You are here » home › advanced search › search results › Boaedon variegatus

Boaedon variegatus (BOCAGE, 1867)

iNaturalist logo

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Boaedon variegatus?

Add your own observation of
Boaedon variegatus »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaLamprophiidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common Names 
SynonymAlopecion variegatum BOCAGE 1867 (fide BOULENGER 1893: 332)
Boaedon variegatus — MARQUES et al. 2018: 328
Boaedon variegatus — HALLERMANN et al. 2020: 19 
DistributionAngola (Benguela)

Type locality: Benguella [Angola]  
Reproductionoviparous. 
TypesLectotype: ZMB 6469, subadult (juvenile);PEM, Paralectotype: BMNH 1867.7.23.23
Additional specimens: CAS, MHNC-UP/REP, MCZ, ZMH 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Boaedon variegatus (Figures 5B–6A, 6B) can be distinguished from most southern African congeners by having three supralabials in contact with the eye, a single preocular contacting the frontal and body colouration with a reticulate network of white lines like loops on a brown background, at least in adults. The loreal is frequently in contact with the eye at a single point.
Within Angolan Boaedon species, B. variegatus differs from B. fuliginosus by having a shorter snout (i.e. the length of the parietals is longer than the distance between frontal and rostral versus parietal length equal to the distance between frontal and rostral) and the loreal length to height ratio is less than 2 (versus greater than 2). Boaedon variegatus differs from B. bocagei sp. nov., which also has three supralabials touching the eye, by having more ventral scales when compared within sexes (218–220/224–240 versus 208– 211/216–229 in B. bocagei sp. nov.). Boaedon variegatus differs from B. angolensis and B. fradei sp. nov., by having three supralabials in contact with the eye (versus two) and more ventral scales in females (224–240 versus 215–224 in B. angolensis, 211–221 in B. fradei sp. nov.). It can be distinguished from B. mentalis sensu stricto by having 218– 240 ventral scales (versus 202–214), by its darker brown colouration with white loops on the body (versus light brown colouration), and by having the second chin shields in contact with one another (versus often completely separated from each other by the anterior chin shields). Boaedon variegatus can be distinguished from B. virgatus by having 27–30 MSR (versus 25 or less), 218–240 ventral scales (versus fewer than 200) and a uniform whitish venter (versus laterally pigmented venter). It can be distinguished from B. olivaceus by having a double row of subcaudals (versus a single row).
Boaedon variegatus can be distinguished from other species occurring in the region by the following combination of characters: from B. littoralis by having three supralabials touching the eye (versus two), preocular touching frontal (versus separate from frontal), and by having the lowest dorsal scale row pigmented (versus white); from B. subflavus by having 27–30 MSR (versus more than 29) and a brown body colouration (versus yellowish); from B. perisilvestris by its yellowish or white loops on the side of body (versus uniform brown body colouration); from B. paralineatus by having fewer ventral scales in females (224–240 versus 239–250), 27–30 MSR (versus more than 31), longitudinal light stripes on head only (versus longitudinal light stripes on head and body); from B. longilineatus by lacking stripes on the body (versus having broad upper head and body stripes reaching at least the first quarter of the body in B. longilineatus); from B. upembae by having more ventral scales (males: 218–220 versus 175–180; females: 224–240 versus 189–197), and 27– 30 MSR (versus 21–23 MSR); and finally, it can be distinguished from B. radfordi by having a double row of subcaudals (versus a single row). 
CommentSimilar species: B. lineatus, angolensis

Distribution: for localities in Angola see map in Hallermann et al. 2020: 10 (Fig. 2). 
EtymologyNamed after Latin “linea”, meaning stripe or line. 
References
  • Baptista NL, António T, Branch WR. 2019. The herpetofauna of Bicuar National Park and surroundings, southwestern Angola: a preliminary checklist. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(2) [Special Section]: 96–130 (e203) - get paper here
  • Barnett, Linda K. & Emms, Craig 2005. Common reptiles of The Gambia. Rare Repro, Hailsham, East Sussex, 24 pp.
  • Bocage,J.V. du B. 1867. Segunda lista dos reptis das possessões portuguezas d’Africa occidental que existem no Museu de Lisboa. Jornal de Sci. math. phys. e nat. Lisboa (3): 217-228 - get paper here
  • Bogert, Charles M. 1942. Snakes secured by the Snyder East African Expedition in Kenya Colony and Tanganyika Territory. American Museum Novitates (1178): 1-5 - get paper here
  • Böhme, Wolfgang, Mark-Oliver Rödel, Christian Brede & Philipp Wagner 2011. The reptiles (Testudines, Squamata, Crocodylia) of the forested southeast of the Republic Guinea (Guinée forestière), with a country-wide checklist. Bonn zoological Bulletin 60 (1): 35-61 - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G. A. 1897. A list of reptiles and batrachians from the Congo Free State, with the description of two new snakes. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (6) 19: 276-281 - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1891. On some Reptiles collected by Sig. L. Bricchetti Robecchi in Somaliland. Ann. Mus. St. nat. Genova (2) 12: 5-15 [1892?]
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the snakes in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) I. London (Taylor & Francis), 448 pp. - get paper here
  • Böhme, Wolfgang & Jeffrey Heath 2018. Amphibian and reptilian records from south-central Mali and western Burkina Faso. Bonn zoological Bulletin 67 (1): 59–69 - get paper here
  • Branch, William R.; Pedro Vaz Pinto, Ninda Baptista, and Werner Conradie 2019. The Reptiles of Angola: History, Diversity, Endemism and Hotspots. Chapter 13 in: B. J. Huntley et al. (eds.), Biodiversity of Angola. Springer Verlag, pp. 283-334 - get paper here
  • Briscoe, M.S. 1949. Notes on Snakes Collected in Liberia. Copeia 1949 (1): 16-18 - get paper here
  • Broadley, D.G. 1983. FitzSimon’s snakes of Southern Africa (revised edition). Delta Books, Jahannesburg, 376 pp.
  • 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]
  • Butler, B O; Ceríaco, L M P; Marques, M P; Bandeira, S; Júlio, T; Heinicke, M P & Bauer, A M; 2019. Herpetological survey of Huíla Province, Southwest Angola, including first records of Bicuar National Park. Herpetological Review 50 (2): 225-240 - get paper here
  • 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. 2009. Inventaire des reptiles de la région de la Réserve de Biosphère Transfrontalière du W (Niger/Bénin/Burkina Faso: Afrique de l’Ouest). [Herpetological survey of the W Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve area (Niger/Benin/Burkina Faso: West Africa]. Bull. Soc. Herp. France (132): 13-41 - get paper here
  • Chirio, L. & Lebreton, M. 2007. Atlas des reptiles du Cameroun. MNHN, IRD, Paris 688 pp.
  • Drewes, R. C. 2002. Islands at the Center of the World. Spring 2002; Vol. 55:2
  • Duméril, A.M.C., G. BIBRON & A.H.A. DUMÉRIL 1854. Erpétologie générale ou Histoire Naturelle complète des Reptiles. Vol. 7 (partie 1). Paris, xvi + 780 S. - get paper here
  • Fitzsimons, V.F.M.; Brain, C.K. 1958. A Short account of the Reptiles of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Koedoe, 1(1): 99-104 - get paper here
  • Greenbaum, Eli; Frank Portillo, Kate Jackson & Chifundera Kusamba 2015. A phylogeny of Central African Boaedon (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae), with the description of a new cryptic species from the Albertine Rift. African Journal of Herpetology 64 (1): 18–38 - get paper here
  • Hallermann, Jakob; Luis MP Ceríaco, Andreas Schmitz, Raffael Ernst , Werner Conradie, Luke Verburgt, Mariana P Marques & Aaron M Bauer 2020. A review of the Angolan House snakes, genus Boaedon Duméril, Bibron and Duméril (1854) (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae), with description of three new species in the Boaedon fuliginosus (Boie, 1827) species complex,. African Journal of Herpetology - get paper here
  • Hellmich, W. 1957. Herpetologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise in Angola. Veröff. Zool. Staatssammlung München 5: 1-91 - get paper here
  • Hörold, Ralf & Heidrun 2018. Die Königspythons daheim b(g)esucht, Teil 2. Ophidia 12 (1): 18-25
  • Hughes, B. 1968. Snake killed by Plant Burr. British Journal of Herpetology 4 (12): 39
  • Hughes, B. 1997. Dasypeltis scabra and Lamprophis fuliginosus - two pan-African snakes in the Horn of Africa: A tribute to Don Broadley. African Journal of Herpetology 46 (2): 68-77 - get paper here
  • Hughes, B. 2013. Snakes of Bénin, West Africa. Bull. Soc. Herp. France 144: 101-159
  • Knox, Andrew and Kate Jackson 2010. Ecological and phylogenetic influences on maxillary dentition in snakes. Phyllomedusa 9 (2): 121-131 - get paper here
  • Kriton Kunz 2006. Die Gestreifte Hausschlange (Lamprophis lineatus). Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 64 pp. - get paper here
  • Kunz, K. 2006. Pflege und Nachzucht der Gestreiften Hausschlange (Lamprophis lineatus). Terraria 1 (1): 59-64
  • Kunz, K. 2012. Neue Systematik für Hausschlangen und Feilennattern. Terraria-Elaphe 2012 (1): 8-9 - get paper here
  • Kunz, K. 2018. Schlangen für‘s Haus: Hausschlangen. Reptilia 23 (129): 24-28
  • Leaché, Adam D.; Mark-Oliver Rödel, Charles W. Linkem, Raul E. Diaz, Annika Hillers, and Matthew K. Fujita 2006. Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the Togo Hills, Kyabobo National Park, Ghana. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 4 (1): 22-45 - get paper here
  • LeBreton, Matthew 1999. A working checklist of the herpetofauna of Cameroon. Netherlands Committee for IUCN, 160 pp.
  • 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
  • Loveridge, A. 1956. On snakes collected in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan by J.S. Owen, Esq. Sudan Notes Rec. 36: 37-56 [1955]
  • Loveridge, Arthur 1929. East African reptiles and amphibians in the United States National Museum. Bull. US Natl. Mus. (151): 1-135 - get paper here
  • Malonza, Patrick K.; Victor D. Wasonga, Vincent Muchai , Damaris Rotich, Beryl A. Bwong; A.M. Bauer 2006. DIVERSITY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF HERPETOFAUNA OF THE TANA RIVER PRIMATE NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA. Journal of East African Natural History 95(2): 95–109 - get paper here
  • Marais, J. 2004. A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, 2nd ed. Struik Publishers, 312 pp.
  • 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)
  • Menzies, J.I. 1966. The snakes of Sierra Leone. Copeia 1966 (2): 169-179. - get paper here
  • Mertens, R. 1938. Über eine herpetologische Sammlung aus dem Gebiete des Njarasa-Grabens Ost-Afrikas. Veröffentlichungen aus dem Deutschen Kolonial- und Übersee-Museum in Bremen 2 (1): 1-9 [no page numbers]
  • Monard, A. 1951. Résultants de la mission zoologique suisse au Cameroun. Reptiles. Mém. IFAN, Dakkar, ser. sci. nat. 1: 123- 170.
  • Monard, ALBERT 1940. Résultats de la mission du Dr. Monard en Guinée Portugaise 1937 – 1938. Arq. Mus. Bocage, Lisbon 11: 147-182
  • Pauwels, O. S. G., L. Chirio, E. J. Neil, S. Berry, N. Texier and C. Rosin 2017. Miscellanea Herpetologica Gabonica VIII. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 52: 41 - get paper here
  • Pauwels, O.S.G. & Vande Weghe, J.P. 2008. Les reptiles du Gabon. Smithsonian Institution, Washington: 272 pp. - get paper here
  • Pitman,C.R.S. 1974. A guide to the snakes of Uganda. Codicote, Wheldon & Wesley, L., 290 pp.
  • Roux-Estève, R. & J. GUIBE 1965. Étude comparée de Boaedon fuliginosus (Boié) et Boaedon lineatus D. et B. (Ophidiens). Bull. Inst. Fond. Afr. Noire 27 (A-1): 397-409.
  • Ruf, M. & Barts, M. 2007. Doppelpaarung bei Lamprophis cf. lineatus DUMÉRIL &BIBRON, 1854. Sauria 29 (2): 53-54 - get paper here
  • Scortecci, Giuseppe 1931. Contributo alla conoscenza dei rettili e degli anfibi della Somalia, dell'Eritrea e dell'Abissinia. Boll. Mus. Zool. Univ. Torino, (ser. 3) 41 (10): 1-26 [1930]
  • Segniagbeto GLazcano. H., Trape J. F., David P., Ohler A., Dubois A. & Glitho I. A. 2011. The snake fauna of Togo: systematics, distribution and biogeography, with remarks on selected taxonomic problems. Zoosystema 33 (3): 325-360. DOI: 10.5252/z2011n3a4 - get paper here
  • Sternfeld, R. 1910. Zur Schlangenfauna Deutsch-Südwestafrikas. Mehrere Fälle von Mimikry bei afrikanischen Schlangen. Mitt. zool. Mus. Berlin, 5: 51-60 - 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
  • Taylor, Edward H.;Weyer, Dora 1958. Report on a collection of amphibians and reptiles from Harbel, Republic of Liberia. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 38 (14): 1191-1229 - get paper here
  • Thorpe, R.S. & C.J. McCARTHY 1978. A preliminary study, using multivariate analysis, of a species complex of African house snakes (Boaedon fuliginosus). Journal of Zoology 184: 489-506 - get paper here
  • Trape, J.-F. & Mané, Y. 2002. Les serpents du Sénégal: liste commentée des espèces. Bull. Soc. Pathol. Exot. 95 (3): 148-150
  • Trape, J.-F. & Mané, Y. 2004. Les serpents des environs de Bandafassi (Sénégal oriental). Bull. Soc. Herp. France 109: 5-34 - get paper here
  • Trape, J.-F. & Mané, Y. 2006. Guide des serpents d’Afrique occidentale. Savane et désert. [Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger]. IRD Editions, Paris, 226 pp. - get paper here
  • TRAPE, JEAN-FRANÇOIS & CELLOU BALDÉ 2014. A checklist of the snake fauna of Guinea, with taxonomic changes in the genera Philothamnus and Dipsadoboa (Colubridae) and a comparison with the snake fauna of some other West African countries. Zootaxa 3900 (3): 301–338 - get paper here
  • Trape, Jean-François & Youssouph Mané 2017. The snakes of Mali. Bonn zoological Bulletin 66 (2): 107–133 - get paper here
  • Ullenbruch, K.; Grell, O.; Böhme, W. 2010. Reptiles from southern Benin, West Africa, with the description of a new Hemidactylus (Gekkonidae), and a country-wide checklist. Bonn Zool. Bull. 57 (1): 31-54 - get paper here
  • 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.
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:

As link to this species use URL address:

https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Boaedon&species=variegatus

without field 'search_param'. Field 'search_param' is used for browsing search result.



Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator