Heliobolus spekii (Günther, 1872)

Kirchhof, Sebastian, Wasonga, Victor, Mazuch, Tomáš, Spawls, Stephen & Malonza, Patrick Kinyatta, 2023, An annotated checklist of the herpetofauna of the Sibiloi National Park in northern Kenya based on field surveys, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 324) 17 (1 / 2), pp. 1-18 : 8

Heliobolus spekii (Günther, 1872)

Vouchers: NMK-376L/1–3 (field nos. SK16 1076, SK16 1082, SK16 1088)

Additional tissue samples: SK351 2017, SK468 2017, SK469 2017, SK478 2017, SK479 2017

Localities: KA (B, R), LO (B), TBI

Remarks: Heliobolus spekii ( Fig. 4L ) is a widespread generalist species inhabiting coastal thicket and woodland, moist and dry savanna, and semi-desert at elevations from sea level to 1,500 m ( Spawls et al. 2018). We found 18 individuals throughout the study period. This species was absent from the sites near the lake shore and from sparsely vegetated areas. It was only found further inland at the Karare site, Lomosia, and at TBI in more densely vegetated, grassy bushland and on vegetated riverbanks. One pair was observed mating on 17 April 2017. The average T b was high at 37.5 ± 1.4 °C (34.5–39 °C; N = 8) at substrate temperatures ( T sub) ranging from 28–49 °C and T a ranging from 29–34 °C.

Figures

Fig. 4. Reptile species recorded during the surveys: (A) Crocodylus niloticus; (B) Agama lionotus; (C) Agama rueppelli; (D) Holodactylus africanus; (E) Hemidactylus angulatus; (F) Hemidactylus barbierii; (G) Hemidactylus lanzai; (H) Hemidactylus ruspolii; (I) Homopholis fasciata; (J) Lygodactylus somalicus; (K) Stenodactylus sthenodactylus; (L) Heliobolus spekii; (M) Latastia longicaudata; (N) Philochortus rudolfensis; (O) Chalcides bottegi; (P) Mochlus sundevallii; (Q) Trachylepis striata; (R) Varanus albigularis; (S) Eryx colubrinus; (T) Platyceps brevis; (U) Psammophis cf. tanganicus; (V) Psammophis punctulatus; (W) Rhamphiophis rostratus; (X) Naja pallida; (Y) Bitis arietans; and (Z) Echis pyramidum.