Laurent’s green tree-snake

discussion

Comments. Due to its morphological similarity at first sight with D. unicolor, we provide some diagnostic traits of the examined specimens. In comparison to D. unicolor, in D. viridis the diameter of the eye is equal to or greater than the distance between eye and nostril, the frontal plate longer than broad, and there are 193 – 238 ventrals and 71 – 112 subcaudals. All the examined specimens are within the limits of variation of these diagnostic traits (Table 1). In contrast, D. unicolor has the diameter of the eye less than the distance between eye and nostril, 181 – 220 ventrals and 52 – 78 subcaudals. The specimens recorded by Bocage (1895 a) from Bioko (ssp. D. v. assimilis Matschie, 1893, a current synonym of D. viridis) were re-examined and confirmed as D. viridis by Rasmussen (1993), who also verified the presence of D. unicolor in Bioko and provided a detailed account of D. viridis. Specimens examined. Six specimens. Río Muni: likely Cabo San Juan as part of the material examined by Boulenger (1905) (MNCN 23817, MNCN 50527); Miboman (road to Bata, Km 29), 15 November 1986 (EBD 20830); San Joaquín de Ndyiacom (Ayamiken), 01 August 1987 (EBD 25029, EBD 25059); San Joaquín de

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea

distribution

Distribution. This species extends from Guinea to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and the Republic of the Congo. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Bioko (see Rasmussen 1993) at Basilé (Bocage 1895 a, 1903) and Musola (Boulenger 1906; Mertens 1941, 1964; Capocaccia 1961 a), and in Río Muni at Cabo San Juan (Boulenger 1905; as D. unicolor), San Benito (= Río Benito) (Rasmussen 1993), and in Monte Mitra at Monte Alén National Park (Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) (Map 20 A).

Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea