Laurent, R.F. (1964) - Reptiles et amphibiens de l’Angola (Troisième contribution). - Publicações Culturais, Companhia de Diamantes de Angola, 67, 1-165. Haacke (2008) - A new leaf-toed gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from southwestern Angola. - African Journal of Herpetology, 57 (2): 85-92.  × The new species of leaf‐toed gecko described here was originally referred to as Phyllodactylus sp. while describing P. swartbergensis (Haacke, 1996), when a cleared specimen was used for comparison with those of most of the other then‐accepted southern African species of Phyllodactylus. When reviewing the Southern African and Old World Phyllodactylus, Bauer et al. (1997), described five new genera and placed P. swartbergensis, P.porphyreus and P.ansorgii into the new genus Afrogecko. This new species was also, but only tentatively, placed into Afrogecko. A recent opportunity provided access to fresh material, including tissue material, which will allow a reassessment of the generic status after the description of this species. Conradie, W. & Measey, G.J. & Branch, W.R. & Tolley, K. (2012) - Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola - African Journal of Herpetology, Johannesburg, South Africa, 61 (2): 1-22.  × Although reptile diversity in Africa is high, it is poorly represented in Angola, with just 257 species known. Despite its greater surface area and habitat diversity Angola has significantly lower lacertid lizard diversity than adjacent Namibia. This is particularly notable in African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), where 10 species (two endemic) are known from Namibia but only two are recorded from adjacent Angola. Pedioplanis benguelensis was described from Angola, but its taxonomic status is problematic and it was previously synonymised with P. namaquensis. All other Angolan Pedioplanis were referred to Namibian P. undata, although this taxon is now known to comprise a complex of at least five different species and the relationship of Angolan material to this complex has not been assessed. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic placement of Angolan Pedioplanis using two mitochondrial (ND2 and 16S) and one nuclear (RAG-1) markers. A Bayesian analysis was conducted on 21 samples from Angola, combined with existing data for 45 individuals from GenBank and three additional samples from central Namibia. The phylogeny demonstrates that P. benguelensis is a valid species and that it is not the sister taxon to P. namaquensis with which it has been morphologically confused. In addition, Angolan lacertids previously referred to P. undata are not conspecific with any of the Namibian or South African species in that complex. Rather, there is strong support for the presence in Angola of additional species of Pedioplanis, which form a wellsupported sister clade to the P. undata complex (sensu stricto) of Namibia and two ofwhich are described herein. These discoveries highlight the need for further biodiversity surveys in
Angola, as similar increases in species diversity in other Angolan taxa might be found given sufficient investment in biodiversity surveys. Ceríaco, L.M.P. & Sá, D.d.A.C. de & Bandeira, S. & Valério, H. & Stanley, E.L. & Kuhn, A.L. & Marques, M.P. & Vindum, J.V. & Blackburn, D.C. & Bauer, A.M. (2016) - Herpetological Survey of Iona National Park and Namibe Regional Natural Park, with a Synoptic List of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Namibe Province, Southwestern Angola. - Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, series 4, 63 (2): 15-61. × Namibe Province is the southernmost province of Angola and, as the result of sever- al expeditions from the nineteenth century to the present, it is one of the most her- petofaunally well-known areas of the country. The Province harbors a high diversi- ty of amphibians and reptiles, including roughly one-third of the reptile taxa report- ed for Angola as a whole. In this paper we present the results of a joint herpetologi- cal expedition to Namibe Province in 2013 by the California Academy of Sciences and the Instituto Nacionalda Biodiversidade e Áreas de Conservação, as well as a synoptic list of all the herpetological bibliographic records for the taxa known from the Province. A total of 37 herpetological taxa was collected, including at least three (then) undescribed species, two new country records, and new records for rarely cited taxa in Angola. These taxa belong to four amphibian genera and 15 reptile gen- era. Species accounts are provided for each of the species collected. We also highlight biogeographic patterns, conservation issues, and possible future paths for the explo- ration and knowledge of the herpetofauna of Namibe. Marques, M.P. & Ceríaco, L.M.P. & Blackburn, D.C. & Bauer, A.M. (2018) - Diversity and distribution of the amphibians and terrestrial reptiles of Angola: Atlas of historical and bibliographic records (1840-2017). - Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 65, Supplement II: 1-501. × The present work constitutes an historical atlas of all known bibliographic records of amphib- ians and reptiles of Angola. It is the first attempt to compile in a single document all the records scattered through hundreds of publications, published from the first half of the nineteenth century to the present day, and provide a critical taxonomic revision of the herpetofauna of the country. An introductory text discusses the Angolan socio-political and physiographic landscape, the history of herpetological research in the country, and the diversity, distribution and endemism of Angolan her- petofauna. It also provides a summary of the conservation concerns surrounding the herpetological fauna. For each taxon noted in the literature we provide a detailed taxonomic account, including data on the original description, its IUCN assessment status, global distribution, georeferenced records for each known occurrence in Angola (accompanied by a point locality map), and taxo- nomic and distributional notes. A synoptic list of all documented Angolan amphibian and reptile species is provided as are lists of taxa previously erroneously assigned to the Angolan fauna. We recognize 117 species of frogs and 278 species of reptiles as occurring in Angola, although many of these represent species complexes or are currently recognized under names of convenience pending taxonomic evaluation. In one instance we provide a replacement name, Trachylepis monardi nom. nov., to deal with an instance of secondary homonymy. The Atlas is intended to be a working reference for both current research and conservation planning, as well as a catalyst for future work.The interest shown by specialists in the study of Angolan specimens dates back more than one hundred years. Since the nineteenth century, books and papers have been published on the topic as the result of these investigations. The first major bibliographic reference about the Angolan herpetofauna, Herpétologie d’Angola et du Congo by José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage, dates from 1895. Many researchers and publications followed, greatly enriching the scientific bibliography on the topic. However, the scattered nature of the published works, as well as the dearth of available specimens from earlier times, has made it difficult for researchers, scholars or curious amateurs to access to this information. Because of these difficulties, and to facilitate the access to available data on the Angolan herpetofauna, the Ministry of Environment, through its National Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation Areas, decided to present, in a single volume, all the available scientific records published so far on the diversity of amphibians and reptiles. Such a task, which has its basis in the National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity and Conservation Areas of Angola, was dependent upon the helpful collaboration of important international partners.
The present Atlas will be of inestimable assistance to the study of the Natural History of Ango- la, not only because of its standardized taxonomic and geographical accounts with distribution maps for all of the amphibians and reptiles known in Angola, but also because of its competent approach to the physiography, climate, biomes, historical herpetological research in Angola, conservation, and other topics. The thoughtful way the book is arranged, with straightforward text, clear tables and interesting figures, makes it easy for even laymen to read and understand.
At 501 pages long, profusely documented and richly illustrated, this Atlas provides a grand guided tour through the diversity of the Angolan herpetofauna, from the most remote and spectac- ular places of the country. Through mountains and escarpments, plains and valleys, savannas and dense forests, rivers and streams, lakes and lagoons, this work encompasses the entire country, aking us on an enlightening tour of knowledge.
The methodical labor and persistence of the specialists who produced the present work, ensure that it not only contributes to scientific history, through its compilation of research already completed, but also suggests future directions for researchers and scholars devoted to the topic. Further, this substantial volume will also inform the national authorities with respect to environ- ment protection and conservation policies.
Given all this, one can see that the present work, reflecting the contributions of the men and women who created it, is destined to become a standard reference to the scientific literature of the country, especially in regard to this part of its fauna. The quality of the scientific information poured into the following pages certainly qualifies the authors of this accurate work as leading herpetologists and places them among the important researchers to have served Angola in the course of its scientific history. Branch, W.R. & Conradie, W. & Vaz Pinto, P. & Tolley, K.A. (2019) - Another Angolan Namib endemic species: a new Nucras Gray, 1838 (Squamata: Lacertidae) from south-western Angola. - Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, 13 (2): 82-95. × A new endemic Sandveld Lizard, genus Nucras, is described from south-western Angola. Morphologically it resembles members of the Nucras tessellata group, but it is genetically separated and is sister to the larger tessellata + lalandii group. Although the genus is generally very conservative morphologically,
the new species differs from other congeners in a combination of scalation, overall dorsal color pattern, and geographic separation. The new species is known from fewer than 12 specimens collected over a period spanning 120 years from arid south-western Angola. This brings the total number of species in the genus to 12 and adds another species to the growing list of endemic species of the Namib region of Angola. This new finding further reinforces the idea that this Kaokoveld Desert region is a key biodiversity area worthy of
conservation and long-term protection. Ceriaco, L.M.P. & Marques, M.P. & André, I. & Afonso, E. & Blackburn, D.C. & Bauer, A.M. (2020) - Illustrated type catalogue of the “Lost” herpetological collections of Museu do Dundo, Angola. - Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 162 (7): 379-440. × The herpetological collections of the Museu do Dundo in Lunda Norte Province, northeast Angola, are among the most important in southern Africa and represent one of the largest collections of Angolan amphibians and reptiles in the world. The collection comprises more than 2,750 preserved specimens, including type specimens of taxa described by Raymond F. Laurent during the 1950s and 1960s,when he was affiliated with the Musee royal del’Afrique centrale (RMCA) in Tervuren, Belgium, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where portions of these type series were also deposited. We provide details for all type specimens and summarize the history and taxonomy for each species represented in the type collection. The collections contain type specimens of 28 amphibian and reptile species, including seven snakes: Typhlops praeocularis lundensis, Dispholidus typus punctatus, Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus, Lycophidion hellmichi, Gonionotophis brussauxi prigoginei, Prosymna ambıgua brevis, and Elapsoidea decosteri huilensis; 13 lizards: Rhoptropus boultoni montanus, Rhoptropus taeniostictus, Hemidactylus nzingae, Lygodactylus tchokwe, Cordylus vittifer machadoi, Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis, Gerrhosaurus bulsi, Nucras scalaris, Ichnotropis bivittata pallida, Mabuya bayonii huilensis, Mabuya ivensii septemlineata, Trachylepis raymondlaurenti, and Eumecia anchietae major; one amphisbaenian: Monopeltis vanderysti vilhenai; and seven frogs: Hyperolius machadoi,Hyperolius marmoratus alborufus, Hyperolius vilhenai, Ptychadena grandisonae, Ptychadena loveridgei, Ptychadena perplicata, and Ptychadena upembae machadoi. The typespecimens of the snake Xenocalamus bicolor machadoiwere not found in the collections. A brief history of the museum and remarks on the overall herpetological collections are also provided. We also note additional information about the related type material of these taxa at the MCZ. Parrinha, D. & Marques, M.P. & Heinicke, M.P. & Khalid, F. & Parker, K.L. & Tolley, K.A. & Childers, J.L. & Conradie, W. & Bauer, A.M. & Ceríaco L.M.P. (2021) - A revision of Angolan species in the genus Pedioplanis Fitzinger (Squamata: Lacertidae), with the description of a new species. - Zootaxa 5032 (1): 1-46. × The genus Pedioplanis reaches its northernmost limit in western Angola, where it is represented by three species, Pedioplanis benguelensis, P. haackei and P. huntleyi. The taxonomic status of P. benguelensis remains problematic, mainly due to the vague original description and the loss of the original type material. Here we provide a revision of the Angolan representatives of the genus, with the description of a new species, Pedioplanis serodioi sp. nov., from the lowlands of southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analyses using a combination of mitochondrial (16S and ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1) markers, as well as morphological data, support the recognition of the new species. For purposes of nomenclatural stability, we designate a neotype for P. benguelensis and provide motivation to correct the spelling of the specific epithet to “benguelensis”. The clarification of the status of P. benguelensis and the description of a new species contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Pedioplanis, as well as the general biogeographic context of southwestern Angola, adding to the growing evidence in favor of the recognition of this region as a hotspot of lizard diversity and endemism. An updated key to the genus is also provided.
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