Psammophis elegans (Shaw, 1802)

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, Zoosystema 33 (3), pp. 325-360 : 346

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/z2011n3a4
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B7FC4E-C028-6E64-FF29-FBAE6B22E52B
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Psammophis elegans (Shaw, 1802)
status

Treatment

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 27 specimens ( MRAC 29691 View Materials , Aledjo ; MRAC 29728 View Materials , Ezime ; MRAC 73014.0048 View Materials , Agou ; GHS-W 0036, GHS-W 1005, GHS-W 1182, GHS-W 1291, GHS-W 1294, GHS-Togo 84, Agave ; GHS-Togo 65, Agote ; GHS-W 0229, Nangbeto ; GHS- Togo 77, Sodo ; GHS-W 0043, GHS-W 0047, GHS-W 1014-16, GHS-W 1179-80, GHS-W 1204, GHS-Togo 79, Sodo Zion ; GHS-W 0062, GHS-W 1178, GHS-W 1181, GHS-W 1230 and GHS-W 1289, Yo [Agome Yo]; T 231 , Bafilo) .

MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 360 to 1670 mm; 17 MSR, smooth and oblique; 150 to 210 Ven, smooth; 109- 172 Sc, paired; anal divided; 9-10 supralabials; 10-11 infralabials; 1 or 2 preoculars; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 2 + 2 or 3 + 3.

DISTRIBUTION. — This wide ranging species is known from all regions of the country but it might be more abundant in the forested area. Previously, it had been mentioned from Togo by Matschie (1893), Werner (1902), Sternfeld (1908b) and Loveridge (1940) from the localities of Atakpame, Bismarkburg (now Adele), Missahohe and Kpalime, and Kete-Kratchi (now in Ghana). Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1970, 1971), Roman (1984) and Chippaux (2006) also confirmed the occurrence of this species in the country.

CONSERVATION STATUS. — According to reports of the CITES Division of the DFC Togo, 55 specimens were exported from Togo in 2001.

Psammophis phillipsii (Hallowell, 1844) ( Fig. 8 View FIG )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 32 specimens ( MNHN 2006.2285 View Materials , GHS-W 0025 , GHS-W 0029, GHS-W 0044, GHS-W 0051, GHS-W 1069, GHS-W 1080 and GHS-W 1423, Sodo Zion; MRAC A7036.0025 View Materials , MRAC 73014.0019 View Materials , Agou; MRAC 29558 View Materials , MRAC 29687 View Materials , Missahohe; MRAC 29608 View Materials , Togoville ; MRAC 29685 View Materials , Borgou; GHS-W 1183, GHS-W 1219 and GHS-W 1221, Agave ; GHS-W 1008, Assahoun ; GHS-W 0825, Kouma Tokpli ; GHS-Togo 44, Kpalime ; GHS-Togo 47, KoumaTchame ; GHS-W 0205, Nangbeto ; GHS-Togo 10, GHS-Togo 22, Sodo ; GHS-W 1229, GHS-W 1233-34, GHS-W 1261, Yo [ Agome Yo ]; T 150 , Diguingué ; T 177 , Alédjo ) .

MORPHOLOGY. — TL from 325 mm to 1540 mm; 17 MSR, smooth and oblique; 169-183 Ven, smooth; 84-115 Sc, paired; anal single or divided; 8-9 supralabials; 9-10 infralabials; 1 (sometimes 2) preocular; 2 postoculars; temporal scale formula 1 or 2 + 2 + 3.

DISTRIBUTION. — This species is present in all ecological regions but it is probably more common in the forested area of the country. Additional specimens not yet deposited were obtained from the villages of Aledjo, Huilehui, and Fazao. Previously this species had been mentioned by Werner (1902) and Loveridge (1940) from the localities of Atakpame, Missahohe and Kete-Kratchi, and by Hulselmans & Verheyen (1970), Hulselmans et al. (1970, 1971), Roman (1984), Hughes & Wade (2004), Chippaux (2006) and Leaché et al. (2006).