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Grayia ornata (BOCAGE, 1866)

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Higher TaxaColubridae, Grayiinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Ornate African Water Snake
Gabon: dibomina (plurial: mabomina), by the Loumbou, Massango, Pounou and Nzebi people, and is called mouboyi by the Pouvi, otoubou by the Obamba, and moléngué by the Babongo pygmies. The species is called ghébomina in Mitsogho at Mokabo (Douya-Onoy Dpt.) etc. 
SynonymMacrophis ornatus BOCAGE 1866: 47
Grayia ornata — STERNFELD 1917
Grayia ornata — SCHMIDT 1923: 92
Grayia ornata — LOVERIDGE 1936: 34
Grayia ornata — LAURENT 1954: 44
Grayia ornata — BROADLEY 1998
Grayia ornata — CHIRIO & INEICH 2006
Grayia ornata — WALLACH et al. 2014: 315
Grayia inornata — PORTIK et al. 2016 (in error ?)
Grayia ornata — PIETERSEN et al. 2021
Grayia ornata — PAUWELS & COLYN 2023
Grayia ornata — CHANEY et al. 2024: 20 
DistributionAngola, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire; except in the west), Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Zambia, Central African Republic, Republic of South Sudan (RSS)

Type locality: Duque de Bragança, Bayão, Angola.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesSyntype: ZMB 7772 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Grayia (Grayia) ornata is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 1190 mm (vs. 965 mm in G. (Xenurophis) caesar, 1400 mm in G. (Grayia) smythii, 900 mm in G. (Xenurophis) tholloni, and 899 mm in G. (Grayia) obscura)); dorsal scale rows at midbody 17–19 ([rarely 15]; vs. 15 in G. (Xenurophis) caesar, 16–17 [rarely 15 or 18] in G. (Grayia) smythii, 15 in G. (Xenurophis) tholloni, and 17 in G. (Grayia) obscura); 1–2 upper labial scales in contact with the eye (vs. 2 in G. (Xenurophis) caesar, 1–2 in G. (Grayia) smythii, 1–2 [rarely 4] in G. (Xenurophis) tholloni, and 1 in G. (Grayia) obscura); 65–90 subcaudals (vs. 140–162 subcaudals in G. (Xenurophis) caesar, 75–110 in G. (Grayia) smythii, 100– 134 in G. (Xenurophis) tholloni, and 69–79 in G. (Grayia) obscura); 8–9 [rarely 7] supralabials (vs. 8 in G. (Xenurophis) caesar, 7–8 in G. (Grayia) smythii, 7–9 in G. (Xenurophis) tholloni, and 8–10 in G. (Grayia) obscura); brown, gray, or tan body color with a large number of dark brown or black body bands that bifurcate on the flanks (vs. blackish brown body color with pale cream bands outlined in black in G. (Xenurophis) caesar; dark brown body color with darker brown or black chevrons and pale cream, yellow scalloped, or triangle pattern on the lower flanks in G. (Grayia) smythii; brown or gray body color with faint, thin cream bands running down the body in G. (Xenurophis) tholloni; and dark brown or gray body color with a small number of black bands that bifurcate on the flanks in G. (Grayia) obscura); 1–3 extralabial scales present in 92% of specimens (vs. extralabial scales never present in G. (Xenurophis) caesar, G. (Grayia) smythii, and G. (Xenurophis) tholloni, and 1–2 extralabial scales present in G. (Grayia) obscura). (Chaney et al. 2024)


Additional details (7471 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentSimilar species: G. smithii; e.g. the photograph of a juvenile ‘Grayia ornata’ shown on pp. 8 and 382 in Chippaux & Jackson 2019 actually represents a juvenile G. smithii fide Pauwels & Brecko 2020.

Distribution: For a map with localities in Equatorial Guinea see SÁNCHEZ-VIALAS et al. 2022. 
EtymologyThe Latin ornata, -us, = decorated" or "ornamented," refers to the ornate coloration. 
References
  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1866. Reptiles nouveaux ou peu connus recueillis dans les possessions portugaises de l'Afrique occidentale, que se trouvent au Muséum de Lisbonne. Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat. Lisboa 1: 57-78. - get paper here
  • Bocage,J.V. du B. 1866. Lista dos reptis das possessões portuguezas d'Africa occidental que existem no Museu Lisboa. Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat. Lisboa 1: 37-56 - get paper here
  • Broadley, D.G. 1983. Records of two species of Grayia (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Zambia. Black Lechwe (n.s.) 5: 21-25
  • Broadley, D.G. 1991. The Herpetofauna of Northern Mwinilunga Distr., Northw. Zambia. Arnoldia Zimbabwe 9 (37): 519-538
  • Broadley, D.G. 1998. The reptilian fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa). In: Schmidt, K.P. and Noble, G.K., Contributions to the Herpetology of the Belgian Congo... [reprint of the 1919 and 1923 papers]. SSAR Facsimile reprints in Herpetology, 780 pp.
  • Broadley, D.G.; Doria, C.T. & Wigge, J. 2003. Snakes of Zambia. An Atlas and Field Guide. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 280 pp. [review in Sauria 26 (3): 21]
  • Broadley, Donald G. and F. P. D. Cotterill. 2004. The reptiles of southeast Katanga, an overlooked 'hot spot'. [Congo]. African Journal of Herpetology 53 (1): 35-61. - get paper here
  • Burger, M.; Branch, W.R. & Channing, A. 2004. Amphibians and Reptiles of Monts Doudou, Gabon: Species Turnover Along an Elevational Gradient. California Academy of Sciences Memoir 28: 145–186
  • Carlino, P. & Pauwels, O.S.G. 2015. An Updated Reptile List of Ivindo National Park, the Herpetofaunal Hotspot of Gabon. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 50(3): 25-39 - get paper here
  • Chaney, Teslin; Olivier S. G. Pauwels, Zoltán T. Nagy, Václav Gvoždík, Chifundera Kusamba, Gabriel Badjedjea, Franck M. Masudi, Jeannot B. Akuboy, Raffael Ernst, Jean-François Trape, Laurent Chirio, Werner Conradie, Chad Keates, Van Wallach, Ange-Ghi 2024. Phylogenetics and Integrative Taxonomy of African Water Snakes (Squamata: Colubridae: Grayia). Herpetological Monographs, 38(1): 1-52 - get paper here
  • Chifundera, K. 1990. Snakes of Zaire and their bites. Afr. Stud. Monogr. (Kyoto) 10(3): 137-157.
  • Chippaux, Jean-Philippe & Kate Jackson 2019. Snakes of Central and Western Africa. Johns Hopkins University Press, 448 pp. [detaileld review in HR 51 (1): 161] - get paper here
  • Chirio, L. & Lebreton, M. 2007. Atlas des reptiles du Cameroun. MNHN, IRD, Paris 688 pp.
  • Chirio, Laurent and Ivan Ineich 2006. Biogeography of the reptiles of the Central African Republic. African Journal of Herpetology 55(1):23-59. - get paper here
  • Ernst R, Lautenschläger T, Branquima MF, Hölting M 2020. At the edge of extinction: a first herpetological assessment of the proposed Serra do Pingano Rainforest National Park in Uíge Province, northern Angola. Zoosystematics and Evolution 96(1): 237-262 - get paper here
  • Jackson, Kate 2008. MEAN AND LOWLY THINGS - Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo. Harvard University Press, 336 pp. - get paper here
  • Jackson, Kate; Ange-Ghislain Zassi-Boulou, Lis-Bethy Mavoungou, and Serge Pangou 2007. Amphibians and Reptiles of the LacTélé Community Reserve, Likouala Region, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). Herp. Cons. Biol. 2 (2): 75-86 - get paper here
  • Laurent, RAYMOND F. 1954. Reptiles et batraciens de la région de Dundo (Angola) (Deuxième note). Companhia de Diamantes de Angola (Diamang), Serviços Culturais, Publicações Culturais, No. 23: 37-84
  • Loveridge, A. 1936. African reptiles and amphibians in the Field Museum of Natural History. Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Chicago, 22 (1): 1-122 - get paper here
  • Mali, Franck Masudi Muenye; Zacharie Chifundera Kusamba, Aristote Mwenebantu Mlungu, Celestin Danadu Mizani, Pionus Katuala Gatate Banda, Sylverstre Gambalemoke Mbalitini, Corneille Ewango, Guy Crispin Gembu Tungaluna, Bejamin Dudu Akaibe. 2019. Note on the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mungbwalu (Ituri Province) and Mutwanga (Province of North-Kivu) in DRC. American Journal of Zoology 2 (2): 18-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ajz.20190202.11 - get paper here
  • Marques, Mariana P.; Luis M. P. Ceríaco , David C. Blackburn , and Aaron M. Bauer 2018. Diversity and Distribution of the Amphibians and Terrestrial Reptiles of Angola -- Atlas of Historical and Bibliographic Records (1840–2017). Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (Ser. 4) 65: 1-501 (Supplement II)
  • Mavoungou, L. B., Jackson, K., & Goma-Tchimbakala, J. 2024. Snake species assemblages across habitat types in four departments of the Republic of Congo, with emphasis on medically-relevant venomous species. Heliyon, e33583 - get paper here
  • Pauwels OSG, Morelle S, Albert J-L, Carlino P, Rahola N, Trape J-F. 2019. New reptile records from Lékédi Park and Haut-Ogooué Province, southeastern Gabon. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13 (1) [General Section]: 143–161 (e174) - get paper here
  • PAUWELS, O. S. G., AND J. BRECKO 2020. Book Review: Snakes of Central and Western Africa. Herpetological Review 51: 161-164.
  • Pauwels, O. S., & Colyn, M. 2023. On a Diverse Collection of Snakes from Amadjabe, Left Bank of the Congo River, Northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society, 58(3), 34-47 - get paper here
  • Pauwels, O.S.G. & Vande Weghe, J.P. 2008. Les reptiles du Gabon. Smithsonian Institution, Washington: 272 pp. - get paper here
  • Pauwels, O.S.G.; David, P. 2008. Miscellanea Herpetologica Gabonica I. Hamadryad 32 (1): 13 – 18 - get paper here
  • Pauwels, O.S.G.; Kamdem Toham, A. & Chimsunchart, C. 2002. Recherches sur l’herpétofaune du Massif du Chaillu, Gabon. Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Nat. Belgique (Biologie) 72: 47-57 - get paper here
  • Pauwels, Olivier S. G.; Laila Bahaa-el-din , Jean-Louis Albert , Piero Carlino , Francesco Giannuzzi , Laurent Chirio , Jean-François Gillet , Eddy Poirier and Tariq Stévart 2018. Miscellanea Herpetologica Gabonica XIV. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 53(9): 185-190 - get paper here
  • Pauwels,O.S.G.; André Kamdem Toham and Victor Mamonekene 2002. ETHNOZOOLOGY OF THE DIBOMINA (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE: GRAYIA ORNATA) IN THE MASSIF DU CHAILLU, GABON. Hamadryad 27 (1): 136 – 141 - get paper here
  • Pauwels,O.S.G.; Toham, A.K. & Lenglet, G. 2000. Grayia ornata (Bocage 1866), Ornate Water Snake. Diet. African Herp News (31): 9-10 - get paper here
  • Pietersen, Darren, Verburgt, Luke & Davies, John 2021. Snakes and other reptiles of Zambia and Malawi. Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa, 376 pp., ISBN 9781775847373
  • SÁNCHEZ-VIALAS, A., CALVO-REVUELTA, M. & DE LA RIVA, I. 2022. Synopsis of the terrestrial Reptiles of Equatorial Guinea. Zootaxa 5202 (1): 1-197 - get paper here
  • Schmidt, K. P. 1923. Contributions to the herpetology of the Belgian Congo based on the collection of the American Museum Congo Expedition, 1909-1915. Part II. Snakes, with field notes by Herbert Lang and James P. Chapin. Bull. Amer. Mus. nat. Hist. 49 (1): 1-146 - get paper here
  • Spawls, Stephen; Tomáš Mazuch & Abubakr Mohammad 2023. Handbook of Amphibians and Reptiles of North-east Africa. Bloomsbury, 640 pp. - get paper here
  • Sternfeld, R. 1917. Reptilia und Amphibia. In: Schubotz, H. (Hrsg.): Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Zweiten Deutschen Zentral-Afrika-Expedition, 1910-1911 unter Führung Adolph Friedrichs, Herzog zu Mecklenburg. Leipzig: Klinkhardt & Biermann, [Band] 1, Zoologie, Lieferung 11; S. 407-510. - get paper here
  • Trape, J.-F. 2023. Guide des serpents d’Afrique occidentale, centrale et d’Afrique du Nord. IRD Éditions, Marseille, 896 pp.
  • Trape, J.F. & R. ROUX-ESTÈVE 1995. Les serpents du Congo: liste commentée et clé de détermination. Journal of African Zoology 109 (1): 31-50
  • Wallach, Van; Kenneth L. Williams , Jeff Boundy 2014. Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. [type catalogue] Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
  • Witte, G. F. de 1933. Reptiles récoltés au Conge Belge par le Dr. H. Schouteden et par M. G.-F. Witte. Ann. Mus. Conge belge Zool. Ser. 1 Tome III: 53-100.
 
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