Olivier S. G. Pauwels

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Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences · Department of Recent Vertebrates

We here provide a detailed description of the vertebral morphology of the African arboreal viperid snakes of the genus Atheris. Vertebrae of three different species of the genus, i.e., Atheris desaixi, Atheris hispida, and Atheris katangensis, were investigated via the aid of μCT (micro‐computed tomography) scanning. We describe several vertebrae f...

We redescribe the type material of Phyllodactylus siamensis Boulenger, 1899, type species of the Southeast Asian gekkonid genus Dixonius Bauer, Good & Branch, 1997, using external morphology and cranial osteology (by Micro-Computed Tomography, µ-CT). There is some evidence that the type series contains more than one species; we hence designate a le...

We describe a new kukri snake, Oligodon cicadophagus sp. nov., from the limestone reliefs of the Phuket Mountain range in Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces in southern peninsular thailand. A member of the Oligodon cinereus group, it can be distinguished from all other congeneric species by the combination of its maximal known snout-vent length of 537 m...

Citation: Brecko, J. & Pauwels, O. S. G. 2024. Holaspis guentheri Gray, 1863, Western Blue-tailed Gliding Lizard & Holaspis laevis Werner, 1896, Smooth Blue-tailed Gliding Lizard. Ultraviolet (UV) Biofluorescence. African Herp News, 86: 30-34.

The Malayan banded wolf snake, Lycodon subcinctus (F. Boie, 1827) has a complicated taxonomic and nomenclatural history. For almost a century, the combination Anoplophallus maculatus Cope, 1895 has been applied to populations of L. subcinctus from southern China, with various authors recognizing the taxon maculatus as a subspecies (i.e., Lycodon su...

We describe Cyrtodactylus panitvongi sp. nov. from tham khao Chan (14°58'42.2"N 101°18'40.6"E), a limestone cave in lopburi Province, central thailand. the new species is characterized by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 85 mm, 15-18 interorbital scales, 35-37 interciliary scales,...

We describe Cyrtodactylus meesookae sp. nov. from a cave on Khao Nam Phu (14°34'33.2"N, 101°08'42.6"E), a limestone hill in Saraburi Province, central thailand, and C. wiboonatthapoli sp. nov. (previously confused with C. papilionoides) from a cave on Phu Pha Sana (17°10'33.8"N 101°57'52.5"E), a limestone hill in Loei Province, northeastern thailan...

Among reptiles, turtles are the most frequently traded species, and are often released in the wild once they become unwanted as pets. The common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina and the alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii are freshwater turtles native to North America. Although their trade is regulated in some countries, they have b...

Les Zones Clés pour la Biodiversité (Key Biodiversity Areas ; KBA) sont des sites d'importance mondiale pour la persistance de la biodiversité dans les écosystèmes terrestres, d’eau douce, marins et souterrains. Entre 2022 et 2024, le Gabon a identifié 35 sites KBA couvrant environ un quart de sa superficie marine et terrestre, utilisant une méthod...

The fundamental value of universal nomenclatural systems in biology, and the key to their success, is that they have enabled unambiguous scientific communication among and across different cultures. These systems are codified in sets of rules for zoology, botany, and other branches of biology. Nomenclatural codes have been collectively developed fo...

The genetic structure and dispersal dynamics of reptile populations are profoundly influenced by natural processes and human activities. While natural dispersal is shaped by species' characteristics and paleogeographical features, human-mediated translocations have become increasingly prevalent, posing ecological challenges. Mitochondrial genetic m...

The fundamental value of universal nomenclatural systems in biology is that they enable unambiguous scientific communication. However, the stability of these systems is threatened by recent discussions asking for a fairer nomenclature, raising the possibility of bulk revision processes for "inappropriate" names. It is evident that such proposals co...

Among reptiles, turtles are the most frequently traded species and often released in the wild once they become unwanted as pets. The common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina and the alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii are freshwater turtles native to North America. Although their trade is regulated in some countries, they have been i...

Pythonidae, an ancient group of Old World, wide-ranging, constrictor snakes, are known to contain a high degree of cryptic diversity. India harbours three python species, Python molurus, P. bivittatus, and Malayopython reticulatus. The former two species are not uncommon within their respective distribution range in India, but occurrence of the lat...

The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is an aquatic invasive species of amphibian imported from South Africa for medical research and aquarium pet trade. Released on purpose or by accident, an invasive spread of Xenopus laevis to natural ecosystems was registered on most continents. In the absence of natural predators, their population densities...

We describe Dixonius chotjuckdikuli sp. nov. from Khao Ebid (Mount Ibit), Khao Yoi District, Phetchaburi Province, western thailand. the new, limestone-dwelling species differs from all currently recognized species of Dixonius by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 45.6 mm, 18 (rarel...

Asian mock vipers of the genus Psammodynastes and African forest snakes of the genus Buhoma are two genera belonging to the snake superfamily Elapoidea. The phylogenetic placements of Psammodynastes and Buhoma within Elapoidea has been extremely unstable which has resulted in their uncertain and debated taxonomy. We used ultraconserved elements and...

Grayia Gunther, 1858 is a genus of relatively large (1.2–2.5 m) aquatic Afrotropical snakes. Recent molecular phylogenies recovered Grayia in its own distinct subfamily (Grayiinae), which was supported as the sister group to Colubrinae. Tropical African snakes are generally understudied, so the relationships within Grayia are poorly known. High deg...

We report a case of harassment of a South-Italian Asp Viper (Squamata: Viperidae: Vipera aspis hugyi) by two Moorhens (Aves: Rallidae: Gallinula chloropus) in Litorale di Ugento Regional Natural Park, Lecce Province, Puglia (Apulia), southern Italy. Citation: Carlino, P., Gennaio, R. & Pauwels, O.S.G. 2023. Off the Rails: Harassment of a South-Ita...

We provide a review of Jean-François Trape’s opus “Guide des Serpents d’Afrique Occidentale, Centrale et d’Afrique du Nord” covering the whole snake fauna of 32 countries in West, Central, and North Africa (Bioko is not included, and only the part of Angola which is north of 13°S is included). The guide is divided into a foreword, a geographical in...

We report a predation case by an adult West African Saw-scaled Viper Echis ocellatus (Viperidae) on an adult African Fat-tailed Gecko Hemitheconyx caudicinctus (Gekkonidae) in Pama Reserve, Burkina Faso.

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological and morphological data or unpublished museum specimens for Kinixys erosa (Trionychidae), Trionyx triunguis (Trionychidae), Osteolaemus tetraspis (Crocodylidae), Agama agama (Agamidae), Varanus ornatus (Varanidae), Atractaspis boulengeri (Atractaspididae), Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, Hapsidophrys s...

Using external morphology of adults and tadpoles, osteology from high-resolution microcomputed tomography, vocalization analysis, and DNA sequence data, the identity of a reproducing Belgian population of invasive Xenopus at the current northernmost edge of the distribution of the genus in Europe was assessed. All data concur to an identification a...

We report the first case of biofluorescence for Hemisus marmoratus and for Hemisotidae under exposure of UV light. Both sexes of a series of live individuals imported from Togo, West Africa, reflected UV light and their pattern became vibrant yellow on a dark background. Freshly or old preserved specimens do not show any fluorescence.

Following a first workshop on the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) of Gabon organized in December 2021 by the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Herbier National du Gabon and the KBA General Secretariat, the Bezos Earth Fund dedicated a budget to identify Gabon’s KBA in order to, among others, address the ‘30 x 30’ objective (30 % of the national territory...

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological and morphological data or unpublished material for Chamaeleo dilepis (Chamaeleonidae), Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae), Feylinia boulengeri, Panaspis breviceps (Scincidae), Monopeltis sp. (Amphisbaenidae), Polemon collaris (Atractaspididae), Dasypeltis congolensis, Dipsadoboa duchesnii, Grayia...

Lygodactylus is the most speciose gekkonid group in Africa, with several additional, candidate species already identified from previous studies. However, in mainland Africa, several groups remain only partially resolved, and there are several taxonomic inconsistencies. Lygodactylus gutturalis was described from Guinea-Bissau in the 1870s and since...

Recent molecular phylogenies of African green snakes suggested the geographically widespread species Philothamnus carinatus includes at least two distinct lineages. We utilised an integrative taxonomic approach with morphological and genetic data to reconcile the taxonomic status of these cryptic lineages, including the recently described taxon P....

Chioninia coctei (formerly Macroscincus coctei) was one of the largest skinks to have ever lived. In the course of a little more than 100 years it was discovered, ignored, described, forgotten, rediscovered, became a popular zoo and terrarium animal, and became extinct in the wild, with the last living captives straggling into the early 20th centur...

We present a collection of snakes made in the 1970-1980s in Bengamisa village, on the right bank of the upper Congo River, about 50 km north of Kisangani, Tshopo Province, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Twenty-eight species are represented, distributed among 22 genera. We provide standard meristic and morphometric data for each spec...

The lacertid Latastia ornata was known to date only by its holotype collected in 1938 in Bafatá, central Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. We report new specimens and localities from Guinea-Conakry, a new country record and major range extension of 700 km SE of the type-locality. We provide an updated diagnosis of the species, including the first genetic...

Dickerson’s Forest Gecko Ancylodactylus dickersonae (Squamata: Gekkonidae) has been assessed as Least Concern because this species as presently understood has a wide distribution in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is possibly also present in Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It occurs in a number of protected ar...

We present a remarkably diverse collection of snakes made in the 1980s in Amadjabe village, on the left bank of the upper Congo River, about 60 km south of Kisangani, Tshopo Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thirty-five species are represented, distributed among 27 genera. We provide standard meristic and morphometric data for each specim...

In a recent paper on the diet of Guinean snakes, we wrote “Mané and Trape (2017) noted that amphibians represented morethan a third of the prey items recovered from 13 Senegalese Elapsoidea semiannulata trapei.” The latter taxon was a lapsus forElapsoidea semiannulata moebiusi (Werner, 1897). Elapsoidea trapei Mané, 1999 is a separate and valid spe...

Giant anuran species express a morphology with hyper ossification, a large head (which impacts the distance between the inner and outer ear), and a larynx that may be as long as the head as, for example, in Pipa pipa. There is currently no theoretical model that can explain the variety of changes in form and function observed with increasing size....

The purpose of this paper is to solve an overlooked nomenclatural problem involving two taxa of Colubridae, both described as Coluber korros. The first one is Coluber korros Schlegel, 1837, now Ptyas korros, a well-known and widespread species in south-east Asia. Its senior homonym is Coluber korros Lesson, 1831, a long forgotten taxon. Furthermore...

We present new records of reptiles (Testudines and Squamata) from Kungulu and Mbiye Islands on the upper Congo River in the vicinity of Kisangani, Tshopo Province, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mbiye Island's currently documented herpetofauna includes 19 species (two turtles, seven lizards and ten snakes), all but two recorded here...

The highly diverse snake superfamily Elapoidea is considered to be a classic example of ancient, rapid radiation. Such radiations are challenging to fully resolve phylogenetically, with the highly diverse Elapoidea a case in point. Previous attempts at inferring a phylogeny of elapoids produced highly incongruent estimates of their evolutionary rel...

Lankascincus dorsicatenatus is an endemic species of litter-skink distributed throughout the wet zone of Sri Lanka (elevations from 15 to 800 m a.s.l.). The recent resurrection of Lygosoma megalops by the recent description of its neotype designated by Batuwita (2019), presently lost, destabilized the taxonomic status of Lankascincus dorsicatenatus...

Aim Viviparity has evolved more times in squamates than in any other vertebrate group; therefore, squamates offer an excellent model system in which to study the patterns, drivers and implications of reproductive mode evolution. Based on current species distributions, we examined three selective forces hypothesized to drive the evolution of squamat...

The chemical industry is the leading sector in the EU in terms of added value. However, contaminants pose a major threat and significant costs to the environment and human health. While EU legislation and international conventions aim to reduce this threat, regulators struggle to assess and manage chemical risks, given the vast number of substances...

We report a case of predation by an adult Eastern Black-and-Yellow Tree Snake Toxicodryas vexator (Serpentes : Colubridae) on a juvenile Lord Derby's Scaly-tailed Squirrel Anomalurus derbianus (Rodentia : Anomaluridae) in Yangambi, Tshopo Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is the first documented interaction between these two species....

We present various predation records based on museum-preserved snakes from southeastern Republic of Guinea, West Africa: Aparallactus niger (Atractaspididae) on an earthworm (Oligochaeta); Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Colubridae) on Sclerophrys sp. (Anura; Bufonidae); Grayia smithii (Colubridae) and Natriciteres variegata (Natricidae) on Arthroleptis...

Based on 85 examined specimens, photographs of living specimens and illustrations published in the literature, we refine the distribution ranges of both Gonyosoma prasinum (Blyth, 1854) and of the recently described species Gonyosoma coeruleum Liu, Hou, Ye Htet Lwin, Wang & Rao, 2021, which was not clearly addressed in its original description. We...

Annandale (1906) described Lygosoma megalops, now in the genus Lankascincus, based on two syntypes collected from Kitulgala and Puttalam in Sri Lanka. These syntypes have not been recognized since the original description. In 2019, Batuwita designated a neotype, WHT 6545, for Ly. megalops from Kitulgala. The number WHT '6545' does not exist in the...

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become an essential tool in the search for and detection of invasive species. In aquatic environments, water samples can be collected and filtered after which DNA can be extracted and analysed to detect the presence of a target species using quantitative PCR (qPCR). The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is such an aq...

We describe Gehyra wongchan sp. nov. from Tham Khao Chan (Khao Chan Cave), Tha Luang District, and Wat Khao Wong, Kok Samrong District, in Lopburi Province, central Thailand. The new species differs from all currently recognized Gehyra by the following combination of morphological characters and dorsal color pattern: maximal known snout–vent length...

Functional traits offer a rich quantitative framework for developing and testing theories in evolutionary biology, ecology and ecosystem science. However, the potential of functional traits to drive theoretical advances and refine models of global change can only be fully realised when species-level information is complete. Here we present the AVON...

Fossoriality evolved early in snakes, and has left its signature on the cranial morphology of many extinct Mesozoic and early Caenozoic forms. Knowledge of the cranial osteology of extant snakes is indispensable for associating the crania of extinct lineages with a particular mode of life; this applies to fossorial taxa as well. In the present work...

We re-evaluate the taxonomic identities of five-lined skinks of the genus Eutropis (E. trivittata, E. beddomei, E. nagarjunensis, and E. bibronii) inhabiting the Indian subcontinent. Previously it has been considered that E. trivittata is distributed in the western India and E. dissimilis in the northern India (from north-eastern India up to Pakist...

I provide a list of the amphibian species found in the Lower Ogooué region, its delta and wetlands, western Gabon, Equatorial Africa, from Ndjolé and Lambaréné to Port-Gentil and Omboué. The list includes 44 species (Dermophiidae, Arthroleptidae, Bufonidae, Conrauidae, Hyperoliidae, Phrynobatrachidae, Pipidae, Ptychadenidae, Pyxicephalidae, Ranidae...

We present the main threats and the importance to preserve the fauna, flora and ecosystems of the lower Ogooué, its delta and associated wetlands in western Gabon, Equatorial Africa. Part of the area was designated as a Ramsar site. The local biodiversity includes among others three crocodile species, manatees, hippos and important bird colonies. C...

I provide a list of the reptile species found in the Lower Ogooué, its delta and associated wetlands, western Gabon, Equatorial Africa, from Ndjolé and Lambaréné to Port-Gentil and Omboué. The list includes 85 species (Pelomedusidae, Cheloniidae, Dermochelyidae, Testudinidae, Trionychidae, Crocodylidae, Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Gekkonidae, Gerrhos...

We give an introduction to a book on the Ogooué Delta and Lower Ogooué River, western Gabon, equatorial Africa, stressing the importance of preserving wetlands and their biodiversity. Citation: Stévart, T., Pauwels, O.S.G. & Vande weghe, J.P. 2021. Introduction. Pp. 10-17 in: Vande weghe, J.P. & Stévart, T. (eds). The Ogooué Delta. Missouri Botanic...

We provide new data on the reproduction of the Rwandan Green Snake Philothamnus ruandae (Squamata : Colubridae) based on high resolution x-ray computed tomography of five adult pregnant females, including the holotype and three paratypes. The smallest gravid female has a snout-vent length of 552 mm, and clutch size varies from 4 to 12. Citation: Pa...

Grayia is a genus of relatively large (1.5 – 2.5 m) aquatic Afrotropical snakes that is currently comprised of four species. Recent molecular phylogenies recovered Grayia in its own distinct subfamily (Grayiinae), which was strongly supported as the sister group to Colubrinae. Because tropical African snakes are generally understudied, the relation...

With four chapters on molluscs, combined with the malacological contributions in the previous volumes, the series "Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea" already counts among the major contributions to the knowledge of the terrestrial snails of the Wallacean Region. Most chapters of the present new volume uns...

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological or morphological data for Pelusios castaneus (Pelomedusidae), Kinixys erosa (Testudinidae), Osteolaemus tetraspis (Crocodylidae), Agama agama (Agamidae), Monopeltis galeata (Amphisbaenidae), Feylinia currori, Trachylepis polytropis (Scincidae), Varanus ornatus (Varanidae), Philothamnus hughesi, R...

We describe a colorful and distinctively patterned, karst-dwelling pitviper, Trimeresurus kuiburi sp. nov., from the isolated, coastal massif of Khao Sam Roi Yot in Kui Buri District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, in northern Peninsular Thailand. The new species, member of the ‘Cryptelytrops group’ sensu Malhotra & Thorpe (2004) and morphologically...

Citation: Rödel, M.-O., Adum, G.B., Aruna, E., Assemian, N.E., Barej, M.F., Bell, R.C., Burger, M., Demare, G., Doherty-Bone, T., Doumbia, J., Ernst, R., Gonwouo, N.L., Hillers, A., Hirschfeld, M., Jongsma, G.F.M., Kouamé, N.G., Kpan, T.F., Mohneke, M., Nago, S.G.A., Ofori-Boateng, C., Onadeko, A., Pauwels, O.S.G., Sandberger-Loua, L., Segniagbeto,...

We describe Dixonius mekongensis sp. nov. from sandstone formations in Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, in extreme eastern Thailand along the Laotian border. The new species differs from all currently recognized Dixonius by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 51.2 mm;...

We describe Gekko pradapdao sp. nov. from Tham Khao Chan (Khao Chan Cave), Tha Luang District, Lopburi Province, in central Thailand. The new species, a member of the subgenus Gekko, differs from all currently recognized Gekko species by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 127.1 mm,...

This poster outlines the role that can be played by natural science collections for monitoring of environmental contaminants in biota. Citation: Movalli, P., Cicero, G., Ramello, G., Sbokos, G., Vlachopoulos, K., Dekker, R.W.R.J., Espín, S., García-Fernández, A.J., Gómez-Ramírez, P., Hosner, P.A., Islam, S., Koureas, D., Kristensen, J.B., van der M...

Karstic landscapes are immense reservoirs of biodiversity and range-restricted endemism. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world’s third-largest vertebrate genus Cyrtodactylus (Gekkonidae) which contains well over 300 species. A stochastic character mapping analysis of 10 different habitat preferences across a phylogeny containing 345 descri...

The genus Toxicodryas, historically included with the renowned Australasian cat-eyed snakes of the colubrid genus Boiga, currently includes two widespread species (T. blandingii and T. pulverulenta) in western, central, and eastern Africa. We leverage findings from a recent phylogenomic and historical demographic analysis of this genus (based on 28...

Our knowledge of the conservation status of reptiles, the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates, has improved dramatically over the past decade, but still lags behind that of the other tetrapod groups. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive evaluation (~92% of the world's ~1714 described species) of the conservation 1 Joint senior authors...

Species of the genus Hebius Thompson, 1913 with 17 or 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody and an overall dark venter are reviewed, including the two species previously known as Parahelicops annamensis Bourret, 1934 and Pararhabdophis chapaensis Bourret, 1934. Specimens with 17 scale rows are morphologically similar to Hebius venningi (Wall, 1910), whic...

We describe two new Kukri snakes of the genus Oligodon from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Mountain Range, southern peninsular Thailand. Oligodon phangan sp. nov., endemic to Pha-Ngan Island, Surat Thani Province, is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 369.1 mm; 12 maxillary teeth, the posterior three enlarged; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 163-166 vent...