Benedetto Lanza

A List of the Somali Amphibians and Reptiles

SUMMARYHerpetological research in Somalia dates from 1881 (G. Revoils Expedition) and progressively spread over most of the Somali territory thanks above all to the scientific missions conducted by R.H.R. Taylor (1929–34), G. Scortecci (1931, 1953, 1957) and, since 1959, by the University of Florence and the « Centro di Studio per la Faunistica ed Ecologia Tropicali » of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Florence, Italy).According to this list of the amphibians and reptiles reported to date for the Somali Democratic Republic, there are 27 species of amphibians, four of which (= 14.8%) are endemic; all these species belong strictly to the Ethiopian subregion sensu Darlington (1957). A monotypic genus, Lanzarana, is endemic.The reptiles are represented by at least 200 species. Excluding the marine species (six turtles and one snake), there are 194 species, of which 75 (= 38.6%) ar endemic to Somalia. Four genera are endemic: Xenagama (Agamidae), Haackgreerius gen. n. (Scincidae), Aeluroglena and Brac...

Molecular Taxonomy of European Plethodontid Salamanders (Genus Hydromantes)

Genetic variation of 33 enzyme loci was analysed electrophoretically in 32 populations of the plethodontid genus Hydromantes from southern France, northern and central Italy, and Sardinia. Eight taxa were recognized, included in three groups: from the mainland, eastern Sardinia, and south-western Sardinia, respectively. In the mainland area, two semispecies were detected: H. italicus and H. ambrosii (sensu stricto), as well as a third species: H. strinatii (combinatio nova), previously included within H. ambrosii. Eastern Sardinian populations correspond genetically to three species: H. flavus, H. supramontis, and H. imperialis. In south-western Sardinia, two genetically differentiated but morphologically very similar groups were found within H. genei, whose specific status remains doubtful. The distinctness of a number of subspecific taxa (H. italicus gormani, H. i. ligusticus, H. i. argentatus, H. i. bonzanoi, H. genei funereus), is not supported by genetic evidence. Data from two contact zones in Italy indicate that taxa showing comparable levels of genetic differentiation (i.e., H. italicus-H. ambrosii s. s. and H. ambrosii s. s.-H. strinatii, both pairs with Neis D about 0.4) have not reached the same level of reproductive isolation. On the basis of available data, attempts are made: (1) to interpret the present pattern of geographic distribution of European Hydromantes studied; (2) to explain their genetic relationships.

Genetic data support the specific status of the Italian treefrog (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)

Genetic variation at 28 protein loci was analyzed electrophoretically in populations of the Central European treefrog, Hyla arborea arborea, from Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the Balkans. Two distinct population groups were detected, differing at 9 more or less diagnostic loci, one ranging from Sicily to peninsular Italy, northwards to the Italian slope of the Alps (Italian treefrog), the second parapatrically distributed with respect to the first, north of the Alps, east of the Isonzo river, and southwards to the Balkans (H. arborea arborea s.s.). In the area of close contiguity between the two population groups (approximately coinciding with the border between Italy and Slovenia), neither mixed populations nor hybrid individuals were found. However, a number of specimens with introgressed genotypes were detected in both forms in the contact area and its surroundings, possibly as the result of past hybridization events. The lack of present gene exchange in the contact area indicates that the Italian treefrog and H. arborea arborea (s.s.) are distinct biological species. Average Neis genetic distance between the Italian treefrog and H. arborea arborea (s.s.) is 0.47, corresponding to an estimated time for evolutionary divergence of about 2-3 million years. The Italian treefrog and H. arborea arborea (s.s.) were found to be morphologically very similar, with a single significant difference (tympanum size) among the considered characters; this is larger in the Italian treefrog. The name Hyla italica nomen novum is proposed for the Italian treefrog, as the name Hylaria variegata assigned by Rafinesque (1814) to treefrog specimens from Sicily is unavailable.

A new specics of Lycodon from the Philippines, with a key to the genus (Reptilia Serpentes Colubridae)

A new species of Lycodon, L. ferroni, from Samar Island, central-eastern Philippines, is described. This species is most similar to L. dumerili, from which it differs in having: 10 supralabials (IV-VI entering eye) instead of 9 (IV-V); dorsals reducing to 15 at the level of ventral 119 instead of at ventrals 131–145; body and tail with dark annuii instead of dark cross-bands. Lycodon contains about 25 species, 8 of which are endemic to the Philippines: alcalai (Batan Island, Batan Group), bibonius (Camiguin Island, Babuyan Group), chrysoprateros (Dalupiri Island, Babuyan Group), dumerili (Basilan, Mindanao), ferroni (Samar), muelleri (Batan, Luzon, Mindoro, Polillo), solivagus (Luzon), and tessellatus (Luzon); the 2 non-endemic species, L. subcinctus (SE Asia) and especially L. aulicus (S Asia), seem to be anthropophilous and likely to have reached the Philippines through human agency. An extensive review strongly suggests that L. striatus nordicus Deranivagala 1955 is a synonym of L. striatus bicolor (Ni...

Somali Boidae (genus Eryx Daudin 1803) and Pythonidae (genus Python Daudin 1803) (Reptilia Serpentes)

Data on nomenclature, taxonomy, morphology, geographical distribution and natural history of Somali Boidae [the three monotypic species Eryx colubrinus (Linnaeus 1758), Eryx somalicus Scortecci 1939 and Eryx borrii n. sp.], and Pythonidae [the monotypic species Python sebae (Gmelin 1788)].

A new dwarf-snake (Eirenis) from Lake Van in eastern Turkey

Eirenis thospitis n. sp. is described from Van in eastern Turkey, where it was collected on a dry mountain steppe habitat about 2000 m above sea level. The large-sized new taxon belongs to the collaris-group and is characterized by 15 dorsals around midbody, a short tail and the lack of dark transverse bands on pileus and neck.

The gender of the genera Podarcis Wagler 1830 (Lacertidae), Pelamis Daudin 1803 (Hydrophiidae) and Uropeltis Cuvier 1829 (Uropeltidae)

The authors point out that the grammatical gender of the genera Podarcis (Reptilia Sauria Lacertidae), Pelamis (Reptilia Serpentes Hydrophiidae) and Uropeltis (Reptilia Serpentes Uropeltidae) is feminine.

ON SOME AMPHIBIANS COLLECTED BY THE LATE PROF. GIUSEPPE SCORTECCI IN SOMALIA

SUMMARY The nearly one thousand amphibians collected by the late Prof. Giuseppe Scortecci during his last two expeditions to northern and central Somalia (1953 and 1957) belong to 11 species: Bufo blanfordi Boulenger, Bufo dodsoni Boulenger, Bufo cf. lughensis Loveridge, Bufo xeros M. Tandy, J. Tandy, Keith & Duff-MacKay, Ptychadena anchietae (Bocage), Pyxicephalus obbianus Calabresi (lectotype ♀ n. 302 M.F., paralectotype ♀ n. 10376 M.F.), Tomopterna (delalandei) cryptotis (Boulenger), Chiromantis petersi kelleri Boettger, Kassina parkeri (Scortecci) [lectotype ♀ n. 6 M.M., paralectotype ♂ n. 7 M.M. (ex collective n. 673 M.M.)] and Kassina (senegalensis) somalica Scortecci; a new species, Tomopterna (?) scorteccii from Gardo, was previously described by BALLETTO et al. (1978). A statistical study carried out on Pyxicephalus obbianus and Kassina parkeri pointed out their specific distinction, respectively from P. adspersus Tschudi and K. (senegalensis) somalica. This latter, however, as well as K. (senega...

Notes on the anatomy and phylogenetic position of Eremias ercolinii Lanza & Poggesi 1975 (Reptilia Lacertidae)

Detailed examination of the only known specimen of Eremias ercolinii Lanza & Poggesi 1975 shows that it has affinities within the Ophisops-Mesalina clade and, on present evidence, is best regarded as a member of Mesalina Gray 1838. However, its exact phylogenetic position will only be confirmed when more material becomes available. Limb proportions and scale form suggest that Mesalina ercolinii probably spends time in low, dense vegetation.

Hildebrandtia Macrotympanum (Boulenger, 1912), A Distinct Species (Amphibia Ranidae)

SUMMARYFurther specimens of the rare frog Pyxicephalus macrotympanum Boulenger, 1912, including the first known male, shows that it is a full species of the genus Hildebrandtia (Amphibia Ranidae).Tomopterna (?) scorteccii Balletto et al., 1978, described on a female and a juvenile, is conspecific with Hildebrandtia macrotympanum, of which it might represent a northeastern subspecies.