Rhoptropus Peters, 1869

Marques, Mariana P., Ceríaco, Luis M. P., Blackburn, David C. & Bauer, Aaron M., 2018, Diversity and Distribution of the Amphibians and Terrestrial Reptiles of Angola Atlas of Historical and Bibliographic Records (1840 - 2017), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 65, pp. 1-501 : 199-204

Genus Rhoptropus Peters, 1869

Rhoptropus afer Peters, 1869 NAMIB DAY GECKO

Rhoptropus afer Peters 1869:59 , pl., figs. 2, 2a–c. Lectotype: ZMB 6149 A (collector J. Wahlberg), designat- ed by Loveridge (1947) by implication fide Bauer and Günther (1991) and Bauer et al. (1995a:56). Type locality: “Damaralande” [northwestern Namibia].

Rhoptropus afer : Bocage (1870:68, 1873b:212, 1887b:203, 1895a:16, 1897b:210), Boulenger (1885:217, 1910:643), Loveridge (1947:286), Bauer and Good (1996:643), Branch (1998:267), Lamb and Bauer (2001:71), Ceríaco et al. (2016a:55).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is known from northern Namibia and adjacent southern Angola, in the Namib Desert, although absent from the dune seas.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 147): The species is known from southern Namibe

Province. Namibe: “Maconjo” [-15.01667,

13.20000] ( Bocage 1873b:212; Ceríaco et al.

2016a:55); “Capangombe” [-15.10000,

13.15000] ( Bocage 1873b:212, 1895a:16,

1897b:210; Ceríaco et al. 2016a:55); “Mossamedes” [-15.20000, 12.15000] ( Boulenger

1885:217; Ceríaco et al. 2016a:55); “ Rio Coroca” [-15.78333, 12.06667] ( Bocage

1887b:203, 1895a:16, 1897b:210; Ceríaco et al. 2016a:55).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

The genus Rhoptropus is a monophyletic group of rupicolous and diurnal geckos endemic to Namibia and southern Angola

(Bauer and Good 1996; Lamb and Bauer

2001). A record from Lake Ngami, northern MAP 147. Distribution of Rhoptropus afer in Angola. Botswana (as R. braconnieri (Thominot, 1878)) has long ago been discredited, with the locality in error and the type specimen (MNHN 294) referable to R. afer (see Bauer and Good 1996). Bocage (1873 b, 1887 b, 1895a) cited the species Rhoptropus afer Peters, 1869 from Namibe Province (“Rio Coroca” and “Campagombe”), later he also identified one specimen from “Hanha,” Benguela Province ( Bocage 1897b) as R. afer . Bocage (1897b) considered that the specimen captured in “Hanha” proved that the species probably extended further north, however the distribution of this species is limited to the Namib Desert only (Bauer and Good 1996; Branch 1998). Loveridge (1947) omitted the records from Boulenger (1885, 1910) for “Mossamedes” and “ Angola,” respectively.

Rhoptropus barnardi Hewitt, 1926 BARNARD’S NAMIB DAY GECKO

Rhoptropus barnardi Hewitt 1926a:413 , pl. 35, figs. 1–3. Syntypes: SAM 16639 (6 specimens) (K.H. Barnard and R.F. Lawrence). Type locality: “near Eriksson’s Drift, Kunene River,” Cunene Province, Angola. Rhoptropus barnardi : Laurent (1964a:35), Branch (1998:267), Ceríaco et al. (2016a:26, 55).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: Occurs mainly inland of the northern Namib Desert, from central Namibia to Southern Angola, reaching its eastern limit in the Otavi Highlands of northern Namibia.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 148): The species is known from Namibe and Cunene provinces in southwestern Angola. Cunene :

“near Eriksson’s Drift, Kunene River ”

[-17.26944, 14.525] ( Hewitt 1926a:41).

Namibe: “ km 60 de la route de Moçâmedes à

Sá da Bandeira ” [-15.00000, 12.66667] ( Laurent 1964a:35; Ceríaco et al. 2016a:55) ;

“Approximately 7.35 km north-west (by road)

of Pico Azevedo” [-15.47519, 12.46319]

(Ceríaco et al. 2016a:26); “Omauha Lodge”

[-16.20033, 12.40003] (Ceríaco et al.

2016a:26); “ Iona National Park, Rio Curoca crossing, North side ofthe river” [-16.30189,

12.42028] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:26); “ Iona

National Park, Rio Curoca crossing, south side of the river” [-16.30408, 12.41667] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:26); “ Iona National Park, Rio Curo- MAP 148. Distribution of Rhoptropus barnardi in ca in the Pediva Hot Springs area” [-16.28359, Angola.

12.56106] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:26); “Namibe-Lubango road, 2 km east (by road) of Mangueiras, south side of the road” [-15.04467, 13.15906] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:27); “ Iona National Park ” [-15.77317, 12.33303] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:27) .

Taxonomic and distributional notes: Schmidt (1933) reported some specimens identified as Rhoptropus barnardi Hewitt, 1926 but, absent appropriate comparative material, he was unaware that his specimens represented a new taxon (Bauer and Good 1996), Rhoptropus taeniostictus Laurent, 1964 . Rhoptrops bradfieldi is broadly distributed in a variety of mainly rocky habitats from below the Escarpment and on the “Huíla Plateau” (Haacke and Odendaal 1981). However, the range in Angola is poorly known, so if populations are continuous or fragmented is uncertain. Specific records from Huíla have not been published but are relatively numerous. A record from “Novo Redondo” [= Sumbe] (Bauer and Good 1996) is in error, as there is no mention of this locality in the work which these authors cite (Haacke and Odendaal 1981). The discovery of a species that is superficially similar to R. barnardi (see Rhoptropus sp. below) necessitates the reexamination of specimens, especially those occurring north of Mossamedes (Namibe City) in order to determine the true distribution of both taxa.

Rhoptropus benguellensis Mertens, 1938 BENGUELA NAMIB DAY GECKO (Endemic)

Rhoptropus boultoni benguellensis Mertens 1938a:431 , figs. 4–5. Holotype: SMF 25275 (collector W. Schack). Type locality: “Cubal, 900m H., Prov. Benguela, Angola.”

Rhoptropus afer : Bocage (1897b:210).

Rhoptropus? boultoni : Parker (1936:127).

Rhoptropus afer benguellensis : Mertens (1938a: 430, 431).

Rhoptropus boultoni benguellensis : Mertens (1967:59), Hellmich (1957a:37), Laurent (1964a:33), Bauer and Good (1996:643), Heinicke et al. (2017:6).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: Endemic to western Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 149): The species is endemic to the southwest quadrant of Angola, north of the Namib. Benguela:

“Bocoio” [-12.46667, 14.13333] ( Parker

1936:127); “Cubal” [-13.03333, 14.25000]

( Mertens 1938a:431; Laurent 1964a:33; Mertens 1967:59; Bauer and Good 1996:643);

“Entre Rios” [-13.01667, 14.63333] ( Hellmich

1957b:37; Laurent 1964a:33); “Marco de

Canavezes ( Cubal de Ganda )” [-13.08333,

14.33333] ( Laurent 1964a:33); “Hanha”

[-13.30000, 14.20000] ( Bocage 1897b:210).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

Three subspecies of Rhoptropus boultoni ,

including R. b. benguellensis , were long recognized (Bauer and Good 1996; Bauer and Lamb

2001), but recent molecular phylogenetic

MAP 149. Distribution of Rhoptropus benguellensis in research has revealed that all three are specifi- Angola.

cally distinct ( Kuhn 2016; Heinicke et al. 2017)

and do not form a monophyletic group. Loveridge (1947) and Laurent (1964) regarded a number of earlier references to other Rhoptropus to be applicable to this taxon, and we here have followed them. Although formally published localities are from Benguela, recent collections have included material from as far north as the Cuanza River in central Angola ( Kuhn 2016). This species occupies some of the most mesic environments of any member of the genus. In the original description of Mertens (1938), the two images of the type specimen were mistakenly labeld as Rhoptropus afer benguellensis .

Rhoptropus biporosus FitzSimons, 1957 FITZSIMONS’ NAMIB DAY GECKO

Rhoptropus biporosus FitzSimons 1957:395 . Holotype: TM 24198 (collector Bernard Carp / Transvaal Museum Expedition). Type locality: “Orupembe, 120 miles west of Ohopoho [= Opuwo], Kaokoveld, Southwest Africa,” Kunene Region, Namibia.

Rhoptropus biporosus : Bauer and Good (1996:643), Branch (1998:267), Ceríaco et al. (2016a:27, 55).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: Recorded only from inland of the northern Namib dune fields form extreme northern Namibia and into adjacent Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 150): The species is present in southern Namibe Province below the Escarpment. Namibe: “Pico Azevedo” [-15.53400, 12.49197] (Bauer and Good 1996:643; Ceríaco et al. 2016a:55); “Iona National Park” [-16.53347, 12.44560] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:27); “Iona National Park, 20 km south-south-west (by air) of Espinheira” [-16.93169, 12.24500]

Rhoptropus boultoni Schmidt, 1933 BOULTON’S NAMIB DAY GECKO

Rhoptropus boultoni Schmidt 1933:7 , fig. 2, pl. 1 (far right). Holotype: CM 5634 (collectors R. and L. Boulton). Type locality: “Pico Azevedo,” Namibe Province, Angola.

Rhoptropus boultoni : Barbour and Loveridge (1946:187); Marx (1959:469); McCoy and Richmond (1966:155); Bauer and Good (1996:643).

Rhoptropus boultoni boultoni : Ceríaco et al. (2016a:28, 55).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: Occurs mainly inland of the northern Namib Desert, from central Namibia to southwestern Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 151): The species is known from southwestern Angola,

inland of the Namib and as far north as the desert’s northern limit in southern Namibe.

Namibe: “Pico Azevedo” [-15.55000,

12.51667] ( Schmidt 1933:7; Barbour and

Loveridge 1946:181; Marx 1959:469; McCoy and Richmond 1966:155; Ceríaco et al.

2016a:55); “Iona National Park, 3.4 km southwest (by air) of Espinheira, vicinity of “Lion

Cave” [-16.80375, 12.33978] (Ceríaco et al.

2016a:28); “Approximately 7.35 km northwest (by road) of Pico Azevedo” [-15.47589,

12.46269] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:28); “Espinheira” [-16.79150, 12.35168] (Ceríaco et al.

2016b:28); “Omauha Lodge” [-16.19792,

12.39981] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:28); “Iona

MAP 151. Distribution of Rhoptropus boultoni in National Park, Rio Curoca crossing, south side Angola.

of river” [-16.30408, 12.41667] (Ceríaco et al.

2016a:29); “Leba Pass, between river and highway” [-15.07033, 13.24381] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:29); “Namibe-Lubango road, 2.0 km east (by road) of Mangueiras, south side of the road” [-15.04467, 13.15906] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:29); “Namibe-Lubango road, road marker 59, 1.8 km west by road of Caraculo” [-15.01531, 12.64244] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:29); “Pico Azevedo” [-15.53400, 12.49197] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:29); “Espinheira” [-16.78894, 12.35775] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:29).

Taxonomic and distributional notes: Three subspecies of Rhoptropus boultoni have been recognized (Bauer and Good 1996; Bauer and Lamb 2001), but recent molecular phylogenetic research has revealed that all three are specifically distinct ( Kuhn 2016; Heinicke et al. 2017) and do not form a monophyletic group. Rhoptropus boultoni generally occupies areas of large boulders or occurs in association with large trees, such as baobab, Adansonia digitata (Bauer and Good 1996) . There is deep genetic substructure in R. boultoni sensu stricto ( Kuhn 2016) and further investigation may reveal that the taxon as now construed constitutes a species complex of similar, large-bodied Rhoptropus .

Rhoptropus montanus Laurent, 1964 MOUNTAIN NAMIB DAY GECKO (Endemic)

Rhoptropus boultoni montanus Laurent 1964a:31 . Holotype: MD 1854 (collector A. Barros Machado). Type locality: “Boca da Humpata, region de Sá da Bandeira” [ Boca da Humpata , Lubango], Huíla Province, Angola.

Rhoptropus boultoni montanus : Bauer and Good (1996:644); Ceríaco et al. (2016a:29), Heinicke et al. (2017:6).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is Endemic to southwestern Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 152): All known localities are on top of the Great escarpment . Huíla: “ Boca de Humpata, Sá da Bandeira ” [-14.93333, 13.51667] ( Laurent

1964a:31; Bauer and Good 1996:644).

Namibe: “Leba Pass overlook” [-15.07700,

13.23292] (Ceríaco et al. 2016b:29); “Leba

Pass, between river and highway” [-15.07033,

13.24369] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:29).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

Three subspecies of Rhoptropus boultoni ,

including R. b. montanus , were long recognized (Bauer and Good 1996; Bauer and Lamb

2001), but recent molecular phylogenetic research has revealed that all three are specifically distinct ( Kuhn 2016; Heinicke et al.

2017) and do not form a monophyletic group.

Additional localities from recent collections MAP 152. Distribution of Rhoptropus montanus in Angola.

(Ceríaco et al. 2016a) reinforce that this is a high elevation species, occurring in cooler, more mesic environments than most of its congeners. We recently examined the holotype of this taxon, which is in poor condition, having gone completely black and brittle after more than 60 years in formalin.

Rhoptropus taeniostictus Laurent, 1964 ANGOLAN NAMIB DAY GECKO (Endemic)

Rhoptropus taeniostictu s Laurent 1964a:33, figs. 5a–b. Holotype: MD 1967 (collector A. Barros Machado). Type locality: “ km 60 de la route de Moçâmedes à Sá da Bandeira ” [= km 60 road from Nambie to Lubango], Angola.

Rhoptropus barnardi : Schmidt (1933:6).

Rhoptropus taeniostictus : Bauer and Good (1996:644), Ceríaco et al. (2016a:30, 56), Heinicke et al. (2017:6).

Global conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated.

Global distribution: The species is endemic to southwestern Angola.

Ocurrences in Angola (Map 153): All published records are from Namibe Province north of the Namib proper and below the

Escarpement. Namibe: “Mucungu”

[-14.78333, 12.48333] ( Schmidt 1933:6; Ceríaco et al. 2016a:56); “ 60 km of the road of

Moçâmedes to Sá da Bandeira ” [-15.00000,

12.66667] ( Laurent 1964a:33; Ceríaco et al.

2016a:56); “Namibe-Lubango road, 2 km east

(by road) of Mangueiras, south side of the road” [-15.04467, 13.15906] (Ceríaco et al.

2016a:30); “Namibe-Lubango road, road marker 59, 1.8 km west (by road) of Caraculo,

on the north side of the road” [-15.01611,

12.64369] (Ceríaco et al. 2016a:30).

Taxonomic and distributional notes:

Laurent (1964a) in the original description

MAP 153. Distribution of Rhoptropus taeniostictus in noted in some similarities between the new

Angola.

species R. barnardi Hewitt, 1926 and R. boultoni Schmidt, 1933 , although it is apparent that he regarded its closest affinities with R. barnardi . Kuhn (2016) found its phylogenetic position to be equivocal, with nuclear genes suggesting affinities with R. montanus, Laurent, 1964 and mitochondrial data placing it as the sister to R. barnardi + R. biporosus + R. benguellensis .