Snakes of Angola: an Annotated Checklist 1,2William R
Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 12(2) [General Section]: 41–82 (e159). Snakes of Angola: An annotated checklist 1,2William R. Branch 1Research Associate, Department of Zoology, P O Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, SOUTH AFRICA 2National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Wild Bird Trust, SOUTH AFRICA Abstract.—The first annotated checklist for over 120 years is presented of the snakes of Angola, Africa. It details the snakes currently recorded from Angola (including the Cabinda enclave), and summarizes the literature documenting their description, provenance, and often tortuous taxonomic history. The species are assigned, with comment where appropriate, to higher taxonomic groupings based on modern snake phylogenetic studies, and the need or potential for further studies are noted. In 1895 José Vicente Barboza du Bocage recorded 71 snakes in his monographic treatment of the Angolan herpetofauna, and subsequently Monard (1937) added 10 additional species. This review documents the 122 snakes currently recorded from Angola, and lists a further seven that have been recorded in close proximity to the Angolan border and which can be expected to occur in Angola, albeit marginally. Cryptic diversity identified in taxa such as the Boaedon capensis-fuliginosus-lineatus complex and Philothamnus semivariegatus complex indicate more species can be expected. Relative to southern Africa, the Angolan snake fauna contains a higher proportion of colubrid snakes, enhanced particularly by diverse arboreal species of the Congo Basin. There are relatively few endemic snakes (5.4%), and most inhabit the mesic grasslands of the escarpment and adjacent highlands. None are obviously threatened, although records of the endemic Angolan adder (Bitis heraldica) remain scarce and the species may require directed surveys to assess its conservation status.
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