Boaedon branchi Hallermann, Ceríaco, Schmitz, Ernst, Conradie, Verburgt, Marques, and Bauer, 2020

Conradie, Werner, Baptista, Ninda L., Verburgt, Luke, Keates, Chad, Harvey, James, Júlio, Timóteo & Neef, Götz, 2021, Contributions to the herpetofauna of the Angolan Okavango-Cuando-Zambezi river drainages. Part 1: Serpentes (snakes), Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 292) 15 (2), pp. 244-278 : 263-264

Boaedon branchi Hallermann, Ceríaco, Schmitz, Ernst, Conradie, Verburgt, Marques, and Bauer, 2020

Branch’s House Snake ( Fig. 24 , Map 22 )

Material: PEM R 21846, 47.5 km E of Menongue on road to Cuito Cuanavale, Cuando Cubango Province, -14.59517º 18.07111º, 1,497 m asl; PEM R 23538, Longa River, Cuando Cubango Province, -14.55956º 18.41406º, 1,319 m asl. Description: Dorsal scales smooth and in 29 rows at midbody; 197 and 210 smooth ventrals; 64 and 67 paired subcaudals; 1–2 preoculars; 2 postoculars; temporals 1+2; 8 supralabials, the 4 th and 5 th entering the orbit; 9 infralabials, the first four in contact with the anterior chin shield; cloacal scale divided. Largest male: 508 + 123 mm ( PEM R 21846). Habitat and natural history notes: The stomach of the subadult male contained an unidentified rodent. Comment: The unusual pale-yellow specimen previously identified as Boaedon cf. angolensis in Conradie et al. (2016, Fig. 9G ) is here referred to as the recently described Boaedon branchi , which is only known from two specimens from east of Menongue, Cuando Cubango Province ( Hallermann et al. 2020).

Boaedon fradei Hallermann, Ceríaco, Schmitz, Ernst, Conradie, Verburgt, Marques, and Bauer, 2020 Zambezi/Frade’s House Snake ( Fig. 25 , Map 23) Material: PEM R 23486–7, Quembo River source lake, Moxico Province, -13.13544º 19.04397º, 1,375 m asl; PEM R 23985, bridge over Lungwebungu River, Moxico Province, -12.58013° 18.66740°, 1,304 m asl; PEM R 25338, Lake Hundo, Moxico Province, -14.97431º 21.62966º, 1,100 m asl; PEM R 27746, lower Cuando River, -16.50574º 22.10673º, 1,023 m asl. Description: Dorsal scales smooth and in 28–29 rows at midbody; 201–214 smooth ventrals; 50–74 paired subcaudals; 1 preocular; 2 postoculars; temporals mostly 1+2+3; 8 supralabials, 3 rd –5 th entering the orbit; 9 infralabials, the first four in contact with the anterior chin shield; cloacal scale entire. Largest female: 738 + 122 mm ( PEM R 23486); largest male: 608 + 143 mm ( PEM R 23985). Habitat and natural history notes: All specimens were associated with Angolan Miombo Woodland and Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands. Comment: Material collected from this study comprised the type series of the newly described B. fradei from eastern Angola ( Hallermann et al. 2020). A photographic record mentioned in the text of Conradie et al. (2016) under the heading Boaedon cf. angolensis can be assigned to this new species based on overall coloration and distribution (see iNaturalist 1727921). Boaedon fradei is widespread in the southern DRC, and is found throughout western and northern Zambia to the Zambezi Region (= Caprivi Strip) in Namibia and adjacent Botswana (Conradie et al., In Prep.)

Figures

Map 22. Distribution of Boaedon branchi in Angola.

Fig. 24. Boaedon branchi from Longo River east of Menongue. Photo by Bill Branch.

Fig. 9. Dasypeltis confusa from Cuito River source. Photo by Werner Conradie.

Fig. 25. Boaedon fradei from Quembo River source. Photo by Werner Conradie.