Bothrophthalmus brunneus Günther, 1863

Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto, Calvo-Revuelta, Marta & Riva, Ignacio De La, 2022, Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea, Zootaxa 5202 (1), pp. 1-197 : 112

Bothrophthalmus brunneus Günther, 1863

Figure 28A

Bothrophthalmus lineatus brunneus Günther, 1863 . Type locality: “Fernando Po”. Bioko , Equatorial Guinea.

Distribution. Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded both in Bioko ( Günther 1863a; Boulenger 1893; Bocage 1903; Mertens 1964a) and Río Muni at Monte Alén National Park ( Lasso et al. 2002) ( Map 31C ).

Comments. There are two species of Bothropthalmus currently recognized, namely B. brunneus and B. lineatus Peters, 1863 . The taxonomic status of B. brunneus is controversial. The two species are distinguishable based on colouration only: B. brunneus presents a uniformly dark body pattern, whereas B. lineatus shows a red-black striped pattern ( Schmidt 1923; Chippaux & Jackson 2019). Boulenger (1893) included B. brunneus in the synonymy of B. lineatus , treating Günther’s taxon as a variety of the latter. Other authors have considered this taxon as a subspecies of B. lineatus ( Schmidt 1923; Pauwels et al. 2002; Chippaux 2006) or treated it with full species status ( Trape 1985; Meirte 1992; Pauwels & David 2008a; Wallach et al. 2014). Recent molecular works included a single sample of B. lineatus from Uganda and another one of B. brunneus from Gabon, supporting them with full species status ( Kelly et al. 2011; Zaher et al. 2019). However, in order to resolve this taxonomic problem, it will be required to improve the sampling for molecular analyses across most of the range of both species, including their type localities [the type locality of B. lineatus is the Coast of the Gulf of Guinea, but fide Hughes & Barry (1969) the true type locality is likely in Ghana]. There are no precise records of this species in Bioko ( Mertens 1964a). The examined specimen EBD 20925 contained an unidentified mouse in its stomach.

Specimens examined. Eight specimens. Río Muni: Miboman, 16 April 1986 ( EBD 20923) , 08 July 1986 ( EBD 20924–20925 ) ; Miboman , 30 km from Bata, 14 October 1986 ( EBD 20922) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang), August 1987 ( EBD 27514) ; Ncoeakieñ (road from Bata to Movo, Km 23), 19 June 1984 ( EBD 18600) ; San Joaquín de Nydiacom , 01 August 1986 ( EBD 25132–25133 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 28. Bothrophthalmus brunneus (A) (EBD 20922): from left to right: lateral, dorsal and ventral views of the head; Chamaelycus fasciatus (B) (EBD 27765) from left to right: complete specimen and dorsal view of the head, respectively; Gonionotophis brussauxi (C) (without EBD number, from Río Muni). Photos: AS-V.

MAPS 31 A–C. Distribution maps for Equatorial Guinean records of (A) Boaedon virgatus; (B) Bothrolycus ater (question mark represents an imprecise record); (C) Bothrophthalmus brunneus (question mark represents an imprecise record).