loud choruses from small ponds. The toads were observed calling while floating in the water, on two independent occasions in the early rainy season (see below). The call is a characteristic deep and loud ���whoob, whoob.��� Temporal and spectral parameters of the calls of S. branchi sp. nov. are provided in Table 10 and Fig. 10B. Calls of S. branchi sp. nov. consist of a single note that is repeated in time, lasting 0.70 to 0.80 s (average 0.76 �� 0.04 s; n = 3), and inter-call intervals longer than the calls varying between 1.81 and 2.73 (average 2.19 �� 0.48 s). Average call repetition rate 24.57 times/minute (n = 24); average pulses per note 61���64 (average 62.33 �� 1.25; n = 3); pulse repetition rate 76.05���87.98 pulses per second (average 82.60 �� 4.94; n = 3); pulse duration 11.37���13.15 ms (average 12.15 �� 0.74 ms; n = 3). Dominant frequency of 375.0 (375.0 Hz; n = 3), mostly constant throughout the call; 90% frequency bandwidth 281.25���562.5 Hz. Habitat and life history notes. All specimens of S. branchi sp. nov. were found during the early rains, the species��� peak breeding season. Adults were breeding during the day in temporary pans that consisted of fairly small (2 to 5 m across) but relatively deep (1 to 2 m at the deepest section), and irregularly distributed depressions filled with murky water, recently accumulated after storms at the onset of the rainy season. These small pans were associated with small streams connected to large inland lakes within the Luando River sub-basin (Fig. 1). They had little vegetation apart from flooded grass (Fig. 11F), and some were artificial, having originated from abandoned road construction works. The first time the species was found, in 27 October 2015, it was breeding in two of these temporary ponds. On a second visit to the site, in 26 September 2016, red toads were found breeding in other additional temporary ponds near the original site. Breeding was observed after heavy rains at the beginning of the rainy season in two consecutive years. On the first occasion, between 100 and 200 toads were seen in three ponds over a distance of around 5 km. On the second visit, around 50 toads were observed in two ponds. No red toads were found in the nearby streams��� main channels nor in larger perennial ponds. Observed breeding behaviour was typical of Schismaderma toads (Balinsky 1969; Tandy & Keith 1972), with males calling loudly and incessantly throughout the day in shallow water at the edges of the pond, during a mating frenzy. Egg strings were observed floating in the water and attached to vegetation (Fig. 11E). The eggs were arranged in one row; the number of eggs was not counted.Although S. carens is reported to have eggs in double strings (Channing 2001; Du Preez & Carruthers 2017), the single strings we observed were very likely from S. branchi sp. nov., as no other amphibian species was recorded reproducing in the same ponds. Further observations are necessary to confirm if egg strings differ between the two species or not. Tadpoles moved through the pools in large dense schools, this schooling behaviour being characteristic of Schismaderma (Fig. 11F). Although only found in pans while mating, S. branchi sp. nov. is expected to be terrestrial outside the breeding season like S. carens (Balinsky 1969). Habitat in the surrounding areas, where they likely spend most of the year, consisted of mesic woodlands and savannas within the Angolan Miombo woodlands ecoregion (Burgess et al. 2004; Huntley 2019). Just a few kilometres to the east, there were extensive floodplains with papyrus reed beds surrounding large inland lakes. The species was found in sympatry with Afrixalus wittei, Hyperolius angolensis, H. benguellensis, H. cinnamomeoventris, Kassina senegalensis, Leptopelis bocagii, Ptychadena anchietae, Sclerophrys gutturalis, and S. pusilla. Distribution. So far, S. branchi sp. nov. was only found in four nearby sites spanning 5 km along a road where it crosses small streams flowing to Lussechi and Loge rivers, both tributaries of the larger Luando River, part of the Cuanza River basin (Fig. 1). Just east of these sites are two large lakes, Capalanga and Quipemba surrounded by extensive swamps and floodplains and connected via the Loge River. Even though many sites have been surveyed within a 50 km radius, mostly to the north, west, and south, the species has not yet been recorded elsewhere. It is likely for S. branchi sp. nov. to have a wider distribution, which may extend into the neighbouring Cuango River drainage, but for the moment it appears to be restricted to the Luando River sub-basin, bordering the Cuanza-Congo watershed. The region where the species was found constitutes a fairly large inland depression stretching for about 100 km, roughly between the towns of Mussolo and Quirima. Conservation status. This species is currently known from a very small area in central Angola and might be endemic to that region. It is expected to occur in a wider area in the surroundings of the type locality, but it has not yet been recorded in two formally protected areas nearby that were proclaimed primarily for the conservation of the endemic and threatened giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani): Cangandala National Park and Luando Strict Nature Reserve, both within 50 km radius to the northwest and southwest from the type locality, respectively (Fig. 1). Its habitat does not appear to be locally threatened and the species probably tolerates disturbance, similar to S. carens (Poynton 1996; IUCN 2013). Following IUCN criteria, uncertainties regarding abundance and distribution recommends it to be classified as Data Deficient (IUCN 2012)., Published as part of Baptista, Ninda L., Pinto, Pedro Vaz, Keates, Chad, Edwards, Shelley, R��del, Mark-Oliver & Conradie, Werner, 2021, A new species of red toad, Schismaderma Smith, 1849 (Anura: Bufonidae), from central Angola, pp. 301-332 in Zootaxa 5081 (3) on pages 320-325, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5081.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5775710, {"references":["Du Preez, L. & Carruthers, V. (2017) Frogs of Southern Africa, a complete guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town, 519 pp.","Channing, A., Rodel, M. - O. & Channing, J. (2012) Tadpoles of Africa: the biology and identification of all known tadpoles in sub-Saharan Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 402 pp.","Viertel, B. & Channing, A. (2017) The larva of Schismaderma carens (Smith, 1849) (Anura: Bufonidae) - a redescription. Alytes, 33, 38 - 46.","Channing, A. & Rodel, M. - O. (2019) Field guide to the frogs and other amphibians of Africa. Struik Nature, Cape Town, 408 pp.","Gosner, K. L. (1960) A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologica, 16 (3), 183 - 190.","Balinsky, B. I. (1969) The reproductive ecology of amphibians of the Transvaal highveld. African Zoology, 4 (1), 37 - 93. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00445096.1969.11447365","Tandy, M. & Keith, R. (1972) Bufo of Africa. In: Blair, W. F. (Ed.), Evolution in the Genus Bufo. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas and London, pp. 119 - 170.","Channing, A. (2001) Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Cornell University Press, New York, New York, 470 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.7591 / 9781501733697","Burgess, N., Hales, J. A., Underwood, E., Dinerstein, E., Olson, D., Itoua, I., Schipper, J., Ricketts, T. & Newman, K. (2004) Terrestrial ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: a conservation assessment. Island Press, Washington, 497 pp.","Huntley, B. J. (2019) Angola in outline: physiography, climate and patterns of biodiversity. In: Huntley, B. J., Russo, V., Lages, F. & Ferrand, N. (Eds.), Biodiversity of Angola. Science & conservation: a modern synthesis. Springer, Cham, pp. 15 - 42. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 3 - 030 - 03083 - 4 _ 2","Poynton, J. C. (1996) Diversity and conservation of African bufonids (Anura): some preliminary findings. African Journal of Herpetology, 45, 1 - 7. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 21564574.1996.9649958","IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013) Schismaderma carens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2013, e. T 54885 A 3021025. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2013 - 2. RLTS. T 54885 A 3021025. en","IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. 2 nd Edition. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge, 32 pp."]}

A new species of red toad, from the previously monotypic genus Schismaderma, is described. The new species was found in Malanje Province, and seems endemic to central Angola, occurring approximately 500 km west of the closest known records of Schismaderma carens. Unusual adult colouration and geographical distance to remaining S. carens populations suggested specific differentiation. In an integrative approach, we compared the red toads from central Angola with S. carens from across the entire range, including molecular data, morphology of adults and tadpoles, and male advertisement calls. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI) and nuclear (CXCR4, RAG1) markers, retrieved the Angolan clade as monophyletic, and revealed intra-specific substructuring among the remaining Schismaderma. Genetic distances supported specific differentiation of the central Angolan material compared with other S. carens. Adults from the new Angolan species have bolder ventral patterning and smaller body size than S. carens. No obvious differences were detected between the tadpoles and the advertisement calls of the two Schismaderma species. This discovery adds to the knowledge of the herpetofauna of the Angolan Miombo woodlands, a poorly understood ecoregion, and likely more biodiverse than previously assumed. The result of past river basin dynamics in central Angola likely led to the evolution of this new species of Schismaderma.

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The Great Karoo and Namaqualand of South Africa are home to a species complex of morphologically conserved lizards that occur in allopatry (Karoo: Cordylus aridus, Cordylus cloetei, Cordylus minor; Namaqualand: Cordylus imkeae). However, there are negligible morphological differences and a lack of obvious physical or climatic barriers, particularly among the three Karoo species. We hypothesized that poor geographic coverage in previous studies and lack of an explicit species concept has caused taxonomic inflation. We therefore tested species boundaries by examining multiple criteria: multi-gene phylogenetics, niche distribution modelling and re-examination of diagnostic morphological features with a larger sample size. We found that C. aridus, C. cloetei and C. minor lack diagnosable differences for both genetics and morphology. Distribution modelling, ranging from present day to the last interglacial period, show connectivity has been maintained especially during cooler periods. Conversely, C. imkeae is morphologically diagnosable, genetically distinct and lacks connectivity with the other taxa. By evaluating multiple operational criteria, we conclude that the C. minor species complex comprises only two species, C. minor (with C. aridus and C. cloetei as junior synonyms) and C. imkeae, demonstrating that species defined from inadequate data and lack of an explicit species concept can lead to taxonomic inflation.

Compared to the global average, extinction risk for mainland African reptiles, particularly for South Africa, appears to be relatively low. Despite this, African reptiles are under threat primarily due to habitat loss as a result of agriculture, resource extraction, and urbanisation, and these pressures are expected to increase into the future. South Africa's reptile fauna is relatively well-studied, allowing an investigation of whether threat status assessment limitations are driving the comparably low threat status for the country, a large component of Africa's reptile fauna (ca. 25% of mainland African reptiles are found in South Africa). Extinction risk of South African reptiles was assessed as of 2018 using IUCN criteria and we ‘backcast’ these assessments to infer extinction risk circa 1990. A Red List Index (RLI: a measure of the extinction risk for a group of species) for 1990 and 2018 was estimated, and the protection level afforded to South African reptiles was investigated by intersecting reptile distributions with the network of protected areas. Finally, a coarse estimate of extinction rate was made. Level of extinction risk for South African reptiles (ca. 5.4%) is lower than the global average, and most currently threatened species would have already been at risk by 1990. The RLI was slightly lower for 2018 than for 1990, and the decrease was more prominent for endemic reptiles than for all reptiles combined. Most South African reptiles fall into the Well Protected category, implying that the protected area network has substantial conservation impact. However, many threatened reptile species are Poorly Protected or Not Protected. The current extent of the protected area network therefore, does not adequately mitigate extinction risk for reptiles. Furthermore, the protected area expansion plan for South Africa would not capture any additional threatened species within its boundaries. Despite the lower level of extinction risk indicated by IUCN assessments, it would be premature to assume that South African reptiles are faring better than reptiles globally based only on this one measure. Notably, two South African reptiles are Critically Endangered and theses are not found in protected areas, two others are already classified as Extinct, and rough estimates of extinction rates are similar to values estimated for other vertebrates. By considering additional metrics that are directly guided by our in-depth knowledge of the species, their distributions and the threats, we demonstrate that South African reptiles are under pressure and that risk of extinction is tangible for several species.

The Acidobacteriota is ubiquitous and is considered as one of the major bacterial phyla in soils. The current taxonomic classifications of this phylum are divided into 15 class-level subdivisions (SDs), with only 5 of these SDs containing cultured and fully described species. Within the fynbos biome, the Acidobacteriota has been reported as one of the dominant bacterial phyla, with relative abundances ranging between 4–26%. However, none of these studies reported on the specific distribution and diversity of the Acidobacteriota within these soils. Therefore, in this study we aimed to first determine the relative abundance and diversity of the Acidobacteriota in three pristine fynbos nature reserve soils, and secondly, whether differences in the acidobacterial composition can be attributed to environmental factors, such as soil abiotic properties. A total of 27 soil samples were collected at three nature reserves, namely Jonkershoek, Hottentots Holland, and Kogelberg. The variable V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Ion Torrent S5 platform. The mean relative abundance of the Acidobacteriota were 9.02% for Jonkershoek, 14.91% for Kogelberg, and most significantly (p+), potassium (K+) and carbon (C). In contrast, SD2, was positively correlated to soil pH, phosphorus (P), and K+, and unclassified members of SD3 was positively correlated to H+, K, and C. This study is the first to report on the specific acidobacterial distribution in pristine fynbos soils in South Africa.

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is globally known for its plant biodiversity, and its flora is commonly referred to as fynbos. At the same time, this area is under severe pressure from urbanization, agricultural expansion and the threat of invasive alien plants. Acacia, Eucalyptus and Pinus are the common invasive alien plants found across the biome and considerable time, effort and resources are put into the removal of invasive alien plants and the rehabilitation of native vegetation. Several studies have shown that invasion not only affects the composition of plant species, but also has a profound effect on the soil chemistry and microbial populations. Over the last few years, a number of studies have shown that the microbial populations of the CFR are unique to the area, and harbour many endemic species. The extent of the role they play in the invasion process is, however, still unclear. This review aims to provide an insight into the current knowledge on the different microbial populations from this system, and speculate what their role might be during invasion. More importantly, it places a spotlight on the lack of information about this process.

Intense heat waves are occurring more frequently, with concomitant increases in the risk of catastrophic avian mortality events via lethal dehydration or hyperthermia. We quantified the risks of lethal hyperthermia and dehydration for 10 Australian arid-zone avifauna species during the 21st century, by synthesizing thermal physiology data on evaporative water losses and heat tolerance limits. We evaluated risks of lethal hyperthermia or exceedance of dehydration tolerance limits in the absence of drinking during the hottest part of the day under recent climatic conditions, compared to those predicted for the end of this century across Australia. Increases in mortality risk via lethal dehydration and hyperthermia vary among the species modelled here but will generally increase greatly, particularly in smaller species (~10–42 g) and those inhabiting the far western parts of the continent. By 2100 CE, zebra finches’ potential exposure to acute lethal dehydration risk will reach ~ 100 d y−1 in the far northwest of Australia and will exceed 20 d y−1 over > 50% of this species’ current range. Risks of dehydration and hyperthermia will remain much lower for large non-passerines such as crested pigeons. Risks of lethal hyperthermia will also increase substantially for smaller species, particularly if they are forced to visit exposed water sources at very high air temperatures to avoid dehydration. An analysis of atlas data for zebra finches suggests that population declines associated with very hot conditions are already occurring in the hottest areas. Our findings suggest that the likelihood of persistence within current species ranges, and the potential for range shifts, will become increasingly constrained by temperature and access to drinking water. Our model adds to an increasing body of literature suggesting that arid environments globally will experience considerable losses of avifauna and biodiversity under unmitigated climate change scenarios.

Historically Panaspis wahlbergi (Smith, 1849) has been the only assignable species present in Kenya. Recent studies have shown that it comprises multiple cryptic species and the nominal species is now restricted to southern Africa. Newly collected mitochondrial data (16S rRNA) helped to resolve the status of the Kenyan populations, which revealed the presence of two distant related species. Pairwise distances show average 5.87% differences between the two Kenyan species, and 3.58–5.27% and 8.62–9.15% to nominal P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis Jacobsen & Broadley, 2000 respectively. Ablepharus massaiensis Angel, 1924 was described from the Maasai plains near Nairobi, but has long been considered a junior synonym of P. wahlbergi. We herein resurrect Panaspis massaiensis comb. nov. as a valid species and describe a new species, Panaspis tsavoensis sp. nov. from the Tsavo Conservation Area in south-eastern Kenya. Morphological examinations of specimens reveal minor differences from each other as well as nominal forms of P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis. Panaspis massaiensis comb. nov. shares with the P. wahlbergi group a white ventrolateral stripe but can be distinguished by the presence of 26 midbody scale rows versus 24. Panaspis tsavoensis sp. nov. on the other hand, lacks the white ventrolateral stripe, most similar to the P. maculicollis group but differs in that P. maculicollis breeding males have a black patch on the neck with diagonal rows of white spots. Panaspis massaiensis comb. nov. is widespread in the Kenyan and northern Tanzanian highlands, isolated dryland montane forests and rocky hills, while P. tsavoensis sp. nov. occur in the expansive arid lowlands of Tsavo Conservation Area and should be present in similar arid lowlands in northern Kenya as well as in adjacent Tanzania.

Nucras broadleyi sp. nov. Angolan Sandveld Lizard urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C82E3A75-96FF-4D2A-9B52-3ABF4B58BC2B (Figures 4–6) Chersonymy. Nucras tessellata var. taeniolata (Bocage 1895: 30), Nucras tessellata var. taeniolata (Boulenger 1910: 474), Nucras tessellata var. holubi (Boulenger 1917: 210), Nucras intertexta var. holubi (Boulenger 1920: 20), Nucras tessellata (Monard 1937: 73; Laurent 1964: 56), Nucras ornata (Broadley 1965: 23), Nucras tessellata (Broadley 1972: 30; Ceríaco et al. 2016: 56; Burger 2014: 171), Nucras aff. tessellata (Marques et al. 2018: 221; Branch et al. 2019: 317). Type material. The type series is comprised of the three most recently collected specimens, which are housed in PEM and TM. Holotype. A subadult male (PEM R 24005, AG 018), 10 km west of Lola, edge of Bentiaba River valley, Namibe Province, Angola (-14.29028, 13.53056, WGS 84, 802 m asl). Collected by W. R. Branch, P. Vaz Pinto, and J.S. de Almeida on 2 November 2015. Paratypes (2). a) A subadult female (PEM R 24157, AG 166), 8.8 km southwest of Farm Mucungo, Namibe Province, Angola (-14.80167, 12.41917, WGS 84, 385 m asl). Collected by W. R. Branch, P. Vaz Pinto, and J. S. de Almeida on 8 November 2015. b) An unsexed adult (TM 40392), “ 34 km S of Moçâmedes to Porto Alexandre, Angola, 1512 Ca ” (= 34 km S Namibe to Tômbwa), Namibe Province, Angola (approx. -15.48220, 12.18289). Collected by W.D. Haacke on 30 March 1971. Additional referred material: The following additional material was used to expand the description of variation within the species: a) an adult male (MD 1967, Laurent 1964), “km 34 de la route de Moçâmedes à Sa da Bandeira” (= 34 km from Namibe on Lubango road, -15.03333, 12.41667), collected 24 October 1949, b) MBL 646, 647 a, 647b (Bocage 1895: 30) from Maconjo (approx. -15.01667, 13.20000), c) BM 1970.6.29.10–11 (Boulenger 1910: 474) from Ponang Kuma (= Donguena, approx. -17.01667, 14.71667), and d) MHNC 91.0524 (Monard 1937) from Capelongo (approx. -14.88333, 15.083333), collected April 1933. Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Donald G. Broadley for his numerous contributions to the herpetofauna of Africa. Don (as most of us knew him) was the first to recognize the Angolan population as a separate species (Broadley 1972). The name is constructed in the masculine genitive. Diagnosis. Assigned to Nucras due to a well-defined collar (absent in Ichnotropis), toes not serrated or fringed (versus serrated or fringed in Meroles), subdigital lamellae smooth (versus keeled in Pedioplanis and Heliobolus), subocular bordering lip, the nostril is pierced between two nasals, nasal well separated from upper labial, and dorsal scales small, smooth, and juxtaposed. * anterior subocular (posterior subocular), ** total (largest number, t = truncated) The new species can be diagnosed from other Nucras species based on a combination of the following characters: series of transversely enlarged plates present under forearm (versus absent or only feebly enlarged in Nucras lalandii), a small series (0–6) of small granules present between supraciliaries and supraoculars (versus mostly absent in N. boulengeri and N. lalandii), 23–29 lamellae under 4 th toe (versus less than 22 in N. lalandii), dorsum with a series of longitudinal pale stripes (versus dark cross bands present in N. lalandii and N. scalaris or a series of pale vertebral spots, sometimes forming irregular transverse bands in N. intertexta or lack of any dorsal patterns in N. aurantiaca), four pale stripes on nape with outer stripes forming a. Bloemfontein Museum Province Province Province Province Province Province Province Province Province National Cape Cape Cape Cape Cape Cape Cape NMB – , , Northern Western, Northern,, Northern Northern, Western,, Western Kamanjab, KwaZulu-Natal Cape , Western Museum Locality South Africa Africa South South Africa South Africa South Africa GenBank Africa South South Africa Namibia, South Africa Africa South Elizabeth Port – 1 005257 951543 951540 951542 951541 632229 871208 547691 871206 871207 547718 RAG PEM HG HF HF HF HF EF DQ HF DQ DQ HF, Science 4 005232 951535 951536 751398 547725 547732 547733 547759 of ND HG — HF — HF — FR HF HF HF HF Academy 005211 951559 951556 951558 951557 080358 871152 547772 871148 871149 547800 California S 16 HG HF HF HF HF AF DQ HF DQ DQ HF CAS – : number 206725 R 18745 R 16873 R 11574 R 16872 209602 R 18376 abbreviations Museum accession CAS PEM PEM NMB PEM NA NA NMNW CAS PEM Museum. accession 5584 08 069 - 20650 21061 20687 0531 08 6001 6067 049 analysis Field ID AMB KTH MB MB MB MH GW AMB AMB SVN genetic in Samples used Species tessellata tessellata tessellata tessellata tessellata longicaudata australis australis capensis capensis suborbitalis. ) continued 2 Table (Genus Nucras Nucras Nucras Nucras Nucras Outgroup Latastia Australolacerta Australolacerta Ichnotropis Ichnotropis Meroles continuous light stripe with the outer edges of the parietals (similar to Broadley’s (1972) N. tessellata tessellata var. “ T;” differs from N. livida and N. tessellata where the outer stripes often do not form a continuous light stripe with the outer edges of the parietals; differs from N. caeiscaudata and N. ornata where there are only three longitudinal stripes present on nape and sometimes the vertebral ones are absent), well defined occipital scale separating parietals (versus reduced or absent in northern Namibia N. holubi, which is referred to as N. intertexta damarana Parker; as well as absent in N. caesicaudata), parietal foramen absent (often present in all other species except N. taeniolata), and postnasals separated (usually fused in N. taeniolata). In the phylogenetic analysis, the uncorrected p -distances show that this clade differs by>8% for 16S,>14% for ND4, and>1% for RAG 1 sequence divergence from other members of the N. tessellata clade. Description of Holotype (Fig. 4). Body relatively slender (SVL approx. 4.5 times the head length, tail truncated), with hindlimbs larger than forelimbs (femur of hind limb equal to length of tibia); head narrow and elongated (56% longer than wide) with narrow pointed but blunt snout, that is slightly longer than distance from back of eye to rear of ear opening. Rostrum protruding and visible from below. Nasals paired and in contact (0.2 mm suture length), not swollen, nostril directed backwards separating postnasals. Frontonasal single, wider than long (1.1 × 1.8 mm). Prefrontals paired and in broad median contact with one another (0.6 mm suture length), wider than long (1.1 × 1.2 mm). Frontal entire, longer than wide (2.7 × 1.9 mm). Two large rounded supraoculars, both in contact with the frontal, with anterior supraocular preceded by a single large scale in contact with prefrontal, frontonasal, and posterior loreal, with posterior supraocular bordered by a single large scale in contact with parietal and frontoparietal. Paired frontoparietal in broad contact (1.3 mm suture length), nearly as wide as long (1.7 × 1.5 mm). Parietals twice as long as wide (3.1 × 1.8 mm), fully separate by a large, pentagonal interparietal (2.5 × 1.2 mm) that is twice as long as wide, slightly shorter than frontoparietals and nearly equal to length of frontonasal and prefrontal combined. Small subtriangular occipital (0.5 × 0.7 mm). Two loreals, second much larger than first. Six supraciliaries on each side, 1 st is the longest. A single minute granule scale between supraocular and supracilliares on right side, none on left side. Four supralabials anterior to subocular and three supralabials posterior to subocular, on both sides. Subocular slightly elevated medial and bordering the lip, its lower border being shorter than the upper. Three temporal scales, first longer than others, smooth. Tympanic shield as wide as long, border of ear opening. No ear lobes. Lower eyelid with transparent brille formed by five larger scales, surrounded by numerous smaller scales. Lower eyelid separated from subocular and enlarged temporal scales by a series of 10 smaller scales. Small scale above 3 rd supralabial separating the posterior loreal and subocular. Enlarged scale bordering 1 st post subocular, supralabial, and the subocular. Six infralabials on both sides, with 3 rd being longest; four enlarged pairs of chin shields, last largest and first three in broad contact. Twenty-four gular scales in a straight line between symphysis of chin shields and median collar plate, equal in size except last 4–5 larger. Collar free, comprising seven enlarged plates (median subtriangular) and extending slightly onto side of neck as a crease, bordered by 2–3 smaller scales. Dorsal scales small, juxtaposed, granular, smooth, larger on sides toward ventrals. Midbody scales 42. Ventral plates eight longitudinal and 28 transverse rows (from collar to groin), plates of the innermost rows longer than broad, with outer row notably smaller than other rows, transverse row of ventrals across chest just behind collar longer than broad; preanal scales irregular, median ones larger. Scales on upper surface of forearm large, smooth or slightly keeled. Scales on lower surface of forearm with eight enlarged plates, at least twice the width of scales on upper forearm. Scales on upper surface of tibia rhombic, subimbricate, smooth, and much larger than dorsal scales. Tibia below with a series of large plates. Subdigital lamellae under fourth toe 23 R / 25L. Femoral pores 13 R / 15L. Dorsal scales on tail oblique, strongly keeled diagonally, and truncate behind, ventral scales on tail obtusely keeled. Coloration. Dorsum with eight pale cream to white dorsolateral longitudinal stripes, separated by dark brown to black stripes. These stripes are more boldly patterned anteriorly, fading posteriorly. No light vertebral stripe. The two pale paravertebral stripes are separated by a very narrow strip of darker scales that starts on the interparietal through the occipital scale and fades posteriorly onto body and tail. The dorsolateral stripe extending along outer borders of parietals continues onto the tail. It is followed by the upper lateral stripe extending from posterior of the eye onto the head through the mid-temporal with a brief break above the ear opening, and continues onto the tail. The lower lateral stripe starts at the subocular, through the ear opening, broken briefly above the arm, after which it continues all the way onto the tail. Ventrum white and lower limbs oblique white. Fore limbs upper surface black with scattered pale blotches. Hind limbs light brown with pale blotches. Upper surface of tail red-brown, similar to hind limbs. Scales bordering the orbit are black edged. Variation (Figs. 5–6). Meristic and escalation data are summarized in Table 1. The largest specimen examined is (BM 1907.6.29.10) 74 + 144 mm (tail regenerated). Regarding coloration, there seem to be three main variations among material examined: 1) 8–9 longitudinal stripes as in holotype (in PEM R 24005, MBL 647a, 647b, MHNC 91.0524–5), 2) 4–5 pale longitudinal stripes broken up posteriorly with flanks spotted (in BM 1970.6.29.10–11, TM 40392, MD 1967), and 3) broken paravertebral stripes, continuous dorsolateral line and barred flanks (in PEM R 24157), similar to N. intertexta. Distribution. Found only in semi-arid south-western Angola, throughout much of Namibe Province and extending onto the escarpment of southern Hu í la and Cunene Provinces (Fig. 1). Known localities include: Maconjo (Bocage 1895: 30), Ponang Kuma (=Donguena) (Boulenger 1910: 472), 34 km from Namibe on Lubango road (Laurent 1964: 56), 34 km south of Tombwa (TM 40397), 8.8 km southwest of Farm Mucungo (this study), 10 km west of Lola (this study), and Capelongo (Monard 1937: 73). The locality of Caconda (Bocage 1895) extends the species distribution further north into Huíla Province, but the specimens could not be critically evaluated by Broadley (1972) and are now presumably lost. Habitat. The species appears to be associated with mopane woodlands, dry savannas, and semi-desert shrublands (Barbosa 1970). The new material was found in sandy plains with scattered low granite outcrops, with varying degrees of short grass cover and scattered bushes. Vegetation included Colophospermum mopane, Ficus sp., Senegalia (=Acacia) mellifera, Commiphora sp., Boscia foetida, and Salvadora persica. The confirmed historical records were also obtained within the dry woodland zone, even though the possible occurrence of the species in Caconda would place the species above 1,500 m asl and well into the mesic conditions of Brachystegia habitats (Barbosa 1970)., Published as part of Branch, William R., Conradie, Werner, Pinto, Pedro Vaz & Tolley, Krystal A., 2019, Another Angolan Namib endemic species: a new Nucras Gray, 1838 (Squamata: Lacertidae) from south-western Angola, pp. 82-95 in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13 (2) on pages 86-91, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3731977, {"references":["Bocage JVB. 1895. Herpetologie d'Angola et du Congo. Ministerio da Marinha e das Colonias, Lisbonne, Portugal. 203 p., 20 pls.","Boulenger GA. 1910. 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Contributions to the natural history of Southern Africa. Article VIII. Magazine of Natural History 2(14): 92-94.","Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J. 2018. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. 2nd Edition. Bloomsbury Natural History, London, United Kingdom. 624 p.","Stamatakis A, Hoover P, Rougemont J. 2008. A rapid bootstrap algorithm for the RAxML web servers. Systematic Biology 57: 758-771 . Stamatakis A. 2006. RAxML-VI-HPC: maximum likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses with thousands of taxa and mixed models. Bioinformatics 22: 2,688-2,690.",". Stamatakis A. 2006. RAxML-VI-HPC: maximum likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses with thousands of taxa and mixed models. Bioinformatics 22: 2,688-2,690.","Stanley EL, Ceriaco, LMP, Bandeira S, Valerio H, Bates MF, Branch WR. 2016. A review of Cordylus machadoi (Squamata: Cordylidae) in southwestern Angola, with the description of a new species from the Pro-Namib desert. Zootaxa 4061(3): 201-226.","Tolley K, Weeber J, Maritz B, Verburgt L, Bates M, Conradie W, Hofmeyr R, Turner A, Da Silva J, Alexander G. 2019. No safe haven: protection levels show imperiled South African reptiles not sufficiently safe-guarded despite low average extinction risk. Biological Conservation 233: 61-72."]}

A new species of tree snake Dipsadoboa montisilva Branch, Conradie & Tolley sp. nov. (Serpentes: Colubridae) is described from the ‘sky islands’ of Mount Mabu and Mount Ribáuè in northern Mozambique. Features of scalation, colour, body form and habitat distinguish the new species from other Dipsadoboa. This is supported by a phylogenetic analysis using one mitochondrial marker (cytochrome b) that shows the new Mozambican species is divergent from other sampled Dipsadoboa, including D. flavida and D. aulica, the only congeners known to occur in Mozambique. Morphologically, the new Dipsadoboa forms part of the D. werneri-shrevei complex from east and southeast Africa, but differs in having higher subcaudal counts, a different temporal pattern and only two supralabials entering the orbit. Phylogenetically, it occurs in a clade with D. shrevei and D. werneri. The status of D. shrevei in East Africa is reassessed, particularly in terms of the poorly-known Dipsadoboa shrevei kageleri from northern Tanzania. It is morphologically well defined from D. shrevei shrevei and utilises a different habitat. Although based on limited genetic data, it appears to be well-defined from typical D. shrevei and is accordingly raised to specific status. The only Tanzanian record for typical D. shrevei from Mtene, Rondo Plateau in southeast Tanzania is well isolated from the species’ range to the west (e.g. Zambia, Angola) and the published scalation features, particularly ventral counts, do not fully accord with D. shrevei. The Rondo Plateau population is treated as Dipsadoboa incerta sedis, and because we return D. shrevei to its binomial status, we can no longer consider D. shrevei as occurring in Tanzania. Biogeographically, the Rondo Plateau population may have a stronger affinity to the new Mozambican species. The discovery of isolated populations of the new species in mid-altitude forest remnants on Mt Mabu and Mt Ribáuè emphasizes the high conservation importance of the Mozambique forest ‘sky islands’ from which numerous other endemic new species have been recently discovered. These species are impacted by ongoing habitat destruction through slash and burn clearing for subsistence agriculture.

Cordylus meculae Branch, Rödel & Marais, 2005 African Journal of Herpetology, 54(2):132; Figs. 1–2. Holotype: PEM R16166; summit rock outcrops of Serra Mecula (12°03’11”S, 37°38’49”E; 1029 m a.s.l.), Niassa Game Reserve, Niassa Province, Mozambique; W.R. Branch, M.O. Rödel and J. Marais, 27 October 2003. Paratypes (8): a) PEM R16163 (male allotype), R16164 –5; same data as holotype. b) PEM R16180, 16184 [wrongly listed in as R 16182 in type description], Serra Mecula (12°02’25”S, 37°38’32”E; approx. 1200 m a.s.l.); 29 October 2003. c) PEM R16198; Serra Mecula (12°03’30”S, 37°38’22”E; approx. 1100 m a.s.l.); 31 October 2003. d) PEM R16202 –3; western slopes of Serra Mecula (12°02’46”S, 37°37’21”E; 643 m a.s.l.); 1 November 2003. All collected by W.R. Branch, M.O. Rödel and J. Marais. Remarks. All with ventral incisions except for the holotype and two paratypes (PEM R16180 & 16184).

Pachydactylus capensis oculatus Hewitt, 1927 Records of the Albany Museum, 3(5):394; Pl XXII, Fig. 1. Current name: Pachydactylus oculatus (Hewitt, 1927) Holotype: PEM R11953 (formerly AMG 5304); farm Cyrilhurts, about six miles from Tarkastad, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; Mr. R. Essex, August 1925. Remarks. The description does not mention where the specimens were deposited. A specimen agreeing in appearance with the illustrated specimen in the original description is present in the PEM. The only difference is that the original label reads ‘King’s Farm, Tarkastad’ and not ‘farm Cyrilhurts about six miles from Tarkastad’. One more juvenile specimen from the same locality (PEM R11928) is present in the PEM. Hewitt specifically states the ‘type’ (holotype) to be an adult male. No further types are listed. Hewitt considered it a form between maculatus and capensis, calling it Pachydactylus maculatus oculatus in his plate. Loveridge (1947) subsequently synonymised it with P. maculatus, but it was later elevated to a full species (Branch 1988)., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 14, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1927) Further descriptions of reptiles and batrachians from South Africa. Records of the Albany Museum, 3 (5), 371 - 415.","Loveridge, A. (1947) Revision of the African lizards of the Family Gekkonidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 98, 1 - 469."]}

Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi Hewitt, 1915 Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 5(2):101. Syntype: PEM R4439; Schoemachers Kop [=Schoenmakerkop] near Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; collector and date unknown. Remarks: Although FitzSimons (1943) lists the cotypes as being in Port Elizabeth and Albany Museum, this must have been in error as the type description clearly states two specimens loaned to Hewitt from the Port Elizabeth Museum’s director F.W. FitzSimons. However, only the larger specimen (Schoenmakerskop) is currently extant in the PEM. Both Hewitt (1915, 1937b) and subsequent authors questioned the second smaller specimen from Kroonstad and subsequently disregarded it (FitzSimons 1943; Loveridge 1942; Branch 1990) and considered the taxon to be restricted to the Port Elizabeth region.The original label gives no details for collector or the date of collection. Based on consistent morphological differences, Bates (2014) treats this as a full species., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 22, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1915) Descriptions of two new South African lizards, Tetradactylus laevicauda and T. fitzsimonsi. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 5 (2), 101 - 103.","FitzSimons, V. (1943) The Lizards of South Africa. Transvaal Museum Memoirs, 1, i-xv, 1 - 528. FitzSimons, V. (1959) Some new reptiles from southern Africa and southern Angola. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 23, 405 - 409.","Hewitt, J. (1937 b) A Guide to the Fertebrate Fauna of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Part II: Reptiles, Amphibians, and Freshwater Fishes. Albany Museum, Grahamstown, vii + 141 pp.","Loveridge, A. (1942) Revision of the African lizards of the family Gerrhosauridae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 89, 485 - 543.","Branch, W. R. (1990) The genus Tetradactylus (Sauria: Gerrhosaurinae) in the Cape Province, South Africa: new records and their taxonomic status. Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa, 37, 13 - 16. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 04416651.1990.9650261"]}

Scolecoseps broadleyi Verburgt, Verburgt & Branch, 2018 African Journal of Herpetology, 67(1):5; Figs. 2–3 Paratypes (4): a) PEM R22697; from near Maganja (10°50’08.2”S, 40°33’25.4”E), Palma District, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique; L. Verburgt, 24 August 2013. b) PEM R22698; near Quionga, 20 km north of Palma (10°35’55.4”S, 40°29’40.8”E), Palma District, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique; L. Verburgt, 4 December 2013. c) PEM R22699; 15 km inland from Olumbe, 20 km S of Palma (10°59’23.8”S, 40°25’13.8”E), Palma District, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique; L. Verburgt, 21 February 2014. d) PEM R22696; 10 km inland from Olumbe, 20 km south of Palma (11°00’15.6”S, 40°21’47.5”E), Palma District, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique; L. Verburgt, 22 February 2014. Remarks. All paratypes are in good condition. The holotype is in NMZB according to the type description., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Engelbrecht, H. E., Branch, W. R. Greenbaum, E., Alexander, G. J., Jackson, K., Burger, M., Conradie, W. & Tolley, K. A. (2018) Diversifying into the branches: species boundaries in African green and bush snakes, Philothamnus (Serpentes: Colubridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 30, 357 - 365. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2018.10.023."]}

Phyllodactylus hewitti Branch, Bauer & Good, 1995 Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa, 44(2):42; Fig. 1b, c. Current name: Goggia hewitti (Branch, Bauer & Good, 1995) Holotype: PEM R7829; 3 km east from Swartberg Pass along summit road on Groot Swartberg (33°20’40”S, 22°04’17”E; 3322AC; 1403 m a.s.l.), Western Cape Province, South Africa; M.S. Branch, W.R. Branch and G.V. Haagner, 19 November 1992. Paratypes (13): a) PEM R7828; same collection details as holotype. b) PEM R1835 & R1837; 2.3 km north of road to Gamkakloofk along Swartberg Pass on Groot Swartberg (3322AC); W.R. Branch and M.S. Smale, 30 October 1979. c) PEM R1838; at turn-of to Gamkakloof on Swartberg Pass, Groot Swartberg (3322AC); W.R. Branch and M.S. Smale, 30 October 1979. d) PEM R7853–4, 7856, 7859; Northern slopes of Blesberg, Klein Swartberg (33°24’46”S, 22°43’55”E; 3322 Bc; 1442 m a.s.l.); M.S. Branch, W.R. Branch and G.V. Haagner, 22 November 1992. e) PEM R7864–8; Top of Oorlogskloof, Klein Swartberg (33°24’53”S, 22°45’30”E; 3322 Bc; 1442 m a.s.l.); M.S. Branch, W.R. Branch and G.V. Haagner, 22 November 1992., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Branch, W. R., Bauer, A. M. & Good, D. A. (1995) Species limits in the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with the elevation of two taxa to specific status and the description of two new species. Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa, 44 (2), 33 - 54. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 04416651.1995.9650390"]}

Acontias plumbeus occidentalis FitzSimons, 1941 Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 20: 275. Current name: Acontias occidentalis FitzSimons, 1941. Lectotype: PEM R5105 (formerly AMG 6064); Okahandja, Namibia; K. Bradfield, 23 April 1929. Paralectotypes (2): PEM R5113–5114 (formerly AMG 5978); Honingfontein, near Nylstroom, Limpopo Province, South Africa; J. MacCallum, 18 December 1928. Remarks. Merterns (1955) was the first to designate AMG 6064 (now PEM R5105) as the lectotype and this was followed by Broadley & Greer (1969). All specimens have a longitudinal incision on the belly. The lectotype has a cross-incision in the anterior part of the body. The type description mentions that the other paralectotypes are in TMP and SAM., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["FitzSimons, V. (1941) Descriptions of some new lizards from South Africa and a frog from southern Rhodesia. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 20 (3), 273 - 281"]}

Acontias plumbeus namaquensis Hewitt, 1938 Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 26:47; Plate III, Fig. 3. Current name: Acontias namaquensis Hewitt, 1938. Holotype: PEM R4443 (formerly AMG 959); O’okiep, Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa; Dr. R.W. Howard, 10 October (year unknown). Remarks. The description refers to the type as a ‘A single adult from O’okiep’. The adult specimen from O’okiep is also illustrated in the plates. The description further refers to two smaller specimens from; Kamiesberg (PEM R4826) and Steinkopf (PEM R4827, formerly AMG 1413) collected by Capt. G.C. Shortridge as additional non-type material. All specimens are in perfect condition except for PEM R4826 which has a mid-ventral incision. This taxon was elevated to specific status by Lamb et al. (2010)., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1938) Description of new forms of the genus Acontias. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 26, 39 - 48. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00359193809519768","Lamb, T., Biswas, S. & Bauer, A. M. (2010) A phylogenetic reassessment of African fossorial skinks in the subfamily Acontinae (Squamata: Scincidae): evidence for parallelism and polyphyly. Zootaxa, 2657, 33 - 46. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 2657.1.3"]}

Zonurus cordylus tasmani Power, 1930 Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 14(1):12; Plate I, Fig. 4. Current name: Cordylus cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758) Syntypes (13): a) PEM R13518 –22 (formerly AMG 5183); Dunbrody ‘ Blue cliff’, Uitenhage Division, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; Rev. K. Tasman, 26 November 1925. b) PEM R13515 –7 (formerly AMG 5193); Dunbrody ‘ Blue cliff’, Uitenhage Division, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; Rev. K. Tasman, 5 December 1925. b) PEM R13513 –4, 13522 (formerly AMG 5917); Dunbrody, Sundays River; J. Hewitt, 13 September 1928. d) PEM R13539 (formerly AMG 5166); Dunbrody, Sundays River; J. Hewitt, date unknown. Remarks. The original description makes no reference to the number of specimens and or repositories to which they were deposited, although Power (1930) listed (in the comparative table) that he examined 13 specimens in total. Port Elizabeth Museum has numerous AMG series of specimens collected at the type locality, e.g. AMG 5166 (1), 5183 (6), 5193 (3), 5197 (3), 7021 (4), 7053 (10), 7087(2). Only AMG 5183 and 5193 are listed as being collected by Rev. K. Tasman on 5 December 1925 and 26 November 1925, respectively. Series AMG 5166 and 5197 were collected by J. Hewitt. The series AMG 5197 was collected on 13 September 1928, well before Power’s description. AMG 5166 is the oldest running number and most likely the specimen Hewitt (1909) referred to. Thus all the above material could have been accessible to Power and they total 13 specimens as indicated in his description. We thus assign all the above to the type series. Series AMG 7021, 7053, 7087 (no date provided) must have been collected after the description and are topotypical only. One specimen is depicted in the type description and can be identified with accuracy to PEM R13583., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Power, J. H. (1930) On the South African species of the genus Zonurus. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 14 (1), 11 - 19."]}

Rhampholeon (Rhinodigitum) hattinghi Tilbury & Tolley, 2015 Zootaxa, 3905(3):355; Figs. 5–9. Holotype: PEM R19194; Mount Nzawa (6°51.07’S; 29°35.87’E), Moba District, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo; C. Tilbury and I. Hattingh, 21 March 2010. Paratypes (5): PEM R19193, R19195 –8; same collecting details as holotype.

Atheris mabuensis Branch & Bayliss, 2009 Zootaxa, 2113:44; Figs. 2–7. Holotype: PEM R17901; main forest camp, Mount Mabu (16°17’12”S, 36°24’14”E; 1000 m a.s.l.), Mozambique; local hunter, 20 October 2008. Paratypes (3): a) PEM R17902; same locality as holotype; T. Timberlake, 20 October 2008. b) PEM R17903; same locality as holotype; J. Bayliss, 20 October 2008. c) PEM R17904; Khara Forest (lower end on Manho Forest) (15°24’39.9”S, 37°02’16.5”E; 1550 m a.s.l.), Mount Namuli, Zambezia Province, Mozambique; C. Congdon, 20 November 2008. Remarks. All specimens with a mid-ventral incision. One paratype (PEM R1902) is badly preserved with four ventral incisions. Menegon et al. (2014) provided genetic sequences for this species (see Table 2)., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on pages 31-32, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562

Atractaspis duerdeni Gough, 1907 Records of the Albany Museum, 2:178. Holotype: PEM R7938; Serowe, Botswana; S. Blackbeard, 3 May 1904. Remarks. The type specimen is bleached and without any signs of pattern. There is a mid-ventral incision, and an old scar dorsally behind the head., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Gough, L. H. (1907) Description of a new species of Atractaspis collected at Serowe, North Eastern Kalahari. Records of the Albany Museum, 2, 178 - 179."]}

Rhampholeon (Rhinodigitum) maspictus Branch, Bayliss & Tolley, 2014 Zootaxa, 3814(1):17; Figs. 5–6. Holotype: PEM R18072; in the vicinity of the main forest base camp, Mt. Mabu (16°17’10.1”S, 36°24’02.2”E; 967 m a.s.l.), Zambezia Province, Mozambique; W.R. Branch, J. Bayliss and W. Conradie, 27 May 2009. Paratypes (9): PEM R18061 (female allotype), R18059, R18068 –70 and R18073 –76; same collecting details as holotype., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 6, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Branch, W. R., Bayliss, J. & Tolley, K. A. (2014) Pygmy chameleons of the Rhampholeon platyceps complex (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae): Description of four new species from isolated ' sky islands' of northern Mozambique. Zootaxa, 3814 (1), 1 - 36. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3814.1.1"]}

Acontias wakkerstroomensis Conradie, Busschau & Edwards, 2018 Zootaxa, 4429(1):99; Figs. 5–7. Holotype: PEM R22788; north of Wakkerstroom on Amersfoort road, (- 27.28250 S, 30.11750 E; 2730AC, 1847 m a.s.l.), Mpumalanga Province, South Africa; W. Conradie, C. Conradie and M. Morrison, 23 December 2015. Remarks. Holotype with mid-ventral incisions, in good condition., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 29, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Conradie, W., Busshau, T. & Edwards, E. (2018) Two new species of Acontias form the Mpumalanga Highveld escarpment of South Africa. Zootaxa, 4429 (1), 089 - 106. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4429.1.3"]}

Lygodactylus stevensoni Hewitt, 1926b Annals of the Natal Museum, 5:445; Plate XXV, Figs. 3– 4. Syntypes (3): PEM R16074–6 (formerly AMG 5053); Khami Ruins, Zimbabwe; R.H.R. Stevenson, 13 April 1925. Remarks. The description refers to only three specimens as ‘Types’. One specimen is illustrated in Plate XXV, figure 3, and can be associated with confidence to PEM R16074. All specimens in good condition, except for PEM R16075, which lacks a tail., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1926 b) Descriptions of some new species of batrachians and lizards from South Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum, 5, 435 - 448."]}

Chamaeleon ituriensis Schmidt, 1919 Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 36(2):589; Plate XXXI, Fig. 2; Plate XXXII, Figs. 1–5. Current name: Trioceros ituriensis (Schmidt, 1919) Paratypes (2): PEM R9166–7 (formerly AMG 4314; AMNH 11530–31); Mejdje, Democratic Republic of the Congo; collector unknown, 10 July 1914. Remarks. Types presumed transferred from AMNH to AMG, but no supporting evidence found. AMNH online database refers to these two specimens as paratypes., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 4, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Schmidt, K. P. (1919) Contributions to the herpetology of the Belgian Congo based on the collection of the American Congo expedition, 1909 - 1915. Part I: turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and chameleons. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 39 (2), 385 - 624."]}

Vipera armata Smith, 1826 Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, 1:251. Current name: Bitis armata (Smith, 1826). Neotype: PEM R6769; Koppe Alleen Road, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape Province, South Africa; M. Scott, 26 February 1991. Remarks. Smith (1826) did not designate a type, and gave no details about the distribution of this species. To stabilise nomenclature Branch (1999), designated PEM R6769 as neotype. ……continued on the next page ……continued on the next page ……continued on the next page, Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on pages 34-35, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Smith, A. (1826) On the snakes of Southern Africa. Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, 1, 248 - 254.","Branch, W. R. (1999) Dwarf adders of the Bitis cornuta - inornata complex (Serptentes: Viperidae) in Southern Africa. Kaupia, 8, 39 - 63."]}

Agama lionotus var. mwanzane Loveridge, 1923 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1923:945. Current name: Agama mwanzane Loveridge, 1923 Paratype: PEM R2310 (formerly MCZ R18582); Shanwa, Mwanza, Tanzania; A. Loveridge, 20 October 1922. Remarks. The description indicates that 41 specimens were collected and presented to the British Museum (now The Natural History Museum, London). No mention is made to the exchange of any types to other museums. The online MCZ database indicates that T. Barbour donated a series of specimens labelled as paratypes to MCZ. One of these was donated by Loveridge to Hewitt at the AMG., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 3, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Loveridge, A. (1923) Notes on East African lizards collected 1920 - 1923 with the description of two new races of Agama lionotus Blgr. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1923, 935 - 969."]}

Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R., Watson, Gillian (2019): Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata). Zootaxa 4576 (1): 1-45, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1

Oedura halli Hewitt, 1935 Records of the Albany Museum, 4:321; Plate XXIX, Figs1–2. Current name: Afroedura halli (Hewitt, 1935) Topotypes (2): PEM R8481 and 8502 (formerly AMG 6880); Telle Junction near Palmietfontein, Herschel district, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; Mr. Chas Hall. Remarks. The type description refers to two adult male specimens in the NMP. Although one of the syntypes was exchanged to the TMP (no. 19183) according to Mashinini & Mahlangu (2013). In the description it is mentioned that Mr. Hall presented an additional nine specimens to Hewitt (p. 323). The PEM have two of these specimens with exactly the same collection details as the syntypes. The PEM male specimens (PEM R8502) fit the illustrated specimens in the type description. It is best to regard the PEM material as topotypes. Additional nontype PEM specimens referred to in the type description: Majuba Nek (PEM R8454, R8573), Cala (PEM R8898) and Masito (PEM R11918)., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1935) Some new forms of batrachians and reptiles from South Africa. Records of the Albany Museum, 4, 283 - 357.","Mashinini, P. L. & Mahlangu, L. M. (2013) An annotated catalogue of the types of gekkonid lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in the Herpetology collection of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, South Africa. Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, 3, 166 - 181."]}

Pachydactylus etultra Branch, Bauer, Jackman & Heinicke, 2011 Breviora, 524:4; Figs. 1–3. Paratypes (4): a) PEM R17293; Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (24°46’45.3”S, 15°53’17.8”E; 2415DD; 896 m a.s.l.), Namib-Rand Nature Reserve, Hardap Region, Maltahöhe District, Namibia; W.R. Branch, 20 April 2007. b) PEM R17294; same details as above but collected 21 April 2007. c) PEM R17295 & R17297; same details as above but collected by W.R. Branch, D. Branch and V. Swanepoel, 22 April 2007., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on pages 14-15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Branch, W. R., Bauer, A. M., Jackman, T. R. & Heinicke, M. (2011) A New Species of the Pachydactylus weberi Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Namibrand Reserve, Southern Namibia. Breviora, 524, 1 - 15. https: // doi. org / 10.3099 / 0006 - 9698 - 524.1.1"]}

Tropidosaura montana rangeri Hewitt, 1926c Annals of the South African Museum, 20:485. Plate XLIV, Fig. 3. The PEM is in possession of three series of uncatalogued material: AMG 5445 (seven specimens) collected by G.A. Ranger at Kei Road on 13 October 1926, AMG 5375 collected by G.A. Ranger from Gleniffer Kei Road on 23 June 1926, and AMG 5384 collected by G.A. Ranger from Gleniffer Kei Road on 8 July 1925. The description refers to a specimen collected by G.A. Ranger in November 1925, and states that it was the only specimen in the AMG at that time. The only specimen that would have been available to Hewitt was AMG 5384. We compared the dorsal head scales to those illustrated in the description and they do not match. The type is thus currently unaccounted for, but may be included in the existing series if the type drawing was in error. Presently we regard this series of specimens in the PEM as topotypes, collected shortly after the types’ stated collecting date. This forms a suitable source for a neotype should this be considered desirable., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1926 c) Some new or little-known reptiles and batrachians from South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum, 20, 473 - 490."]}

Zygaspis vandami arenicola Broadley & Broadley, 1997 Syntarsus, 4:19; Fig. 12. Paratype: PEM R10382 (formerly TMP 3001 and re-catalogued as AMG 2626); Lourenço Marques [= Maputo], Mozambique; collector unknown, 4 December 1915. Remarks. No documentation could be found discussing the transfer of material between the TMP to the AMG and must have been destroyed in the fire. The specimen is bleached but otherwise in good condition., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 3, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Broadley, D. G. & Broadley, S. (1997) A revision of the African genus Zygaspis Cope (Reptilia: Amphisbaenia). Syntarsus, 4, 1 - 24."]}

Eremias nitida garambensis Schmidt, 1919 Bulletin of the American Museum (Natural History), 39(2):511. Current name: Heliobolus nitidus garambensis (Schmidt, 1919). Paratype: PEM R13994 (formerly AMNH 10692 and later AMG 4314); Garamba, Democratic Republic of the Congo; collector unknown, 1 May 1912. Remarks. No evidence of transfer from AMNH to AMG. AMNH online database refers to this specimen as a paratype. Tail lost post-mortem and unaccounted for., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on pages 23-24, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Schmidt, K. P. (1919) Contributions to the herpetology of the Belgian Congo based on the collection of the American Congo expedition, 1909 - 1915. Part I: turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and chameleons. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 39 (2), 385 - 624."]}

Acontias gracilicauda Essex, 1925 Records of the Albany Museum, 3:334 Fig. p. 335 (right) Holotype: PEM R5131 (AMG un-numbered); Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; E. Railey, date unknown. Remarks. The type description provides measurements for the ‘Type’. PEM R5131 is labeled (in D.G. Broadley’s handwriting) as the holotype and fits the dimensions provided in the type description (Fig. right, p. 335). Conradie et al. (2018) in error referred to this specimen as the lectotype. The specimens from Carolina (PEM R5140) and Alicedale (PEM R5142–4) are discussed in the description and were present in the type bottle, but have no nomenclatural standing. The type is in good condition, except for part of the ventral skin removed. Essex (1925, 1927) dissected one A. gracilicauda to study the pectoral girdle, but this could not have been the holotype as there is no anterior incision in PEM R5131. An unlabeled and unaccessioned specimen in the original type bottle received from AMG has the ventral skin removed and an anterior incision to expose the pectoral region. This is probably the specimen on which Essex based his description of the pectoral region. It is without provenance and has no nomenclatural standing., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Essex, R. (1925) Descriptions of two new species of the genus Acontias and notes on some other lizards found in the Cape Province. Records of the Albany Museum, 3, 332 - 342.","Conradie, W., Busshau, T. & Edwards, E. (2018) Two new species of Acontias form the Mpumalanga Highveld escarpment of South Africa. Zootaxa, 4429 (1), 089 - 106. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4429.1.3","Essex, R. (1927) Studies in reptilian degeneration. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 4, 879 - 945. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1469 - 7998.1927. tb 07438. x"]}

Rhampholeon tilburyi Branch, Bayliss & Tolley, 2014 Zootaxa, 3814(1):25; Fig. 8. Holotype: PEM R14921; in the Ukalini Forest that nestles under the south face of the main Namuli Peak, Namuli Massif (15°22’S, 37°04’E; ca. 1550 m a.s.l.), Zambezia Province, Mozambique; local guide, 30 November 1998. Paratypes (7): a) PEM R17132 (male allotype), R17134 & R17133; SDZ Cha Sarl Tea Estate at Gurué (15°26’51.6”S, 37°00’32.6”E; ca. 839 m a.s.l.), Namuli Massif, Zambezia Province, Mozambique; K.A. Tolley and S. van Noort, 26 May 2006. b) PEM R17135; SDZ Cha Sarl Tea Estate at Gurué (15°26’42.8”S, 37°00’19.2”E); K.A. Tolley and S. van Noort, 26 May 2006. c) PEM R17131; SDZ Cha Sarl Tea Estate at Gurué (15°26’49”S, 37°00’29”E); K.A. Tolley and S. van Noort, 26 May 2006. d) PEM R20372 –3; Muretha Plateau (15°23’26”S, 37°02’03”E; ca. 1804 m a.s.l.), Namuli Massif, Zambezia Province, Mozambique; J. Bayliss, 27 May 2007., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 6, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Branch, W. R., Bayliss, J. & Tolley, K. A. (2014) Pygmy chameleons of the Rhampholeon platyceps complex (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae): Description of four new species from isolated ' sky islands' of northern Mozambique. Zootaxa, 3814 (1), 1 - 36. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3814.1.1"]}

Zonurus cordylus rhodesianus Hewitt, 1933 Occasional Papers of the Rhodesian Museum, 2: 48; Plate 9, Fig. 3. Current name: Cordylus rhodesianus (Hewitt, 1933) Syntypes (3): PEM R5294–6 (formerly AMG 6583); Monte Cassino, Macheke, Zimbabwe; Rev. K. Tasman. Remarks. Type series consists of eight specimens, two in NMZB (nos. 1222–3) and the remainder in the PEM according to the type description. Subsequently, two have been donated to TMP (nos.1485–6) and one to MCZ (R 33448). Specimen PEM R5294 can, with confidence, be associated with Plate 9, fig 3, based on the body shape and the ventral cut exposing part of the trachea. All three remaining PEM types are in good condition with ventral incisions from pectoral region to above anal plate. PEM R5296 has a detached tail tied onto specimen., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Hewitt, J. (1933) Descriptions of some new reptiles and a frog from Rhodesia. Occasional Papers of the Rhodesian Museum, 2, 45 - 50."]}

Pachydactylus monicae Bauer, Lamb & Branch, 2006 Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 26:664; Figs. 82–87. Paratypes (2): a) PEM R7626; Reuning Mine (2816BB), Richtersveld National Park, Northern Cape Province, South Africa; H.H. Braack, date unknown. b) PEM R1192; Sendelingsdrif (28°07’S, 16°53’E; 50 m a.s.l.), Richtersveld National Park, Northern Cape Province, South Africa; W.R. Branch, A.M. Bauer and D.A. Good, 20 September 1995. Remarks: Both paratypes are bleached, and PEM R7626 has a missing tail., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 18, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Bauer, A. M., Lamb, T. & Branch, W. R. (2006) A revision of the Pachydactylus serval and P. weberi groups (Reptilia: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) of Southern Africa, with the description of eight new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 57, 595 - 709."]}

Geko wahlbergii Smith, 1849 Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, Plate 75 and associated unnumbered text. Current name: Homopholis wahlbergii (Smith, 1849) Neotype: PEM R17603; Jozini Dam, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa; W.R. Branch, J. Marais and A. Bauer, 29 June 2008. Remarks. Broadley et. al. (2014) designated PEM R17603 as a neotype as Smith (1849) never designated types. This specimen has a small ventral incision and its tail is missing., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 10, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562

Acontias breviceps Essex, 1925 Records of the Albany Museum, 3:332. Fig. p. 335 (left). Lectotype: PEM R5570 (AMG un-numbered); Hogsback, Amatola Mountains, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; R. Essex, September 1924. Paralectotypes (2): PEM R5101 & R5102; same collection details as lectotype. Remarks. Both the lectotype and one of the parolectotypes (PEM R5101) have the pectoral region dissected to enable Essex to study the pectoral girdle (see drawing in Essex 1925:333). Parolectotype PEM R5101 has a damaged (crushed) head. Paralectotype PEM R5102 is a dehydrated juvenile with mid-ventral cut extending onto the right side of the belly. After examining the AMG material, D.G. Broadley (16 March 1968) added a label to PEM R5570 noting that it is the lectotype. However, this was not formally stated in the resulting manuscript (Broadley & Greer 1969), which refers only to 3 cotypes. As PEM R5570 is the specimen illustrated in the type description (Fig. left, p. 335)–and is in good condition–Conradie et al. (2018) designate it as lectotype., Published as part of Conradie, Werner, Branch, William R. & Watson, Gillian, 2019, Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata), pp. 1-45 in Zootaxa 4576 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2624562, {"references":["Essex, R. (1925) Descriptions of two new species of the genus Acontias and notes on some other lizards found in the Cape Province. Records of the Albany Museum, 3, 332 - 342."]}