Pitón africana de roca

biology_ecology

Biology and distribution. Widely distributed in West and Central Africa from Senegal eastwards to Tanzania and southwards to Angola (Chippaux and Jackson 2019). The species is frequently found at night and in a wide variety of habitats. The species is frequently used as bushmeat and sold in street markets across Africa. We recorded several pythons in street markets, mostly in the Littoral Peneplain and drier coastal belt, but also in Mayombe NP.

Filling the gaps: herpetological checklist of Mayombe National Park and Cabinda Province (Angola) shed light on one of the most unexplored corners of tropical Central Africa

materials_examined

Material. ANGOLA – Cabinda Province • Fazenda Mandarim; – 5.0401, 12.0508; 14 m a. s. l.; P 4.073 (bushmeat); GenBank: PQ 456016. • Tando Zinze; – 5.306833, 12.498538; 32 m a. s. l.; photographic record (street market). Identification. A large rock python (max. SVL = 6.5 m) that can be distinguished from its close relative P. natalensis based on the colour pattern on the side of the head and larger scales on the head (see Chippaux and Jackson 2019). The specimens reported here are genetically identical (<0.5 % 16 S p - distance) to unpublished material (K. Tolley unpublished data) from northern Angola (e. g., Luquembo and Cuanza River).

Filling the gaps: herpetological checklist of Mayombe National Park and Cabinda Province (Angola) shed light on one of the most unexplored corners of tropical Central Africa

discussion

Comments. Fa & García Juste (2001) reported this species as part of the bush-meat market of Río Muni in Monte Mitra Forest. The finding of the exact locality of the specimen MNCN 23811 collected from “ Río Utoche ” was possible thanks to the old geographic map of Río Muni provided by Gustavo Pittaluga (Pittaluga 1910). Specimens examined. Fifteen specimens. Equatorial Guinea: without specific locality, 1986 (EBD 31634), without date (a single egg) (EBD 18715), without date (EBD 6167). Island of Elobey, before 1886 (MNCN 22790, MNCN 22792). Río Muni: San Joaquín de Ndyiacom, 25 June 1987 (EBD 27793); Utoche river, 1909 (MNCN 23811); Colegio la Salle, Bata, 1964 (EBD 2851 – 2852); “ Encomoison ” (locality not found, but likely corresponding to Micomeseng), 03 September 1984 (EBD 20279); Road from Bata to Movo, 03 September 1984 (EBD 29670); Miboman (road to Niefang), 08 July 1986 (EBD 20919); Bata, 05 June 1984 (EBD 18362). Bioko: without specific locality (MNCN 22794); Malabo, 1983 (EBD 29671).

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea

distribution

Distribution. This species is widespread from Mauritania to Somalia and south to Zimbabwe. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Bioko at Basilé (Bocage 1895 a) and Riaba (= Concepción) (Mertens 1941), in Elobey (Martínez y Sáez 1886; Pérez del Val 2001), and in Río Muni at Utoche River (Pérez del Val 2001) and Monte Alén National Park (Lasso et al. 2002), including Monte Mitra (Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) (Map 34 C).

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea