Insecta, Amphibia & Reptilia of eastern Gabon

Calycemorda kamerunensis Ermisch, 1969 is redescribed and illustrated based on the only two known specimens since the collection of the holotype; the species is recorded from Gabon for the first time.

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, Rhamnophis batesii, Toxicodryas adamantea and T. blandingii (Colubridae), Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni (Elapidae), Bothrophthalmus brunneus, Limaformosa guirali and L. savorgnani (Lamprophiidae), Atheris squamigera and Bitis nasicornis (Viperidae). One snake species each is newly recorded from Pongara National Park and Nyanga Province, and two each from Batéké Plateau National Park and Haut-Ogooué Province. We refer all records of Toxicodryas pulverulenta from Gabon to T. adamantea. We discuss the use of camera traps for monitoring reptiles in Gabon based on the results of extensive camera trap surveys. We provide geographic coordinates for selected localities mentioned in MHG III–VI.

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological and morphological data and unpublished material for Pelusios gabonensis (Pelomedusidae), Kinixys erosa (Testudinidae), Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae), Lepidothyris striatus, Trachylepis affinis (Scincidae), Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, Dipsadoboa underwoodi and D. viridis (Colubridae), Dendroaspis jamesoni, Naja annulata annulata, N. melanoleuca and N. nigricollis (Elapidae), Atractaspis boulengeri, Limaformosa savorgnani, Polemon fulvicollis, Psammophis mossambicus (Lamprophiidae) and Natriciteres fuliginoides (Natricidae). One skink and two snake species are newly recorded from Haut-Ogooué and Ngounié provinces, respectively. We attribute all records of Psammophis spp. in Gabon to P. mossambicus. We report a case of predation by a Common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) on Kinixys erosa in Lopé National Park, by Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia on the Cameroon toad Sclerophrys camerunensis (Anura: Bufonidae), and by a Naja annulata annulata on Thollon's robber tetra Brycinus tholloni (Characiformes: Alestidae).

Lacconotopedilus pollocki sp. nov., the first representative of its genus from the Guineo-Congolian lowland rainforests, is described and illustrated. Species checklist is provided.

An update is provided of current knowledge of the herpetofauna and batrachofauna recorded from caves in Gabon, western Equatorial Africa. No systematic field survey of reptiles and amphibians in Gabonese cave environments has yet been made, and data are available for only 19 (complexes of) caves. This compilation of published records and new observations includes seven reptile and at least nine amphibian species. None of them is restricted to cave environments, and most of the species are adaptable ecologically, being known from pristine as well as from highly degraded environments. All of them can be regarded as trogloxenes. Dedicated surveys, using appropriate methods, will certainly increase this species list considerably.

Atractaspidines are poorly studied, fossorial snakes that are found throughout Africa and western Asia, including the Middle East. We employed concatenated gene-tree analyses and divergence dating approaches to investigate evolutionary relationships and biogeographic patterns of atractaspidines with a multi-locus data set consisting of three mitochondrial (16S, cyt b, and ND4) and two nuclear genes (c-mos and RAG1). We sampled 91 individuals from both atractaspidine genera (Atractaspis and Homoroselaps). Additionally, we used ancestral-state reconstructions to investigate fang and diet evolution within Atractaspidinae and its sister lineage (Aparallactinae). Our results indicated that current classification of atractaspidines underestimates diversity within the group. Diversification occurred predominantly between the Miocene and Pliocene. Ancestral-state reconstructions suggest that snake dentition in these taxa might be highly plastic within relatively short periods of time to facilitate adaptations to dynamic foraging and life-history strategies.

Presented is a compilation of new locality records with natural history data for 49 reptile species in Haut-Ogooué Province, southeastern Gabon, Equatorial Africa. One new snake species record is added to Gabon (Colubridae: Philothamnus hughesi), 14 new reptile species records to Haut-Ogooué Province, three new reptile records for Léconi Park, and 28 new reptile records for Lékédi Park. A predation case is reported of Naja melanoleuca preying on Dasypeltis fasciata and of Boaedon perisilvestris on a micromammal. Nous présentons une compilation de nouvelles mentions de localités accompagnées de notes d'histoire naturelle pour 49 espèces de reptiles de la Province du Haut-Ogooué, sud-est du Gabon, Afrique équatoriale. Nous ajoutons une espèce de serpent (Colubridae: Philothamnus hughesi) à la faune du Gabon, 14 espèces de reptiles à la Province du Haut-Ogooué, 3 espèces de reptiles au Parc de Léconi, et 28 espèces de reptiles au Parc de la Lékédi. Nous rapportons un cas de prédation par Naja melanoleuca sur Dasypeltis fasciata, et par Boaedon perisilvestris sur un micromammifère.

The new species of the genus Duchailluia Rehn, 1933, D. ivindo sp. nov., is described from Gabon. The genus Distylopyga Bey-Bienko, 1965 is restored from synonymy with Duchailluia. Distylopyga beccalonii sp. nov. from Thailand is described. Neostylopyga yemenica (Bey-Bienko, 1969) comb. nov. is transferred from Duchailluia. A detailed morphological descriptions of the new species are given, N. yemenica is redescribed inclusive male genitalia. The male genitalia of N. yemenica is described for the first time. The subfamily Duchailluiinae Roth, 2003 synonymized with Blattinae Latreille, 1810.

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological and morphological data or unpublished material for Kinixys erosa (Testudinidae), Osteolaemus tetraspis (Crocodylidae), Agama agama and A. lebretoni (Agamidae), Rhampholeon spectrum, Trioceros cristatus and T. owenii (Chamaeleonidae), Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae), Holaspis guentheri (Lacertidae), Trachylepis albilabris (Scincidae), Dipsadoboa viridis, Grayia caesar and G. ornata, and Rhamnophis aethiopissa aethiopissa (Colubridae), Boaedon olivaceus, Chamaelycus fasciatus (Lamprophiidae) and Bitis arietans (Viperidae). Two reptile species are newly recorded for Estuaire Province. One snake is added to the list for Ivindo National Park. We reject a first record of Trachylepis makolowodei from Gabon. We document a case of predation by Rhamnophis aethiopissa aethiopissa on Leptopelis aubryi (Anura: Arthroleptidae).

We studied a collection of snakes (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, Hapsidophrys lineatus, Philothamnus heterodermus, Rhamnophis batesii [Colubridae], Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesoni, Naja melanoleuca [Elapidae], Aparallactus modestus, Polemon gracilis, Psammophis cf. phillipsii [Lamprophiidae], Letheobia caeca [Typhlopidae], Bitis arietans, B. gabonica and B. nasicornis, and Causus maculatus [Viperidae]) presumably made in Oyem, Woleu-Ntem Province, northeastern Gabon, and housed in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. The analysis of the letters sent by the collector to the museum reveals that some of these snakes were actually collected near Franceville in Haut-Ogooué Province. We examined a Hydrophis platurus (Elapidae) presumably originating from Gabon and housed in the collections of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; an analysis of the collections' entry register indicates that it was in fact probably caught in West Papua. One snake species is newly recorded from Haut-Ogooué and Woleu-Ntem provinces each. The confirmation of the occurrence of Polemon gracilis in Gabon brings the number of reptile species documented for the country to 129. We report a case of predation by Bitis arietans on a bird.

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological and morphological data or unpublished museum material for Mecistops cataphractus (Crocodylidae), Chamaeleo cristatus and C. owenii (Chamaeleonidae), Hemidactylus fasciatus and H. muriceus (Gekkonidae), Feylinia currori, Trachylepis albilabris (Scincidae), Calabaria reinhardtii (Boidae), Grayia ornata, Hapsidophrys smaragdinus, Rhamnophis aethiopissa aethiopissa (Colubridae), Lycophidion laterale (Lamprophiidae), Hydraethiops melanogaster, Natriciteres fuliginoides (Natricidae), Bitis gabonica and B. nasicornis (Viperidae). We document a predation case of Lycophidion laterale on Feylinia currori. Four reptile species are newly recorded from Arboretum Raponda Walker and two snake species are newly listed for Estuaire Province. We refute a recent record of Natriciteres variegata (Natricidae) from Gabon.

We present new Gabonese locality records for Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus (Gerrhosauridae), Trachylepis maculilabris (Scincidae), Varanus ornatus (Varanidae), Calabaria reinhardtii (Boidae), Dipsadoboa viridis, Toxicodryas blandingii (Colubridae), Naja melanoleuca and N. nigricollis (Elapidae), Python sebae (Pythonidae), Atheris squamigera (orange morph), Bitis arietans, B. gabonica and B. nasicornis (Viperidae). We add two, one, two and one species to Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Nyanga and Woleu-Ntem provinces’ reptile lists, respectively. We newly record two, one and one snake species for Mwagna National Park, Waka National Park and Bas Ogooué Ramsar Site, respectively. We report predation cases by a Naja melanoleuca on a Toxicodryas blandingii and by a Seba’s python on a domestic dog (Mammalia: Canidae: Canis lupus familiaris), respectively.

We present new Gabonese locality records, ecological data or unpublished museum material for Crocodylus niloticus (Crocodylidae), Trionyx triunguis (Trionychidae), Agama lebretoni (Agamidae), Hemidactylus fasciatus and H. mabouia (Gekkonidae), Gastropholis echinata (Lacertidae), Trachylepis albilabris (Scincidae), Afrotyphlops angolensis (Typhlopidae), Dipsadoboa viridis, Hapsidophrys smaragdinus, Toxicodryas pulverulenta (Colubridae), Naja melanoleuca (Elapidae), Lamprophis olivaceus, Psammophis cf. phillipsii (Lamprophiidae), Natriciteres fuliginoides (Natricidae), Causus lichtensteinii and C. maculatus (Viperidae). We document predation cases by Hapsidophrys smaragdinus on Hemidactylus mabouia and Trachylepis albilabris, by Naja melanoleuca on Sclerophrys regularis (Anura: Bufonidae) and by Psammophis cf. phillipsii on Phrynobatrachus auritus (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae), and consumption of Arius latiscutatus (Siluriformes: Ariidae) and Tragelaphus spekii (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) by Crocodylus niloticus. We add one, two and one snake species, respectively, to Estuaire, Moyen-Ogooué and Nyanga provinces’ reptile lists. We add four reptile species to the list for Wonga-Wongué Presidential Reserve. We refer all records of Agama agama in Gabon to A. picticauda.

Anthicidae species reported from Gabon are listed in an alphabetic order.

We report the first observation of Lygodactylus conraui (Gekkonidae) in Gabon. We present new Gabonese locality records for Kinixys erosa (Testudinidae), Agama agama and A. lebretoni (Agamidae), Trachylepis albilabris (Scincidae), Chamaeleo cristatus and C. owenii (Chamaeleonidae), Dasypeltis fasciata, Hapsidophrys smaragdinus, Rhamnophis a. aethiopissa (Colubridae), Aparallactus modestus, Gonionotophis poensis, Lamprophis olivaceus, Polemon fulvicollis (Lamprophiidae) and Afrotyphlops congestus (Typhlopidae). Four snake and two lizard species are newly recorded from Ogooué-Lolo and Estuaire provinces, respectively. We refer all published records of Agama paragama, A. cf. paragama and A. sylvana from Gabon to A. lebretoni.

We report the first observations of the orange morph and new locality records for Atheris squamigera (Viperidae) in Gabon, and new Gabonese locality records, ecological data or unpublished museum material for Pelusios castaneus and P. chapini (Pelomedusidae), Kinixys erosa (Testudinidae), Trionyx triunguis (Trionychidae), Crocodylus niloticus, Mecistops cataphractus and Osteolaemus tetraspis (Crocodylidae), Agama agama and A. lebretoni (Agamidae), Chamaeleo dilepis, C. oweni and Rhampholeon spectrum (Chamaeleonidae), Hemidactylus echinus and H. mabouia (Gekkonidae), Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus (Gerrhosauridae), Trachylepis maculilabris and T. p. polytropis (Scincidae), Varanus ornatus (Varanidae), Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, Dipsadoboa underwoodi, Hapsidophrys smaragdinus, Philothamnus carinatus and P. heterodermus, Rhamnophis aethiopissa, Thrasops flavigularis (Colubridae), Pseudohaje goldii (Elapidae), Aparallactus modestus, Atractaspis boulengeri, Buhoma depressiceps, Hormonotus modestus, Psammophis cf. phillipsii (Lamprophiidae), Python sebae (Pythonidae), Indotyphlops braminus (Typhlopidae), Bitis nasicornis and Causus lichtensteinii (Viperidae). We add one species each to Estuaire, Haut-Ogooué and Ogooué-Ivindo provinces’ reptile lists. Two snake species are added to Ivindo National Park, bringing the total number of reptile species recorded from the park to 64, i.e., half of the species currently recorded from Gabon. We document predation cases of Pycnonotus barbatus (Aves: Pycnonotidae) on Hemidactylus mabouia, Philothamnus heterodermus on Arthroleptis variabilis (Amphibia: Arthroleptidae), Hormonotus modestus on Hemidactylus mabouia, Psammophis cf. phillipsii on Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus, Causus lichtensteinii on Sclerophrys sp. (Amphibia: Bufonidae) and feeding of Varanus ornatus on spaghetti.

We provide the first record of the African Warty Tree Frog Acanthixalus spinosus (Hyperoliidae) for Ivindo National Park and Ogooue-Ivindo Province, Gabon.