Search

International audience; A total of 125 snakes belonging to 32 species were collected in May 2021 during a field survey in two areas of south-eastern Katanga (Kashobwe, 09°40’S / 28°37’E, and vicinity of Bwalia, 10°58’S / 28°09’E). Philothamnus bocagii Günther, 1888 is revived from the synonymy of Philothamnus semivariegatus (Smith, 1847) and Atractaspis katangae Boulenger, 1901 from the synonymy of Atractaspis bibronii Smith, 1849. Afrotyphlops dinga (Peters, 1854), which has priority on Afrotyphlops mucruso (Peters, 1854), is revived. Dispholidus punctatus Laurent, 1955 is treated as a full species and no longer as a subspecies of Dispholidus typus (Smith, 1828). Dasypeltis congolensis Trape, Mediannikov, Chirio and Chirio, 2021 and Boaedon fradei Hallermann et al., 2020 are mentioned for the first time from Katanga.; Une enquête de terrain effectuée en mai 2021 dans deux régions du sud-est du Katanga (Kashobwé, 09°40’S / 28°37’E, et environs de Bwalia, 10°58’S / 28°09’E) a permis la collecte de 125 serpents appartenant à 32 espèces. Philothamnus bocagii Günther, 1888, est rétabli de la synonymie de Philothamnus semivariegatus (Smith, 1847) et Atractaspis katangae Boulenger, 1901 de celle d’Atractaspis bibronii Smith, 1849. Afrotyphlops dinga (Peters, 1854), qui a priorité sur Afrotyphlops mucruso (Peters, 1854), est rétabli. Dispholidus punctatus Laurent, 1955 est traité comme espèce à part entière et non plus comme une sous-espèce de Dispholidus typus (Smith, 1828). Dasypeltis congolensis Trape, Mediannikov, Chirio et Chirio, 2021 et Boaedon fradei Hallermann et al., 2020 sont mentionnés pour la première fois du Katanga.

International audience; Three new snakes of the genus Lycophidion Fizinger, 1843 (Squamata : Lamprophiidae) in Central Africa. Two new species and one subspecies of the genus Lycophidion are described from Central Africa in the species group L. capense (Smith, 1831). Lycophidion tchadensis sp. nov. is described from Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian areas of eastern Chad and northeastern Central African Republic, L. chirioi sp. nov. is described from wet savanna areas of the Central African Republic and L. jacksoni occidentale ssp. nov. is described from Adamawa mountains in Cameroon and several areas of the Central African Republic.; Deux espèces et une sous-espèce nouvelles du genre Lycophidion Fitzinger, 1843, sont décrites d' Afrique centrale dans le groupe de L. capense (Smith, 1831). Lycophidion tchadensis sp. nov. est décrit de l' est du Tchad et du nord-est de la République centrafricaine en zone sahélienne et soudano-sahélienne, L. chirioi sp. nov. est décrit de régions de savane humide de la République centrafricaine et L. jacksoni occidentale ssp. nov. est décrit des montagnes de l' Adamaoua au Cameroun ainsi que diverses régions de la République centrafricaine.

Based on molecular, morphological and field data, the status and zoogeography of the taxa of the Psammophissibilans group north of 12°S are reviewed. Molecular data including sequences from 20 of the 22 described species known to occur north of 12°S suggest that P. sibilans distribution is restricted to northeastern Africa, from Egypt to Ethiopia. Po-pulations from West Africa are described as a new species, P. afroccidentalis sp. nov., and those from Chad, Cameroon and Central African Republic are assigned to P. rukwae which is also distributed from Tanzania to Ethiopia. Molecular data indicate the occurrence within this complex of three additional cryptic species in the Horn of Africa. Populations previous-ly assigned to P. phillipsi in Central Africa north, south and east of the Congo forest block are assigned to P. mossambicus and the status of P. occidentalis is discussed. P. phillipsi is restricted to West Africa, with P. irregularis as junior synonym.

Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857 Naia haie var. melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia: 61. Type locality: Gabon, syntypes ANSP 6875���76, 6878���79. Naja haje var. leucosticta Fischer, 1885, Jahr. Hamburg. Wiss. Anst. 2: 115, pl. v, fig. 11. Type locality: Cameroon and Ogoou�� River, Gabon, syntypes ZMH 4280, 7048, 7299���7302. Naia melanoleuca; Boulenger, 1896: 376 (part, vars. A [a,b] & B [a,b]) Naja melanoleuca melanoleuca; Laurent, 1956: 290, pl. xxvi, fig. 2. Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca ; Wallach et al., 2009. Boulengerina melanoleuca; Wallach et al., 2014: 122. Aspidelaps bocagei Sauvage, 1884: 204 (type locality: Gabon and Majumba; holotype MNHN 1884.0015) has been listed as a synonym of N. melanoleuca (e.g., Broadley, 1983; Wallach et al., 2014; Cer��aco et al., 2017), but is in fact a synonym of Naja annulata, as is evident from Sauvage���s description, which notes approximately 20 dark double bands along the entire body length, and 21 mid-dorsal scale rows (see also Schmidt, 1923). Diagnosis: DOrsum blAck, OftEN with 1���3 sEmidividEd yEllOw crOssbANds ON thE NEck, thE first mAy bE AN OcEllus; vENtEr yEllOw with 4 tO 6 blAck bANds iN thE first 100 vENtrAls, thErEAftEr uNifOrm blAck. Variation: DOrsAl scAlE rOws ON NEck 19���27, At midbOdy 19 (vEry rArEly 17 Or 21); vENtrAls 209���230; subcAudAls 59���74 (TAblE 8). SuprAlAbiAls 7, thE third ANd fOurth ENtEriNg thE Orbit; iNfrAlAbiAls 8, thE first fOur iN cONtAct with thE ANtEriOr subliNguAls, NO cuNEAtE; prEOculAr 1; pOstOculArs 3 (vEry rArEly 2 Or 4); tEmpOrAls 1+2 Or 1+3; NuchAls bOrdEriNg tEmpOrAls 5���9, usuAlly 7. Colouration: HEAd brOwN, thE suprAlAbiAls bArrEd blAck ANd yEllOw, chiN yEllOw. BlAck AbOvE, sOmEtimEs A yEllOw mONOcEllAtE mArkiNg ON thE hOOd, Or 1���3 smAll yEllOw blOtchEs, thE dOrsAl scAlEs mAy bE tippEd with whitE iN juvENilEs (Fig. 8). YEllOw Or whitE bElOw with 4 tO 6 blAck bANds ON thE first 100 vENtrAls, usuAlly uNifOrm blAck thErEAftEr. Largest recorded: 2250+420 = 2670 mm, frOm MONiyA, IbAdAN, NigEriA (ButlEr, 1982: 110). Suggested common name: CENtrAl AfricAN fOrEst cObrA. Distribution: CENtErEd ON thE CONgO BAsiN, wEst tO sOuthwEstErN NigEriA ANd pOssibly sOuthErN BENiN, sOuth tO NOrthErN ANgOlA, NOt ExtENdiNg EAst Of thE AlbErtiNE Rift VAllEy, whErE it is rEplAcEd by N. subfulva. ThE wEstErN rANgE limits ArE pOOrly uNdErstOOd. POpulAtiONs frOm sOuthEAstErN NigEriA ArE clEArly AssigNAblE tO this fOrm. A fEw spEcimENs frOm LAmtA, sOuthErN BENiN (IRD 12.B, IRD 54.B, IRD 60.B), ANd GhANA (MNHN 1983.0663���64; NO furthEr lOcAlity iNfOrmAtiON) AlsO AppEAr tO bE AssigNAblE tO N. melanoleuca., Published as part of W��ster, Wolfgang, Chirio, Laurent, Trape, Jean-Fran��ois, Ineich, Ivan, Jackson, Kate, Greenbaum, Eli, Barron, Cesar, Kusamba, Chifundera, Nagy, Zolt��n T., Storey, Richard, Hall, Cara, W��ster, Catharine E., Barlow, Axel & Broadley, Donald G., 2018, Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Zootaxa 4455 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4455.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1456971, {"references":["Hallowell, E. (1857) Notes of a collection of reptiles from the Gaboon country, West Africa, recently presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Dr. Henry A. Ford. Proceedings of Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 9, 48 - 72.","Fischer, J. G. (1885) Ichthyologische und herpetologische Bemerkungen. V. Herpetologische Bemerkungen. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 2, 82 - 121.","Boulenger, G. A. (1896) Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History) III. British Museum (Natural History), London, 727 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 54273","Laurent, R. F. (1956) Contribution a l'herpetologie de la region des Grands Lacs de l'Afrique centrale. I. Generalites. II. Cheloniens. III. Ophidiens. Annales du Musee royal du Congo Belge, 48, 1 - 390.","Wallach, V., Wuster, W. & Broadley, D. G. (2009) In praise of subgenera: taxonomic status of cobras of the genus Naja Laurenti (Serpentes: Elapidae). Zootaxa, 2236, 26 - 36.","Wallach, V., Williams, K. L. & Boundy, J. (2014) Snakes of the World. A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1227 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1201 / b 16901","Sauvage, H. E. (1884) Notice sur une collection de reptiles et de poissons recueillie a Majumba, Congo. Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France, 9, 199 - 204.","Broadley, D. G. (1983) FitzSimons' Snakes of Southern Africa. Delta Books, Johannesburg, 376 pp.","Ceriaco, L. M. P., Marques, M. P., Schmitz, A. & Bauer, A. M. (2017) The \" Cobra-preta \" of Sao Tome Island, Gulf of Guinea, is a new species of Naja Laurenti, 1768 (Squamata: Elapidae). Zootaxa, 4324 (1), 121 - 141. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4324.1","Schmidt, K. P. (1923) Contributions to the herpetology of the Belgian Congo based on the collection of the American Museum Congo Expedition, 1909 - 1915. Part II. Snakes. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 49, 1 - 146.","Butler, J. A. (1982) Capture au Nigeria d'un Naja noir et blanc de grande taille et notes sur les autres Najas de l'Ouest Africain. Notes Africaines, 176, 110 - 111."]}

Naja (Boulengerina) subfulva Laurent, 1955 Naia melanoleuca (not Hallowell); Boulenger, 1896: 376 (part, vars A [c] & E). Naja melanoleuca subfulva Laurent, 1955, Revue Zool.��� Bot. Afr. 51: 132. Type locality: Lwiro, 1850 m, Kabare, Kivu, Belgian Congo [= Democratic Republic of Congo], holotype MRAC 17514. Naja melanoleuca aurata Stucki-Stirn, 1979, Snake Report 721: 617���620. Type locality: Bamenda, Cameroon. No type designated. Naja subfulva; Chirio & Ineich, 2006: 54. Naja melanoleuca subfulva; Chirio & LeBreton, 2007: 584. Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca subfulva ; Broadley & Blaylock, 2013: 139. Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca; Conradie et al., 2016: 28. Diagnosis. MidbOdy scAlE rOws 19, ExcEpt AlONg cOAstAl rEgiONs Of EAst AfricA (KENyA, TANzANiA), whErE mOst spEcimENs hAvE 17 rOws. PAttErN highly vAriAblE. Adults Of mOst pOpulAtiONs distiNguishAblE iN hAviNg A brOwN fOrEbOdy, OftEN with spOts, gENErAlly bEcOmiNg dArkEr Or blAckish pOstEriOrly. LAbiAl pAttErN mAy bE AttENuAtEd iN mANy Adults. VENtEr with sEvErAl blAck, dArk brOwN Or grEyish crOssbANds ON thE first 50 vENtrAls, grAduAlly bEcOmiNg uNifOrm blAck cAudAd iN sOmE pOpulAtiONs, but OftEN rEmAiNiNg ENtirEly light, OftEN with ExtENsivE dArkEr spOttiNg Or spEckliNg. WhErE prEsENt, thE light fOrEbOdy ANd/Or light pOstEriOr vENtEr ArE diAgNOstic fOr this spEciEs. GENErAlly fEwEr vENtrAl bANds ANd vENtrAl scAlEs thAN N. melanoleuca Or N. savannula ANd fEwEr subcAudAls thAN N. savannula (TAblE 8). GENEticAlly diAgNOsAblE thrOugh pOssEssiON Of uNiquE mitOchONdriAl hAplOtypEs (cyt b: GENBANk MH337603 ���633; ND4: MH337409 ���439) ANd uNiquE PRLR ANd UBN1 hAplOtypEs (PRLR: MH337441 ���471; UBN1: MH337531, MH337536 ���562, MH337564 ���566). Variation. DOrsAl scAlE rOws ON NEck 19���27, At midbOdy 19 (vEry rArEly 17 Or 21); vENtrAls 196���226; ANAl ENtirE; subcAudAls 55���71 (TAblE 8). SuprAlAbiAls 7 (vEry rArEly 5 Or 6), thE third ANd fOurth ENtEriNg Orbit; iNfrAlAbiAls 8 (rArEly 7), thE first fOur (rArEly thrEE) iN cONtAct with thE ANtEriOr subliNguAls, NO cuNEAtE (vEry rArEly ONE); prEOculAr 1; pOstOculArs 3; tEmpOrAl 1+2 Or 1+3; tEmpOrAl bOrdEriNg pAriEtAls 5���9, usuAlly 7. Colouration. HEAd brOwN, thE suprAlAbiAls usuAlly bArrEd blAck ANd yEllOw, chiN yEllOw. DOrsum uNifOrm blAck, Or with fAiNt whitE crOssbArs Or whitE-tippEd dOrsAl scAlEs, rEsultiNg iN A stippliNg EffEct, iN All juvENilEs. Adults frOm thE pEriphEry Of LAkE VictOriA ANd pArts Of thE CONgO BAsiN (Fig. 9) hAvE A uNifOrmly blAck dOrsum As Adults, whErEAs iN mOst Of thE rANgE, Adults bEcOmE brOwN ANtEriOrly. ThErE mAy bE 2 Or 3 fAiNt yEllOw dividEd crOssbArs ON thE NEck. VENtrAl bANdiNg OftEN fAiNt iN Adults, with grEy Or pAlE brOwN vENtrAl bANds thAt mAy bE vEry iNcONspicuOus, Or lAckiNg AltOgEthEr. NArrOw AccEssOry vENtrAl bANds usuAlly AbsENt. Largest recorded. 2016+380 = 2396 mm (tAil truNcAtEd) [JPT 1856 ��� ZiNAvE, MOzAmbiquE], but NMZB-UM 17594 frOm INyANgANi TEA EstAtEs, ZimbAbwE, hAd A tOtAl lENgth Of 2690 mm (ONly hEAd ANd NEck prEsErvEd). Suggested common name. BrOwN fOrEst cObrA. This suggEstiON rEflEcts thE fAct thAt iN mOst pOpulAtiONs, with thE ExcEptiON Of thE surrOuNdiNgs Of LAkE VictOriA ANd sOmE lOcAtiONs iN thE CONgO BAsiN, thE ANtEriOr bOdy Of Adults is brOwN rAthEr thAN blAck. WE NOtE thAt thE distributiON Of this spEciEs iNcludEs mANy NON-fOrEstEd hAbitAts, iNcludiNg sAvANNAs ANd OpEN wEtlANds (SpAwls et al., 2018). HOwEvEr, rEtENtiON Of thE wOrd ���fOrEst��� iN thE cOmmON NAmE cONvEys thE phylOgENEtic iNfOrmAtiON thAt this spEciEs is pArt Of thE Naja melanoleuca cOmplEx. Distribution. FOrEst/sAvANNA mOsAic, ENcircliNg thE CONgO BAsiN, frOm thE grAssfiElds Of wEstErN CAmErOON NOrthwArd, rEAchiNg 13.45��N At BOl, ChAd, ON thE NOrthErN shOrE Of LAkE ChAd (IRD 2802.N), EAst thrOugh thE CAR ANd SOuth SudAN tO wEstErN EthiOpiA, sOuth thrOugh UgANdA, wEstErN KENyA, EAstErN DRC, RwANdA, BuruNdi ANd wEstErN TANzANiA tO NOrthErN MAlAwi, wEst thrOugh ZAmbiA ANd KAtANgA tO ANgOlA ANd thE LOwEr CONgO rEgiON (Fig. 6). ThE distributiON ExtENds disjuNctly EAst ANd sOuth tO thE EAst AfricAN cOAst frOm KENyA tO NOrthErN KwAZulu-NAtAl (SOuth AfricA), iNcludiNg iNlANd lOcAtiONs iN wEstErN ZimbAbwE. ThE prEcisE distributiON Of this tAxON iN thE CONgO rEgiON rEmAiNs tO bE AscErtAiNEd: wE hAvE hErE prOvidEd mOlEculAr EvidENcE Of multiplE spEcimENs Of this spEciEs frOm thE EvErgrEEN fOrEst zONE Of NOrthErN REpublic Of CONgO (LikOuAlA FOrEst ��� JAcksON et al., 2007) ANd thE NOrthEAstErN DRC (NOrthwEstErN OriENtAlE PrOviNcE AlONg thE CONgO RivEr). SOmE Of thEsE spEcimENs ANd pOpulAtiONs ArE difficult tO diffErENtiAtE frOm sympAtric N. melanoleuca, NEcEssitAtiNg thE usE Of DNA bArcOdiNg ApprOAchEs (HEbErt et al., 2003; ClAusE et al., 2016) tO ENsurE rEliAblE idENtificAtiON. TwO spEcimENs frOm sOuthEAstErN NigEriA with lOw vENtrAl scAlE cOuNts ANd lAckiNg vENtrAl bANdiNg Or displAyiNg A siNglE fAdEd bANd mAy AlsO bE AssigNAblE tO this spEciEs (DEgEmA, RivErs StAtE: BMNH 1902.11.10.9, ANd ���Oil RivEr ���: BMNH 88.8.29.20), suggEstiNg A widEr distributiON iN EAstErN NigEriA. Comment. This spEciEs displAys cONsidErAblE gEOgrAphic vAriAtiON iN pAttErN ANd scAlAtiON, As wEll As iNdicAtiONs Of phylOgEOgrAphic structurE. ThE prEsENt study fOcusEd ON thE rElAtiONships AmONg thE fivE mitOchONdriAlly dEfiNEd cANdidAtE spEciEs, ANd did NOt ENcOmpAss thE full rANgE Of mOrphOlOgicAl vAriAtiON iN N. subfulva. It is pOssiblE thAt futurE wOrk mAy idENtify AdditiONAl cryptic divErsity withiN this widE-rANgiNg ANd vAriAblE spEciEs., Published as part of W��ster, Wolfgang, Chirio, Laurent, Trape, Jean-Fran��ois, Ineich, Ivan, Jackson, Kate, Greenbaum, Eli, Barron, Cesar, Kusamba, Chifundera, Nagy, Zolt��n T., Storey, Richard, Hall, Cara, W��ster, Catharine E., Barlow, Axel & Broadley, Donald G., 2018, Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Zootaxa 4455 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4455.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1456971, {"references":["Laurent, R. F. (1955) Diagnoses preliminaires de quelques serpents venimeux. Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaine, 51, 127 - 139.","Boulenger, G. A. (1896) Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History) III. British Museum (Natural History), London, 727 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 54273","Stucki-Stirn, M. C. (1979) Snake Report 721. Herpeto-Verlag, Teuffenthal, 650 pp.","Chirio, L. & Ineich, I. (2006) Biogeography of the reptiles of the Central African Republic. African Journal of Herpetology, 55, 23 - 59. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 21564574.2006.9635538","Chirio, L. & LeBreton, M. (2007) Atlas des reptiles du Cameroun. Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 686 pp.","Broadley, D. G. & Blaylock, R. (2013) The Snakes of Zimbabwe and Botswana. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 387 pp.","Conradie, W., Bills, R. & Branch, W. R. (2016) The herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and lower Cuando river catchments of south-eastern Angola. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 10, 6 - 36."]}

Naja (Boulengerina) savannula sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio & Wüster Naia melanoleuca (not Hallowell) Boulenger, 1896: 376 (part, var. D). Naja “banded form” Hughes, 2013: 128. Naja sp. 1 cf. melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857 (yellow banded dorsum) Trape & Baldé, 2014:318. Naja sp. 1 cf. melanoleuca (banded savanna form) Trape & Baldé, 2014: 336. Holotype: MNHN 2018.0002, an adult male collected by Laurent Chirio on 31/03/ 2007 in Niénié, W Biosphere Reserve, Benin, 11.05920 °N, 2.20488 °E, elevation 272 m (Fig. 7). Paratype: BMNH 1975.657, a male specimen collected on the grounds of Amadou Bello University Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria, by D. A. Warrell. Diagnosis: DistiNguishAblE frOm OthEr spEciEs Of thE N. melanoleuca cOmplEx by thE prEsENcE Of 3 tO 8 sEmidividEd yEllOwish Or whitish bANds ON thE ANtEriOr dOrsAl fOrEbOdy, bEcOmiNg uNifOrm blAck cAudAd; vENtEr yEllOw with 2 tO 8 blAck bANds. GENErAlly highEr mEAN subcAudAl scAlE cOuNts thAN thE OthEr spEciEs. GENEticAlly diAgNOsAblE thrOugh pOssEssiON Of uNiquE mitOchONdriAl hAplOtypEs (cytOchrOmE b: GENBANk MH337597 –602; ND4: MH337403 –408) ANd uNiquE PRLR ANd UBN1 hAplOtypEs (PRLR: MH337501 –504; UBN1: MH337532 – 535). Description of holotype. DimENsiONs: A mAlE spEcimEN, sNOut–vENt lENgth 1815 mm, tAil lENgth 376 mm, tOtAl lENgth 2191 mm, rAtiO tOtAl lENgth: tAil lENgth 5.8. BOdy scAlAtiON: 25 scAlE rOws ArOuNd hOOd, 19 ArOuNd midbOdy, 15 ONE hEAd lENgth AhEAd Of thE vENt, All smOOth ANd ObliquE. DOrsAl scAlEs smOOth, ObliquE. VErtEbrAl rOw NOt ENlArgEd. 213 vENtrAls (ANd ONE iNcOmplEtE vENtrAl bEfOrE thE ANAl), 69 subcAudAls, All dividEd, ANAl siNglE. HEAd scAlAtiON: 7/7 suprAlAbiAls, 3rd & 4th cONtAct Orbit, 6th lArgEst; 8/8 iNfrAlAbiAls, first 4 cONtAct ANtEriOr chiN shiElds; pOstEriOr chiN shiElds iN NArrOw cONtAct At thEir ANtEriOr ENd, sEpArAtEd by mEdiAN scAlE AlONg mOst Of thEir lENgth; 1/1 prEOculAr, twicE As lONg As high; 3/3 pOstOculArs; 1/1 ANtEriOr tEmpOrAl; 3/3 pOstEriOr tEmpOrAls; rOstrAl brOAdEr thAN high, clEArly visiblE frOm AbOvE; 7 tEmpOrAls ANd NuchAls cONtActiNg thE pAriEtAls. PAttErN: uppEr sidE Of hEAd brOwN, lips ANd vENtrAl sidE Of thE hEAd pAlE crEAmy yEllOwish with EAch lAbiAl scAlE lAtErAlly bOrdErEd with blAck. NEck brOwN, dOrsum bEcOmiNg grAduAlly blAck tOwArds rEAr. TwO vEry distiNct pAlE dOrsAl crOssbANds At thE lEvEl Of vENtrAls (V) 24 tO 28, twO OthEr At lEvEl Of V 40 – 45, thrEE At lEvEl Of V 58 – 64, thrEE lEss distiNct At lEvEl Of V 77 – 83, ANd thrEE slightly mArkEd At lEvEl Of V 98 – 104. VENtrAls 1 tO 11, 13–19, 23– 31, 38–47 ANd 57–66 pAlE crEAmy yEllOwish, V 20–22 ANd 32 – 37 blAck; V 12 ANd 48–56 yEllOwish spOttEd with blAck spOts. FrOm vENtrAl 67 tO thE vENt, vENtrAls spOttEd with blAck grAduAlly bEcOmE cOmplEtEly blAck. SubcAudAls blAck. Variation: DOrsAl scAlE rOws ON NEck 19–25, At midbOdy 19, bEfOrE vENt 12–15; vENtrAls 211–233, subcAudAls 63–77 (TAblE 8). DOrsAl sEmi-dividEd yEllOw bANds 3–8; vENtrAl priNcipAl blAck bANds 2–8 (Fig. 7). Etymology: ThE NAmE is dErivEd frOm thE cONtrActiON Of its sAvANNA hAbitAt ANd ANNulAtEd cOlOur pAttErN ANd wAs cOiNEd by BArry HughEs iN AN uNpublishEd 1968 mANuscript. WE hAvE rEtAiNEd this NAmE At thE rEquEst Of Our cOllEAguE BArry HughEs. Largest recorded: 1825+405 = 2230 mm, frOm MEdiNA DjikOyE, SENEgAl (IRD 6155.S). Suggested common name: WEst AfricAN bANdEd cObrA. Distribution: SENEgAl ANd GAmbiA EAst tO NOrthErN CAmErOON (Fig. 6). Naja savannula AppEArs tO bE rEstrictEd tO gAllEry fOrEst ArEAs iN AfricA iN GuiNEAN FOrEst/SAvANNA MOsAic, ExtENdiNg NOrthwArds iNtO WEst SudANiAN SAvANNA (ChiriO, 2003, 2013; MONAstEriO et al., 2016). Our rEcOrds ArE mOstly frOm lAtitudEs 10–14°N, ExcEpt iN thE DAhOmEy GAp iN EAstErN GhANA ANd BENiN, whErE thE spEciEs ApprOAchEs thE Gulf Of GuiNEA COAst. ThE EAstErN ExtENt Of thE rANgE is pOOrly uNdErstOOd. A spEcimEN frOm MArgui WANdAlA district, NOrthErN CAmErOON (ApprOx. 10.5°N 13.6°E; MNHN 1962.0022) AppEArs tO bE AssigNAblE tO this spEciEs, ANd ONE Of us (JFT) rEcENtly cOllEctEd A spEcimEN frOm MbOurA, 20 km SW BAïbOkOum, LOgONE OriENtAl PrOviNcE, ChAd (7.598°N, 15.596°E; IRD 2281.N), ANd thErE is A rEcENt rEcOrd frOm NEAr NiAmEy, NigEr (LC, uNpublishEd dAtA). It sEEms likEly thAt thE spEciEs hAs A widEr distributiON iN NOrthErN CAmErOON, ExtrEmE sOuthErN ChAd ANd pOssibly EvEN ExtrEmE NOrthwEstErN CENtrAl AfricAN REpublic (CAR).

The sub-Saharan African file snake genus Gonionotophis is currently comprised of 15 species. However, the concept of this genus has been confounded by morphological and genetic differences between the constituent taxa. Due to the dearth of DNA samples, a taxonomic assessment has been impractical to date. We therefore sequenced two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker (16S, cyt b, and c-mos) from 45 samples representing ten species of Gonionotophis to construct a molecular phylogeny using Bayesian and likelihood approaches. Four divergent and well-supported clades were recovered, including: (1) grantii+brussauxi; (2) poensis+stenophthalmus; (3) nyassae; and (4) capensis, chanleri, crossi, guirali and savorgnani. Based on these results and morphological data, the genus Gonionotophis is restricted to the first clade, Mehelya is resurrected for the species in the second clade, and new genera are described for the remaining two clades.ZooBankurn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A82CFAD6-E2E0-439E-90BB-9224E225426B

Ineich, Ivan, Trape, Jean-François (2017): Euprepes chaperi Vaillant, 1884, a junior subjective synonym of Mochlus guineensis (W. Peters, 1879) (Scincidae, Lygosominae). Zootaxa 4232 (4): 585-587, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4232.4.9

Varanus exanthematicus (Bosc, 1792) Lacerta exanthematicus Bosc, 1792: 25. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 7 specimens: Togo. Bassar, ZMB 16041; Binanparba, RMCA 73.009.R.0188-0189; Bismarkburg (actually Yégué in Adélé), ZMB 11254; Moba (actually Dapaong), ZMB 24920; Mango, ZMB 16040; Sokodé, ZMB 16275. HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This is a widespread species in the Guinea and Sudanese savannahs. It was recorded by Matschie (1893) and Tornier (1901) for Bismarkburg, Bassar, Mango, Sokodé and Yendi (actually in Ghana). It was also generally reported to occur in Togo by Bayless (2002). It is heavily exported for the international pet trade: for instance, according to the CITES division of the DFC, 20350 live specimens were exported between 2001 and 2005 (see also Affre et al. 2005)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 396, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["BOSC L. 1792. - Lacerta exanthematica. Actes de la Societe d'Histoire naturelle de Paris 1: 25, pl. V.","TORNIER G. 1901. - Die Crocodile, Schildkroten und Eidechsen in Togo. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte (Beiheft) 1901: 65 - 88.","BAYLESS M. K. 2002. - Monitor lizards: a pan-African check-list of their zoogeography (Sauria: Varanidae: Polydaedalus). Journal of Biogeography 29: 1643 - 1700.","AFFRE A., INEICH I. & RINGUET S. 2005. - West-Africa, Madagascar, Central- and South-America: main origins of the CITES-listed lizard pet market in France. Herpetological Review 36 (2): 133 - 137."]}

Gastropholis echinata (Cope, 1862) Lacerta (Zootoca) echinata Cope, 1862: 189. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 2 specimens: Liberia. No precise locality, ZMB 38683. Ghana. Koforidua ZMB 45223. DISTRIBUTION. — We never recorded this species during our surveys. Its overall distribution, ranging from Liberia to RDC (Matschie 1893; Chirio & LeBreton 2007), as well as a specimen from Koforidua, Ghana (ZMB 45223), a locality close to the border of Togo, suggests that it should be present in Togo. In Ivory Coast this arboreal forest species is also known to occur in plantations (Rödel 1996)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 389, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["COPE E. D. 1862. - On Lacerta echinata and Tiliqua dura. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 14: 189 - 191.","CHIRIO L. & LEBRETON M. 2007. - Atlas des Reptiles du Cameroun. Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; IRD, Paris, 688 p. (Patrimoines naturels; 67)."]}

Genus Lepidothyris Cope, 1892 Lepidothyris fernandi (Burton, 1836) (Fig. 4) Tiliqua fernandi Burton, 1836: 62. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 14 specimens: Togo. Badou, MNHN 2006.2243, ZMB 77925-77929; Notsé, MNHN 2006.2242; Badou, ZMB 77925-77929. Bénin. No precise locality, MNHN 1986.768-769. HABITATS, NATURAL HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION. — Lepidothyris fernandi is essentially a forest species, although in Nigeria it may also be found in plantations at the border of the main forest (Akani et al. 2009). This species is usually active in the evening, and most of the specimens spend the whole day inside their burrows (Akani et al. 2009). Isopoda and Coleoptera dominated in the dietary samples of Nigerian specimens, but also other lizards were frequently eaten (at least in swamp forest habitat during the wet season; Eniang et al. 2014b). This species is here recorded for the first time from Togo, although many individuals (for instance, up to 1540 specimens between 2001 and 2005) are regularly exported every year for the pet trade. The genus attribution of this species follows Wagner et al. (2009)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 387, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["BURTON E. 1836. - A saurian reptile of the family Scincidae and of the genus Tiliqua, Gray. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1836: 62.","AKANI G. C., LUISELLI L., OGBEIBU A. E., UWAEGBU M. & EBERE N. 2009. - Activity patterns and habitat selection in a population of the African fire skink (Lygosoma fernandi) from the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Herpetological Journal 19: 207 - 211.","ENIANG E. A., AMADI N., PETROZZI F., VIGNOLI L., AKANI G. C. & LUISELLI L. 2014 b. - Inter-seasonal and inter-habitat variations in the diet of the African fire skink, Lygosoma fernandi, from southern Nigeria. Amphibia-Reptilia 35: 371 - 375.","WAGNER P., BOHME W., PAUWELS O. S. G. & SCHMITZ A. 2009. - A review of the African red-flanked skinks of the Lygosoma fernandi (Burton, 1836) species group (Squamata: Scincidae) and the role of climate change in their speciation. Zootaxa 2050: 1 - 30."]}

Gerrhosaurus major (Duméril, 1851) Gerrhosaurus major major Duméril, 1851: 139. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 6 specimens: Togo. Alédjo, RMCA 73.013.R.0011-0013. DOA (Deutsch Ost-Afrikas). ZMB 18814. Ghana. Kété Kratchi, ZMB: 16608 and 17699. HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species was first cited for Togo by Tornier (1901) from Kété-Kratchi, which today is in Ghana. It was also recently reported from the forests bordering Togo and Ghana (Leaché et al. 2006). In Togo it is only known in the areas of the Monts Alédjo and in the mountain chain of Atakora, hence, in the forests of ecological zone IV (Adélé) and in the dry forests of ecological zone II (Fazao Malfakassa and Alédjo forest). In 2003, Fouchard (pers. com) indicated that some specimens were collected in Hiheatro (surroundings of Atakpamé) for the international pet trade. NOTES. —Recently, Bates et al. (2013) erected a new genus (Broadleysaurus) for this species, based on molecular phylogeny data using two mitochondrial markers (ND2, 732 bp; 16S, 576 bp) and one nuclear marker (PRLR, 538 bp). Further studies should confirm whether this genus can be definitely accepted., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 389, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["DUMERIL A. M. C. & DUMERIL A. H. A. 1851. - Catalogue methodique de la collection des reptiles du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris. Gide et Baudry / Roret, Paris, 224 p.","TORNIER G. 1901. - Die Crocodile, Schildkroten und Eidechsen in Togo. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte (Beiheft) 1901: 65 - 88.","LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILL- ERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45.","BATES M. F., TOLLEY K. A., SHELLEY E., DAVIDS Z., DA SILVA J. M. & BRANCH W. R. 2013. - A molecular phylogeny of the African plated lizards, genus Gerrhosaurus Wiegmann, 1828 (Squamata: Gerrhosauridae), with the description of two new genera. Zootaxa 3750: 465 - 493."]}

Genus Ptyodactylus Owen, 1817 Ptyodactylus ragazzi Anderson, 1898 (Fig. 13) Ptyodactylus hasselquistii var. ragazzii Anderson, 1898: 69. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 12 specimens: Togo. Dapaong, coll. JFT 2300; Nanergou, RMCA 73.009.R.0023-0031; no precise locality, ZMB 16312 and 16622. HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — It is a species occurring in Sudanese savannah and in the dry forests. This species was reported to occur in Togo as Ptylodactylus hasselquistii togoensis by Tornier (1901) from the locality of Zogbegan. This latter taxon was put into synonymy with Ptylodactylus ragazzi Anderson, 1898 by Heimes (1987). The species was also recorded in Togo by Loveridge (1947) and Bauer et al. (2006)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 394, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["ANDERSON J. 1898. - Zoology of Egypt. Volume First. Reptilia and Batrachia. Bernard Quaritch, London, xv + 371 p., 50 pls.","TORNIER G. 1901. - Die Crocodile, Schildkroten und Eidechsen in Togo. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte (Beiheft) 1901: 65 - 88.","HEIMES P. 1987. - Beitrag zur Systematik der Facherfinger (Sauria: Gekkonidae: Ptyodactylus). Salamandra, 23: 212 - 235.","LOVERIDGE A. 1947. - Revision of the African lizards of the family Gekkonidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 98: 1 - 469, pl. 1 - 7.","BAUER A. M., TCHIBOZO S., PAUWELS O. S. G. & LEN- GLET G. 2006. - A review of the gekkotan lizards of Benin, with the description of a new species of Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa 1242: 1 - 20."]}

Agama doriae Boulenger, 1885 Agama doriae Boulenger, 1885: 127. DISTRIBUTION. — We did not examine any specimen of this species. PNAE (2002) and Chirio & LeBreton (2007) list this species for Togo without mentioning any specific record. Trape et al. (2012) indicated that this species may occur in Togo since the westernmost record was near Accra, Ghana., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 394, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["BOULENGER G. A. 1885. - Description d'une espece nouvelle d'agame. Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova, ser. 2, 2: 127 - 128","CHIRIO L. & LEBRETON M. 2007. - Atlas des Reptiles du Cameroun. Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris; IRD, Paris, 688 p. (Patrimoines naturels; 67).","TRAPE J. - F., TRAPE S. & CHIRIO L. 2012. - Lezards, crocodiles et tortues d'Afrique occidentale et du Sahara. IRD editions, Marseilles: 1 - 503."]}

Trachylepis quinquetaeniata (Lichtenstein, 1823) Scincus quinquetaeniatus Lichtenstein, 1823: 103. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 19 specimens: Togo. Agoé, coll. GHS-W 0231-0232, 0236-0237, 0281 and 0283; Dapaong, coll. JFT 2299; Huiléhoé, coll. JFT 2172; Mango, ZMB 16604 (2 specimens); Togblékopé, MNHN 2006.2234 - 2241; no precise locality, ZMB 16286. HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species is spread across all the five ecological zones of Togo. It is also relatively common in urban areas, e.g., in Lomé (Segniagbeto, unpublished observations). It was first cited to occur in Togo by Tornier (1901) for Mango, and for Atakpamé by Werner (1902). 860 specimens were exported from Togo in the years 2000-2005 according to the CITES Division of the Direction de la Faune et de Chasse of the Ministère de l'Environnement et des Ressources forestières., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 387, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["LICHTENSTEIN M. 1823. - Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der Konigl. Universitat zu Berlin nebst Beschreibung vieler bisher unbekannter Arten von Saugethieren, Vogeln, Amphibien und Fischen. T. Trautwein, Berlin, x + 118 p.","TORNIER G. 1901. - Die Crocodile, Schildkroten und Eidechsen in Togo. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte (Beiheft) 1901: 65 - 88.","WERNER F. 1902. - Ueber westafrikanische Reptilien. Verhandlungen der Zoologischen Botanischen Gesellschaft Wien 52: 332 - 348."]}

Varanus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1766) Lacerta nilotica Linnaeus, 1766: 369. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 10 specimens: Togo. Agou, MRAC 73014.0010, 73014.0054; Borgou (Dapaong), Mango, ZMB 16039; Sokodé, ZMB 53519 and 16276. Ghana. Kéta, ZMB 13833, ZMB 25879; Kété Kratchi, ZMB 26788 and 16037. HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This is a widespread species, occurring in all habitat types in Togo. It is locally abundant, for instance along the Mono River, the Lake Togo, and in Togodo National Park. This species was recorded in Togo for the first time by Matschie (1891, 1893). Tornier (1901) recorded this species from Sokodé, Mango, Sebbe (Zebé, actually Aného), Bismarkburg (Adélé) and Kété-Kratchi (actually in Ghana). Other authors also recorded this species in the country (Werner 1898; Böhme & Ziegler 1997; Bayless 2002). It is heavily exploited for the international pet trade: according to the CITES division of the DFC, a total of 19889 live specimens were exported between 2001 and 2005 (see also Affre et al. 2005). Eniang et al. (2014a) showed that West African V. niloticus populations, despite being relatively habitat generalist, do not select habitat types in relation to their availability, and that they shift resting places ontogenetically, with smaller individuals being relatively more arboreal than adults., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 396, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["LINNAEUS C. 1766. - Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio duodecima, reformata. Tomus I. Holmiae, Laurentii Salvii, 532 p.","MATSCHIE P. 1891. - Verzeichniss von Reptilien von Bismarkburg im Togolande. Zoologische Jahrbucher 5: 612 - 618.","TORNIER G. 1901. - Die Crocodile, Schildkroten und Eidechsen in Togo. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte (Beiheft) 1901: 65 - 88.","WERNER F. 1898. - Ueber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun und Tunis dem kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 58: 191 - 230, 1 pl.","BOHME W. & ZIEGLER T. 1997. - A taxonomic review of the Varanus (Polydaedalus) niloticus (Linnaeus, 1766) species complex. Herpetological Journal 7: 155 - 162.","BAYLESS M. K. 2002. - Monitor lizards: a pan-African check-list of their zoogeography (Sauria: Varanidae: Polydaedalus). Journal of Biogeography 29: 1643 - 1700.","AFFRE A., INEICH I. & RINGUET S. 2005. - West-Africa, Madagascar, Central- and South-America: main origins of the CITES-listed lizard pet market in France. Herpetological Review 36 (2): 133 - 137.","ENIANG E. A., AKANI G. C., VIGNOLI L., LUISELLI L. & PETROZZI F. 2014 a. - Size-related habitat selection of a population of Nile monitors (Varanus niloticus) from western Nigeria. African Journal of Ecology, http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / aje. 12177"]}

Acanthodactylus boueti Chabanaud, 1917 Acanthodactylus (Latastia) boueti Chabanaud, 1917: 87. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 specimen: Togo. Payo, RMCA 73.009.R.0148. DISTRIBUTION. — We examined only one specimen, which was collected in the northern part of the country. This is the first record for Togo. The species' distribution in Togo remains totally unknown. A. boueti was also collected at Bassila (Bénin) by Trape et al. (2012), less than 10 km from the border of Togo (ecological zone III)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 389, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["CHABANAUD P. 1917. - Enumeration des reptiles non encore etudies de l'Afrique occidentale, appartenant aux collections du Museum, avec la description des especes nouvelles. Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle 23: 83 - 105.","TRAPE J. - F., TRAPE S. & CHIRIO L. 2012. - Lezards, crocodiles et tortues d'Afrique occidentale et du Sahara. IRD editions, Marseilles: 1 - 503."]}

Holaspis guentheri Gray, 1863 Holaspis guentheri Gray, 1863: 152. MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 2 specimens: Cameroun. Bipindi, ZMB 27197. DOA. No precise locality ZMB 10482. DISTRIBUTION. — This species was not recorded fromTogo till recently. Leaché et al. (2006) found it in the mountain forests between Togo and Ghana. Thus, this species should be present in Fazao-Mafakassa National Park boarding the Kyabobo Park in Ghana, where Leaché et al. (2006) collected it., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, pp. 381-402 in Zoosystema 37 (2) on page 389, DOI: 10.5252/z2015n2a7, http://zenodo.org/record/4577806, {"references":["GRAY J. E. 1863. - Descriptions of two new genera of lizards (Holaspis and Poriodogaster, A. Smith, MS.). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1863: 152 - 155.","LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILL- ERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45."]}

We present here the results of a study of 4,906 snakes from Guinea belonging to 95 species collected from 2002 to 2013 at 54 localities in all administrative regions of the country. We resurrect Dipsadoboa guineensis from the synonymy of D. brevirostris and consider the latter species a junior synonym of D. duchesnei. In addition we resurrrect Philothamnus pobeguini and P. belli from the synonymy of P. heterodermus. 19 species were not previously collected in this country, including Letheobia coecata, Tricheilostoma bicolor, Myriopholis rouxestevae, Rhinoleptus koniagui, Python regius, Grayia tholloni, Natriciteres fuliginoides, Philothamnus heterolepidotus, Thrasops aethiopissa, Amblyodipsas unicolor, Gonionotophis granti, Mehelya crossi, Prosymna gregeirti, Prosymna meleagris, Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus, Elapsoidea trapei, Naja katiensis, Naja senegalensis and Echis jogeri. Based on a critical review of literature and our own data, we compare the currently known snake fauna of Guinea (104 species) with that of Sierra Leone (65 species), Liberia (63 species), Ivory Coast (101 species), Ghana (102 species), Togo (93 species), Benin (72 species) and Nigeria (118 species).

Lamprophis lineatus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 12 specimens (MRAC 74013.0014, Kolokope; MRAC 73014.0026, Agou; ZMB 21104, GHS-W 0629, Missahohe; MRAC A7036.0021, GHS-W 1089, GHS-W 1402, GHS-W 1432, T 209, Sodo Zion; GHS-W 1280, T 148, Diguengue; GHS-W 1296, Agave). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 225 to 930 mm; 29-32 MSR, smooth; 217-243 Ven, smooth; 42-66 Sc, paired; anal single; 8 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 or 2 preoculars; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species, mainly nocturnal, has been observed in the forested area near water where it feeds on small amphibians and lizards. This snake inhabits forested areas and Guinean savannahs. It is present in ER II, III, IV, and V of the country. Previously, this species had been recorded from Togo by Matschie (1893), Werner (1898, 1902), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 11), and from Missahohe, Kete (Kete-Kratchi currently in Ghana), Atakpame and Mango, by Thorpe & McCarthy (1978), Roman (1984), and Leaché et al. (2006). CONSERVATION STATUS. — See under L. virgatus. REMARK See the comments under Lamprophis fuliginosus., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 342, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","WERNER F. 1902. - Uber westafrikanische Reptilien. Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-koniglichen Zoologischbotanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 52: 332 - 348.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","THORPE R. S. & MCCARTHY C. J. 1978. - A preliminary study, using multivariate analysis, of a species complex of African house snakes (Boaedon fuliginosus). Journal of Zoology, London, 184: 489 - 506.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p.","LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILLERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45."]}

Rhamnophis aethiopissa (Günther, 1862) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 specimen (MRAC 29717), Agome, near Atakpame. MORPHOLOGY. — TL 840 mm; 17 MSR smooth and oblique, vertebral row keeled; 166 Ven, keeled; 146 Sc, paired; anal divided; 8 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; 1 temporal. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is a forest-dweller. On the basis of voucher specimens, Hulselmans et al. (1970) and Leaché et al. (2006) also mentioned its occurrence in ER IV. Werner (1898), Sternfeld (1908b) and Loveridge (1944) recorded it from Adele (Bismarkburg), Kete Kratchi and Missahohe. REMARK This species is sometimes placed in the genus Thrasops Hallowell, 1857. In absence of revision of this group of arboreal species, we follow Williams & Wallach (1989) and Pauwels & Vande Weghe (2008) and recognize the validity of the genus Rhamnophis Günther, 1862. It should be noted that the specific nomen aethiopissa is not an adjective but a noun in apposition, meaning "an Aethiopian woman"., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 336, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILLERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45.","WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","LOVERIDGE A. 1944. - Further revisions of African snake genera. Bulletin of the the Museum of Comparative Zoology 95: 121 - 247.","WILLIAMS K. L. & WALLACH V. 1989. - Snakes of the World. Vol. 1. Synopsis of Snakes Generic Name. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar: viii + 234 p.","PAUWELS O. S. G. & VANDE WEGHE J. P. 2008. - Les Reptiles du Gabon. Washington, Smithsonian Institution: 272 p."]}

Polemon acanthias (Reinhardt, 1860) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 3 specimens (MRAC 29550, Kouma Tokpli; GHS-W 1041, Agou; GHS-W 1092, Sodo Zion). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 485 to 560 mm; 15 MSR, smooth; 184-186 Ven, smooth; 22-23 Sc, paired; anal single; 7 supralabials; 7 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars (only 1 in GHS-W 1041); temporal scale formula 1 + 1. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is mainly a forest-dweller. It had been recorded from Togo by Matschie (1893), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909), Loveridge (1944; from Missahohe), and Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970). Leaché et al. (2006) also mentioned the occurrence of the species in the forest area between Ghana and Togo., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on pages 344-345, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","LOVERIDGE A. 1944. - Further revisions of African snake genera. Bulletin of the the Museum of Comparative Zoology 95: 121 - 247.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204.","LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILLERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45."]}

Dipsadoboa unicolor Günther, 1858 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — No specimen was collected. DISTRIBUTION. — This species was recorded from Togo by Werner (1898), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 18) from the locality of Missahohe, and by Anonymous (2002). According to Chippaux (2006), the distribution of this species is at the subregional levels (Western and Central Africa)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 333, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","ANONYMOUS [PNAE-TOGO]. 2002. - Monographie nationale sur la diversite biologique. Rapport integral. Lome, MERF-Togo: 172 p.","CHIPPAUX J. - P. 2006. - Les serpents d'Afrique Occidentale et Centrale. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales, Paris, IRD Editions 35: 311 p."]}

Naja katiensis Angel, 1922 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 2 specimens (MRAC 29467, Nanergou; ZMB 22024, Togo, no precise locality). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 256 to 780 mm; 24-25 MSR, smooth and oblique; 169-172 Ven, smooth; 57-58 Sc, paired; anal single; 6-7 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 2 preoculars; 2-3 postoculars; temporal scale formula 2 + 3 + 5. DISTRIBUTION. — Naja katiensis inhabits mostly Sudan savannahs in ER I of the country. Previously, it had been mentioned from Togo by Hulselmans et al. (1970), Roman (1984), Spawls & Branch (1995), Rasmussen (1995b) and David & Ineich (1999)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 338, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p.","SPAWLS S. & BRANCH B. 1995. - The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Natural History. Species Directory. Venoms and Snakebite. Blanford, London, 192 p.","RASMUSSEN J. B. 1995 b. - Afrikanske slanger (8). Naja katiensis. Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening 39 (2): 41 - 44.","DAVID P. & INEICH I. 1999. - Les serpents venimeux du monde: systematique et repartition. Dumerilia 3: 3 - 499."]}

Dipsadoboa weileri (Lindholm, 1905) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — No specimen was collected. DISTRIBUTION. — Werner (1898) and Sternfeld (1908b) mentioned this species from Togo as Dipsadoboa unicolor Günther, 1858. Rasmussen (1993) indicated that specimens ZMB 13771 (from Togo, no specific locality; Werner 1898 and Sternfeld 1908b) and ZMB 13770 B (from Bismarkburg; Werner 1898) are Dipsadoboa weileri (Lindholm, 1905). Chippaux (2006) and Anonymous (2002) mentioned the occurrence of this species in Togo. Its regional distribution makes its occurrence in Togo quite certain., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 334, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","RASMUSSEN J. B. 1993. - A taxonomic review of the Dispsadoboaunicolor complex, including a phylogenic analysis of the genus (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Boiginae). Streenstrupia 19: 129 - 196.","CHIPPAUX J. - P. 2006. - Les serpents d'Afrique Occidentale et Centrale. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales, Paris, IRD Editions 35: 311 p.","ANONYMOUS [PNAE-TOGO]. 2002. - Monographie nationale sur la diversite biologique. Rapport integral. Lome, MERF-Togo: 172 p."]}

Scaphiophis albopunctatus Peters, 1870 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 ♀ (MRAC 73 14 R 16), Agou. MORPHOLOGY. — TL 1020 mm; rostral scale very prominent; 22 MSR, smooth; 200 Ven, smooth; 60 Sc, paired; anal divided; 4 loreals arranged in two rows; 5 supralabials; 8 infralabials; 2 preoculars; 3 postoculars; 2 suboculars; 4 or 5 anterior temporals. DISTRIBUTION. — The sole specimen examined, from Agou at the limit between ER III and IV, does not allow us to define the distribution of this species in Togo. Pending the collection of additional specimens, we consider it to be present in ER III and IV. The species was cited from Togo by Broadley (1994) from Agou, Atakpame, Ezime and Tohoun., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 348, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["BROADLEY D. G. 1994. - A revision of the African genus Scaphiophis Peters (Serpentes: Colubridae). Herptological Journal 4 (1): 1 - 10."]}

Prosymna meleagris (Reinhardt, 1843) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 16 specimens (MRAC 29591, Tetetou; GHS-W 1055, GHS-W 1057, GHS-W 1061, Agou; GHS-W 1064, GHS-W 1403, GHS-W 1411, GHS-W 1428 and GHS-Togo 78, Sodo Zion, T 117-122, Fazao; T 188, T 202, Alédjo). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 140 to 273 mm; 15 MSR, smooth; 145-163 Ven smooth; 19-35 Sc; anal single; 5 supralabials; 7-8 infralabials; 1 preocular; 1 postocular; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is widespread throughout the country. Previously it had been mentioned fromTogo by Werner (1929), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 16; specimens from Bismarkburg, now Yegue in Adele, Mango and Missahohe), Loveridge (1958), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970) and Roman (1984)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 345, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["WERNER F. 1929. - Ubersicht der Gattungen und Arten der Schlangen aus der Familie Colubridae. III. Teil (Colubrinae). Zoologische Jahrbucher (Systematik) 57 (1 / 2): 1 - 196.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","LOVERIDGE A. 1958. - Revision of five snake genera. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 119 (1): 1 - 198.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p."]}

Amblyodipsas unicolor (Reinhardt, 1843) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 specimen (MRAC 29617), Togoville. MORPHOLOGY. — TL 545 mm; 17 MSR, smooth; 202 Ven, smooth; 22 Sc, paired; anal divided; 6 supralabials; 7 infralabials; no preocular; 1 postocular; 1 anterior temporal, no posterior temporal. DISTRIBUTION. — A single specimen of this species has been recorded in Togo from ER V. Additional specimens are necessary to precisely describe the Togolese distribution of this otherwise widespread species. Previously it had been recorded from Togo by Sternfeld (1908b, 1909), Loveridge (1944) and Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 339, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","LOVERIDGE A. 1944. - Further revisions of African snake genera. Bulletin of the the Museum of Comparative Zoology 95: 121 - 247.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204."]}

Dasypeltis fasciata Smith, 1849 (Fig. 3) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 specimen (T 28), Yo (Agome Yo), near Kpalime in the forested region. DISTRIBUTION. — This species occurs mostly in forested areas.In Togo it is known only from Yo.Its taxonomic status and its distribution are far from being clear.Hulselmans et al. (1970) collected a specimen at Ahoue-Houe, in the forest region, which may probably be referred to this species., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 332, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017

Leptotyphlops sundevalli (Jan, 1862) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — No available specimen. DISTRIBUTION. — Leptotyphlops sundevalli was mentioned from Togo by Sternfeld (1909: 8; as Glauconia sundevalli Jan, 1862) from specimens collected at Missahohe, and Hughes & Barry (1969). Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 8; as Glauconia conjuncta Jan, 1861) also mentioned the presence in Togo of Leptotyphlops conjunctus (Jan, 1861), a valid species known from Southern Africa. Pending the re-examination of specimens obtained by Sternfeld, we cannot ascertain the identification of this specimen, which may be Leptotyphlops bicolor, or L. sundevalli or even another taxon., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 349, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","HUGHES B. & BARRY D. H. 1969. - The snakes of Ghana: a checklist and key. Bulletin de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique Noire 31 (3): 1004 - 1041.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236."]}

Dasypeltis gansi Trape & Mané, 2006 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 7 specimens (MNHN 1982.453, Lomé; GHS-W 0264-0265, Nangbeto; GHS-W 1091, Sodo Zion, T 172 et T 179, Alédjo; T 158, Fazao). MORPHOLOGY. — TL of our specimens from 290 to 670 mm; 21-23 MSR, keeled and oblique; 210-241 Ven, smooth; 68-81 Sc, paired; anal single; 7 supralabials; 7-8 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 2 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is present throughout the country. CONSERVATION STATUS. — According to the reports of the DFC, 121 living specimens of this species were exported from 2001 to 2005. REMARK The recent revision of Trape & Mané (2006a) clarified the taxonomy of the genus Dasypeltis Wagler, 1830. However, many specimens from Togo and West Africa have for long be identified as Dasypeltis scabra. Werner (1898, 1902), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 17), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970) and Anonymous (2002) mentioned the occurrence of D. scabra in Togo. All those specimens cited by these authors should probably now be referred either to D. confusa or to D. gansi.

Hormonotus modestus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 2 specimens (ZMB 11241, " Togo " without precise locality; MNHN 2006.2197, Sodo Zion). MORPHOLOGY. — TL 502 mm and 665 mm; 15 MSR smooth and oblique, vertebral row enlarged; 228-245 Ven; 86 Sc, paired; anal single; 9 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 3 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2. DISTRIBUTION. — This burrowing species occurs in the forested area of Togo. Previously, Matschie (1893), Sternfeld (1909: 13) and Chippaux (2006) had already recorded its occurrence in the country. Specimens mentioned by Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 13) were collected at Bismarkburg, now Adele. Lamprophis fuliginosus (Boie, 1827) (Fig. 5) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 57 specimens (MRAC 29476, MRAC 29478, GHS-W 0528, Payo; MRAC 29503, Niamtougou; MRAC 29553, Tomegbe; MRAC 29560, MRAC 29573, T 130, T 134, Fazao; MRAC 29582, MRAC 29586, Kolokope; MRAC 29609, MRAC 29615-16, MRAC 29619, Togoville; MRAC 29596, MRAC 29600, Tetetou; MRAC 29706, Ezime; MRAC 73014.0028, Agou; GHS-W 0032, GHS-Togo 73, T 225, Agave; GHS-W 1286, T 147, T 152, T 154, Diguingue; GHS-Togo 13, Sodo; MRAC A7036.0002, MRAC A7036.0011 - 0012, GHS-W 0024, GHS-W 1018-19, GHS-W 1033, GHS-W 1063, GHS-W 1066, GHS-W 1072-3, GHS-W 1076, GHS-W 1097-8, GHS-W 1203, GHS-W 1206-7, GHS-W 1412, GHS-W 1414, GHS-W 1424-5, GHS-W 1430, GHS-W 1433, GHS-W 1437, GHS-Togo 27, and GHS-Togo 41, Sodo Zion; GHS-W 1235, GHS-W 1288, Yo [Agome Yo], T 214, Huilehui; T 233, Bafilo). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 310 to 935 mm; 28-31 MSR, smooth; 202-248 Ven, smooth; 44-68 Sc; anal single; 8-9 supralabials; 8-10 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is very common and present in all ecological regions of the country. It occurs in all ecosystems: savannahs, forest, in urbanized areas, and so on. Additional specimens were collected in Aledjo, Fazao and Huilehui. The species had been recorded from Togo by Matschie (1893), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 11), from Missahohe, Kete (Kete-Kratchi currently in Ghana), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1970), and Roman (1984). Publications of Trape & Mané (2004, 2006b) and Chippaux (2006) mentioned the presence of this species throughout Western and Central Africa. However, Chirio & Ineich (2006) stated that this nominal taxon is a complex of two species which is in need of a taxonomical revision. CONSERVATION STATUS. — According to reports of the CITES Division of the DFC Togo, 30 specimens were exported from Togo in 2005. REMARKS The genus is currently under revision by the senior author of this paper; the results will be presented elsewhere. Nevertheless, in Togo and West Africa, the characters of both Lamprophis fuliginosus and Lamprophis lineatus are quite constant. Both species can be easily separated by the condition of the contact between the upper part of the preocular and the frontal. In all (57) examined specimens of L. fuliginosus from throughout West Africa, the preocular is in broad contact with the frontal, whereas these scales are separated in all (12) examined specimens of L. lineatus. On the basis of new characters, it appears that there are more than one species under the name L. lineatus, especially in Central Africa., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on pages 341-342, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","CHIPPAUX J. - P. 2006. - Les serpents d'Afrique Occidentale et Centrale. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales, Paris, IRD Editions 35: 311 p.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p.","TRAPE J. - F. & MANE Y. 2004. - Les serpents des environs de Bandafassi (Senegal oriental). Bulletin de la Societe herpetologique de France 109: 5 - 34.","TRAPE J. - F. & MANE Y. 2006 b. - Guide des serpents d'Afrique occidentale (savane et desert). IRD Editions, Paris, 226 p.","CHIRIO L. & INEICH I. 2006. - Biogeography of the reptiles of the Central African Republic. African Journal of Herpetology 55 (1): 23 - 59."]}

Lycophidion semicinctum Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 12 specimens (MNHN 1989.0257, " Togo " without precise locality; MNHN 1989.0195, " Togo ou Benin " without precise locality; MNHN 2006.2198, GHS-W 1032, GHS-W 1075, Sodo Zion; MRAC 29592, Tetetou; GHS-W 1298, T 222, Agave; GHS-W 1228, GHS-W 1240, Yo [Agome Yo], T 189, Alédjo). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 460 to 670 mm; 17 MSR, smooth; 169-206 Ven, smooth; 37-54 Sc, paired; anal single; 7-8 supralabials; 8-9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species inhabits mainly Guinean savannahs but may also occur in forest. It has been recorded from ER III and IV of Togo by Werner (1898), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 12), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1970) and Roman (1984). Recent specimens confirm its occurrence in the vicinity of Aledjo in ER II but its presence in ER V is uncertain., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 343, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p."]}

Thrasops occidentalis Parker, 1940 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 specimen (MRAC 29716), Temedja, Atakpame. MORPHOLOGY. — TL 675 mm; 19 MSR smooth and oblique; 171 Ven, smooth; 120 Sc; anal divided; 8 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 3 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 1. DISTRIBUTION. — Thrasops occidentalis is mostly a forestdwelling species. All specimens recorded from Togo were obtained in ER IV. Sternfeld (1908b) and Werner (1929; as Thrasops jacksoni Günther, 1895) collected this species from Missahohe. Loveridge (1944) and Hulselmans et al. (1970) mentioned its occurrence in the forested region of the country. This species was also listed in Anonymous (2002)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on pages 336-337, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","WERNER F. 1929. - Ubersicht der Gattungen und Arten der Schlangen aus der Familie Colubridae. III. Teil (Colubrinae). Zoologische Jahrbucher (Systematik) 57 (1 / 2): 1 - 196.","LOVERIDGE A. 1944. - Further revisions of African snake genera. Bulletin of the the Museum of Comparative Zoology 95: 121 - 247.","ANONYMOUS [PNAE-TOGO]. 2002. - Monographie nationale sur la diversite biologique. Rapport integral. Lome, MERF-Togo: 172 p."]}

Lycophidion laterale Hallowell, 1857 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — No specimen available. DISTRIBUTION. — This forest species was mentioned from Togo by Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 12) from Missahohe. Chippaux (2006) also cited this species from Togo probably on the basis of Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 12)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 343, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","CHIPPAUX J. - P. 2006. - Les serpents d'Afrique Occidentale et Centrale. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales, Paris, IRD Editions 35: 311 p."]}

Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus (Reinhardt, 1843) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 9 specimens (MNHN 1982.0449, MNHN 1989.0254, MNHN 1989.0265, " Togo "; MRAC 29495, Aledjo; MRAC 29559, Lomé; GHS-W 0262, Nangbeto, T 185, T 194, Alédjo; T 212, Huilehui). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 450 to 1220 mm; rostral scale very prominent and clearly visible from above; 17 MSR, smooth; 170-197 Ven, smooth; 84-105 Sc, paired; anal divided; 8 supralabials; 10-11 infralabials; 1 or 2 preoculars; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 or 2 + 3 or 4. DISTRIBUTION. — Ramphiophis oxyrhynchus had previously been mentioned from Togo by Sternfeld (1908b), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1970, 1971), and Roman (1984). This species is present in all ecological regions of the country but, on the basis of recently collected specimens, it seems to be more common in ER II along the Aledjo Mountain range., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on pages 347-348, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p."]}

Bitis nasicornis (Shaw, 1802) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 juvenile (MNHN 1989.0194), " Togo ou Benin ", no locality. MORPHOLOGY. — TL 253 mm; 36 MSR, keeled; 129 Ven, smooth; 31 Sc, paired; anal single; 17 supralabials; 17 scales surrounding the eye; 16 infralabials. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is a forest-dweller present only in ER IV. It has been mentioned from Togo by Harding & Welch (1980), Roman (1984), Spawls & Branch (1995) and David & Ineich (1999). CONSERVATION STATUS. — According to reports of the CITES Division of the DFC Togo, 20 living specimens were exported from Togo in 2005. The first author observed seven live specimens (5 adults, 2 juvenile snakes) in the Mare Snake farm in June 2007, all from Badou. These specimens were intended for the pet trade., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on pages 351-352, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["HARDING K. A. & WELCH K. R. G. 1980. - Venomous Snakes of the World. A checklist. Pergamon Press, Oxford, x + 188 p.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p.","SPAWLS S. & BRANCH B. 1995. - The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Natural History. Species Directory. Venoms and Snakebite. Blanford, London, 192 p.","DAVID P. & INEICH I. 1999. - Les serpents venimeux du monde: systematique et repartition. Dumerilia 3: 3 - 499."]}

Telescopus variegatus (Reinhardt, 1843) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 specimen (MNHN 2006.0199), Kolokope. MORPHOLOGY. — 19 MSR, smooth and oblique; 216 Ven, smooth; 66 Sc, paired; anal divided; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; 8 supralabials; 10 infralabials; temporal scale formula 2 + 3 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species inhabits mainly savannahs but may also be encountered in forested areas. It had been mentioned from Togo by Werner (1898), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 17; from Kete-Kratchi, Mago, and Pama) and by Roman (1984). The sole available specimen, collected at Kolokope in ER III, does not allow us to establish the distribution of the species in Togo., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 336, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p."]}

Hapsidophrys lineatus Fischer, 1856 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 2 specimens (MRAC 73 14 R 32, Agou; GHS-W 1245, Yo [Agome Yo]). MORPHOLOGY. — TL 970 and 1095 mm; 15 MSR keeled and oblique; 159 and 165 Ven, keeled; 115 Sc, paired and smooth; anal single; 8-9 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 or 2 preoculars; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 2 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is largely a forest-dweller as can be deduced from the collection localities. It is known only from ER IV. Previously it had been mentioned from Togo by Sternfeld (1908b: 215, 1909: 15). Hapsidophrys smaragdinus (Schlegel, 1837) (Fig. 4) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 17 specimens (MRAC 29585, Kolokope; MRAC 29626, Togoville; MRAC 29715, Kpalime; MRAC 73017.0042, Agou; MRAC A7036.0016, MRAC A7036.0020, GHS- Togo 40, Sodo Zion; MRAC A7036.0004 - 0005, GHS-W 0016, GHS-W 0019, GHS- Togo 63, Agave; GHS-W 0061, GHS-W 1238, GHS-W 1253-1254, Yo (Agome Yo); GHS- Togo 23, Sodo). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 565 to 1150 mm; 15 MSR keeled and oblique; 154-172 Ven, keeled; 139-160 Sc, paired and keeled; anal divided; loreal subrectangular, longer than high; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is common in the forested area. It is present in the South of the country. Its northern limit is located in Mounts Aledjo. Previously, this species had been cited from Togo by Matschie (1893), Werner (1902), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 15), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970) and Hulselmans et al. (1970)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 334, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","WERNER F. 1902. - Uber westafrikanische Reptilien. Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-koniglichen Zoologischbotanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 52: 332 - 348.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204."]}

Lycophidion irroratum (Leach, 1819) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 34 specimens (MRAC 29557, Missahohe; MRAC 29707, Koutoukpa; MRAC 29594, Tetetou; MRAC A7036.0023, GHS-W 1043, GHS-W 1048, T 144-145, Agou, GHS-W 1270, GHS-W 1453-4, GHS-W 1456, GHS-W 1458-1460, T 123, T 124-125, Fazao; GHS-W 1070, GHS-W 1271, GHS-W 1274, GHS-W 1407-08, GHS-W 1416-17, GHS-W 1427, GHS-W 1431, GHS-W 1435, GHS-W 1439, GHS-W 1444, Sodo Zion; GHS-W 1189, GHS-W 1258, Yo [Agome Yo]; T 195, T 199, Alédjo). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 168 to 325 mm; 17 MSR, smooth; 159-184 Ven, smooth; 37-47 Sc; 8-9 supralabials; 9-10 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is widespread in the forested area but also inhabits the Guinean savannahs of ER III. Previously it has been recorded from Togo by Matschie (1893), Werner (1898, 1902), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 11), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970) and Hulselmans et al. (1970)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 343, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","WERNER F. 1898. - Uber Reptilien und Batrachier aus Togoland, Kamerun undTunis dem Kgl. Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Verhandlungen der kaiserlichkoniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft inWien 58: 191 - 230, 1 plate.","WERNER F. 1902. - Uber westafrikanische Reptilien. Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-koniglichen Zoologischbotanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 52: 332 - 348.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204."]}

Meizodon regularis Fischer, 1856 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 10 specimens (MRAC 29549, MRAC 29554, Missahohe; MRAC 29826, Kolokope; GHS-W 1065, GHS-W 1088, GHS-W 1426, Sodo Zion; GHS-Togo 09, Sodo; GHS-W 1244, GHS-W 1257, Yo [Agome Yo]; GHS-W 1269, Fazoa). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 175 to 800 mm; 19 MSR, smooth; 183-204 Ven, smooth; 62-68 Sc, paired; anal divided; 8 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is mostly present in ER III, IV and V of the country. Previously recorded from Togo by Matschie (1893), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909; from Missahohe), Werner (1929) and Chippaux (2006)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on pages 334-335, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","WERNER F. 1929. - Ubersicht der Gattungen und Arten der Schlangen aus der Familie Colubridae. III. Teil (Colubrinae). Zoologische Jahrbucher (Systematik) 57 (1 / 2): 1 - 196.","CHIPPAUX J. - P. 2006. - Les serpents d'Afrique Occidentale et Centrale. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales, Paris, IRD Editions 35: 311 p."]}

Typhlops lineolatus Jan, 1863 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 4 specimens (GHS-W 1051-52, GHS-W 1062, T 137, village of Kebo Dzigbe, Agou [Mont Agou]). MORPHOLOGY. — Total length 175-395 mm, 24 MSR, smooth; 300-326 scales on a longitudinal row between the parietals and the tip of the tail; 6-8 Sc. DISTRIBUTION. — First record from Togo. This species is known only from the region of Agou at the limit between ER III and IV., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 350, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017

Philothamnus carinatus (Anderson, 1901) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 3 specimens (GHS-W 0050, GHS-W 0080, Sodo Zion; GHS-W 1185, Agave). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 622 to 643 mm; 13 MSR smooth and oblique; 146-161 Ven, keeled; 87-94 Sc; anal single; 8-9 supralabials; 9-10 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 2 + 2. DISTRIBUTION. — First record in Togo. Although it is known only from ER IV of the country, its presence in ER V is likely., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 335, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017

Lycophidion nigromaculatum (Peters, 1863) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 5 specimens (MRAC A7036.0027, GHS-W 1042, GHS-W 1044, Agou; GHS-W 1442, Sodo Zion, Tr 138, Kebo-Dzigbe [Mont Agou]). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 302 to 480 mm; 17 MSR, smooth; 171-192 Ven, smooth; 41-50 Sc, paired; anal single; 8 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2. DISTRIBUTION. — First record from Togo. Localities cited in this paper mark the eastern limit of the range of this species. In Togo we found it in the forest area. Leaché et al. (2006) recorded this species in the forested area between Togo and Ghana., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 343, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILLERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45."]}

Dendroaspis jamesoni (Traill, 1843) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 đ (ZMB 28481), Togo, no precise locality. MORPHOLOGY. — TL 1990 mm; 17 MSR, smooth and oblique; 225 Ven, smooth; 110 Sc, paired; anal divided; 8 supralabials; 9 infralabials; 3 preoculars; 3 postoculars; 1 subocular; temporal scale formula 2 + 2. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is restricted to forested areas. The forested region between Togo and Ghana would mark the western limit of its range (Rasmussen 1994). Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 24) mentioned a specimen from Missahohe. Villiers (1975), Harding & Welch (1980), Welch (1982), Roman (1984), Golay et al. (1993), Rasmussen (1994), Spawls & Branch (1995), David & Ineich (1999) and Chippaux (2006) also mentioned this species in Togo. REMARK Specimen ZMB 28481 is the sole specimen of this species recorded from Togo. In spite of the numerous field surveys that we have realized in ER IV, no further specimens have been collected. This species is probably disappearing in Togo because of the high degree of deforestation in the Togo-Volta Highlands, i.e. the border area of Ghana and Togo, where most of the forests have been highly degraded or destroyed and subsequently transformed into agricultural areas (Rödel & Agyei 2003)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 337, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["RASMUSSEN J. B. 1994. - Afrikanske slanger (2). Dendraospis viridis. Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening 37 (2): 25 - 28.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","VILLIERS A. 1975. - Les serpents de l'Ouest Africain. Troisieme edition. Nouvelles Editions africaines, Dakar, 196 p.","HARDING K. A. & WELCH K. R. G. 1980. - Venomous Snakes of the World. A checklist. Pergamon Press, Oxford, x + 188 p.","WELCH K. R. G. 1982. - Herpetology of Africa: a Checklist and Bibliography of the Orders Amphisbaenia, Sauria and Serpentes. Robert E. Krieger, Malabar, Florida, ix + 293 p.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p.","GOLAY P., SMITH H. M., BROADLEY D. G., DIXON J. R., MCCARTHY C. J., SCHATTI B. & TORIBA M. 1993. - Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World. A Checklist. Aire-Geneve, Azemiops S. A. Herpetological Data Center, xv + 478 p.","SPAWLS S. & BRANCH B. 1995. - The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Natural History. Species Directory. Venoms and Snakebite. Blanford, London, 192 p.","DAVID P. & INEICH I. 1999. - Les serpents venimeux du monde: systematique et repartition. Dumerilia 3: 3 - 499.","CHIPPAUX J. - P. 2006. - Les serpents d'Afrique Occidentale et Centrale. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales, Paris, IRD Editions 35: 311 p.","RODEL M. - O. & AGYEI A. C. 2003. - Amphibians of the Togo-Volta highlands, Eastern Ghana. Salamandra 39: 207 - 234."]}

Psammophis praeornatus (Schlegel, 1837) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 6 specimens (MNHN 2006.2207, Yo [Agome Yo]; MRAC 29658, MRAC 29665, Borgou; MRAC 29464, Aledjo; GHS-W 1010, Sodo Zion; T 227, Bafilo). MORPHOLOGY. — TL of our specimens from 480 to 640 mm; 15 MSR smooth; 172-197 Ven, smooth; 108-128 Sc, paired; anal divided but entire in specimen MNHN 2006.2207; 8-9 supralabials; 9-10 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species is widespread throughout the country but is more common in the savannah area. It had previously been cited from Togo by Sternfeld (1908b, 1909: 21) from Mango, Loveridge (1940) and Hulselmans et al. (1970, 1971)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 346, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","LOVERIDGE A. 1940. - Revision of the African snakes of the genera Dromophis and Psammophis. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 87 (1): 1 - 70."]}

Thelotornis kirtlandi (Hallowell, 1844) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 7 specimens (MRAC 29730, Sodo; GHS-W 0203, GHS-W 0206, Atakpame; GHS-W 0243, Kpalime; GHS-W 1263, Yo [Agome Yo]; GHS-Togo 43, Agbanon, T 204 Agou [Mont Agou]). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 745 to 1400 mm; 19 MSR, keeled and oblique; 176-206 Ven, smooth; 110-114 Sc, paired; anal divided; 7-8 supralabials; 11-12 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 + 2 + 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This arboreal species is mainly a forest-dweller. It inhabits ER IV but might be present in ER II. Previously, this species had been recorded from Togo by Matschie (1893), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909), Loveridge (1944; from Missahohe), Hulselmans et al. (1970), Harding & Welch (1980), Welch (1982), Roman (1984), Golay et al. (1993), Spawls & Branch (1995) and David & Ineich (1999)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 336, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","LOVERIDGE A. 1944. - Further revisions of African snake genera. Bulletin of the the Museum of Comparative Zoology 95: 121 - 247.","HARDING K. A. & WELCH K. R. G. 1980. - Venomous Snakes of the World. A checklist. Pergamon Press, Oxford, x + 188 p.","WELCH K. R. G. 1982. - Herpetology of Africa: a Checklist and Bibliography of the Orders Amphisbaenia, Sauria and Serpentes. Robert E. Krieger, Malabar, Florida, ix + 293 p.","ROMAN B. 1984. - Serpents des Pays de l'Entente. C. N. R. S. T., Ouagadougou, 45 p.","GOLAY P., SMITH H. M., BROADLEY D. G., DIXON J. R., MCCARTHY C. J., SCHATTI B. & TORIBA M. 1993. - Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World. A Checklist. Aire-Geneve, Azemiops S. A. Herpetological Data Center, xv + 478 p.","SPAWLS S. & BRANCH B. 1995. - The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Natural History. Species Directory. Venoms and Snakebite. Blanford, London, 192 p.","DAVID P. & INEICH I. 1999. - Les serpents venimeux du monde: systematique et repartition. Dumerilia 3: 3 - 499."]}

Philothamnus heterodermus (Hallowell, 1857) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 12 specimens (MRAC 29674, MRAC 29678, Missahohe; MRAC 29711, Atakpame; MRAC 29713, Kamina; MRAC 73014.0064, Agou; MRAC 29714, Edifou; GHS-W 0023, Agave; GHS-W 0627 and GHS-W 1249, Yo [Agome Yo]; GHS-Togo 49, Sodo; GHS-Togo 51, GHS-Togo 72, Sodo Zion). MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 240 to 870 mm; 15 MSR smooth and oblique; 153-161 Ven, keeled; 84-87 Sc, paired; anal single; 8-9 supralabials; 9-10 infralabials; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 2 + 2 or 3. DISTRIBUTION. — This species inhabits mostly forests. It occurs in ER IV; however, specimens not yet deposited were recently collected near Aledjo in ER II. Previously, Philothamnus heterodermus had been cited from Togo by Matschie (1893), Werner (1902), Sternfeld (1908b, 1909) from Missahohe and Bismarkburg (now Yegue in Adele), Loveridge (1958), Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1971), Hughes (1985) and Leaché et al. (2006)., Published as part of Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean François, David, Patrick, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, 2011, The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems, pp. 325-360 in Zoosystema 33 (3) on page 335, DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4547017, {"references":["MATSCHIE P. 1893. - Die Reptilien und Amphibien Togogebietes. Mittheilungen von Forschungsreisenden und Gelehrten aus den deutschen Schutzgebieten, mit Benutzung amtlicher Quellen 6: 207 - 215.","WERNER F. 1902. - Uber westafrikanische Reptilien. Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-koniglichen Zoologischbotanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 52: 332 - 348.","STERNFELD L. 1908 b. - Die Schlangenfauna Togos. Mittheilungen Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 4: 207 - 236.","STERNFELD L. 1909. - Die Schlangen Togos, in Die Fauna der deutschen Kolonien 1 (1): iv + 29 p., map.","LOVERIDGE A. 1958. - Revision of five snake genera. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 119 (1): 1 - 198.","HULSELMANS J. L. J. & VERHEYEN W. N. 1970. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: Liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la deuxieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 82 (1 - 2): 200 - 204.","HULSELMANS J. L. J., DE VREE F. & VAN DER STRAETEN E. 1971. - Contribution a l'herpetologie de la Republique du Togo: liste preliminaire des serpents recoltes par la troisieme mission zoologique belge au Togo. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique africaines 84 (1 - 2): 46 - 49.","HUGHES B. 1985. - Progress on a taxonomic revision of the African green tree snakes (Philothamnus spp.), in SCHUCHMANN K-L. (ed.). Proceeding of the International Symposium on African Vertebrates. Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut & Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn: 511 - 530.","LEACHE A. D., RODEL M. - O., LINKEM C. W., DIAZ R. E., HILLERS A. & FUJITA M. K. 2006. - Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4: 22 - 45."]}