Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 865-867 (2021) (published online on 06 June 2021)

Reproduction, geographic distribution and habitat association of Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae)

Kirsty J. Kyle1,*, Graham J. Alexander2, and Louis. H. Du Preez1,3

Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris Fitzsimons, 1964 has 32.1669ºE; 26.8768ºS, 32.2516ºE; and 26.8814ºS, remained elusive and poorly documented since its initial 32.2508ºE) within the Ndumo Game Reserve by discovery and description by Fitzsimons (1964), then as the first author (KJK). According to information a subspecies of Lycodonomorphus whytii (Boulenger, gathered from a citizen science project, a specimen of 1897), Lycodonomorphus whytii obscuriventris L. obscuriventris was found north of Hluhluwe town FitzSimons, 1948. Broadley (1995) elevated the taxon (27.9221ºS, 32.3191ºE) in 2011 by Timo Paasikunnas, to species level, based on differences in ventral and Alina Kallio and Gareth Richards (http://vmus.adu. subcaudal scale counts, labial markings and habitat org.za/?vm=ReptileMAP-153684), followed by a preferences (Pienaar, 1966; Rasmussen, 2004). These “road killed specimen found near Muzi Pan in the two species both occur in Malawi, with L. whytii Lower Mkuze section of Isimangaliso Wetland Park restricted to the northern extremes, and L. obscuriventris (27.6819ºS, 32.4241ºE) by Nick Evans (http://vmus.adu. to the southern parts (Brown and Wilkey, 2019; org.za/?vm=ReptileMAP-9436) in 2013. Most recently Rasmusen, 2004). Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris (February 2017), we recorded a large specimen (Fig. is also morphologically similar to Lycodonomorphus 2A) in Mkuze Game Reserve (27.6071ºS, 32.2887ºE). leleupi mlanjensis Broadley and Cotterill, 2004, but These records extend the known geographic range by the former reaches a shorter maximum length and has more than 100 km south and confirms the occurrence a relatively shorter tail (Branch, 1998). The known of L. obscuriventris within the Isimangaliso World distribution of L. obscuriventris extends from the Lower Heritage Site. Shire Valley in southern Malawi (Brown and Wilkey, Significant and distinctive dark markings on the 2019) in the north, through Mozambique and Zimbabwe, belly were used to distinguish the subspecies in the into Kruger National Park (Pienaar et al., 1983) through Eswatini (Swaziland) in the east and south to Ndumo Game Reserve (Pooley, 1970), in eastern KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa (Maritz, 2014; Fig. 1.). The first known specimen of L. obscuriventris from Ndumo Game Reserve (26.9089ºS, 32.3142ºE) was collected by Tony Pooley on the edge of a temporary pan in 1970 (Pooley, 1970). Between 1995 and 2016, approximately 10 additional specimens have been recorded at three different localities (26.8656ºS,

1 Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North- West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. 2 Animal Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, 2050, South Africa. 3 South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Somerset Street, Makhanda, South Africa. Figure 1. Locality records of Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] in KwaZulu-Natal. (Inset: Distribution of new records within © 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. southern Africa, relative to previously known distribution.) 866 Kirsty J. Kyle ������

Figure 2. Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris. (A) adult specimen; (B) dark ventrum; (C) clutch of eggs; (D) neonate. Photographs by Kirsty Kyle. Reproduction, distribution and habitat of Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris 867 initial description by Fitzsimons (1964). However, in (Marais, 2004). Captive specimens readily fed on fish later sources (Branch, 1998; Marais, 2004) these were (Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859) and tadpoles (mostly downplayed as being inconclusive as diagnoseable Sclerophrys and Ptychadena), which were captured taxonomical features. All specimens that we recorded by the snakes and consumed while submerged in from KwaZulu-Natal had dark bellies, with more water. These captive specimens also consumed adult orange on the anterior ventral scales, becoming darker Ptychadena which were taken on the land and whilst posteriorly to a uniform grey on the tail, as can be seen in submerged in water. the Mkuze specimen (Fig. 2B). This feature is similar in For a species that has been known to science for a appearance to Lycodonomorphus laevissimus Gunther, relatively long time, it remains little understood due 1862, although the two species are distinguishable using to its secretive nature, limited records and fragmented body shape and position of the eye. distribution. In light of this, the information added In South Africa identification of this species is through this short note allows for a greater understanding simpler than further north in its geographic range due of the species, its habits and habitat, thus providing to it being distinguishable from the other species within valuable groundwork for further research. the genus that occur in the country, using colouration, specifically the white stripe on the upper lip, body shape References and proximity of the eye to the dorsum of the head and Branch, W.R. (1998): Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of the nostril. With its wetland margin habitat, nocturnal Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature. behaviour, and diet, it appears to fill a similar ecological Brown, G., Wilkey, R. (2019): Reptiles of Malawi: A Photographic niche to Lyconomorphus rufulus Lichtenstein, 1823. Guide to 145 Species: Unknown Publisher. A large gravid L. obscuriventris specimen found by FitzSimons, D.S.V. (1964): A new subspecies of water-snake from E. Kyle in Ndumo Game Reserve in 2012 was kept Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7(1): 26–29. in captivity, where it laid a clutch of eight eggs (Fig. Marais, J. (2004): A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern 2C) in early December 2012 (exact date not recorded), Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publisher. Maritz, B. (2014): Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris (FitzSimons, confirming Marais’ (2004) speculations of oviparity in 1964). (In Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., the species. Average egg length was 27.3 mm (SD 4.2; Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. & De Villiers, A.L., eds. Atlas and range 23.1–30.9 mm) and the average width was 15.9 Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. mm (SD 0.48; range 15–17 mm). All eggs hatched in Pretoria: Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity early February after approximal 60 days incubation Institute. (Fig. 2D), and neonates were released at the capture site Pienaar, U.D.V. (1966): The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park. of the mother. Average total length of neonates was 147 Pretoria: National Parks Board of Trustees. mm (SD 7.9; range 138–160 mm; N = 6) and average Pienaar, U.D.V., Haacke, W.D., Jacobsen, N.H.G. (1983): The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park. Third. Pretoria: National ventral scale count was 173 (SD 3.5 range 167–176; N Parks Board. = 5). Pooley, A.C. (1970): Additional reptile records for the Ndumu Specimens from Ndumo were found whilst actively Game Reserve in northern Zululand. Lammergeyer 3(11): searching for reptiles and amphibians as part of a 65–67. herpetofaunal monitoring study, around the temporary Rasmussen, J.B. (2004): A review of Whyte’s Water- pans that occur throughout the Usuthu floodplain during snake, Lycodonomorphus whytii (Serpentes: Colubridae: the summer rainfall period. All specimens were found Lamprophiinae). African Journal of Herpetology 53: 155–162. between 20:00–24:00 h, despite extensive searches during dusk and early evening. Except for Pienaar’s two specimens found during the day (Fitzsimons, 1964), all specimens were found after sunset, suggesting they are largely nocturnal. All were found within two metres of the edge of temporary pans, in grass and sedges on the wet mud fringe surrounding the water, presumably while they were foraging. Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris has previously been documented to eat Kassina senegalensis Dumeril and Accepted by Werner Conradie Bibron, 1841 and young Pyxicephalus edulis Peters, 1854 (Pienaar, 1966) and Phrynobatrachus spp.