Psammophis notostictus Peters, 1867

Ceríaco, L. M. P., De Sá, S., Bandeira, S., Valério, H., Stanley, E. L., Kuhn, A. L., Marques, M. P., Vindum, J. V., Blackburn, D. C. & Bauer, A. M., 2016, Herpetological Survey of Iona National Park and Namibe Regional Natural Park, with a Synoptic List of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Namibe Province, Southwestern Angola, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (2), pp. 15-61 : 41

KAROO SAND SNAKE – Fig. 19

Psammophis notostictus Peters, 1867

MATERIAL.— Espinheira, 30 November 2013, 16º47ʹ13.8ʺS, 12º21ʹ27.5ʺE, 457 m ( CAS 254827 ); Pico Azevedo, 7 December 2013, 15º32ʹ2.4ʺS, 12º29ʹ31.1ʺE, 359 m ( CAS 254940 ) .

COMMENTS.— Psammophis notostictus is easily recognizable from all other southern African Psammophis by its single cloacal shield and the presence of two preoculars ( Broadley 1975b, 1977, 2002). These two specimens have both of these diagnostic characters. The species is known for Angola, but only from Namibe Province. The closest published records of the species are in Rio São Nicolau ( Loveridge 1940; Broadley 1975b, 2002), Moçamedes [Namibe city] ( Bocage 1887; Loveridge 1940), and Curoca River ( Loveridge 1940; Broadley 2002). Our records expand the known distribution of the species further south in the country, although it is continuous southwards throughout much of western southern Africa ( Branch 1998).

Figures

FIGURE 19 – Adult Karoo Sand Snake, Psammophis notostictus Peters, 1867, from Espinheira. Photo by Luis Ceríaco.