Gerrhosaurus major ( Duméril, 1851 )

Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Trape, Jean-François, Afiademanyo, Komlan M., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain, David, Patrick, Meirte, Danny, Glitho, Isabelle Adolé, Petrozzi, Fabio & Luiselli, Luca, 2015, Checklist of the lizards of Togo (West Africa), with comments on systematics, distribution, ecology, and conservation, Zoosystema 37 (2), pp. 381-402 : 389

Gerrhosaurus major ( Duméril, 1851)

Gerrhosaurus major major Duméril, 1851: 139 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 6 specimens: Togo. Alédjo, RMCA 73.013.R.0011-0013.

DOA (Deutsch Ost-Afrikas). ZMB 18814.

Ghana. Kété Kratchi, ZMB: 16608 and 17699.

HABITATS AND DISTRIBUTION. — This species was first cited for Togo by Tornier (1901) from Kété-Kratchi, which today is in Ghana. It was also recently reported from the forests bordering Togo and Ghana ( Leaché et al. 2006). In Togo it is only known in the areas of the Monts Alédjo and in the mountain chain of Atakora, hence, in the forests of ecological zone IV (Adélé) and in the dry forests of ecological zone II (Fazao Malfakassa and Alédjo forest). In 2003, Fouchard (pers. com) indicated that some specimens were collected in Hiheatro (surroundings of Atakpamé) for the international pet trade.

NOTES. —Recently, Bates et al. (2013) erected a new genus ( Broadleysaurus ) for this species, based on molecular phylogeny data using two mitochondrial markers (ND2, 732 bp; 16S, 576 bp) and one nuclear marker ( PRLR, 538 bp). Further studies should confirm whether this genus can be definitely accepted.