Black-tailed tree snake

biology_ecology

Biology and distribution. The species is known to occur from Guinea Bissau eastwards to South Sudan and southwards to the Republic of the Congo, being widely distributed in the Congo Basin (Rasmussen 1993). These represent the southernmost records of the species and the first for Angola (Branch 2018). Both individuals were found at night in rainforest in Lower Mayombe, one perched on a branch overhanging a small pond, and the other moving among leaf litter in a cleared area of the forest.

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 • Mayombe NP, Mbundu; – 4.6875, 12.4981; 127 m a. s. l.; FKH 1246; GenBank: PQ 455968. • Mayombe NP, Sanga Wanda; - 4.6270, 12.4527; 215 m a. s. l.; P 3.511; GenBank: PQ 455969. Identification. The genus was morphologically revised by Rasmussen (1993). Specimens from Cabinda Province agree morphologically with D. weileri by having single subcaudals, dorsum dark grey to black and ventrum with uniform yellow colour with the exception of the subcaudal region that becomes black on the tip. The specimens reported here were genetically identified, differing by 2.8 % (16 S p - distance) from other conspecific material from Cross River National Park, Nigeria (GenBank: KX 660288).

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. Rasmussen (1993) provided a detailed account of this species. This species has been confused with D. unicolor; the record of D. unicolor from Benito River by Boulenger (1900) was reidentifyied as D. weileri (Rasmussen, 1993). Specimens examined. Six specimens. Río Muni: Miboman (road to Niefang), 29 March 1984 (EBD 20946); Miboman (30 km from Niefang), 01 February 1987 (EBD 25056); Miboman, April 1988 (EBD 27750), December 1987 (EBD 27751), without date (EBD 25065); San Joaquín de Ndyiacom (road from Bata to Ayamiken), 20 May 1987 (EBD 25057).

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea

distribution

Distribution. This species extends from Guinea to Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of Congo. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded from Río Muni at Benito River (Boulenger 1900; Rasmussen 1993) (Map 20 B).

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea