memoirs of the museum of (tomparative Zoo - Forgotten Books

memoirs of the museum of (tomparative Zoo-

logyAT HARVAR D . C O L LE G E

VOL . L . No . 2

A COMPARATIVE STUD Y OF THE

HERPETOLOGICAL FAUNAE OF THE ULUGURU AND

USAMBARA MOUNTAINS , TANGANYIKA TERRITORY

WITH D ESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES

T BARBOUR AND A . LOVERID GE

WITH FOUR PLATES

CAMBRIDGE , U . S .

-A .

lDr inteb for the flbuseum

DECEMBER,1928

memo irs of the "museum of Comparative Zoo logy

AT HARVAR D C O L LE GE

VOL . L . No . 2

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE

HERPETOLOGICAL FAUNAE OF THE ULUGURU AND

USAMBARA MOUNTAINS , TANGANYIKA TERRITORY


T . BARBOUR AND A . LOVERID GE

WITH FOUR PLATES

CAMBRIDGE , U. s. A .

IDr inteo for the "museum

DECEMBER,1928

A COMPARATIVE STUD Y OF THE HERPETOLOGICAL

FAUNAE OF THE ULUGURU AND USAMBARA

MOUNTAINS , TANGANYIKA TERRITORY


By T . BARBOUR and A . LOVERIDGE

THE material discussed in the fo llowing pages was collected between September

and December,1926

,by the junior au thor while on an expedition in the interest

of the M u seum of Comparative Zoology . Both authors have coll aborated in a

critica l examina tion of the material . When , in the field notes on habits,the

singu la r pronoun is used,it wil l be u nderstood that it is the collector who is

recording .

A selection of the specimens obtained has been presented to the M u seum of

the University of M ichigan,and paratypes of fifteen of the new forms have been

sent to the British Mu seum .

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONLI ST OF COLLECTING STATIONSLI ST OF SPECIE S COLLECTEDTORTOI SE SSNAKE S

LIZARD SCHAMELEON SCAECILIAN S .

TOAD S AND FROGSBIBLIOGRAPHY

INTROD UCTION

THE ob j ect of the expedition was primarily to discover to what extent the li ttle

known faun a of the Ulugu ru M ou nta in ra in- forest was related to tha t of the

better- known Usamba ra M ountains . The two ranges are separated from on e

another by at least a hu ndred and twenty miles of hot , low- lying country, while

the Ngu ru M ountains form a sma ll connecting- link between .

88 BARBOUR AND LOVERID GE

We consider that the resu lts show a rema rkable a ffini ty in the forms inhabit

ing these ranges,which argues that deforesta tion accompanied by a lessened

rainfall has occu rred in the intervening a rea . Both ranges conta in many forms

common to the West African forest bu t this is more noticeab ly the ca se with the

Usambara M ounta ins . The Ulugu ru Moun tains o n the other hand are Shown tosupport forms (Chrysochloris Sp . n . and Sco lecomorphus spp . n . ) which link them

with the Nyika Pla teau of Nya sa land .

The easiest way to demon strate this relationship is by giving a list of a l l the

known reptiles and amphibian s from these mounta ins . Where num bers are given

they represent the number Of Specim ens collected du ring the 1926 expeditionnow reported upon . A second tab le is given showing savannah forms which occu r

o n the lower slopes of the Ulugu ru M oun tain , ba sed on a collection made nea r

Governm ent House , M orogoro , in 1918 by the junior author . Such species are

marked with an ‘M .

’ They are a lmost all widespread forms which do no t occur

in the rain- forest .

It might be well to take this Opportuni ty to refer to the many records of rare ,

or West Coast,species credited to Tanga, a coasta l port lying between Mombasa

and Dar es Salaam and only abou t fifty m iles from Am ani and the Usambara

Range . M any ofO . Neumann’s spec imens were labelled ‘Tanga am Usamba ra .

’

TO- day the Usambara M ou ntains a re in the political province of Tanga . In Ger

man times Sigi (an hou r’s wa lk from Amani ) was linked with Tanga by railway

and it was customa ry fo r residents at the coa st to spend their va ca tions , or recuper

ate,in the mountains ; in fa ct at M lalo near Ambangu la there is a san itarium .

It appears probable that many species pu rporting to come from Tanga in rea lity

are from the mounta ins,otherwise it is difficu lt to understand why species that

can live on the coastal pla in at Tanga have not spread to M omba sa o r Dar es

Salaam .

Am ong the minor obj ectives of the trip we 1 had set ou t to secu re topotyp ic

materia l of the six snakes , fou r lizards , nine chameleons , and nine amphibia whi ch

had been described from the Usambara range . We were so far su ccessfu l that

twenty-fiv e Of the twenty- eight were collected,each in its own type loca lity .

The third expectation of the trip was to find new species in the little- known

range of the Uluguru M ounta ins ; not onl y was this hope fu lfilled in the ca se of

mamm a ls and birds , bu t a lso among the reptiles and amphibia of which the

undermentioned genera,species or races are now described fo r the first time .

1 The junior author was a ccompan ied by hi s wife .

AFRICAN HERPETOLOGY

SNAKE S . Typhlops u lugu ruensis sp . n .

Prosymna orna tissima Sp . n .

Apara llactus u lugu ru ensi s sp . n .

LIZARD S . Hemidactylus persimi lis sp . n .

Agama mossambi ca mon tcma sub . sp . n .

Agama colon orum u sambarae sub . sp . n .

Soclotes u luguruensi s Sp . n .

CAE CIL IANS . S co lecomorphus u luguru ensi s Sp . n .

Sco lecomorphus attenua tu s sp . n .

Bou lengeru la u luguruensz’

s Sp . n .

FROGS . Hypero lius ma ri ae sp . n .

M ega lixa lus u luguru ensi s sp . n .

Leptope lis parkeri sp . n .

Leptope l is u lugu ru ensi s Sp . n .

Brem'

ceps u sambar icus sp

'

. n .

Hop lophryn e u luguru ensi s gen . et sp . n .

Hoplophryn e rogersi sp . n .

Parhop lophryne usambam'

cus gen . et sp . n .

THE FOLLOWING CHANGE S IN NOMENCLATURE OR IN EAST AFR ICAN

RECORDS ARE PROPOSED

Typhlops gi erra i Mo cquard becom es Typhlops punctatu s gi erra i (Mocquard) .

Gla u coma conjuncta An ge l (n o t of Jan ) L eptotyphlops di stanti (Bou lenger) .Leptodi ra ta mtert Werner become s Crotaphopeltis hotamboei a torm

’

eri (Werner) .Ca lamela ps polylepi s Bocage Ca lam elaps u n ico lor Reinhardt .

E lapops modestus Ange l (not of Gunther) Apara llactus concolor (Fischer) .Ela psoidea n igra Gun ther Elapsoi dea gu enther i Bocage .

Gymnodactylu s afri canu s W'

ern er becom es Pa ragona todes afri canus (Wern er) .Hem i dactylu s mabonta (part) Lov eridge (not de Jonn és) is Hemidactylus sp . n .

Agama co lono rum (part) Lov eridge (no t of D audjn ) is Agama mossambi ca mossamln'

ca Peters.

Agama cyanogaster Ange l (not of R i’Ippe ll ) Agama at-

ri co lli s Sm ith .

Mabui opsi s jea nne li An ge l Mabm'

a i rregu la ri s Lonn berg .

Ablepharus massa i ensi s Angel Ablepha ru s wahlbergi i (Smith) .Chamae leo tem

'

a s excubi tor Barbour becom es Chamae leo fischer i excubi tor (Barbour) .Bdellophis vi ttatu s Boul enger becomes Sco lecomorphus vi tta tu s (Boul enger) .Scolecomorphus kirki of Lov eridge (n ot of Bou lenger ) is Sco le como rphus Sp . n .

Bou lengeru la bou lenger i Lo v eridge (no t of To rni e r ) is Bou lengeru la sp . n .

Rana aberda ri ensi s Angel Rana. nu tzt Boul enge r .

Rana m erumon tana Lénnberg becomes Rana fasci ata merumon ta na Lonnberg .

Rana merumontana Lo v eridge (n ot of Lonnberg) Rana ga lamensis D um éril and Bibron .

M a ltgan ia bufon i na Boettger is recogni sed as young of Rana adspersa (D uméril and Bibron ) .Phryno ba trachus bou lenger i D e Witte Phrynoba trachus acrido ides Cope .

Hyla rthro leptis janen schi Ahl Phrynobatrachu s acridoides Cope .

Arthroleptis variabilis M atschi e A rthro lepti s stenoda ctylus Pfefi'

e r .

Arthroleptis whyti i Bou lenger Arthro leptis steno da ctylu s Pfefl’e r .

Arthroleptis lénnbergi Nieden A rthro leptis sten oda ctylus Pfefier .

Arthro leptis methn eri Ahl Arthro leptis stenoda ctylu s Pfefier .

Arthroleptis brevipes Ahl A rthroleptis stenodactylu s Pfefier .

Arthroleptis wahlbergi i Pro cter and Lov eridge (not of Sm ith) ju v . Arthroleptis stenoda ctylu s Pfeffer.Hylamba tes verm i cu la tu s Boul enger becom es L eptopel is vermi cu la tus (Bo ulenge r) .Hylamba tes johnston i Boul enger becom es Leptopelz

’

s johnston t'

(Bou lenger) .Hylambates a rgenteus Pfefier Hylambates ma cu la tus D uméri l .

Breviceps verm cosu s Torni er and Nieden (not ofRapp) is Brem’

ceps sp . n .

89


MATER IAL COLLE CTED

The four months coll ecting resulted in specimens comprised as follows

SNAKES

Fou r hundr ed and Six snakes , referable to thirty- two species,were collected .

Nieden (1910) lists seventeen species as occur ring at Amani ; all Of these were

taken except D endm spis angu sticeps . It need not be supposed tha t Amani is

exceptiona lly rich in serpent life . A grea t many species have been recorded from

there as a‘ resu lt of the extensive clearing Of forest for plantations ; moreover ,

many of the natives engaged on cleani ng the plan ta tions are Wany imwez i whose

attitude to snakes is fearless . Owing to the interest shown by M r . F . N . Rogers ,

the Cu stodian OfAm ani Institu te in 1926,his men brought me any snakes they

came across du ring their day’s work , SO tha t over a hundred sn akes , represent

ing twenty- One species , were Obtained there in three weeks .

LIZARDS

Two hu ndred and sixty- fou r li zards,referab le to twenty- fiv e species , were

collected . Nieden (1910) lists seven species as occu rring at Am ani ; all of these

wi th the exception Of M abuya macu li labm’

s macu li labris were taken . Fifteen

species were collected in the Usambara and sixteen in the Uluguru . Lizards are

certainly scarce in these mounta ins .

GBAME LE ONS

Four hundred and twen ty chameleons,referable to eight forms

,were col

lected . Chameleons are mu ch more abundant in the Usamba ra range than they

are in the Ulugu ru M ou ntains .

CAE CIL IANS

Two hu ndred and forty- six caecilians,referable to fiv e species, were collected .

On ly two Species were previou sly known from Tanganyika Territory , both having been described from the Usamba ra M ounta ins . The three new species come

from the Ulugur u range .

TOADS AN D FROGS

Two thousand , seven hundred and three tailless batra chians , referable to

fifty species , were collected . Nieden 1910) lists fifteen species as occu rring at

Amani ; a l l except three were taken there , and seven others no t listed by Nieden

were also found at Am ani .

AFRICAN HERPETOLOGY 9 1

I . FAUNA OF, OR ON ED GE OF, RAIN—FOREST BETWEEN AND FT.

(Species m arked w ith an occur at lower lev e ls a lso )

SNAKE S Uluguru M tns . Usamba ra M tns. Refe ren cesTyphlo ps u lugu ruensi s sp . n . 4

Typhlops kleebergiTyphlops punctatu s gierra i and in termedi ates

Lycophidion semi ci nctum*M ehelya capen sz

’

s

*Mehelya n yassa e*Chlorophis n eglectu sChlorophis ma crops

Phi lo thamnu s sem i vam'

egatu s

Prosymn a ambigu a

Prosymna orn atissima sp . n .

Homa losoma la in’

z

*D asypeltis sca berGeodi psas vau erocegae

Geodipsas p rocterae

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia to rn ieri

Thelotorm’

s ki rtlandi i

Chi lo r inophis butler i

Apara l lactu s wern eri

Apa ra lla ctu s u lugu ru ensz’

s sp . n .

E lapsoidea guen theri (including m'

yra )

Atheris ceratophom s

*Atracta spi s rostrata

LIZAR D S

a:

*Hemidactylu s persimi li s sp . n .

Lygodactylu sfischer i*Lygoda ctylus graici

‘

.

*Agama mossambica montana sub . Sp . n .

Agama co lo no rum usambam'

ca sub sp . n .

Holaspis guentherian

*M abuya vari a varia*M abuya stria ta

Scelo tes eggeli

Sce lo tes u luguruensis Sp . n .

Sce lotes tetradactyla


CHAMEL EONS*Chamaeleo di lept

'

s di lepis .

Chama eleo fischer i matschi ei

Chamae le o fischeri mu lti tu berc ula tu s*Chama eleo deremensi s

Chama eleo m elleri .

Chamaeleo spinosu s .

Cha ma eleo tenn is .

Rhampholeon brevicauda tus*Rhampho leon kersten i

CAECIL IANSSco lecomorphus vitta tus .

Sco lecomorphu s u luguru ensis sp . n .

Sco lecomorphu s a ttenu atu s sp . n .

Bou lengerula bou lenger i .

Bou lengeru la u lugu r uensis Sp . n .

TOAD S AN D FROGS*Xenopus laevis .

Bufo bra'

um'

Bujo micranoti s

Nectophrynm'

des torn i eri

Nectophrynoides vim'

para

Ran a nu tti .

*Phrynobatra chus krefitfi i*Phrynoba trachu s ogoensi s ?

Arthro leptides m am'

enssen i*Arthro lepti s stenodactylu s

Arthroleptis adolfi-fr iederici

Arthro leptis schubotzi .

Arthro leptis xenoda ctylu s

Arthro leptis m inu ta s

Phrynopsi s u samba ra e

Hyperol iu s conco lorHypero li u s mar i ae sp . n .

*Hypero l ius puncti cu la tus

Hyper o liu s argu s

M ega l ixa lu s u lugu ru ensis sp . n .

Leptopel is u lugu ru ensis sp . n .

Leptopeli s pa r/cert Sp . n .

Leptopeli s vcmni cu la tus

Leptopclis johnston i

Spela eophryne methneri

Brevi ccps u l ugu ru cnsis

Brevi ccps rugosusBrevi ceps u samba r i cu s sp . n .

Hop lophrync u lugu ru cnsis Sp . n .

Hop lophryne rogcrsi sp . n .

Pa rhoplophryn e usambar icus sp . n .

M tns . R e fe re n ces

AFRICAN HERPETOLOGY 93

KEY TO REFERENCES OF TABLE I

Werner’s description in 1904 of the type from Usambara .

M a tschie’

s record of T. eschmlchti and Nieden and Ste rnfe ld’s records of T. puncta tu s are prob

ably pu ncta tu s typica o r in termediates .

Matschie’

s record of Boodo n capensis from Derema .

Ste rnfe ld’s record of Usambara .

type of Gom’

onotophis degrijsi from Usambara .

M a tschie’s record of P . n eglectu s a t Derema and Ste rnfe ld

’s of P . thomenst

’

s at Ngue lo .

Sternfe ld’s record from Usam bara .

Sternfe ld’s record from Am ani .

Fir st recorded from the Usam bara by Wern er a s L eptodi ra rufescens .

Comm on ly reported by n ativ es as occurring at Nyange in the Ul ugu ru Mo un ta in s.

Sternfe ld’

s record of Am an i .

Sternfe ld’s record of Usambara .

Matschie’s type of L . con radti in 1892 , Wern er’s 1895 record of L . thomensz

’

s and probablyNieden ’

s 19 10 of L . capensi s .

Nieden ’srecord Of Usam bara .

Wern er’s type of G. bergi .

To rni er’

s record of Ukam i .To rn ie r

’

s record of Usambara .

To rnier’s record of Ukam i .

To rni er’s record ofKe rog'we a t foo t of Usambara Moun ta in s .

Lo v eridge ’s re cord Of Bagilo , Uluguru Mo unta ins .

Nieden ’

s record o f Ukam i and Am an i Ra na de la la ndi 'i angolensi s) .

Ahl’s type from the Usambara .

To rni er’s record of Lewa in Usam bara .

Ma tschie has recorded H . conco lor from Derema ; perhaps these a re H . ma riae .

Matschi e has recorded H . ci nctiventri s from Derema ; the de term in ation is a little doubtfu l .Ukam i and Usambara records ofM . forn as in i i and M . leptosomus a re re ferable to this species.

Nieden has examin ed a l l Old Germ an Ea st Africa records of aubryz’

and con cludes that they a re

a ll r ufus except tho se from the Usambara .

Nieden ’s (19 15) records from Am an i -and Derema .

Repo rted by Lo’nn berg from Mombo at foot Of the Usambara Range .

Nieden ’s records of B . verm cosu s from Magro tto in Usambara .


I I . SAVANNAH OR OPEN FOREST FAUNA OCCURR ING UP TO FT.

(Fo r species common to ra in - forest a lso see tho se in Table I marked with an*M o ro go ro Am a n i Re fe re n ces to

SNAKE S e tc . e tc . Am a n i co lum n

Typhlops mandensi s MTyphlops puncta tu s pu ncta tusTyphlops mu cru so M

Typhlops lumbrimfi'ormi sTyp‘

hlops u n i taen i a tu-

s

Leptotyphlops dista n tiPython sebac

Ta rbophis semi a nnu la tus

Crotaphopeltis hotamboet'

a hotamboeia

Amp lo rhinu s n ototaem’

a .

Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchusPsammophi s sibi la ns .

Psammophis subta cm’

atu s

Naja n igm’

co llis .

D endraspis angus’

ti ceps

Bitis a ri etans .

LIZARD SHe mida ctylus squamu la tu s

Hemt'

da ctylu s ru spo li i

Hem idactylu s brooki .

Lygoda ctylu s pi ctu ratus pi ctu ratus

Zonu r us tropidosternum

La tastia johnston i

Gastropho l i s vi ttata .

Eremi as speki i speki i .

Gerrhosau ru sflam’

gu lam'

sflavigu lam’

s

M a bu ya macu li la bri s ma cu li labris

M abuya m ega lum .

Riopa sundeva l li i

Ablepha ru s waklbergi i

M elanoseps ater longi ca uda

TOAD S AND FROGSXenopu s m i

'

i ller i .

Bufo regu la r is

Ra na oxyrhynchu sHypero liu sfu lvom

'

ttatu s

Bremlceps mossambicus .

Hem isus mamoratus

An M in the Morogoro co lumn impl ies the species has been col le cted there by Lo veridge .


KEY TO REFERENCES OF TABLE I I

Nieden and Sternfe ld’s records, see ‘b ’ of Table I .

Sternfeld’s record from T-anga . It m ay be remarked that the co louring of T. p . gi erra i is a lmost

the same a s T . mu cruso .

Werner’s type of T. kleebergi from Usambara is treated as specifica ll y distinct (see Table I) sotha t it is doubtful if this species has actua lly been taken in the mounta ins .

Sternfeld’s record from Bukuri in Usambara . Werner a lso .

Occurs at Sigi below Amani .

Wern er’srecord of D ipsas obtusa Gme lin in 1895 .

Werner’s record of L eptodim rufescens is C . h. torn i eri .

Sternfeld’s record of Tanga .

Psammophis r egu laris Stern fe ld has sin ce been recorded by Stern fe ld from Am an i ; if he is correctin this, undoubtedly regu lar i s, which was described from the Cam eroons, is m erely a fortuitou sv ariation Of sibi lans . Under any circumstances it is di fficu lt to imagine a Psammophi s occurringat Amani ; perhaps it came from Sigi .Sternfe ld

’s record of Usambara .

Two in the co llec tion of the Am an i Institu te are Withou t loca lity but the Species occurs at Sigi.Nieden ’s record of Am an i .

Sternfeld’s record of Usambara . There is a specim en in Aman i Institute from Sigi ;

To rnier’s record from Derema .

To rni er’s record ofMajamboni in Usambara .

Werner’s typ e of G. prasina .

Nieden ’s record of Amani .

Tornier’s type from Kerogwe at the fo ot of the Usambara Moun ta ins.

Undoubtedly the species occurs a t Morogoro . Nieden has recorded it from Usambara .

To rn ier’s records from Magila and Rubugwe in Usambara .

Undoubtedly the species occurs at Morogoro . Nieden has recorded it from Usambara .

SUMMARY

34 species known from the Ulugu ru and'

39 from the Usambara Range ; of these 26are comm on to both .

27 species o ccur in the Ulugu ru and 23 in the Usambara Range ; of these 18 are common to both .

6 forms are known from the Uluguru and 9 from the Usambara Range ; 6 are com

m on to both.

4 forms o ccur in the Uluguru and 2 in the Usambara Range ; on ly one is common to

both.

33 species are kn own from the Uluguru and 32 from the Usambara Range ; about20 a re comm on to bo th.


IT INERARY AND LIST OF COLLECTING STATIONS

BAC ILO . Camped o n a little knoll near the fi rst hu ts ofBagilo‘Village ’ on the

M orogoro-Bagilo pa th . Very little was collected in the vicinity,most of su ch

work being done in the ra in- forest a mile o r more from Bagilo o n the track to

M orogoro . The forest floor was covered with leaf mou ld and proved a favou r

ite haunt Of Brev iceps and Bu fo , while gu erezas and squ irrels lived in the tree

tops . These lichen—laden trees a re SO ta l l tha t they mu st be seen before theirstupendou s Size can be apprecia ted ; their big l imb s support masses of ferns ,while lianas and other tropica l epiphytes depend from them like ropes ; these

are mu ch u sed by the squ irrels .

A broad river flows through the forest in the va lley bottom,becoming a

ru shing,rock- studded torrent in the open . Here Arthro leptides occu rs in

su itable Spots . The river is fed by tribu tary streams so choked with fa llentrees and smothered in vegeta tion tha t following their cou rses was difficu lt .

Along their banks grew the wild ban ana plants beloved by Ca l lu lina and

Leptope l is .

Above the camp was another mu ch drier pa tch o f forest tha t was unpro

du ctiv e except for birds . Across to the west,in damp forest intersected by

many moist ravines,Nectophryno ides and Arthro leptis were procu red .

Cu riou sly enough it was the only patch of forest in the vicinity where one

cou ld count on ob ta ining these genera ; elsewhere their occu rren ce was fortu i

tou s . Here a lso,in open glades not far distant from a magni ficent

,forest- girt

wa terfa ll,Cro taphope ltis and Sce lo tes were discovered beneath fa llen logs .

NYANGE . The camp Site was one of necessity ra ther than Of choice,for I was

condu cted to it on e ra iny morning by the chief , who had a lready cau sed huts

to be erected fo r my native personnel . It was an ideal camp site but, being

situ a ted in the va lley,and to a grea t extent su rrounded by the maize p lan

tation s of the villagers,it involved long tramps da ily to the forests which

capped the su rrounding hills . M ammal collecting was disappointing in the

extreme , bu t birds were abundant in the forested hills to the east .

It ra ined n early every day tha t I was a t Nyange and in con sequence the

n atives were kept bu sy weeding their plots . In many places these clearings

abu tted on the forest,or were even on ground qu ite recently covered by

forest, of which smou ldering logs and stump s were a ll that rema ined . As the

pa rents weeded,the children gathered the gra ss and uprooted vegeta tion into

heaps which were left sca ttered abou t o n the somewha t bare ground , fo r the

ma ize-

was little more than a foot high in most of the cu ltivated a reas .


The Nyange children took four days to appreciate the advan tage of a

market for snakes , bu t when they at la st understood that fifty cen ts 12

cents U . S . A . cu rrency) wou ld be pa id for each one , they lost no more time

bu t brought in nearly a hundr ed in a week . I Sha l l never forget the Nyange

kiddies bringing in their catches in o ld whisky bot tles with maize- cob stop

pers , o r their peals of laughter as I shook ou t the snakes , or as they went racing

down the path to tu rn over more heaps or logs ; for it was in su ch situa tions

tha t they found them . I have to thank the Nyange boys for the on ly three

n ew snakes taken du ring the trip , a Typhlops , Prosymn a,and Apara llactu s .

Agamas occu rred on the rocks along the banks of the stream ; the only

really abundant liza rd was M abuya va ria va ria . The reptile fauna of the v a l

ley reflected the conditions,for it was su ch as might be found at M orogoro

at the foot of the moun ta in s .

Caecilians were also obtain ed in the gardens , but sa lientia , with the single

exception Of‘

Phryn oba tra chu s ogoen sis, were very scarce . A grea t effort had

to be made to secu re even the small series of Spela eophryne methn er i,while

those of the new genu s Hcp lophryn e were not Ob tain ed in the va lley bu t in a

moist ravine o n a mounta in top many miles away .

MKARAZI . A broad sha l low river frequ ented by cormorants and Va ranu s n i loticus

flows in the va lley . On either side of it is a remnan t of forest and another

patch occurs on the top Of a hill to the east Of the road . This forest is very

dry and there are no guereza s in it . B lue monk ey,lemu r

,Peter’s elephant

shrew , Nandi cat , and hyrax , however , are to be found , and I im agine that be

fore the deforesta tion Of the su rrounding country took place this was p rob

ably ra in—forest . Trum peter hornbills and gu inea - fowl were collected bu t the

avifauna was essen tially similar to tha t at M orogoro . Scelotes tetradactyla

occur s a longside siaphos ki limensis . The new Bou lengeru la u lugu ru en sis,

and Spelaeophryjn e m ethnem’

,were a lso found in a damp spot beneath a large

log ; apart from these creatu res the fau n a was uni nteresting .

MKANGAZI . A forced ha lting p lace on the uphill cl imb to Ny ingwa . The coun

try is la rgely under cu ltiva tion with the exception Of o ne o r two sma ll clumps

of trees ; there is no trace of forest , the massive rounded mounta ins being

covered with dry stubble o r na tive potato plants . I arrived at 1 R M,and the

ra in descending a t 3 PM . continu ed till far into the ni ght . Left at daybreak .

Two days before passing the p lace on my retu rn j ou rn ey I sent word to the

chief that I wou ld ha lt for two hou rs and buy anything tha t the small boys

wou ld bring in except certain species which I enumerated . Rhynchocyon


petersi , Sa rothru ra rufa e lizabethae, and Bufo mic mnott

'

s were the only rarities

so obtain ed .

TAWA . A low- lying village in hot cu ltivated country . Halted fo r two hours to

give the porters a rest and allow stragglers to catch up . Some children brought

a few M egalixa lus and Hyp ero liu s. With this exception,though warned in ad

vance two days before , the people had caught nothing . While lunch was

being prepared I did some collecting in the vicinity .

NYINGWA . For some rea son best known to himself the petty chief at Nyange

pictu red Nyingwa as a natu rali st’s E ldorado ‘and it was only a day’s

march .

’ The chief was o ld bu t he mu st have been very active o n the day

that be accompli shed it and he certainly did not ca rry a porter’s load . It took

us three days , for it involved a clim b of feet and the going for the la st

two mi les was very hard on the porters .

The foot of the mou ntain is well cultiva ted and conta ins many small

banana plantations in which grea t num bers of Hyperoliu s a rgus occu r . AS

we climbed up ,first Jumbe Sa idi and then his fa ther Jum be Chibi u rged us to

camp,bu t I in sisted on being condu cted up an hou r’s walk beyond the last

hu ts,till we fou nd a su itable clearing on the edge of the forest . There was a

grea t dea l of bamboo growing in the forest,and as a token of altitude we had a

few giant grou ndsel below the camp these groundsel were ten o r twelve

feet high"

The camp site was ma inly selected on account Of the croaking or ca lling of

frogs in the vicinity . It proved rich collecting for amphibia bu t not a snake o r

a l iza rd was seen during the whole week ; some lizard eggs were the only sign

of the existence of reptiles at this altitude though some open spaces seemed

ideal for M abuya . Why Nyingwa shou ld be lacking in reptiles when they

occu r at grea ter heights on other mounta ins , rema ins to be expla ined .

Abbott’s Du iker dwells in the forest but is rare ; the M ounta in Du iker is

comm on,but wary throu gh much hu nting . The forest is rich in bir d—life and

several species which were unk nown to me were secu red . Noteworthy among

the am phibiansWas the occurren ce of two species of Sco lecom o rphu s as well

as Nectophryno ides and Brev iceps. These were the domi nant forms , the last

two being associated with the bamboos .

VITUR I . When at Nyange , news was brought to me of Anoma lu ru s at a place

ca lled Vitu r i some three hou rs n orth of our camp . The pa th wound up one

mounta in and down another through forest a l l the way . It was exceedingly

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fou r hours,being the heaviest deluge recorded since 1905 . Its effects were

shown in the landslides and washaways which blocked the road .

At the foot of the mou ntain (Sigi , possibly feet) pa lms have been

assembled from every trop ic clim e , and as one ascends , the place is planted

with acres of variou s trees from each of the five continents . Every species is

represented by well- labelled groves , no t Single trees , and the winding drives

are kept in beau tifu l condition . AS one ascends to M t . Bom o li (above the

Institu te) fir and p ine forests replace the blu e gums , while heather covers the

open spa ces about the rocky outcrops .

The hou se which we occupied at Amani was in the grounds of the a rbore

tum ,yet close to the virgin forest ; it was a long the well—made paths of the

latter that most of ou r collecting was done . The forest defies description ; the

trees are Of immense height,and consequen tly arborea l anima ls gu ereza s

,

blu e monkeys , squ irrels— find safe refuge and are numerous . Of squ irrelsthree genera were collected in o ne day . Forest birds are everywhere

,perhaps

the most notable , either fo r their beauty or their ca lls , being Tu racus fischem’

and Heterotrogon vitta tum vittatum .

Tree—planted hillsides,free from u ndergrowth bu t strewn with dead leaves

beneath which sma ll Arthro leptis find a moist retrea t , rotting logs with sod

den in teriors,marshy bottoms , and rank sedges in some ravines , swift streams

flowing through well- kept pa stures in others these are bu t a few of the

grea t variety of habita ts which Amani has to offer sma l l creatu res . The

streams emerge from the wooded va lleys bu t a rborea l frogs are sca rce o r

were so at the tirn e Of ou r Visit . Hylambates vermicu latus was Obta ined only

after an infinity Of trouble . Ca llu lina kreflti was not uncommon bu t the only

rea lly abundant species were B reviceps u sambam’

cus sp . n .,Phrynoba trachus

kreflti i in a certa in stream in the forest , and Rana nu tti where the same stream

flowed through cleared lands .

The a rboreal lizards were the more interesting,Pa ragona todes africanus

occurring in the forest , and Ho laspis gu en them’

on the outskirts, bu t very ra re .

M abuya comorensis is the common Skink Of the forest paths . Chameleon s Of

seven Species were collected , a nd twen ty- one species Of snakes a lso , of which

twen ty were secu red in nineteen days . M ost of these were caught by natives

engaged in cleaning the planta tions . Arborea l,terrestria l

,and bu rrowing

vipers (A iberis cera tophoru s, B itis gabom'

ca,Atractaspis rostra ta) were present

bu t the only really common venomous snake was Elapsoidea gu en ther i .


D EREMA . Very near to Amani , the boundary being a sma l l stream . Derema is

somewha t l ower . A la rge swamp , caused by the damm ing back of a stream

flowing down the valley to the saw mill , is bordered by sedges in which M ega

lixa lus and several species of Hypero l iu s find a refuge . Forest is present on

the su rrounding hills which have not been cleared for coffee planting,and sup

ports a fau na simila r to that of Amani . Chameleons are abundant o n the coffee

trees,where they perform usefu l work in captu ring insects .

M ISALAE . Little collecting was done at this spot . We a rrived at P .M . in

pou ring ra in and would have left at dawn bu t fo r the difficu lty Of Obta ining

porters . The camp ing place w as on land long since cleared of forest and now

devoted to na tive garden s . Ou tcrops of rocks provided ba sking pla ces for

M abuya va ria va ria ; and Agama mossambi ca mon ta na occu rred on the trunk s

Of the few trees left standing in the gardens .

KIZERUI . A day was Spent here,as the previou s day’s march had been in driving

rain most of the way and only the clothes we stood up in were no t soaked .

The forest here is magnificen t bu t the natives are accomplished poachers ,

with game fences and p its scattered through the bu sh , so that an ima ls are not

very abundan t . We devoted o ur a ttention to amphib ia,there being little

sunshine to tempt reptiles from their retreats . A Bi tt’

s gabonica was brought

in and the chief a ssu red me that B . a r ietans Occu rs o n the hillsides some dis

tance below . From hu sb'

and gra ss country in the vicinity we a lso received

a tree viper (A . cera tophorus) . The most interesting lizards found were Pa ra

gonatodes afm'

canus and Siaphos ki limen sis; while in the few wild, and more

num erou s domestic banana s , Nectophryno ides, Ca l lul ina , and Hyperolius

fu lvom’

ttatus occu rred . Conditions reminded one of those at Nyange in the

Ulugu ru range .

KIZARA . We ha lted for breakfast in the well - popu lated valley,which seemed very

hot after the deliciously cool rain- forest through which we had come while

crossing the mountain s separating Kizeru i from Kizara . Owin g to the steepness of these peaks

,the chief atKizerui had furni shed us with double the num

ber of porters requ ested . The Kizara chief and his m en ,informed a week be

forehand of our arriva l,met u s in the mounta in s a mile and a ha lf above the

village . Af ter the u sua l greetings a hundred of them formed into a singing ,

drum- bea ting procession and SO escorted us to the rest- camp,passing several

bands of hand- clapping women on the way . To offset this roya l welcome they


had only a boomslang and a couple of chameleons to Show us ; so , the day

being young,we breakfa sted at the mission and pushed o n and up to the

mounta ins again .

MT . LUTIND I . This was selected as being o n e of the highest spo ts in the Ea stern

Usambaras . It is at the v ery edge Of the broad , ho t va l ley which divides the

eastern from the western ranges . Collecting was disappoin ting , as the forest

was very dry and the boulder- strewn, wind- swept summit of the mounta in

was covered with Short gra ss and heather- l ike vegetation wherever the

Sha llowness Of the soil permitted its su rvival . On two a spects the mounta inside is precipitou s

,with a sheer drop of a thou sand feet to the valley below .

The fau na is tha t of Amani bu t poorly represented by a few examples of a

few species . The onl y amphibian Of ou tstanding in terest taken was Lepto

pelis aubryi and its young .

BUMBULI . Situ ated in the Western Usambaras, Bumbu li is separa ted from M t.

Lutindi in the Eastern by a broad sandy valley inhab ited by the savannah

fauna of Widely spread Species . The Western Usambaras differed from the

Ea stern in the greater extent to which deforestation had been carried . M u ch

of the country through which we passed o n the way here was clothed with

short grass on whi ch the flocks and herds Of the villagers were grazing .

The spot a t which we stayed at Bumbu li was in a warm valley j ust below

a mounta in whose lower Slopes were planted with banana s . The summ it wasclothed with what shou ld have been rain - forest bu t a t the time of o u r visit

was very dry, yet remnants of a rain- forest fauna were still present ; among

the birds trumpeter hornbills and planta in- eaters were conspicu ou s . Pa ragon

a todes africanus, S iaphos ki limensis, Bufo braum'

,and numerou s other rain

forest species occur red among the reptiles and batrachians .

PHILLIPSHOF. Camp was made o n the Site which had been selected by the Field

Museum Expedi tion a coup le Of months previou sly : rolling downs Of gra zing

land,marshy swamps and Slow- flowing streams in the bottoms , scattered

pa tches of ra in- forest o n the uplands , with va st stretches of forest nearby o n

either side Of the M alindi road . M amma ls and b irds were numerou s in this

forest,bu t reptiles

,with the exception of chameleon s , were remarkably sca rce ;

in fa ct I caught only one snake (Chlorophis n eglectu s) du ring the fortnight we

spen t at Phil lipshof. It is the typ e locality Of Chama eleo fischer i mu lti tuber

cu la tu s,Of which a long series wa s secu red in the hope Of discovering the range


ofvaria tion and exactly how many races occu rred in the UsambaraM ounta ins .Some interesting Observa tion s on the egg- laying habits Of Lygodactylu sfischem

'

were made . The amphibia presented little of interest apa rt from the finding of

LOnnberg’s Ran a merumon ta na , thu s establishing another record dem onstrat

ing the homogen eity of the fau na of the East African mounta ins .

APPROXIMATE ALT ITUDES OF COLLECT ING LOCALITIES

ULUGURU MOUNTA INS USAM BARA M OUNTA INSBagilo ft.

Mkanga z i

Mkara z i

NyangeNyingwa

Vitur i .

We should like to thank Mr . H . P. Rowe , Depu ty Director of Tanganyika Surveys, for assistance inestimatin g some of these a ltitudes. Also Dr. Sandground fo r identify in g the he lm intho logica l ma teria l ,and the artists, M iss H . M. Saun ders

, M iss O . Otis and Mr. J. He nry Blake , for the ir e xce llent dr awings.

Bum buliKi zaraKiz erui

M isa lae

M t . Lu tindi .

Phillipshof

Sigi


SYSTEMAT IC LIST OF SPEC IES COLLECTED

TESTUD INID AE

PELUSIOS NIGR ICANS CASTANEUS (Schweigger)Emys casta nea, Schwe igger, 1814, ‘

Prodr . p . 45 .

A small wa ter tortoise was brought to me by two boys,who sa id tha t they had

picked it up o n the road abou t ten miles sou th of Nyange , Uluguru M oun tains .

I cou ld Obta in no other informa tion as to the occurrence of tortoises in these

moun tains beyond Sa limu’s1 sta tement that they are found from time to time but

are nowhere comm on . The word kiku i is employed by the Wakami for all

Species of tortoises .TYPHLOPID AE

TYPHLOPS ULUGURUENSIS sp . n .

4 (M . C . Z. 23080—3) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . , 6—1 1 . x . 26 .

Type . NO . 23080 . Mu seum ofComparative Zoology . Sex From Nyange,

Uluguru M ou ntain s , Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge,Octo

ber 6th, 1926 .

Pa ra types . No s. 23081 , 23082, 23083 .

Afiim'

ti es . Apparently most nea rly related to Typhlops kleebergi Werner and

T. graci l i'

s Sternfeld,though in some respects no t unlike T. pa llidu s (Cope)

Werner described T. kleebergi from the Usamba ra M tns . in 1904 . Sternfeld

omitted it from his list Of the snakes Of German Ea st Africa published in 1910 .

In 1915 Bou lenger placed it in the synonymy of T. lumbriciformz’

s (Peters) . Unl ess

inaccu rately described,however

,it is a va lid Species rela ted to T. graci lz

'

s and

differing from T. lumbriciformis in lacking a subocular and in tha t the diameter

of its body is contained in its length 36 instead of 60 times . The rela tion of

these three mou ntain- inhabiting East African snakes can best be shown by the

following table :

T. graci lt'

s T. lumbriciform is

Sca le -rows 22 18

Bo dy - diameter conta ined 80 times in the

lengthNasa l di v ided from Nasa l divided from Nasa l sem idiv ided2nd labia l to rostra l l st labia l to rostra lSubo cu lar abse nt absen t absent Large subocul ar

In a letter recently received from Dr . Werner he informs us that he cannot

agree with Dr . Bou lenger’s a ction in placing T. kleebergt

'

in the synonymy ofT. lumbr iciformis .

1 Sa l imu bi‘

n Asumani,a n Mkami co llector fre quen tly re ferred to in these pages.


Diagnosis . Differs from all East African members of the genu s , except graci lis,in lacking a praeo cu lar and subocular . It differs from graci lis in its rounded in

stead of sharply horizonta l- edged snou t,20 sca le—rows instead of 22

,and less

slender proportions , for the diameter Of its body goes into the total length 50 in

stead Of 80 tim es .

Descr ipti on . Snou t promin ent , rounded , with scarcely inferior nostrils .

Rostra l very large,extending backwards to an imaginary line connecting the

comm isu res of the mouth ; eye indistinguishable (in one of the para types a little

pink pigmentation indicates its position) ; nasal divided , the suture extending

from the second labial through the nostril to the rostra l no praeocu lar or subocu

lar ; ocu lar sca rcely ha lf the size of the hu ge nasal , in contact with the thi rd and

fou rth upper labia ls ; a sma ll postocu la r ; fou r upper labials ; three lower labia ls .

D iameter of body conta ined 50 times in the total length (48 to 51 in the paratype

series) ; tail longer than broad (in paratype NO . 23081 it is as long as broad) ,

sharply pointed but no t terminating in a spine ; 20 scales round mid- body .

Co loration . Uniformly flesh- pink in life ; colourless or straw- coloured in alcohol .

M ea su remen ts .

1

Length of head and body , 235 mm .

Length of ta il , 5 mm .

Diameter at m id - body , mm .

Para types To ta l lengths, 245 , 240, 230 mm .

Ta il lengths ,’

3 , 4, 4 mm .

Diameters at m id - body , 5 , 5 , mm .

Diet. Only one snake was opened up for examina tion . The stoma ch conta ined

many termites and the intestine was fu ll of undigested heads .

Habita t. Two , at least , of the series were taken under the rotting grass roof of

a collapsed hu t which had been built close to the edge of the rain- forest . Such

huts are always teeming with termi tes .

TYPHLOPS BRAM INUS (Dau din)Eryx brami nus Daudin ,

1803 , Hist . Nat . Rept . , 7 , p . 279 .

l (M . C . Z . 24008) D a r es Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

Va ria tion . Normal number of twenty mi d- body sca le rows .

Co lora tion . Plum beou s black,not brown .

Enemies . Recovered from the stoma ch of a bur rowing viper (Atractaspis

rostrata ) in the Botanical Ga rdens . The head to mid- body is in a fine state of

preservation ; the latter half of the body was entirely digested away .

1 All measurements are in m illim eters.


TYPHLOPS PUNCTATUS PUNCTATUS (Leach)

Acontias puncta tus Le ach , 1819 , in Bowdich , ‘M iss . Ashan tee ,’ p . 493 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23092) D ar es Sa laam , 9 . xi . 26 .

In a previous paper 1 the ju nior author drew attention to two other specim ens

from this locality with which this example agrees in colouring and other pecu liari

ties . It has 32 scale- rows instead Of 30 , which is maximum for punctatu s, and the

body diameter is included in the length 38 times instead of 30 . Its length is 300

mm .,and the mid- body diameter 8 mm . M ore materi al may demonstrate an

Ea st Coast race with slenderer body . In some respects it resembles T. tettensis;

bu t the position of its eye , which is clearly ben ea th the ocula r sca le , is unlike

tettensis,mossambicu s or tr i lobus as figured by Peters .

TYPHLOPS INTERMED IATE BETWEEN PUNCTATUS AND GIERRAI

1 (M . C . Z . 23093) Am ani , Usambara Mtns. , xii . 1926 .

This very interesting snake is colour ed like those specimens ofgierra i marked

(iv) below , and it is undoubtedly the same species ; yet it la cks the small scale

between the praeo cu lar and supra labia ls, and its body diameter is included 30

times in the total length . It has 28 mid- body scale- rows . In the collection of the

Am ani Institu te are three Similar examples from the M onga path which I provisionally referred to T. puncta tu s. Under the circumstances

,we consider that

the close relation ship between gierra i and punctatu s is best expressed by making

gierra i a race of the widely distributed punctatns . It is apparently a perfectly

valid mountain form .

TYPHLOPS PUNCTATIIS GIERRAI (M ocqu ard)

Typhlops gi erra i Mocquard , 1897 , Bu ll . Mus . Paris,p . 122 (Tanga ) .

1 (M . C . Z . 23084) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns . ,27 . ix . 26 .

6 (M . C . Z . 23085—90) Am ani,Usambara Mtns . ,

20—27 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 2309 1) Mt. Lu tindi , Usambara Mtns . ,10 . xii . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 23473) M la lo near Ambangu la , Usam bara Mtns .,xii . 26 .

Nyoka m idomo miwi li (Kikam i and Kiswahili ) ; m konko (Kisumbara ) .

Va ria tion . This series is of considerable interest as gierra i has hitherto onl y

been known from the holotype . Ou r specimen s all agree in the possession of a

small sca le resting on the second and thir d upper labia ls . This , together with

the formu la of body di ameter into length (31 to 50 times in gi erra i ; 24 to 30

tim es in punctatus) , is the on ly cha ra cteristic which serves to distinguish it

from puncta tu s. Possibly the eye is more di stinct in puncta tus; it appears so from

the series at our disposa l .Lo v eridge , 1923, Proc . Zo o l . Soc . Lond . ,

p . 872 .


380 (375 5) mm ., bu t had a greater body diameter , v iz . 12 mm . Both are

sma ller than the 469 mm . typ e .

Habitat. My wife ca l led my atten tion to the Lu tindi snake , which was lying

in a nea tly mou lded cavity beneath a large rotten log in the forest . It had heavy

deposits of fat and was evidently resting there u n til su ch time as it cou ld Slough .

M ost of the Am ani specimens were taken inside damp and very rotten logs on

M t. Bom o li , bu t a few were taken beneath the logs . The Bagilo reptile was

tu rned up by a native who was engaged in hoeing over his garden which abu tted

on the rain- forest .

Fo lklore . The Wasumbara natives say tha t the mkonko is the‘cow ’

of the

soldier ants (B orgla s n igricans subsp . ) which are very abundant in these moun

ta ins . When I a sked what they meant by this they replied tha t sometimes when

one encou n tered these fierce marau ders o n the march , one might see a Typhlops

wriggling along with the colum n of ants protected by the warrior ants and in no

way molested by any of them . I fou nd the story very widespread bu t ma in ly

ba sed o n hearsay : only one or two natives cla imed to have seen the phenomenon

themselves . On e Eu ropean,however

,told me that he had seen such a procession

at Am ani abou t three yea rs before . I examined abou t fifty - fou r columns Of siafu,

as these ants are locally ca lled , du ring the following five weeks withou t seeing a

single Typhlops . If the story is tru e,and I see no reason to doubt it , the rea son

for the strange a ssocia tion Should provide an interesting subj ect for study,as

these soldier ants are notoriou s for a ttacking alm ost every living thing which

comes within reach Of their j aws . The na tive’s exp lanation , pu rely theoretical of

course , is tha t the ants keep their‘cow

’until there is a food Shortage , when they

kill it . I took particular pa in s to ascertain that the creatu re referred to was a

Typhlops and no t a caecilian . Of cour se,the species of Typhlops the world over

are p rone to feed on termites o r ants and their integument is modified SO as to

afford protection aga inst insects’ j aws or stings .

TYPHLOPS MUCRUSO (Peters)Onychocephalus ma cru so Peters , 1854, Mona tsbe r . Ak ad . Berlin , p . 6 1 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23093) Ki losa , ix . 26 .

We are indebted to M r . N . C . M iller of the Game Department for thi s specimen .

Va ria tion . In examining this snake the Opportuni ty was taken to see if Ea st

African specimens can be sepa rated into two races (ma cru so typica andm . humbo) ,

on the basis of the eye being ben eath the su tu re between praeocu lar and ocular


(humbo) or clea rly in the ocu la r (ma cru so) . Out Of six Kilosa snakes in the co llection of the M u seum of Comparative Zoology , three have the eye in the ocu lar

and three benea th the su tur e . Of fou r from M orogoro (three loaned by the

United States Na tional Mu seum,No s . 6289 1—3) two are in the ocu la r and two

beneath the suture, thu s confirming Bou lenger’s opini on tha t the forms are not

separable . Nor has its position anything to do with age as j udged by length .

Two of the cha racters used by M iss Procter 1 to differentiate T. excen tricu s

from T. ma cru so cannot be considered ofuse,for the nasals meet behind the rostral

in all four M orogoro snak es, are ju st in contact in fou r of the Kilosa snakes and

a re separated in the other two . The diameter is included in the length from 22 to

34 times in these ten snakes ; 25 to 37 times has been the recogni zed range

hitherto . The sca le- rows are 30 to 36,which is within the range of the species .

LEPTOTYPHLOPID AE

[LE PTOTYPHLOPS D ISTANTI (Bou lenger) ] 2

Gla ucon ia di stanti Bo u lenger , 1892 , in Distant , ‘Natura list in the Transv aal ,’ p . 175 , fig .

Glau con ia conjun cta An ge l (no t of 1925 , Reptiles et Ba traciens, in ‘Voyage de Ch . Alluaud et

R . Jeann e ] en Afrique Orienta le p . 31 .

One of the two specimens was examined in Pa ris by the junior author throughthe courtesy ofM . Angel . The diameter of body was contained in the total length

45 times,and the length of ta il between 9 and 10,

times . The colou r of this speci

men was unu su al,being brown above and pa ler beneath . The second and larger

specimen was of the u su al j et - black typ e .

COLUBR ID AE

NATRIx OLIVACEUS (Peters)Coron ella o livacea Peters, 1854, M o na tsber . Ak ad . Wiss. Berlin , p . 622 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23094) Bagil o , Uluguru Mtns . 28 . ix . 26 .

24 (M . C . Z . 23096—231 18) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . 6—11 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23095) Mkanga z i , Ul uguru Mtns . 12 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 231 19—30—31) Nyingwa , Ul uguru Mtns . 16—19 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23132) Vituri , Uluguru Mtns. 28 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 23133—5) D a r es Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

29 (M . C . Z . 23136—23159 ) Am ani , Usambara Mtns . xi—xii . 26 .

l (M . C . Z . 23160) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns. 7 . xii . 26 .

Va riation . This series of sixty- three snakes was collected in the hope tha t

it wou ld throw some light on the va riation in the scale- rows . These spec imen s

Procter, 1922 ; Ann . M ag. Nat . Hist.

,9 , 685.

2 When brackets are placed aroun d a Species and its author it deno tes that the species in questionwas not co llected durin g the expeditio n , bu t it has been fo und necessary to refer to it for som e re ason o r

other.

1 10 BARBOUR AND LOVER ID GE

effectu ally Show that there is something in the suggestion made by the j un ior

au thor 1 that there m ay be a transcontinenta l reduction in their numbers from

West to east . While for forty years 19 has been con sidered the invariable number

fo r this species , in rea lity 17 is the more u sua l number in East Africa ,at lea st for

mounta in snakes , and 15 occurs o n Pemba Id . NO fewer than 56 of these 63

snakes have 17 mid- body scale- rows o r even less . In cou nting the rows o n the

n eck,mid- body and praean al region , one finds a lmost every possible varia tion

1 specimen with 20 , 17 , 16 3 specimens with 19 , 17 , 154 19 , 19 , 17 1 19 , 16 , 16

1 19 , 19 , 16 1 18 , 19 , 17

1 19 , 18 , 17 1 18,17 , 17

39 19 , 17 , 17 1 18 , 17 , 16

8 19 , 17 , 16 1 17 , 17 , 16

By taking the neck cou nt ju st behind the parietals o ne may often find 21 rows,

bu t as the sca les are somewha t irregular so close to the head , the cou nts were

made at a point abou t opposite the fifth ventral scu te .

The ventra ls range from 130 to 140 with an average of 135 ; the ana l is in

va riably divided ; subcauda ls range from 63 to 87 .

Fo r pu rposes of comparison nine specimens from Stanleyville and the Itu ri

Forest,Belgian Congo , in the col lection of the Am erican Museum of Natu ral

History were counted , and all bu t one had 21 , 19 , 17 sca le- rows ; the o ne excep

tion had 19 , 19 , 17 . Some had only o ne o r two rows of 21 scales very close to the

back of head . Four other specimens in the United States Nationa l Museum from

Leopoldville , Belgian Congo , Kenya Colony, and M orogoro , Tanganyika Terri

tory,agreed in having 19—21 , 19 , 17 scale- rows . We wish to express our thank s

to the cu ra tors concerned for the facilities afforded for examination of these

specimen s .

Coloration . In life a Bagilo fema le had the ventrals coloured a bright mauve .

In Nyange snakes the variation was a stoni shing,the latera l edges Of the ventra ls

being red,olive

,grey

,o r pale blu e . In one specimen the ventra ls were bright

yellow with grey edges . Some of the young have a bla ck band three scales wide

behind,and imp inging on , the posterior border of the parietals ; thi s band is fol

lowed by an incomplete yellow one two scales wide,interrupted o n the vertebra l

l in e .

M easu remen ts . The largest ma le (Nyingwa ) measured 430 (300 130) mm .

,

and the la rgest female (Nyange) 488 (350 the sma llest snake,a ma le

(Nyange) taken on 7 . x . mea su red 193 (138 These mounta in exam

1 Lo veridge , 1925 , Proc . 20 61. So c . Lond . , p . 7 1 .

AFRICAN HERPETOLOGY 1 1 1

ples of N . o livaceu s will probably be found to average considerably less than

specimens from other parts of Africa .

Breeding. A Nyange female had very slightly developed eggs mea sur ing

5 mm . in di ameter on 8 . x . 26 . Another Nyange snake held two eggs measur ing

12 x 6 mm . on 9 . x . an Amani female,four eggs measur ing 20 x 8 mm .

on 19 . xi . another,fou r eggs 16 x 7 mm . on 25 . xi . and yet another

,

eggs mea suring 21 x 8 mm . o n 29 . xi . 26 . At the same time the rest of the large

series of fema les,with bu t few exceptions

,held u ndeveloped ov a .

Diet. Stomach con tents of Nyange snakes . (i) Arthro leptis stenodactylu s.

(11) A . sten odactylu s . (iii ) E ight small frog’s eggs . (iv) Three round , white eggs

measu ring mm . in diameter,apparently frog’s eggs . (v) An Amani snake

held a ca terpillar .

Pa rasi tes . Rarely infected . Nematodes (Ka licepha lu s Sp . and Ophidascar is

sp . ) were found in only o ne Am ani female .

En em i es . The lotorn is ki rtlandi i was seen to eat a N . o livaceus which was shar

ing the same cage ; many others disappeared . The j unior author has previously

drawn a ttention to the frequency with which the tail s are mi ssing in this Species .

No fewer than twenty- nine ou t of the present series of sixty- eight are in this con

dition. In o ne ca se he was responsible , for hav ing picked up a D ar es Salaam

snake from beside an irrigation ditch,he was holding it by the ta il , preparatory to

dropping it into a bag,when the snake wriggled very violently so that it broke

away,leaving the ta i l in hisgrasp . AS Grayi a is another genu s where the cau da l

appendage is frequ ently Short , it seems probable tha t waterside species are more

subj ect to attack by herons and waders than other snakes and frequ ently escape

by active wrigglin g . In many loca lities they doubtless suffer from the bites Of

tu rtles and fishes .

Habi tat. Under ba rk or logs at the edge of the forest , not a forest species ;

u nder flat stones Or rubbish in the na tive plan ta tions . After heavy rain these

snakes were Sometimes found on the paths . They haunt the banks of streams and

irrigation ditches and the edges of swamps .

BOAE DON LINEATUS D um éril et Bibron

Boaedon linea tum D um éril et Bibron ,1854 ,

‘Erpét. 7 , p . 363 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23 161 ) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns. ,29 . ix . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 23 162—4 ) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns. ,1 1 . x . 26 .

17 (M . C . Z . 23165—8 1) Amani , Usambara Mtns .

, xi—xii . 26 .

Va ria tion . M id- body scale- rows 25—29 . Ventrals 190—220 . Anals Single .Subcaudals 48 67 . The series is almost equ ally divided as to sex and it is to be

1 12 BARBOUR AND LOVERID GE

observed that the sexes m ay be invariably distinguished by the ventra l and sub

cau dal sca le counts which , in the present series , a re

Ma les Fema lesVe ntra ls 190—201 209—220Subcauda ls 60—67 48—59

Labials 8 , in one specim en 9 , o n one side of the head on ly ; 3rd , 4th and 5th, o r

4th and 5th,or 4th

, 5th and 6th,labia ls enter the eye . In NO . 23166 a sma ll sca le,

a lmost like a third postocula r , is wedged in between the 5th and 6th upper labia ls .

Praeocu lars very variable l o r 2 ; in specimen No . 23170 they are in con tact with

the fronta l .

M easu remen ts . Largest male 668 (533 135) mm .,and female 915 (805

1 10) mm . Both from Am an i .

Breeding. Adult fema le from Nyange held 16 eggs measu ring 33 x 18 mm .

on 1 1 . x . 26 . Another from Amani held 7 eggs mea suring 35 x 16 mm on 29 .

xi . 26 .

Diet. A small (298 mm . ) Bagilo snake was much distended with a mouse

(Leggada bel la ) . Sma ll House Snakes certainly seem to live well , for no fewer than

seven Of ten young ones brought in at Nyange were gorged . A ra t (Ra ttus ra ttus

a lexandr inu s) was recovered from the stomach of an Am an i House Snake.

Defen ce . When pressed,the cloaca l glands of a sma ll snake di scharged a

minute j et of clea r bu t strong- smelling flu id .

Pa rasi tes . Tapeworms (Ophi otaen ia sp . ) and roundworms were taken from

one Nyange fema le . Nema todes (Ka licepha lus sp . ) in several others as well as

an Aman i snake . A great many la rval mites under the cauda l sca les of a Nyange

indi vidu al .

[LYCOPHID ION ABYSSINICUM Boul enger ]

Lycophidium abyssi n i cum Bou lenger , 1893 , Cat . Sn . Brit . Mus , 1 , p . 342 PI. XX I I , f . l .

The snake captur ed between Kilimanj aro and Ta ita and referred to this

species by M o cqu ard (see Angel , 1925 , Reptiles et Batraciens , in‘

Voyage de Ch .

Allu aud et R . Jeann e l en Afrique Orientale [19 1 1 p . 32) cannot now be

located in the Paris M u seum . The identification must rema in extremely doubt

fu l, as L . abyssin icum has never been recorded so far sou th before .

LYCOPHID ION MELEAGR IS Bou lenger

Lycophidium meleagri s Boul enger , 1893 , Cat . Sn . Brit. Mus , 1 , p . 337 , P1. XXI, f . 2 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23182) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns .,20 . ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23 183) Vitur i , Uluguru Mtns. , 9 . x . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 23 184—7 ) Amani, Usambara Mtns.

,xi—xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23188) Bum bu li , Usambara Mtns . ,16 . xii . 26 .


Va riation . Al l have the normal 15 scale- rows at mid- body . The ventrals

range from 147 to 164 ; subcauda ls 22—34 , thu s increasing the known range for

both ven tra ls and subcaudals. Taken by sexes the subcaudals in fema les are

22—32, in ma les 30—34 . The series is too short to draw defini te conclusion s . The

onl y points of difference , other than sca le- counts , between this species and L .

capen se , as given in the Catalogu e of Snakes , are tha t , in L . me leagr is, the

a . D iameter Of eye equ a ls its di stance frommou th,while in capen se it is grea ter .

b . Rostra l nea rly twice as broad , as aga in st twice as broad in capense .

c . Praefrontals a li ttle broader than long , as aga ins t as long as broad o r a

l ittle longer in capense .

d . Fronta l as long as broad in both species , bu t in capense it is a lso sometimes

a l ittle longer .

Characters ‘b,

’ ‘c,

’ ‘d ’break down in the series before us . Fu rther “

reference

to these relation ships will be found under capense .

Co lora tion . The tongue is white , tipped with grey .

M easu remen ts. The largest male (Vitu r i) measu res 353 (308 45) mm . ,

largest fema le (Bagilo ) 340 (310 30) mm . Sma llest specimen,a fema le taken

at Bum bu l i 16 . xii . 26 , measu res 217 (195 22) mm .

Breeding. Ova onl y slightly developed in o ne female from Amani , 19 . xi . 26 .

Diet. A Bagilo snake , being tremendou sly distended , was foun d on examina

tion to have swa l lowed a Sk ink (S iaphos ki limensfis) ; in an Amn i specimen there

was a snake’s tail .

LYCOPHID ION CAPENSE (Smi th)

Lycodon ca pensi s Sm ith , 1831 , S . Afr . Quart . Jour . No . 5, p . 18 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23189 ) Bagil o , Ulugu ru M tns . , 4 . x . 26 .

5 (M . C . Z . 23 190—4) Nya nge , Uluguru Mtns . ,2—1 1 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23195) Vitu ri , Uluguru Mtns. , 27 . x . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 23196—9 ) Am ani, Usam bara Mtns . ,

29 . xi—30 . xii . 26 .

1 (M AC . Z . 23200) Bum bu li , Usambara Mtns . , 16 . xii . 26 .

Va riation . All have the normal 17 scale- rows at mid- body . Ventrals range

from 195 to 215 subcaudals from 40 to 57 , thu s increa sing the range for both v en

tra ls and subcauda ls indeed,in both ventra ls and subcauda ls the numbers are

consisten tly high . Taken by sexes the subcaudals in fema les range from 40 to 47 ,

in ma les 52—57 . Compare these with those in the Catalogu e of Sn akes based o n

South African , Angola , and Congo specimens which give subcaudals for females

as 30—39 , for males 34—45 , which makes it impossible to determ ine sex o n this

basis if the range fo r the species over its whole a rea of distribu tion be taken into

account,though it is probably good for any one loca li ty .


The series agrees essentia lly with the chara cteristics of the species except that

two_

b ig specimens are in a ccord with L . meleagris in the diameter of the eye ,

which only equ a ls its distance from the mou th . In o ne of these from Amani,the

horizon ta l diameter is mu ch shorter than the vertical diameter . The character

of eye- diameter in rela tion to distan ce from the mou th appea rs to be a good

one except for very Old snakes . The sa fest way , however , to distinguish between

these two closely related species is by the sca le- cou nts, v iz . :

L . meleagri s . Sca le -rows 15 , Ventra ls 147—165 , Subcauda ls 22—34 .

L . capense . Sca le - rows 17 , Ventra ls 163—219 , Subcauda ls 24—57 .

It seems very strange tha t they shoul d occur together in fou r o u t of the five

localities,bu t 15 scale- rows is certa inly a ssociated in these mou ntains with a

lower number of ven trals 147—164 , while conversely 17 sca le- rows goes with a

higher number,195—215 . One needs a la rge series Of Lycophidion from the type

locality ofjackson i to throw more light on the relationships Of the three species .

Co loration . A Bagilo sn ake , taken on the site ofmy camp after I left , is uni

formly j et- black .

M ea su remen ts . The largest male (Amani ) measures 480 (400 80) mm .,and

the la rgest female (Am ani) 623 (550 73) mm . The sma llest (Vitur i) snake ,

taken o n 27 . x . mea su res 196 (170 26) mm .

Breeding. A Nyange female held 8 eggs measuring 20 x 8 mm . o n 2 . x . 26 . A

Bagilo snake , 7 eggs only 10 mm . long on 4 . x . 26 . An Am ani reptile,7 eggs

measuring 17 x 9 mm . o n 29 . xi . 26 .

Diet. At Nyange two snakes were taken with Skink s (M abu ya str iata ) in their

stomachs . At Amani , one with a M abuya comorensis.

M EHELYA CAPENSIS (Smith)

Hetero lepi s capen si s Smith , 1849 , ‘ I ll us . Zoo l . S . 3,Pl . LV .

2 (M . C . Z . 23201—2) Am ani , Usambara Mtns . , xi—xii . 26 .

l (M . C . Z . 23204) M isa lae , Usambara Mtns .

, 7 . xii . 26 .

Va riation . Internasals nearer seven- eighths than two - thirds the length Of

the praefron ta ls. In No . 23202 the fronta l is as broad as long . In No . 23201 the

fron tal is Shorter than its distance from the rostral . Nos . 23202 and 23204 are

norma l in having 1 prae and 2 posto cu lars bu t NO . 23201 has 2 prae and

1 postocular . Through the courtesy of the Custodian of the Amani Institu te I

was enabled to exam ine the thr ee loca l specimens in tha t collection , a ll Of which

agreed in having only 1 postocu lar,a condi tion , I bel ieve , that has never been

reported in any South African examples of this snake . The scale variation of


What is stated below as regards determination of sex in C. macrops by means

o f sca le- counts applies equ ally to the present species .

Co lora tion . While this snake is a lmost invariably uniformly green , at Nyange

a number were brought in on which there was a series of pa ired black spots on

the nape ; in many these had coalesced . A female at Vituri was marked in the

same way .

M easu rements. La rgest Specimen , probably a female,from M la lo measures

896 (612 284) mm . NO young examples were preserved .

Habi ta t. Taken on bu shes , one from Dar es Sa laam o n the thatch of a watch

er’s hu t in the rice swamps .

Breeding . A Nyange fema le held Six eggs measu ring 20 X 7 mm . o n 1 . x . 26 ;

a Vitu ri snake three eggs mea suring 34 x 10mm .

Di et. A Bagilo snake was captured on the edge of the rain- forest with an

Ar thro leptis sten oda ctylus in its mou th . A Vitu r i snake had a lso swallowed one

Of these frogs . A Nyange snake had a frog , a Buprestid beetle and a grasshop

per’s leg in its stomach . The frog was too digested to be definitely determined

bu t was apparently an Arthro leptis . It is reasonable to suppose that the insects

were liberated from the frog’s stomach . In captivity at Dar es Sa laam,three o r

four of these snakes died a fter making heavy meals o n Rana ma sca ren iensis, the

prey bein g nearly digested away . One was seen to capture and swa llow a gecko

(Lygodactylus p . pictu ratu s) .

En emi es . At least one green snake was ea ten by a Thelotorn is kirtlandi i which

was sharing the same cage .

Pa rasi tes . At Bagilo some cysts (Acan thocepha la imma tu re) were fou nd

encysted o n the ou ter wa ll of the intestina l tract,also a matu re 9 Acan thocepha la .

At Nyange several snakes affected with subderma l para sites of the same species

were brought in and died within a few days ; no nematodes were located in their

a limentary can a ls . At Vitur i other freshly captur ed snakes were suffering from

these encysted worms .

CHLOROPH IS MACROPS (Bou lenger)

Ol igolepi s ma crops Bou lenger , 1896 , Cat . Sn . Brit. M us. 3,p . 644 .

22 (M . C . Z . 23236—57 ) Am an i, Usambara M tns .

,xi—xii . 26 .

Nyoka ya man i in Kisumbara .

Va ria tion . This species was based on a single young sn ake from the Usam

ba ra M tns . , and was made the type Of the genu s Oligolepis by Bou lenger . It

was transferred to Chlorophis by Stern feld after the examina tion of a dozen


sn akes from the region . The species isvalid,thou gh it was ba sed o n an aber

ran t individua l . The p resent series are topotypes .

Undoubtedly its most important chara cter is the 13 mid- body scale- rows ;

a l l other members Of the genu s have 15 . Twenty- o ne snakes in the present series

have 13,while on e male (23236) has only 1 1 ; this same reptile is also u niqu e in

possessin g an undivided anal shield . It is to be n oted that Sternfeld had also a

single specimen with a Simi lar ana l . Ventra ls range from 136 to 169 (type had

Subcauda ls range from 82 to 122 (type had In the type there are 9

upper labials , fifth and sixth entering the eye ; this is the ca se in on ly two of the

presen t series,while four more have this condition on one side of the head with

the more n orma l 8 labia ls , fou rth and fifth en tering the eye,on the other Side of

the head ; no fewer than Sixteen snakes have 8 lab ia ls , fourth and fifth entering

the eye,which must therefore be rega rded as the n ormal state . It is interesting

to note that where 9 labia ls are present it is almost invariably due to the division

of the third labial so that it automa tically results in the fifth and sixth entering

the eye .

Stern feld has a lr eady reported some of these varia tions,in clu ding ca ses where

the fou rth,fifth and sixth labia ls en tered the eye . He has also drawn attention

to the modera te keeling of the ventra ls,a ll of which points Bou lenger seems to

have ignored when compiling his key to the Snakes of East Africa (Proc . Zool . So c .

Lon d .

,1915

, p .

Sex cannot be defini tely told by cou nting subcau dal scale- rows as they over

lap . In males 85—122 (average fema les 82- 87 (average The sexes in the

above series are equa lly divided and it would appea r that all sn akes with more

than 90 subcauda ls are males .

Re lati onship . The amendments to the origina l description as enumerated

above cause this snake to fall into the n eglectus section o f the key,and indeed

macrops is so near ly’

re lated to that species that it can be separated on ly on the

ba sis of its 20 maxillary teeth (20—27 in neglectu s) and number of scale- rows at

mid- body . Were it n ot that two specimens of neglectu s were also brought in at

Amani o n e wou ld be tempted to consider macrops as a subspecies of n eglectus ,

being in the same rela tion to it as is Typhlops gi erra i to T. pun ctatu s and Crota

phope ltis torn ieri to C . hotamboeia,i .e .

,a moun tain form with redu ced scale- rows .

It is still possible tha t the neglectu s referred to m ay have been cau ght lower down

the moun ta in, for in an hou r o ne can readily a scend a thousand feet .

Co loration in life . Female (No . Above,head green

,body and ta il

Olive , thir ty- two tran sverse bands Of varying distin ctn ess on the body ; these are


formed by light-yellow spots on sca les bounded by b la ck spots . Below ,chin and

throat white,rest of under su rfa ce yellowish

,each ventra l sca le edged with black

laterally,their free edges tinged with blu ish- grey .

A young female (NO . Above,head Olive

,body and ta il brown

,forty

two tran sverse bands of varying distinctness on the body ; these con sist of pa le

green bands,tu rning to Cambridge blu e on the flanks

,bounded by black lines .

Below,chin and throa t white , rest of lower surfa ce light green .

A very O ld fema le (NO . Above,uniformly brown or Olive- brown .

Below blu ish- white . Of yet others I have noted a female bright green . A juve

nile ma le,very young

,yet da rk Olive colou r . Two ma les

,taken the same day

,

differed in the colou r of their labials,one being bright green and the other olive

colou red . Severa l of the smaller snakes were indistingu ishable in colour ing from

C. n eglectus .

M easu remen ts . Largest male 810 (560 250) mm . ; largest fema le 915

(655 260) mm . Sma llest Specimen,a ma le taken 25 . xi . 26 , mea sures 200

(130 70) mm .

Habitat. In bushes o n the ou tskirts Of the forest , especially those bordering

streams .

Breeding. Five eggs mea suring 29 x 1 1 mm . on 19 . xi . 26 . Six eggs m easu r

ing 36 x 15 mm . o n 20 . xi . 26 . Fou rteen eggs (9 o n on e Side , 5 on the other)mea surin g 30 X 12 mm . on 22 . xi . 26 . Three eggs measu ring 34 X 10 mm . on

24 . xi . 26 . Most of the other fema les held eggs less developed .

Di et. Stomachs Of a l l fifteen snakes taken in November were emp ty .

PHILOTHAMNUS SEMIVARIEGATUS (Smi th)

D endrophis (Phi lothamnus) semi va ri egata Sm ith , 1840, ‘ Il lus. Zo o l . S . 3,Pls . lix , 1x , and lxi v , fig . 1 .

1 (M . C . Z ;23259 ) Vituri , Uluguru Mtns . ,28 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z. 23260) Zigi , Fo ot o f Usam bara Mtns .

,29 . xi . 26 .

8 (M . C . Z. 23261—8) Amani,Usambara Mtns .

,xi—xii . 26 .

Va riation . M id- body sca le- rows 15 . Ventra ls 164—172 . Subcauda ls 125—153 .

Nin e upper labia ls,fifth and sixth en tering the eye except in No . 23263 where it

is the fou rth , fifth and Sixth that en ter . The tempora ls are almost too variable

to describe ; five Specimen s have the norma l 2 2 ; in fou r others either the

upper o r lower of the first pa ir is div ided .

The number of times the tail is contain ed in the body length is to

in ma les,

to in fema les . Ventra l and subcauda l sca le- cou n ts are equ a lly

useless as an aid to distinguishing the sex .


Re lationship . We imagine tha t the rea sons Bou lenger (1919 , Rev . Zool .

Africa in e,v ii , p . 23) referred Cameroon snakes to semivar iegatu s instead of to

n i tidu s was becau se he con sidered tha t the characters on which these sn akes

were held to be distin ct were n ot specific .

Schmidt (1923 , Bu ll . Am . M us . Nat . Hist .,49

,p . 78) reports on a series of

fifteen n i tidu s from the Congo,which adds considerably to o u r knowledge Of the

sca le ranges in tha t Species . Withou t con su lting a ll the extensive literatu re it

m ay be sa id tha t P . n itidu s has 163—175 ventra ls,125—153 subcauda ls

,1 2

(rarely 1 1) tempora ls ; P . semivar i ega tu s , 149- 207 ventrals

,1 12—159 sub

cauda ls,2 2 (rarely 1 1

,1 2

,or 2 1) tempora ls .

The grea ter sca le range of semivar iegatu s is qu ite probably du e to the fa ct that

mu ch larger series of this more widely distribu ted snake have been exami ned .

The tempora ls seem to be the on ly character which distingui shes the two Species

and we consider it p robable tha t n i tidus is en titled to rank only as a subspecies

of semioar iega tus .

M easu remen ts . Largest ma le mea su res 1 125 (7 17 408) mm . largest fema le

1012 (705 307) mm . Both from Amani .

Correction . Throu gh the cou rtesy of M . Angel the ju n ior au thor was able

to examine the sn akes 1 from Kibwezi , Kenya Colony and Bu ra,Teita

,K . C .

,

iden tified by M . M o cqu ard as Phi lothamnu s n i tidu s Gunther and P . dorsa lis

Bocage,and has no hesitation in referring them both to P . semiva r iega tus . The

specimen referred to dorsa lis has a piece of the an terior temporal sp l it off so tha t

it might be con sidered a s 2 1 o r 1 1 1 ; apart from this it differs from

dorsa lis only in tha t the fronta l is shorter , no t longer , than its distance from the

end of the snou t . Ven trals 190 ; cauda ls 136 tip mi ssing . The Specimen re

ferred to n i tidu s has -the fron tal equ al to,not shorter than

,the parieta ls . Ven

tra ls 196 ; cauda ls 142 tip missing ; temporals 1 2 . If M . M ocqu ard took

the trouble to count the ventra ls there seems no reason why he should have re

ferred thi s snake to anything bu t sem ivar iegatu s .

1 Angel , 1925 , Reptiles et Batraciens, in ‘Voyage de Ch . Alluaud et R . Jeanne l en Afriqu e orienta le(19 1 1 pp . 32- 33 .


PROSYMNA ORNATISSIMA sp . n .

Pla te 2,fig . 2

3 (M . C . Z . 23269—7 1) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns .,4, 6 , 7 . x . 26 .

1 (M C . Z . 23272) Vituri , Ulugu ru Mtns ., 9 . x . 26 .

Type . NO . 2327 1 . M u seum Of Compa ra tive Zoology . Sex 9 . From Nyange ,Uluguru M ounta ins , Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge

,Octo

ber 7th, 1926 .

Pa ra types . NOS . 23269,23270 , 23272 .

Afi n i ties . In a genus whose cha racters are so very va riable it is li ttle more

than specula tion to say tha t it seems nearest to P . ambigu a Bocage . See discus

sion under tha t species .

Diagn osis. Its rema rkable black and scarlet colou ring di stinguishes it from

all other members of the genu s . Its subcauda l range is higher than any other

East African Species .

Description . Rostral very large and broad,with Sharp horizontal edge sepa

ra ted from the praefronta l ; a single internasal and a single praefron ta l ; fronta l

large,more than half the width of the head

,as long as the parietals lorea l wedge

shaped , longer than deep ; 1 prae and 1 or 2 posto cu lars (2 on the right side

Of head,1 on left . In paratyp e 23269 there is no postocula r on the left side as

it has fu sed with the supraocu lar . In all the other para typ es there is 1 post

ocular) ; temporals 1 2 (in No . 23270 the anterior temporal enters the eye be

low the postocu la r on the right Side Of the head) ; six upper labia ls,third and

fourth entering the eye ; on e pa ir of well—developed chin- Shields followed by

three more or less enl arged sca les . Sca les smooth , in 15 rows . Ven tra ls 150 (127

132 in d“ pa ratyp es) ; ana l entire ; subcauda ls 27 (35—40 in o

” pa ra types) .

Co lora tion in life . Above,bla ck

,head scarlet

,except for an arrow- Shaped ex

tension Of the black body- colour ing which reaches to the fronta l,and a vertica l

black streak from the supra labia ls to the eye (in No . 23270 these streaks are

u ni ted by a black band whi ch crosses the praefronta l and the anterior edge Of the

fronta l) ; thirteen transverse , more or less complete , scarlet bands on the body,

four alternating la tero- dorsa l blotches o n ta il (in the para types fou rteen on body

and fou r o n tail) ; these scarlet bands are very irregu lar , often in terrupted o n

the vertebra l lin e o r more o r less broken and a ltern a ting . Below,throa t pink

,the

rest of the undersu rface black except where the la tera l scarlet blotches impinge

o n the ou ter edges of the ventra ls SO as to tinge them with red .


M easu remen ts of Type 9 Pa ra type d'd ” d ‘

Le ngth of head and body Length of head and body . 1 17 , 210, 242 mm .

Length of ta il . Le n gth of ta il 26,54

,55

Diam eter of bo dy . Diame ter 5—8

Breeding. No . 23269 is very youn g , the ven tral scu tes in the um bilical region

being still u nhea led when it was caught o n 4 . x . 26 .

Habitat. I was climbing up the lower slopes of M t . Tongoni when my gun

bearer , who was preceding me , ca lled ou t tha t a sn ake was wr iggling into the

undergrowth o n the edge of the cu ltiva ted plot a t a spot where it was on ly thirty

yards from many a cres of ra in- forest . A woman who was hoeing weeds in the

plot remarked that she had ju st hoed up and ki lled thissnake ; presumably the

first part Of her story was more accurate than the second"The other three ex

amples were found under piles of weeds in simi lar n a tive clearings near the ra in

forest .

[PROSYMNA AMB IGUA Bocage]

Prosymna ambiguus Bocage , 1873 , Jour. Sc . Lisb .

,4,p . 218 . (Duque de Braganca , Ango la . )

Prosymna bocagi i Boul enger , 1897 , Ann . Mag . N . H . (6 ) 19 , p . 278 , fig . (Zo ngo , Ubo ngi Rapids, Congo . )Prosymna vassoi M ocquard , 1906 , Bull . Mus . Paris , p . 250 . (n ear Mo zambique . )?Prosymna transvaa l ensis Hewitt, 19 10, Ann . Trans. M us . 2

,p . 73 . (Tzaneen , Zou tpansberg District ,

Transv a a l . )

In critica lly examin ing the statu s of the species of Prosym na before describing

P . orna tissima, a re

- examination was made of the Lumbo example Of P . ambigu a

recorded,together with two found bottled at M orogoro , by the ju n ior au thor in

The results Of this investiga tion as set forth below force us to the conclu

sion tha t both P . bocagi i Blgr . and possibly P . tran svaa lensis Hew . must be added

to the synonym y of P . ambigu a . Alterna tely it m ay be fou nd that true Angolan

ambigu a have 17 scale- rows onl y,while Sou th and Ea st African agree with the

Con go bocagi i in having 15 ; in this event P . bocagi i will stand .

Lumbo is on the s ea shore abou t three mi les from M ozambique , so tha t the

Lumbo sn ake is a lmost topotyp ic with Mo cqu ard’s P . vassei which Bou lenger

has already placed in the synonym y of his P . bocagi i . In ou r opini on the speci

men before us bridges over the differences between P . bocagi i and P . ambigu a

and a carefu l peru sa l of Hewitt’s remarks,on e paragraph of which we quote be

low , only confirms u s in the View that we are here dea ling with a very variableand wide- ranging species . Fo r conven ien ce of comparison we tabulate the scale

formulae as follows :

1 Lov eridge , 1923, Pro c . Zoo l . Soc . Lond .

,p . 880 .


SCALE FORMULAE OF PROSYMNA TYPES

3rd and 4th 3rd and 4th

No t Borderingbordering eye

eye

Fro nta l

Postocul ars

Pa irs of chinshie lds

Hewitt’s P . transvaa lensis may prove to be a good race based on the two pa irs

of chin - shields and coloration,the la tter approxima ting to the condition met with

in P . me leagr is ofWest Africa . Besides his type from Tzaneen,he had ‘also .

three specimen s fromMedingen , Klein Letaba (Rev . W. Krau se) . The largest Of

these agrees with the type , excepting in that the supraocula r is not fu sed with

the postocu lar on either Side . The two other specimens,both juvenile

,are aber

rant,in that o n e of them has two po sto cu lars and two subocu lars, which la tter

sepa ra te the eye from the upper labia ls , while in the other specimen labia ls two

and thr ee o n the right side , and two , three and four on the left side enter the eye .

Moreover in these youn g specimen s , the rostral is n ot so angular as in the adu lts .’

The last poin t is interesting in view of Bou lenger stating that his P . bocagi i

differs from P . ambigu a‘ in the more prominent

,slightly tu rned up snout .

’ His

P . bocagi i had a total length of 340 mm .

,while the biggest Specimen of P . ambigu a

mentioned in the Ca ta logu e of Snakes was only 225 mm .


o r fou r lower labia ls are in con tact with the anterior chin - shields,which are longer

o r shorter than the posterior in many specimen s (in the type they were‘as long

as the

In those specimens that were ca refu lly sexed in the field,the ven tra l range

in males is 124—128 , in fema les 131—133 ; subcau da l sca le- counts of the two sexes

overlap en tirely . The length of the ta il is conta ined in the body length to

times in ma les,

to times in fema les .

Co lora tion in life . Nyange 9 (No . Above,brown ; each scale edged

with darker ;supra labials yellow ,their upper portion du sky ; a broad black band on

the nape touches the pa rietals and is followed by eight pa irs of very indistin ct

bla ck spots . Below,uniformly yellow except fo r dusky Speck lings on a ll the ou ter

edges of the ventra ls except the free edge .

Young Bagilo 9 (No . Above and below,uniformly black except the

head scales anterior to the eyes , the labia ls and the gu la r sca les , a l l of which are

black with a whi te centre . In the Am ani series some snakes are uni formly bla ck

beneath , others pure white with brown Specklings .

M ea su rements . La rgest (Amani) ma le measu res 332 (275 57) mm . largest

(Nyange) female 370 (313 57) mm . ; the sma llest snake , a fema le taken at

Am ani o n 25 . xi . 26,mea sures 168 (135 33) mm .

Breeding. In the Nyange female were 8 eggs measu ring 6 mm . long on 4 . x . 26 .

Undeveloped eggs in an Amani snake collected 25 . xi . 26 .

Di et. An u ndetermin able frog was in o n e of the Amani snakes .

Pa rasites . Large num bers Of mi tes were found under the ventra l scu tes of

a Vitu ri snake (NO .

Habitat. The Bagilo snake was taken under a branch in a clearing in the rain

forest ; the Nyange sn akes , u nder logs in a clea ring occa sioned by the fa ll Of a

hu ge tree .

GEOD IPSAS PROCTERAE Loveridge

Geodipsas procterae Lov eridge , 1922 , Proc . Zoo l . Soc . London , p . 3 13 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23275) Bagilo , Ul ugu ru M tns . , 28 . ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23277 ) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtns ., 6 . x . 26 .

Distri bu tion . Hitherto only known from two males taken at Bagilo in 1921

and 1922 both the present sn akes are fema les .

Va riation . M id- body sca le- rows 17 . Ventrals 147 . Subcauda ls 34 . Like the

secon d male taken,these females differ from the typ e in having the third , fou rth

and fifth labia ls entering the eye ; the anterior chin- shields are a little longer than

the posterior ; both agree in having 2 prae and 2 postocu lars.


Diagn osis . This species is still readily distinguished from G. vau erocegae by

its single subcauda ls , more numerou s ventrals , lab ia ls and praeocu lars, v iz . :

G. pr octerae . Ventra ls 147—153 . Subcauda ls 34—49 . Labials 8,3rd

,4th, and

5th entering eye (rarely onl y 4th and 5th) . Praeo cu lars 2 .

G. vau erocegae . Ventra ls 124—133 . Subcauda ls 34—48 . Labia ls 7 , 3rd and

4th entering eye . Pra eo cu lar I (rarely

M easu remen ts . The largest (Bagilo ) female measures 505 (450 55) mm .

The tip of the tail is wanting .

Co lorati on in life . In these fema les there is no trace Of the dorsal stripe of

the type . The Bagilo adu lt is uni formly pu rplish iridescen t black above ; below ,

blu ish- white with the exception Of the chin and throa t,whichare pu re white . It

differs from both the ma les in the colour ing of the ventral su rfa ce .

Breeding. The ovidu cts of the Bagilo snake conta ined 13 eggs measuring

18 X 10 mm . on 28 . ix . 26 .

Di et. In the stomach of the Nyange snake was one of the frogs (Hop lophryne

u lugu ru ensis sp . n .) of which severa l were taken in the banana plants aga inst

whose ba se the sn ake was coiled .

Habitat. The Nyange snake,which I person ally cau ght

,was found among

vegetable débris at the ba se of a wild banana (Mu sa u lugu ru ensis Wa rb . o r

ensete Gmel .) growin g in a ravin e n ear the summi t ofMt . Tongoni .

CROTAPHOPELTIS HOTAMBOE IA HOTAMBOEIA (Laurenti)

Coron el la hotamboei a Laurenti , 1768, ‘Syn . p . 85 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23295) Nyange , Ul ugu ru Mtns.,7 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23296 ) D ar es Sa la am ,4 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23297) Mombo at fo ot of Usambara Range , 31 . xn . 26 .

Va riation . These specimens are all norma l ; tha t is to say , they agree in having

a single praeo cu lar in con tact with the fronta l . Sca le- rows 19 . Ventra ls 155—168 .

Cauda ls 40 . The M ombo snake has temporals 1 1 and only the 4th and 5th

labia ls entering the eye in lieu of the 3rd,4th,

and 5th.

Co lora tion . The M ombo snake is strikingly different from any other example

of the species which I have seen . The whole Of the upper head , including upper

l ip , black . Sym phisia l and first three lower labia ls on one Side , first fou r o n leftSide , du sky, rest of the lower labia ls and throa t pu re white ; the black of theupper su rface encroaches o n the ventrals to the same extent that the dorsa l

colour ing does in Na tria: o livaceus,more so in certa in area s where it a lmost ex

elu des the whi te .


Diet. Stomach of the D ar es Sa laam snake revea led the feet of a frog with

la rge disks ; his in testines were fu l l of ant rema ins which may rea sonably be sup

posed to have been l iberated from the frog’s stomach .

Pa rasites . The Nyange female had a cyst upon its liver ; the D ar es Salaam

snake’s stomach held a Single nema tode .

Enem i es . One sunny morning , while wa lking a long the pa th from D ar es

Salaam to M ogogo ni , my a ttention was drawn to a Sharp - snou ted Sn ake (Rham

phi ophis oxyrhyn chu s) engaged in trying to swa llow a White- lipped Snake whose

head and neck were a lready in its mouth . TheWhite- lipped Snake had , however ,

in serted its ta il in to the entrance hole of an ant’s n est which was situa ted at the

ba se of a bush . With the leverage thus Obta in ed it steadily drew itself down the

hole u n til bu t three in ches of its n eck rema ined visible . To rea ch the combatants

I had to crawl in under the bush on hands and knees,a fter which I squatted above

them in my cramped qu a rters,planni ng how to seize the Sharp- snou ted Snake

,

which was well protected by thorny sprays . Thou gh my delibera tion was only

a matter of seconds , the snake disgorged its prey and darted away l ike lightning .

Simu ltaneou sly the White- lipped Sn ake withdrew its head in to the hole . We

hu nted for the Sharp - snou ted Snake bu t fa i led to secu re it amidst the tangle of

brambles and rank gra ss . Retu rning to the an t- hole,I was not su rprised to se e

the White- lipped Snake emerging litera lly covered with ants which were biting

him unm ercifully .

CROTAPHOPELTIS HOTAMBOE IA TORNIERI (Werner)

Leptodi ra torni er i Werner,1876 , Sitzber . Akad . Wien

,116 , p . 1875 .

7 (M . C . Z . 23298—23304) Bagilo , Ulugu ru Mtns . , 23—29 . ix . 26 .

13 (M . C . Z . 23305—17 ) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtn s. , 1—9 . x . 26 .

M . C . Z . 233 18—22) Vitu ri , Uluguru Mtns . , 8—28 . x . 26 .

M . C . Z . 23323 - 34) Am ani , Usambara Mtns. , xi—xii . 26 .

M . C . Z . 23 135 ) Mt . Lu tin di , Usambara Mtns .,10 . xii . 26 .

5

19

1

Va riation . M id - body sca le- rows 17—19 . Thirty- seven of the forty- six snakes

have 17 sca le- rows,one has18

,seven have 19 . Ven tra ls range from 145 to 172 ; the

average in U luguru snakes is con siderably higher than in those from the Usam

ba ra,viz . 163 and 152 nor is this a question Of sex

,fo r the average by sex in the

Ulugu ru is 165 for ma les , 162 for females ; in the Usamba ra 151 fo r ma les , 153fo r fema les . Subcauda ls range from 35 to 56 , the average in ma les being 48 and in

females 45 (Uluguru ma les 50 , fema les 48 ; Usambara ma les 46 , fema les It

may be defini tely a ssumed tha t in this species neither the ventra l no r subcau da l

sca le- counts a re any gu ide to sex . Chin~shie lds range from 3 to 6,with an average


of 3 (n early 4 in Uluguru ) . Thirty - three of the forty- fiv e snakes have 3 praeocu

lars ; six have 2 praeo cu lars on one side and 1 o n the other ; Six have 1 praeo cu lar

o n both sides of the head,bu t in o n e Specimen these are semidivided . Seven teen

snakes agree with the type in having the praeocu lar in contact with the frontal ;

four are in conta ct o n on e side on ly ; twenty- three agree with hotamboeia in not

having them in contact . Thirty- three sn akes have 1 2 tempora ls ; six have

1 1 ; on e has 1 3 ; the rema ining five are irregu lar combina tions w ith 1 2

on o n e side of the head and 1 1 or 1 3 on the other . E ight (very rarely 9)

upper labia ls , ten lower labia ls ; in twenty- six snakes the thi rd,fou rth and fifth

labia ls en ter the eye ; in the rema inder the fou rth and fifth,or fou rth

,fifth and

six th,sometimes on o ne Side only .

Relation s . As torn ier i intergrades with hotamboeia in so many respects,it ap

pears to us desirable to emphasize thi s relationship by making it a subspecies of

the older name,ofWhi ch it forms a good moun tain race cha racterized by 17

(rarely 18 or 19) sca le- rows ; usu a lly, bu t by no mean s a lways, 3 praeocu lars of

whi ch the uppermost may,o r may not , be in contact with the fronta l .

Co lora tion in life . M ales (Bagilo ) . Above , uniformly plumbeou s with ir i

descent Shee n ; in one specimen the head is noticeably olive . Below,menta l and

a pa ir Of lower labials on either side of it , du sky brown ; rest Of chin , throa t and

an terior ven tra ls,whi tish ; in on e individu al the white persists along the centre

of the ven tra ls a lm ost to the anus , the borders of the ventra ls being dusky ; in the

other the du sky borders encroach upon the whi te so as to obli tera te it abou t two

inches behi nd the head,leaving the rest Of the u n dersu rface uni formly plumbeou s

,

as are the u ndersides Of the ta i ls in both snakes . Ey e reddi shbrown with vertica l

black pup i l .

M easu rements . The largest ma le (Bagilo ) measu res 530 (445 85) mm . ;

the la rgest fema le (Vitu ri) 47 1 (437 34) mm . ; the smallest snake , a ma le taken

at Amani on 25 . measu res 203 (170 33) mm .

B reeding. Nine small eggs mea su ring 7 x 4 mm . in a 51 1 mm . fema le taken at

Bagilo o n 29 . ix . 26 . Three eggs measu rin g 26 x 7 mm . in a 390 mm . female at

Nyange on 4 . x . six eggs 16 X 8 mm . at same place on 8 . x . 26 . Four eggs18 x 8 mm . in a fema le at Am ani on 25 . xi . 26 .

Diet. A frog- eater . At Bagilo Ca l lu lina krefiti , Breviceps rugosu s and a green

grub were recovered from stomachs . At Nyange three Arthroleptis sten odactylu s

in one snake , B . ru gosu s in another . At Vituri A . sten odactylu s and L eptopelis

u lugu ru ensis Sp . n . At Am ani Arthro leptis xen odactylu s and C. krefiti . At M t.

Lutindi a C. Icrefiti .


Pa rasites . Nematodes (Ka licepha lu s sp . a nd imma ture Asca rids) are com

m o n ly found in the stomach Of this species and were preserved from all localities .

Cestodes (Ophiotaen ia crotaphope ltis sp . n . ) were a ssocia ted with the former in

a Nyange ma le .

Enemies . A Bird Snake (Theo ltorn is ki rtlandi i ) was discovered with a large

To rn ier’s Sn ake in its mouth . The Bird Snake held o n doggedly

,occa sion al ly

chewing with its poison fangs . The To rn ier’s Snake felt abou t with its tail for

twigs and bran ches on which to ga in a pu rcha se . After eight minu tes spent in

this way the B ird Snake tried to swallow and was then observed to be in diffi

cu lties ; the To rn ier’s Sn ake had hooked its teeth in to the mu cous membrane of

the B ird Snake’s mouth . I therefore separated them . The To rni er ’s Snake tried

to make Off bu t the B ird Snake , which had itself withdrawn ,retu rned swiftly

,

and seizing its victim began tO'

swa llow i t again . The Torn ier’s Snake being a

la rge one , deglu tition was unu sually labou red . It took an hou r,all bu t fou r min

u tes,from the time when I first noticed that this B ird Snake had seized one Of

its companion s in the Vivarium .

Habi tat. The first Specim ens were found at Bagilo beneath a massive piece oftree- tru nk

,which was resting o n a litter Of twigs which ra ised it somewha t from

the groun d . It was the only dry piece of ground which I had seen du ring the day,

for the whole ra in - forest region was sodden after the heavy downpou r of the pre

v iou s day . The log was in a fairly recent clearing occasioned by the fa ll , and sub

sequ ent cutting up , of a giant tree . Six snakes were taken at the spot,which was

typ i ca l of the situ a tion s in which the large Amani series were captu red .

Temperament. When u ncovered these snakes started to wriggle away and

when gently seized made no attempt wha tever to bite ; this a ttitude was typ ica l

Of the whole la rge series,which displayed a gentleness in sharp distinction to

L . h. hotamboeia,which is notorious for its ira scibility .

THELOTORNIS KIRTLAND II (Ha l lowell)

Leptophis ki rtlandi i Ha l lowe l l , 1844, Proc . Acad . Na t . Sci . Phil ad .

,p . 62 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23336 ) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . ,4 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23337 ) Vitur i , Uluguru Mtns . , 27 . x . 26 .

1 1 (M . C . Z . 23338—23348) Am ani,Usambara Mtns.

,xi—xii . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 23349- 23350) M la lo n r . Ambangu la , Usambara M tn s. , xii . 26 .

Lukuku ru (Kikam i) ; sungahun i (Kisumbara ) .

Va riation . Ventrals 154—170 . Subcauda ls 1 13—169 . In ma les the ventra l

count averages Slightly lower than in fema les and the subcauda ls slightly higher ,bu t mu ch overlapping occurs . There is also overlapping in the relation of ta il


length tobody length accordi ng to sexes . In addition to the varia tions recorded

in the Ca ta logu e of Snakes, iii , p . 185,on ly eight specimens have the norma l

four th and fifth labials entering the eye ; fiv e have the third , fourth and fifth ;

whi le two combin e these conditions on the two sides Of their heads . In on e snake

with ni n e lab ia ls o n the left Side of its head , the seven th lab ia l is divi ded intothree sca les thu s : j 1 . A single sn ake has 2 praeo cu lars . All bu t two have

norma l tempora ls,viz .

,1 2 ; the others have 1 3 and 2 2 .

M ea su rements . The la rgest ma le mea sur es 1215 (765 450) mm .

,yet has

the tip of its tail m issing ; the largest fema le 1212 (740 472) mm . Both from

M la lo . An Amani fema le whose ta il has been chopped Off measu res 50 mm .

longer in the body than even the fine M la lo rep tile .

Breeding. A Nyange female held fiv e eggs mea su ring 15 x 5 mm . on 4 . x . 26 .

Diet. AS a lready rela ted the B ird Sn ake will eat other snakes when in cap

tiv ity . The Nyange fema le,being temporarily p laced in a Vivarium conta ining

other sn akes,was observed to be swa llowing a Natr ix o livaceou s abou t 10 AM .

the following day . On chloroforming the B ird Sn ake the same evening,I found

the head a lready digested from the body Of the Na trix and also tha t a Chlorophis

n eglectu s had been taken a day or two before . Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia torn i eri

was a lso eaten by this Species .Parasites . A fragment Of a cestode (Ophi otaen ia Sp) was found in a Nyange

snake .

D ISPHOLIDUS TYPUS (Smith)Bucephalu s typus Smith, 1829 , Zool . Jo ur . , 4 , p . 441 .

1 (M . C . Z . 2335 1) Bu lwa , Usambara Mtns. ,23 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23352) Am ani,Usambara Mtns. ,

xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23353) Kizara , Usambara Mtns .,9 . xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23354) Bumbul i , Usambara Mtns . , 16 . xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23355) Sakkaran i , Usambara Mtns .

,18 . xu . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23356) Lu sho to , Usambara Mtns .

,19 . xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23357) M la lo n ear Ambangu la , Usambara Mtns. , xii . 26 .

A ha lf- grown Specim en was a lso co llected a t M la lo nr . Hohenfriedeberg an d tak en to London a l iv e .

All the abov e are adult.

Ngate in Kikam i and Kisumbara ; in Kikam i , howev er, this nam e is a lso applied to Chlorophis neglectus.

Var ia tion . M id- body scale- rows the latter on the Lu shoto snake only .

Ven tra ls 173—191 . Subcauda ls 1 14—130 . Supra labia ls 7 , third and fourth en ter

ing the eye . Tempora ls 1 2 . Praeo cu lars 1 and po sto cu lars 3 , except in No .

23351 where on the right side they are 2 3 , o n the left 1 4,a most unu su a l

variation .

By sexes , the ventra ls in ma les 173—175 , in fema les 183—191 ; subcauda ls in

males 124—130,in fema les 1 14—124

,bu t three are omi tted on accoun t Of the


tips of their tails being mi ssing . Schmidt’s Congo series (1923 , Bu ll . AmhMus.

Na t. Hist .,xl ix

,pp . 1 14—1 16) Show tha t the lower number of ventrals in males is

a guide to sex thou gh they overlap in the region of 183—186 ; subcauda ls are use

less as a gu ide to sex .

Coloration . All are bright livid green o r grey- green,excep t the Amani snake ,

which is reddish, and the wholly black M lalo specimen .

M easu remen ts . Largest male mea sur es 1652 (1200 452) mm . la rgest

fema le 1775 (1320 455,tip of ta i l m issing) . Possibly both of these are records .

Breeding. Eggs mea suring 43 x 17 mm . were found in the M la lo snake ob

ta in ed by my collector dur ing the last few days of December .

Diet. The Bulwa snake had bird’s eggs in its stoma ch ; the Lu shoto Boom

slang had recently swa llowed a Two - horned Chameleon (Chamaeleo fischer i

mu lti tubercu latu s) .

Temperament. I was told tha t these snakes are very comm on in the garden s

of Lu shoto . My attention was drawn to one in a ta ll privet- like hedge su rrou nd

ing the hotel . I gently took the reptile by the ta il and so held it as it quietly

stra ined to be free,u ntil my wife fetched my snake stick . It made no attemp t to

bite when pu lled ou t of the tree and pinned down .

CALAMELAPS UN ICOLOR (Reinhardt)

Ca lama ri a u n i co lor Reinhardt, 1843 , Danshe Vidensk . Sa lsk,Afh.

, 10 , p . 236 , PI. I , figs . 1—3 .

Ca lam elaps po lylepis Bocage , 1873 , Jorn . Sc. Lisb .,4,p . 216 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23358) Nyange , Uluguru M tns .,1 1 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 23359—6 2) Amani , Usam bara M tns.,22 . xi~ xii . 26 .

Va ria tion . M id- body scale- rows 17 Ventrals 164—171 . Subcaudals 24—27 .

Except that they have fewer ventra ls than West African examples, the present

series of five males conforms to the description Of C. un ico lor as given in the Cata

logu e of Snakes , iii , p . 245 .

Re lation ships . We have ca refu lly compared the specimen of C. polylepis from

Lum bo , M ozambique ,1 with the present series and find that it is identica l with

them in a l l respects except in having 19 scale- rows . Bou lenger2 states of C.

po lylepis tha t it is‘in every respect l ike C. un ico lor except tha t the scales are

in 2 1 rows . ’ Tornier 3 has recorded specimen s with 17 , 19 and 21 rows from the

Tanga-Usambara region,and elsewhere the junior author ‘1 has reported on a

1 Lov eri dge , 1923 , Pro c . Zo o l . Soc . Lond .

,p . 889 .

2 Boul enger , 1896 , Cat . Sn . Brit . Mus , 3 , p . 246 .

1 To rnier , 1901 , Zoo l . Jahrb . 14,p . 85 .

Lo v eridge , 1923, Proc . Zobl . So c . Lo nd . , p . 889 .


The ventra ls range from 141 to 163 . Subcauda ls 32—45 .

In 16 males the ventrals range from 141 to 151 . Subcauda ls 35—45 .

In 33 females the ventrals range from 146 to 163 . Subcauda ls 32—42 .

Colora tion in life . 6 1 Bagilo . Above , head and neck (for seven sea le- rows

behind pa rieta ls) iridescen t black , followed by a narrow band (two sca le- rows

wide) of yellow , rest of the body olive- brown,each sca le edged a l l round with

black ; a yellow spot on the first,fourth

,fifth and sixth upper labia ls . Below

,

bright yellow , Slightly da rker on tail .

9 Amani . Above , head and neck black , more o r less sepa rated by a narrow

yellow colla r,rest of upper su rfa ce bright green with a reticula tion of fine black

lines caused by each scale having bla ck edges . Below,chin white

,throa t yellow

ish,rest of under su rfa ce very bright yellow . Before slou ghing uniformly grey

above and dirty white below . 27 . xi . 26 .

M easu rements. La rgest male measures 333 (305 28,tip missing) mm . ;

largest fema le 354 (295 59) mm . Both Aman i .

Breeding. Seventeen fema les examined at Amani in November had large,well

developed,very elongated eggs . Seven had two eggs ; eight had three ; and two had

fou r . Those wi th two eggs were usu a l ly rather small snakes,but the largest eggs ,

measur ing 39 x 6 mm . on 25 . xi . were in one of these . Appa rently fema les

are more numerous than ma les if one can judge on a basis of 49 snakes ofwhich

only 16 were ma les .

Diet. A Vitu r i and three Amani snakes had each eaten a centipede .

En emies . A Werner’s B lack—headed Snake was recovered from the stomach

of a Ca lame laps u n ico lor .

Habitat. Taken beneath logs,bark and stones

,both withi n and withou t the

ra in- forest . Some were unearthed by hoeing up grass and weeds o n the ou tsk irts

of the forest . In fact its habitat is almost identica l with that of the North Ameri

can R ing- necked Snakes (Diadophis spp . ) which it so closely resembles in colou r,

mark ings and size .

APARALLACTUS ULUGURUENSIS sp . n .

3 (M . C . Z . 23363—6 5) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns . ,1—6 . x . 26 .

7 (M . C . Z . 23366—70) Amani , Usambara Mtns. , xi—xii . 26 .

Type . No . 23363 . Mu seum of Comparative Zoology . Sex d'. From Nyange ,Uluguru M ounta ins, Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge

,Octo

ber 1st, 1926 .

Pa ra types . Nos . 23364,23365, 23366

—70 and two duplicates .


Afi n iti es . Both by its size and colou r this wou ld appear to be a southerly

representa tive Of A . conco lor though stru ctu rally far more like A . gu en theri Blgr .

,

of which it is certa inl y no close rela tive .

Diagnosis . Differs from conco lor in tha t the visible porti on of the rostra l is on ly

a thi rd i ts distance from the fron ta l,the n a sa l being in conta ct with the pra eo cu lar ,

the second supra labia l separated from the praefronta l , sym phisia l in contact with

anterior chin - Shi elds , and on ly three lower labia ls in con tact wi th an terior chin

shields .

It differs from gu en ther i in those characters which are empha sized above by

ita lics,also in the u ndivided (ra rely divided) n asal

,the anterior chin- shields

being mu ch longer than the posterior,and in the entirely different colou ring , habit

and size .

Description . Diameter of eye grea ter than its distan ce from the ora l margin .

Rostral b roader than deep , the portion visible from above equa l to one- third its

distan ce from the fron ta l ; internasa ls shorter than the praefronta ls ; frontal

once and a half as long as broad , mu ch longer than its distance from the end Of

the snout,a little shorter than the parietals ; n asa l en tire (rarely divided) , in

conta ct with the praeo cu lar ; o ne postocu lar ; tempora ls 1 1 ; seven upper

labia ls,third and four th entering the eye , fifth in contact with the parietal ; sym

phisia l in con tact with the anterior chin- Shields,which are longer than the po s

ter io r and in conta ct with three lower labials (in twoOf the para types the division

Of an an terior lower labia l on the right side only has taken place so tha t on this

side there are fou r lower lab ia ls in conta ct with the anterior chin- Shield) . Sca les in

15 rows . Ven trals 144 (137—159) anal en tire ; subcaudals 5 1 (45

Co loration . Plumbeou s o r iridescent black above ; paler beneath, particul arly

on throat and under su rface Of ta il,whi ch are a lmost white .

M easu remen ts of Type Pa ra types

Tota l length The largest paratype m a lemeasures 400 mm .

Length of head and body (320+ 80)Length of ta il . Largest fema leDiameter at m id—body . (325 76)

Diet. Six centipedes of two species (Alipes grandidier i and another which is

p reserved) were recovered from their stomachs . In on e Nyange snake , besides

two cen tipedes there was a sna il .


ELAP ID AE

ELAPSOIDEA GUENTHERI Bocage

Ela psoi dea gu entheri Bocage , 1866 , Jorn . Sci . Lisbo a , 1 , p . 70 , Pl . I , fig . 3 .

Elapsoidea n igra Gun ther, 1888 , Ann . Mag . Nat . Hist . (6 ) 1 , p . 322 (Ushambo la ,Zan zibar) .

5 (M . C . Z . 2341 1—5 ) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns. , 1—1 1 . x . 26 .

39 (M . C . Z . 234 17—54) Am ani , Usambara M tns.

, xi—xii . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 23455—7) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns.

,16 . xii . 26 .

Va riation . M id- body sca le- rows 13 . Ventra ls 153—162 . Ana l Single . Sub

cauda ls 13—23 . Certa in specimen s Show here and there one o r more of the paired

subcauda ls fu sed into a single shield . Praeo cu lar 1 . Po sto cu lars 2,except in NO .

23413 where there is only a single shield . Tempora ls 1 2,except in Nos . 23424 ,

23427 , and 23435 , whi ch have an extra sma ll sca le between the anterior temporal

and the lower postocu la r on both sides . In NO . 2344 1 this is the case on the

right side only . Usu a lly 4 lower labia ls in contact with the anterior chin - Shields ;only eight specimens in the series have 3 lower labia ls in conta ct and then u sua lly

on on e side only . There is absolu tely n othing in the key- character based on the

compara tive length Of the intern asa ls and praefro nta ls to sepa ra te E . n igra from

E . gu en ther i ; in the presen t series the in ternasa ls range from less than half to

seven - eighths the length of the praefro nta ls.

Co loration in life . Above,highly poli shed iridescent bla ck , with o r withou t

transverse white bars . In some apparently en tirely black adu lts the reptile will ,

on being distu rbed , inflate its lungs and thereby suddenl y bring into p romin ence

the hitherto con cea led white ba rs . Below,u sually un iformly iridescent- black ,

pa ler , o r even white , upon the throat ; ve ry ra rely there a re a few white pa tches in

the middle of the ventra ls .

Young spec imens Show a series of broad black bands (these a re ju st a l ittleblacker than the ground colour) na rrowly edged with white on both sides . E . gu en

theri , as kn own to the juni or author at Na irob i , is banded with pink and black o r

red and bla ck in l ife,and it is difficu lt to believe tha t it is the same species as the

series before u s, yet colou r seems to be the on ly grou nd o n which the two reptiles

can be distingu ished . The Species is Obviously extremely variab le in coloration .

Fu rthermore,there is in the collection Of the Amani In stitute a snake co l

lected at Amani,20 . v . 1907

,which appea red to me to be Of the red- banded type

,

thou gh I m ay be mistaken . In 19 10 Nieden lists E . gu en ther i as occu rring a t

Am ani,though whether his specimen s were iden tica l with what have heretofore

been ca l led E . n igra it i s impossible to say .


M easu rements . La rgest male measu res 544 (507 37) mm . ; la rgest fema le

569 (530 39) mm . Smallest sn ake,a ma le taken 22 . xi . measur es 264

(245 19) mm . Al l from Am ani .

Habita t. Fou nd in clea ring land o r amongst heaps of rubbish withi n ‘

o r with

ou t the ra in - forest . I encountered severa l moving a long the paths in the ra in

forest between noon and 3 P .M .

Temperament. By no mean s a viciou s sn ake ; if gently handled it makes no

a ttempt to bite . Wholly black specimen s with their sma ll heads,scarcely larger

than the body,are sufficiently l ik e an A tractaspis viper in life so tha t they are no t

to be readi ly di stinguished .

B reeding. A Nyange fema le o n '

l . x . 26 had two enormously elongated eggs

40 x 10 mm . in the ovidu cts . Fou r Amani sn akes exami ned on 29 30 . xi . 26 had

2, 3 , 4 and 4 eggs respectively, the largest of which measur ed only 27 x 10 mm .

The two Bumbu li females taken 16 . xii . 26 . held 4 and 5 eggs ; those of the latter

series measu red 37 X 12 mm .

Di et. At Amani thi s species seems to subsist largely on the caecilian Bou len

geru la bou lenger i as the following records show . Snake taken at 8 AM . on 20 . xi .

26 . had a perfect undi gested caecili an in its stomach . An other taken at 3 P.M . the

same day held one with on ly the head digested,the Skull being ni cely cleaned .

On 22nd another snake had the head and forepart of a caecilian in its stomach .

On 30th three caecilian s were recovered from the stomachs of two snakes,one

having swa llowed two .

Parasites . A mass of tapeworms (Ophiotaen ia e lapsoi deae Sp . n . and Ophio

taen ia nea r 0 . monn igi ) in the stomach of a Nyange snake exam ined 1 . x . 26

and in another taken 1 1 . x . 26 ; also abundant in an Am ani snake collected

23 . xi . 26 . Nematodes (Ka licepha lus sp .) and cysts in stoma ch of an Amani snake

on 25 . xi . and nematodes in another taken 29 . xi . 26 .

M ites under ven tra ls of Am ani snake No . 23445 .

VIPERID AE

CAUSUS D EFI L IPPII (Jan)

Heterodon defili ppii Jan ,1862 , Ar ch . Zool . An a t. Phys . 2, p . 225 .

2 (M . C . Z . 23458—9) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . , 1 1 . x . 26 .

Kinangana nga in Kik ami , a specific n ame.

Va riation . Except that one of these females has 2 2 temporals , in lieu of

2 3,these specim ens are normal . M id- body sca le- rows 17 . Ventra ls 1 18—120.

Subcauda ls 19 .


B ITIS ARIETANS (M errem)

Vi pera (Echidna ) a ri eta ns Merrem ,1820,

‘Tent . Syst . Am phib .

’ p . 152 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23463) D a r es Sa laam , 8 . xi . 26 .

Known to both Wakami and Wasum bara as m oma,a name the la tter a lso

app ly to the Gaboon Viper .

It is in teresting to note that this species , so common in the savann ah country

of Africa , and even on the lower Slopes of the Ulugu ru M tn s . at M orogoro , issa id by the Wakami n ot to occu r in the mounta ins .

B ITIS GABONICA (D uméril et Bibro n )

Echidna ya bon ico . D um éril et Bibron ,1854,

‘Erpét . 7 , p . 1428

,Pl . LXXX

,fig . b .

3 (M . C . Z . 23460- 1) Am ani,Usambara Mtns . , xi .

—xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 2346 2) Kise ru i, Usambara M tns .

, 8 . xn . 26 .

M oma in Kisumbar a,no t Specific as a lso app l ied to the Puff Adder.

Distribu tion . This Species does n o t occu r in the Ulugu ru M tns . The loca lchief atKizeru i assured me tha t Bitis a r ietans is a lso to be found near his village .

As I was there on ly for o ne rather ra iny day I was unable to verify this but it

wou ld be in teresting to know if the two species occu r in the same habitat . At

Amani the Puff Adder is found a thou sand feet lower down in the Sigi country .

Va riation . M id- body scale- rows 28—44 . Ana l single . Subcauda ls 20—33 .

Labials 13—15 , al l of which are well within the recognized limi ts Of va ria tion for

this species .

M easu remen ts . When freshly killed the la rgest Of these four females measu red

49 in ches o r 1 160 (1083 77) mm .

,which is very little u nder the maximum re

corded by Bou lenger .

Diet. This la rge female had a Bya tt’s Squirrel (Aethiosciu rus bya tti ) in its

stomach ; another Aman i sn ake , a rat (Rattu s The Kizeru i reptile had a lso

eaten a rat (L ophu romys aqu i lu s aqu i lu s) .

Parasites . A cestode (Ophiota en ia gabon ica (Bedda rd) ) was taken from the

stomach of the large Aman i viper .

ATHER IS CERATOPHORUS Werner

Atheri s cera tophor us Werner,1895 , Verb . Zoo l . - bot. Ges . W ien ,

45,p . 194, P1. V , fig . 1 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23464) Ama n i,Usambara Mtns . , xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 23465) Kiz erui , Usambara M tns., 8 . xii . 26 .

Va ria tion . Both ma les ; the type was a female . Rostra l a little more than

twice (not two and a ha lf times) as long as b road ; 8—9 (10—1 1 in type) sca les


across the interorb ita l region ; 3—5 (3 in type) enla rged horn- like supracili a ry

sca les . In the Kiz eru i snake there are only 9 upper labia ls and only 3 lower

lab ials in contact with ea ch chin - shield . Both have 21 (not 25 as in typ e) sca le

rows . Ventra ls 144—152 (142 in typ e) . Subcauda ls 41 and 56 (Type

Co lora tion . While the Kiserui reptile agrees with the type in its ma rk ings

and da rk Olive colou r , the Am an i snake is withou t the ma rki ngs and is a pa ler ,

more yellowish,green .

M ea su remen ts . La rgest ma le (Kiz eru i) measu res 422 (342 80) mm .

Diet. An a rborea l frog,appa ren tly Hyperolius sp .

, was recovered from the

stomach of the Kiz eru i snake .

Habitat. The natives informed-

me tha t these sn akes a re fou nd in gra ss o r

low bu shes at a height Of three or fou r feet from the ground . A Eu ropean told me ,

to my su rprise , tha t he had Often seen horned Cerastes (sic) vipers in the grassy

pla in s of the Kondoa - Irangi district . This lies within the known range of the

Species bu t is an unl ikely hab ita t,if correct .

ATRACTA SPIS ROSTRATA Gu n ther

Atra ctaspis rostrata Gun ther, 1868 , Ann . Mag . Nat . (4) 1 , p . 429 , Pl . XIX,fig . 1 .

3 (M . C . Z . 23466—8) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtns.

,1 1 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 234669 ) Mkara z i , Uluguru Mtns . ,22 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 234670) D ar es Sa laam , 4 . xi .- 26 .

Va ria tion . M id - body sca le - rows 21—23 (one Nyange snake and the M kara z i

specimen have 21 , the others 23 rows) . Ven tra ls 235—276 (the previous recog

ni zed range was 227 Subcauda ls 21—26 . In every other deta i l they agree

precisely with the description .

Co lora tion . Three distin ct types Of colora tion a re represen ted . The tongu e

is white . 1 ) Uni formly iridescen t black above and below (Nyange) . (2) Opaqu eo r Slaty grey abov ep lighter below . Thi s snake is presumably abou t to slough

(Nyange) . (3) Brown above, pu re white below (D ar es Salaam) .

M easu remen ts . Largest ma le mea su res 581 (542 39) mm . ; la rgest fema le

mea su res 559 (525 34) mm . Both from Nyange .

Di et. The la st -men tioned snake had in its stomach a blind snake (Typhlopsbram inus) , the head and forepa rts Of which were in good condition ,

the rest

digested .

Habita t. I found theM ka ra z i snake a t 9 A .M . benea th a very la rge fla t bou lder

in a field Of stubble ; the D a r es Sa la am reptile a t 1 1 A .M . under a p ile of leaves

and sweepings in the Botanica l G a rden s in the centre Of the town .


Venom . A smal l boy,abou t eight yea rs of age , was bitten on the finger by

the sma llest snake,which was only 323 mm . long . When I a rrived at the pla ce

two days a fterwa rds,he had a very swollen han d and wrist but it subsided on the

third day . The only treatment he received w as a bread pou ltice which I applied

o n the eveni ng of the second day to ease his mind as mu ch as anything .

GEKKON ID AE

PARAGONATOD ES AFR ICANUS (Werner)

Gymnodactylu s africa nu s Werner, 1895 , Verb . Zo o l . bot . Ces . Wien ,46 , p . 190 , PI. V .

1 (M . C . Z . 2401 1 ) Vitu ri , Ul uguru Mtns . ,27 . x . 26 .

13 (M . C . Z . 240 12—21) Am an i,Usambara M tns . ,

20—29 . xi . 26 .

C . Z . 24022) Kiz erui , Usambara Mtns ., 8 . xii . 26 .

C . ZZ. 24023 - 5) M t . Lu tin di , Usambara Mtns . ,10 . xii . 26 .

O ZZ. 24O2G—7 ) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtn s . ,15 . xi i . 26 .

1 . C . ZZ. 24O2S) Phi l lipshof, Usambara M tns . , 21 . xii . 26 .

(M . C . Z . 24029—30) Kwa i , Usam bara Mtn s . ,24 . xii . 26 .

(M .

(M .

(M .

(1\

1

3

2

Eggs2

Va ria tion . These agree with the type very closely ; occasion ally there are 8

o r 9 supra labials (6—7 in typ e series) ; the three chin- shields bordering the menta l

behind appea r to be a constant feature . Thr ee of the five males have 10 praeana l

pores,the fourth 11 , the fifth (Vitur i) 13 .

Relationship . We are indebted to D r . G . K . Noble for making a compa rison

of one Of the above topotypic Specimens with the genotype of his new genu s

Paragonatodes. He writes :

I find that'

the species is un doubtedly referable to Paragonatodes. A number of

sma ll differen ces appear . Thus I find rudiments of a second epibranchia l presen t . The

pelv is, hyoid , shou lder girdle, and other structu res come within the limits of Para

gonatodes .

Co lora tion in life . Amani female . Above,blacki sh with greyish- green mark

ings a cha in of these down the ba ck are rather like a series of ornamental A’s ; in

some individua ls these coalesce to form a pa le- fawn vertebra l line with pa ired

stripes at right angles to it,formed from the feet of the A . In specimens taken on

green tree- trunk s the green in creases and brighten s to olive . Labials dusky with

pa le- yellow spots , many in con spicu ou s yellow specks on sides Of head , neck and

l imbs . Below , throa t white with three du sky A - Shaped markings dimini shing in

size towa rds the cen tre ; brea st , belly, and u nderside of limbs yellowish- green or

yellowish-whi te , undersu rface of tail bright reddi sh- orange .

In males the gula r s haped markings appear to be a more constant fea tu re ;

a series of them , one within the other , follows the outli ne of the lower j aw .


has been cleared away and acres planted with eu ca lyptus . A Pa ragonatodes

crossed the path as I was wa lking through o ne Of these extensive planta tions,and

when I stooped to in tercep t it , the gecko sprang o r leaped to the trunk of one

Of the trees and made good its escape .

HEM IDA CTYLUS MABOU IA (M oreau de Jo nnés)Pla te 4

,figs . 2 4 .

Gecko mabou ia Moreau de Jonnés , 1818 , Bul l . So c . Phi lom . Paris, p . 138 .

1 (M . C . Z . 2403 1) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns . ,15 . ix . 26 .

l (M . C . Z . 24032) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns .

,1 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24033) Bagamoyo , 1 1 . xi . 26 .

1 (MM . C . Z . 24034) Tanga , 15 . xi . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 24035- 7 ) Am ani,Usambara Mtns .

,25 . xi . 26 .

Eggs (M . C . ZZ . 24OSS) Am an i,Usambara Mtns .

,26 . xi . 26 .

1 .(M C . Z . 24039) Son i , Usambara Mtns . ,18 . xii . 26

Also seen,o r captured as sn ake fo od

,a t Ny ingwa (near foo t of moun ta in ) , Mkangaz i, Vitur i, D ar es

Sa laam , Muhe za , Kerogwe , Kizeru i, Mt. Lu tindi (at v ery foot ofmounta in ) .Kimbu lubu lu in Kik am i , chungu la in Kisumbara , mjusi kafir i in Kiswahil i .

Breeding. Pa ired eggs were fou nd in the bark Of a coconu t pa lm a t D a r es

Sa laam on 4 . x . 26 . they con ta in ed well- developed embryos . A fema le was Shot

from beside a pair Of eggs stu ck to a cliff- fa ce at Aman i,26 . xi . 26 . These eggs

measured 13 nmu. in diameter

Diet. Big sp ider in stoma ch Of a Bag ilo female . A cockroa ch was disgorged

by a gecko cau ght at Vitu ri .

Pa rasi tes . Nematodes o f the family Physalopteridae were taken in a Baga

moyo Specimen .

Habita t. Nearly all these geckos were taken o n the trunks of la rge , u sually

hollow,trees . At Am an i , where they are not as plen tifu l as one wou ld expect ,

they a lso occu r in the hou ses .

Fo lklore . The Wakami say tha t if this li za rd’s faeces fa l l upon on e

’s clothes,

the Sta in will not come ou t .

En em ies . Salimu reported having seen a M ou n ta in Kestrel (Fa lco tinnun cu lu s

ca r lo) drop down from the a ir and p ick a li za rd off a rock . I sen t him to shoot the

b ird and from its crop we recovered the rema ins Of a Hemidactylu s ma bou ia .

HEM IDACTYLUS PERSIM IL IS Sp . n .

Pla te 4,figs . 1 3 .

Hemida ctylu s mabou ia (part) Lov eridge , 1923 , Proc . ZoOl . Soc . Lond . , p . 936 , Mba la record ; p . 937 ,

paragraphs 1 and 7 on ly .

1 (M . C . Z . 24040) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns . ,14. ix . 26 .

Eggs and 14 (M . C . Z . 24041—9) D ar es Sa laam ,9 . xi . 26 .

Type . No . 24041 Museum o f Compa ra tive Zoology . Sex or . D a r es Salaam ,

Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge,November 9th, 1926 .


Pa ratypes . Rest of the series mentioned above and those enumerated below .

Afi n ities . Almost indistinguishable from imma tu re specimen s ofHem ida cty

lu s mabou ia .

Diagn osis . D iffers from H . mabou i a in having 5—6 lamellae under the median

digit in stead of 7—9 . When fu lly grown and breeding it measu res on ly 103 mm . ,

while H . mabou ia atta in s to 188 mm . The egg of this species measu res 8 to

8 .5 mm . in diameter,that of H . mabou ia from 12 to 13 mm . (An earlier record

by the jun ior au thor gives 10 to 12 mm . bu t the Specim ens are n o t availab le for

checking and iden tifying the 10 mm . Specimens . )

Descripti on . Cha ra cters as in H . mabou ia with a tendency to have fewer

scales everywhere . Thu s supra labia ls 10 (in mabou ia 10 infra labia ls 8—9 (in

ma bou i a 9 praeanal pores 9—15 on either Side (in mabou ia 15 lamellae

under median digits 5—6 (in mabou ia 7 Specimen s with regenera ted tails

often have a transversely en larged medi an series of sca les . The tubercles are

more numerou s than in East African specimen s of H . ma bou ia but not more so

than in certain West Indian examples whi ch we have exami n ed ; these tubercles

also appear to be more Sharply coni ca l but this character aga in breaks down whena large series is examin ed . One gecko (M . C . Z . NO . 1327) from Port au Prin ce ,Ha iti

,has only Six subdigita l lamellae under the median digit .

Co lora ti on . As in H . mabou ia and va rying with the environmen t .

M easu rements of Type or Pa ratypesLength of hea d and body 47 mm The largest ma le (Bagilo ) measur es 104 mm .

Length of ta il regenerated 40 (53 51)Length of hin d l imb 9

Width of head 9

Width of bo dy 9

Distri bu tion . Occu rs a long the Ea st African coast fromMomba sa to M o zam

bique and in Tanganyika Territory in land to Kilosa,which is a lso zoologica lly

in the coa stal belt . Its distribu tion will probably be found to coin cide with that

Of the coconu t pa lm‘

and,like Phe lsuma

,it will doubtless have been in trodu ced to

the islands Off the coast by dhows which are tha tched with pa lm fronds . The

u ndermention ed Specimen s in the collection of the M u seum of Compara tive

ZoOlogy have been examin ed and are named as pa ratypes . The whole series of

H . mabou ia from Africa,the West Indi es , Centra l and Sou th America have a lso

been examin ed bu t, with the one exception cited , they agree in having 7 or more

lamellae under the median digit,u su a lly six pa irs and o ne Single termi na l lamella .

2 eg gs (M . C . Z . 18431 ) Morogoro , Tanganyik a Territory , 1 1 . iv . 18 .

7 (M . C . Z . 185 15—7 ) Kilosa , Tanganyik a Territory , 1921 - 23 .

2 (M . C . Z . 18524- 5) Mba la , Tangany ik a Territory , 26 . ii . 23 .

4 (M . C . Z . 22978—81) Morogoro , Tanganyik a Territory ,19 16 - 19 17 .

4 (M . C . Z . 22982—5 ) Lumbo , Portuguese East Africa , v ii—v iii. 18.

1 (M . C . Z . 22986) Frere Town ,Kenya Co lony , 31 . xi . 22.


Hemidactylu s mabou ia a lso occu rs in all the above-mentioned localities and

in n o way affects the ju nior au thor’s previou s records except in the ca se ofM bala

cited above .

Breeding. About two - score eggs were collected among rotting pa lm- leaves

and piles ofpa lm- tha tching near n ative villages on the ou tskirts of D ar es Salaam .

It was the fa ct tha t there were no adu ltH . mabou ia to be found among these leaves

tha t caused me to wonder if the abundan t ‘half- grown H . mabou ia’ haunting

these p iles had not some connection with the eggs . After ca tching a dozen of

them it was discovered that they were n ot ha lf-

grown bu t fu l ly adult specim ens ,

eggs being clearly visible throu gh the semi - tran sparent abdom in al wa lls of the

fema les . These eggs agreed in size with those found among the palm - fronds but

differed con siderably from those fou nd in houses or in fissu res in the bark of big

trees .

Diet. A Tineid moth in the stomach Of the Bagilo gecko .

Ha bitat. Besides the comm onest habitat already mentioned,at Bagilo I saw

ten of these geckos baski ng in the company of three Striped Sk inks a long a crack

in the face of a wall of rock . They were at a height of twelve feet from the

ground and a l l were black as the cliff itself,which was covered with some da rk

lichen .

HEM IDACTYLUS TROPID OLEPIS M o cqu ard

Hemida ctylus tropido lepi s Mo cquard , 1888, M em . Cent . Soc . Phil om . , p . 1 13 .

2 (M . C . Z . 26649—50) Near Ki lindini , Kenya Co lony , 3 . v . 26 .

Re la tion s . The materia l consists of a very young and an adu lt fema le of the

same body length as M o cqu ard’s male type . The adu lt was submi tted to M r .

H . W . Pa rker for the favou r Of compa ring it with typ es Of rela ted Species in the

British Mu seum . He writes"I have compared this specimen with the types of variou s spp . as follows ;

it differs from

(a ) iso lepis in the sma ller dorsa l scales which are somewhat keeled and in the

presen ce of sca ttered enlarged tubercles o n the occipu t .

(b) hom oeo lepis in the la rger dorsa ls , keels on the dorsa ls and the larger sca les

on the snout .

(c) Bunocnemis modestu s in the Slightly keeled and striated dorsa ls which areunequa l in Size .

‘Bou lenger writing of isolepis says H . trop ido lepis M o cqu ard appears

to approach Bun ocn emis modestu s bu t di ffers in the keeled dorsa l

scales . ” Your specim en seems to agree very well with M o cquard’s description .

’


Nieden 1 has uni ted H . squ amu latus Torni er Of Tanganyika Territory with

H . tropidolep is which was described from Soma liland .

Var iation . Three,in stead Of two

,pa irs Of chin- Shields

,the third pa ir very

sma ll . The keeled sca les on the back are apparen tly less numerous than in the

typ e .

M easu remen ts . 9 tota l length 70 (37 33) mm . Young,40 (23 17) mm .

Di et. Six termites and a gra sshopper’s leg were recovered from the stomachs

of these specimens .

Habi ta t. Taken on a creeper- covered tree- stum p in the middle of a native

clearing . The stump was the cen tre Of a rank growth Of weeds which had to be

cleared away before the geckos cou ld be captu red .

LYGOD ACTYLUS FISCHER I Bou lenger

Lygodactylus fischer i Bou lenger , 1890 , Proc . Zo o l . Soc . London,p . 80 , Pl . VIII , f . 1 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24063) Vitu ri , Ulugu ru Mtns .

, 30 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24064) M t . Bomo li , Am ani,Usambara Mtns . 2 . xii . 26 .

8 and eggs (M . C . Z . 24065—73) Phil l ipshof, Western Usambara Mtns . 21 - 23 . xii . 26 .

9 (M . C . Z . 24074—8) Kwai , Western Usambara Mtns. 24 . xii . 26 .

Relations. M u ller 2 after examining a series of Cameroon specimens of L .

fischer i Blgr , a Species described from Sierra Leone, found their range Of variationincluded L . con radti

,which M atschie described from Derema

,Usambara

,in 1892 .

Nieden 3agrees with this and a dds L . fischer i schefiler i , which w as described by

Sternfeld from Kibwezi,Kenya Colony

,to the synonymy . The examp les from

Mbunyi , Kenya Colony, and Bagilo , Ulugu ru M ou n ta ins , referred to schefiter i

by the juni or au thor 4 mu st be considered fischer i if the Ea st African ra ce is in

valid . None Of the Specimens taken Outside the Usambara range approa ch thesize of those captu red in these mou nta ins . If the types Of schefiter i were fu ll

grown (24 and 27 mm . snou t to vent) they were mu ch sma ller than the mounta in

geckos,which a tta in 42 mm . cf” , and 39 mm . 9 snou t to ven t mea suremen ts at

Phillipshof.

Variati on . The following variation s Of the Usambara series a re compa red

with’

the type of L . con radii and the resu lts fa ll within the range of va ria tion of

West Coast fischer i .

1 Nieden , 19 13 , Mitt . Zo o l . Mus . , Berlin , 7 , p . 66 .

1 Mu l ler, 19 10 , Konig Bayr. Ak ad . Wiss . Mun ich,24

,p . 558 .

1 Nieden ,19 15 , M itt . Zoo l . Mus . Berlin , 7 , pp . 67—68 .

‘1 Lo v eridge , 1920, Proc . Zo ‘

o’

l . Soc . London , p . 136 , and 1923 , Proc . Zoo l . Soc . London,p . 940 .


Supra labia ls 5—8 (fou r Sides with 5 , seven with 6 , twen ty- three with 7 , three

with 8 ; type was described with sublabia ls 5—7 (two Sides with 5 , twen ty- fiv e

with 6,nine with 7 ; typ e had three specimen s have the n ostril between 3

(instead of 2) sca les and the rostra l and first labia l . To rnier has sta ted tha t the

ma le has 7 praeana l pores ; this is the case with only two of the males in the present

series,the remaining eight having 8 pores . The dou ble row of tran sversely enlarged

subcauda ls is not a lways well defin ed ; on reprodu ced ta ils the sca ling is very

irregular ; in o ne specimen there are narrow tran sversely dila ted pla tes bu t u sually

the u nder su rface is covered with scales of variou s Sizes withou t definite arrangement . The ta il of this gecko is large and swollen

,differing in this respect , as well

as in the readiness with which it is dropped,from those of other members Of the

genus . The reprodu ced ha lf of the tail of the Vitu r i gecko has very irregu larly

enlarged plates,bu t the maj ority are Single

,not pa ired as in the intact basal

portion .

Co lora tion . The Usambara adu lts are practica lly the same as described by

M atschie : those collected on banana plan ts at Phil lipshof are yellowish - grey ,

those u nder logs and rocks at Kwai are b la ckish- grey . The males are bright yel

low o r orange benea th I omitted to take down exact color notes at the time) ,

probably like the you ng Bom o li gecko of which I n oted tha t it had the under Side

Of the stoma ch and hind limbs bright yellow,and the u nder su rface of the tail

orange . Some adu lts have a very few sca ttered spots beneath . Two of the Kwa i

fema les have a broad,dark- edged

,fawn stripe from the posterior border of the

eye to the ta il,where it merges with the stripe from the opposite flank ; in this

they agree with the Bom o li young one . Newly emerged geckos are Spotted on

throat and flanks exactly like the specimen from Vitu ri above they a re uniformly

dark plumbeou s .

The coloration Of the Vitu ri gecko agrees,in its spotted u nder su rface , with the

specimen recorded from Bagilo by the ju n ior au thor . They show n o yellow or

orange below ,nor did the M bu nyi example s mentioned above .

M ea su remen ts . The largest ma le measu res 80 (39 51) mm .,another with

reprodu ced ta il mea su res 42 mm . from snou t to vent ; the la rgest fema le 87

39 48) mm . This is therefore 37 mm . longer than the typ e of conradti , which

was presumably a fema le . It will be seen tha t in the ma tter Of Size this Lygodactylus stands a lon e among Ea st African members of the genu s . On ha tching ,a youn g gecko mea su res 28 (15 13) mm .

The Vitu ri ma le measu res 59 (34 25) mm .,bu t its tail is regenera ted .

Breeding. An egg,measu ring 7 X 5 mm .

,was found benea th a log on Bom o li ,

20 . xi . 26 . At Phillipshof I was wa lking up the road in the even ing Of 21 . xii . 26 .


when I noticed abou t half- a - dozen pa irs of eggs lying on the bare soil of the some

wha t broken- away bank at the side of the road . I specu lated as to whether these

had been la id in trees above and fa llen ,yet n on e were broken and none were to

be seen excep t at the on e restricted spot . Then I examined the roots , exposed

by recent ra in,of a la rge tuft o f gra ss on the edge of the bank ; here to my a ston

ishm en t I un ea rthed forty- fiv e pa irs of eggs,making a total Of fifty - one clu tches .

They were all apparen tly fresh and recently la id ; how came fifty - one lizards to this

spot to lay ? Though I searched the vicinity , no geckos were to be fou nd ;dou btless

they were con cealed in hollow tree- trunks . The nearest were collected on banana

plants two miles away'

Diet. Ants , and a beetle,cockroach

,and Spider were discern ib le among the

stomach contents of the three geckos examined .

Pa rasites . Red a ca rine para sites are of frequ en t occu rren ce in the ana l region

and about the praeanal pores .

Habita t. I cau ght the eight Phillipshof geckos among the ba sa l stalks of the

leaves Of wild ban an a s growing on an open hillside . They displayed great agility

in springing from lea f to leaf . The Kwai series was taken by my native collector‘

u nder logs and rocks a t the edge of the forest . ’ The Vituri gecko was taken o n

a tree- stump at the forest edge .

LYGO D ACTYLUS GROTE I Sternfeld

Lygoda ctylus gro tei Stern fe ld , 19 1 1 , Sitzbe r . Ges . Naturi . Freunde Berl in ,p . 245 .

Eggs (M . C . Z . 24056 ) Mka ra z i , Uluguru Mtns . ,23 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24055) Vituri , Ulugu ru Mtns ., 30 . x . 26 .

10 and eggs (M . C . Z . 24057—60) D a r es Sa la am ,9 . xi . 26 .

Eggs (M . C . Z . 2406 1) Tanga , 15 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24062) Bumbu l i , Usambara Mtns. ,14 . xii . 26 .

Coloration . There is no mention of the following points in the original de

scription . The throa ts of both the Dar es Sa laam males are more or less dark ,with a light - Shaped or fl - shaped ma rkin g in the cen tre . A light vertebral lin e

is frequ ently , bu t by no means a lways , present .

M easu remen ts . The la rgest ma le mea su res 108 (54 54) mm . ; the la rgest

fema le 65 (34 31) mm .

Breedingr Two eggs were found in side the ou ter dried lea f Of a banana stem ,

two more ben eath a la rge stone in the same ‘field’; tha t the secon d pa ir are the

eggs of L . grotei is only by inference , as the Situ a tion seems improbab le fo r L . p .

pi ctu ratu s . They con ta ined embryos on the poin t of ha tching .

A series Of eggs collected at D a r es Sala am on 9 . xi . 26 were taken among

piles of coconu t pa lm fronds adj acen t to ban ana p lants on which the adu lts were


collected . One or two pa irs of eggs were also fou nd among the withered ou terleaves of the bananas .

Fou r pairs Of eggs were taken at Tanga on 15 . xi . 26 . Some of these measu red

7 x mm . and are thu s Slightly la rger than those of L . p . pictu ra tus hitherto

recorded . One pair ha tched out the sam e day they were collected ; the emerginggeckos measu red 12) mm .

Diet. I observed on e gecko sta lk , and Spring upon , a cockroa ch which was on

the main stem of a Shrub occupied by the li zard .

Habitat. Besides the Dar es Sa laam geckos , the Vitu ri specimen was also taken

on a ban ana stem . The Bum bu li fema le was basking in the rays of the setting

sun low down on the stem of a Shrub in the M ission grounds . It m ay be remarked

tha t both places were well away from the forest and at no grea t altitude .

LYGOD ACTYLUS PICTURATUS PICTURATUS (Peters)Hem ida ctylu s pi ctu ra tus Peters, 1870, Monatsber . Ak ad . W iss . Berlin

,p . 455 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24050) Nyan ge , Ul ugu ru , Mtns . 1 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 2405 1) near M kara z i , Ul uguru Mtn s .,23 . x . 26 .

6 (M . C . Z . 24052) D ar es Sa laam,4 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24053) Bagamoyo , 1 1 . xi . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24054) Tanga , 15 . xi . 26 .

Varia tion . The fema le from Mkaraz i has 7 supra labia ls o n both sides ;

hitherto 5—6 has been the usual number .

M ea su remen ts . The Nyange ma le far su rpa sses in Size any other example of

this Species which we have seen ; his big head reminds on e of Old males ofAgama

a tr ico llis or Lacerta ocel lata . He measu res 78 (41 37) mm .

Enemies . One was captured and swa llowed by a Green Snake (Chlorophis

n eglectu s) at Dar es Sa laam .

PHELSUMA LATICAUD A (Boettger)

Pachyda ctylus lati cauda Boettger, 1880, Zoo l . An z . 3, p . 280.

1 (M . C . Z . 24079 ) D ar es Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

5 (M . C . Z . 24080—4 ) Bagamoyo , 1 1 . xi . 26 .

Va riation . These differ from the origina l description in the following points .

Diameter of eye con ta in ed thrice in length from snout , taken from anterior border

of the eye ; the rostra l has a slight median cleft , nostril pierced between the first

labia l and three sca les (in on e specimen 2 scales) , occa siona lly the rostra l appears

to border it also ; 8—1 1 upper labia ls 8- 10 lower labia ls ; 7—10 chin- Shields (in one

lizard an apical chin ~shie ld is formed by division from the rostral) 1—3 scales

sepa rate the supranasals ; 9—15 femora l pores o n ea ch side . Torn ier 1 and the

x TOrnier , 1900, Zoo l . Jahrb . Syst. , p . 588


Type . N0 . 24189 . Museum of Comparative Zoology . Sex 3 . From rocks

in a na tive shamba on e m i le below Bagilo o n the Bagilo -Nyange pa th, Ulugu ru

M ountain s,Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge September 24th,

1926 .

Pa ratypes . Thirty- nine Specimen s as listed above .

Afi n i ties . SO closely rela ted to typica l A . mossambica tha t it can apparen tly

be separa ted only o n size and colou r . All sca le - coun ts appea r to overlap .

Diagnosis .

The to ta l length of Peters’ma le type of m ossambi ca . 330 mm .

Av erage of three topotypes (M . C . Z . 1 308) tho ugh ha lf- ta il of o ne is m issin g 300

Length of Tumv i Spec im en (M . C . Z . 24128) l isted abo v e 300

Length of largest m a le mon tana , the type from Bagilo 264

Av erage of the e ighteen largest ma les from U lugu ru and Usambara . 245

Average of thirty - n ine adu lts from Uluguru and Usambara . 229

It will thu s be seen tha t adu lts of the two forms may readily be distingui shed

by the following key :

Tota l length of adu lt ov er 300 mm . M . m . mossambi ca

To ta l length of adu lt under 280 mm . M . m . mon tana

The typica l form inhabits the coa stal belt up to feet and the mountain

race from to it is probable that intermediates will be found between

these a ltitu des . In appea rance those a tM uheza,the lowest altitude at which any

were seen,looked like mon tan a ; u nfortun ately non e were collected .

Two examples from Kilosa (M . C . Z . 18273 , 18564) mention ed in an ea rlier

paper are referable to the moun tain form .

Va ria tion . Praeana l pores in eighteen males range from 8 to 12 .

Co loration of Type a . Above,Olive- brown

,most of top and sides Of head pa le

blu e ; an indi stinct band of brick- red across throat from Side to Side ofneck,where

it is con sp icu ous ; an irregular in width , bu t continu ous , blu e vertebral stripe

broadens con siderably on the base of the tail bu t is repla ced by brown half- way

a long the ta il ; traces of some greeni sh- blu e o n the upper arm and thighs,other

wise limbs brown . Below,anterior portion of throat rich ultramarine blu e

,grad

u al ly darken ing to form a blackish pa tch reaching to gu la r band ; rest Of under

parts,in cluding lim bs and ta il

,creamy-white

,a Slight pinkish tinge on the breast

between the fore arms .

Co lora tion of Pa ra types . The appearance in li fe was so very va ried and hand

some that n otes were made of a l l five adu lt Bagilo agamas taken on the same

day .

6 1 . Above,as in type

,but the blu e much less distinct and showing many

black sca les scattered on the head,ba ck and ta il ; the gu lar band of type inter

rupted below ,leaving two large splashes of brick- red

,on e o n each side of the


n eck . Below ,j aws bright b lu e , the throa t between them pinki sh ; the black pa tch

of type is represen ted by a sma ller pa le- green pa tch ; chest to abdomen Showsmore pink than in typ e otherwise they are Simi lar .

(a ) 9 . Above,main ly golden brown ; snout , canthu s , supraocu lar region and

a round eyes are bla ck ; a band of green ish- b lu e a cross top of head in fron t of

eyes ; the whole of the back pa rt and sides of head , in clu ding upper and lower

labia ls,greeni sh- b lue . Below

,throa t whitish washed with blu e

,Of which there

is a sma ll pa tch in front of collar ; beneath chest , belly , limbs and ta il , dirty

white .

(b) 9 Above , blu e o n head bu t n ot so bright as in ‘

a’

; no red on back,its

place being taken by pa le yellowish- brown . Ben ea th throat,slatey grey sparsely

flecked with whi te .

(0) 9 . Above and below,identical with ‘

a’ excepting the throa t

,whi ch is

whi te,handsomely vermi cu la ted with dark blue and with a dark blue pa tch pos

terio r ly .

Three Vitur i fema les when brought in were brown but on being chloroformed

tu rned red,with blu e heads .

M easu remen ts of Type .

Length of head and body 96 mm . Breadth of head 18 mm .

Length of ta il 168 Hin d lim b . 58

Length of head 25 Longest (4th) toe 25

M easu remen ts . The largest male (Bagilo type) measu res 264 (96 168) mm .

the la rgest fema le (Am ani ) 274 (93 181) mm . Average tota l length of eighteen

adu lt ma les is 245 mm . ; average tota l length of twen ty- on e females is 212 mm .

The smallest specim en , taken at Amani o n 29 . xi . mea su res 76 (30 46) mm .

Breeding. As I ran round a rock,hop ing to su rprise some Of these Shy agamas ,

I su ddenly came upon a red- backed fema le with her back a rched in a most

peculia r manner . Approaching her was a ma le (type in above colour description) .

She promptly di sappea red on ca tching Sight Of me and I shot the ma le,having

li ttle doubt that I had broken in upon a cou rtship scen e . Bagilo , 24 . ix . 26 .

The female ‘a’ held 8 eggs conta ining traces of embryos ; these measured

15 x 9 mm . In‘0’were 6 rou nd developing eggs mea su ring 8 mm . in diameter .

NO developing ov a at a ll in ‘b.

’24 . ix . 26 .

Three fema les brou ght in at Vitur i on 27 . x . 26 held 8 , 8 , and 10 eggs respec

tiv ely ; two lots were mu ch enl arged , nea rly ready for laying ; the other lo t was

on ly ha lf developed .

Diet. The stomachs of a l l fiv e Bagilo agama s were crammed with ants ; in

addition two indi vidu a ls had each eaten a grasshopper . M any Of the Amani

li zards were exam in ed and all seen had fed o n an ts .


Pa rasi tes . Red aca rin e pa rasites (Tromb idid ) insert themselves beneath the

ventra l sca les,giv ing the la tter an eruptive appea rance ; they were present on

specim en s from n early a l l localities . Nema todes (Physa loptera aman iensis sp . n . )

were taken from the stoma ch of an Aman i agama . A grub- l ike creatu re was

found in the in testines of a Bagilo liza rd .

Habita t. At Bagilo these agamas frequ ent rocks of moderate size which are

sca ttered abou t the n ative ga rdens , and waste lands thickly overgrown with gra ss

and bu shes . If distu rbed when basking , they a lmost inva riably ru n to the fa rther

Side Of the rock and down among the matted vegeta tion at its ba se . This habita t

is Shared byM abuya va ria which seemed to occu r in abou t the ratio of three Skinks

to on e agama .

Two ma les from Nyange were shot a couple of miles from camp among the

rocks fringing the stream in the va l ley bottom ; on e was apparently drinking at

the wa ter’s edge when distu rbed . The species is scarce at Nyange .

An adu lt ma le w as Slio t at Tawa while bask ing,a t a height Of fou r feet from

the ground,o n the vertical tru nk of a Javan silk- cotton tree . All the Specimens

obta ined in the Usambaras , except one from Lutindi , were found o n tree- trunk s

ou tside the ra in - forest .

A fema le at Lu tindi was found benea th a log where She had qu ite possibly re

tired to lay her eggs .

AGAM A COLONORUM USAM BAR AE sub . sp . n .

Pla te 2,fig . 1

14 (M . C . Z . 24 129—39) Soni , ne ar Lushoto , Usam bara Mtns.

,18 . xi . 26 and 31 . xii . 26 .

Kako lwe in Kisumba ra .

Type . NO . 24129 . M u seum Of Compa rative Zoology . Adu lt 6 1 taken o n rocks

at Son i , close to the Ha lf-way Hou se on the M ombo- Lu shoto Road,Western

Usambara M ou ntains,Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge

,NO

v ember 18th,1926 .

Pa ratypes . NOS . 24130 to 24139 . Six ma les,six fema les and a young o ne all

from the same locality . 31 . xii . 26 . Also three ma les,two females and three

young from Mnazi,n orthern Side of Usamba ra M oun ta in s . (Field Mu seum of

Na tu ra l History NOS . 12280

Afi n ities . These agamas have been compa red with thirty- two West African

co lon or um from Senega l,Liberia

,Cameroon

,Gaboon and Congo

,from a l l o f

which they consisten tly differ in the


(1) Mu ch broader head of old Usamba ra ma les .

(2) M ore depressed body, thou gh not SO depressed as in lion otus .

(3) M edi an l ine of the ba ck smoother, hav ing less of a keel than in typica l

co lon orum .

(4) Dorsa l sca les only very slightly mu cron ate , not termin a ting in such long

spines as they do in co lon orum .

(5) Crimson- lake co lou ring of the heads of ma les as aga inst the brick- red Of

Liberian specimen s as figur ed by Sir Harry Johnston in Liberia,Vo l . II

,coloured

pla te facing page 814 . See a lso Discussion below .

Discu ssion . Schmi dt 1 has pointed ou t tha t Lower Congo colonorum have a

higher number of can thal and supraciliary scales than those from the West Coast .

West Coast 6—8 . Lower Congo 7—9 . An examin a tion of the largest series in the

Mu seum of Compa ra tive ZoOlogy ,viz .

,1 1 Liberian

,14 Cameroon and 14 Usam

ba ra,resu lts in an individua l ran ge fo r each of 6—9

,with an individua l average Of

7 ; the Field Museum Specimens range from 9 to 10,with an average Sl ightly

above 9,so that this character is Of no assistance .

Schmi dt adds tha t the average number of mi d- body scale- rows also seem

somewha t higher in Lower Congo co lon orum than in forest specimens : 64 versu s

70,with 68 in Sudanese specimens . It is to be noted tha t the hi ghest number

of scale - rows are on fema les on the West Coast,on males in Usambara, SO the

proportion Of these in a series m ay resul t in a higher average . After arrang

ing the Museum of Comparative ZoOlogy ma teria l geographicall y from West to

East,on e gets the following resul t :

3 Sen ega l co lono r um range : 58—6 4 with av erage of 60 .

1 1 Liberian 60—64 62 .

14 Cam eroon 72—84 75 .

2 Gaboon 6 1—64 62 .

1 Congo 65 65 .

3 Blue Nil e 72- 84 76 .

22 Usam bara 70—80 75 .

(The last l ine includes Field Museum material ; without , it was

He also refers to Stejneger , whose eastern co lon orum has fewer spin es in the

nu chal crest (10—1 1 versu s 12 a poin t not borne out by Schmi dt’s Congo

series of 134 examples

Av erage of 8 adu lt Liberian specim ens is 12 (range 1 1Av erage of 10 adul t Cam eroon specimen s is 15 (range 8Av erage of 10 adul t Usambara specim ens is 1 1 (range 10Av erage of 8 Fie ld Muse um Usambara specim en s is 13 (range 7

whi ch lends bu t slight support to Stejn eger’s suggestion .

1 Schmidt, 19 19 , Bul l . Am . Mu s . Nat . Hist.,39 , Art . 11 , p . 473 .


A Single Angolan specimen has 22 . This individu a l has dorsa l sca les much

like the Usambara agama s and its ven tra l sca les are smooth like those Of ou r

Congo specimen and the Usamba ra series . On the other hand Senega l,Liberian

,

Cameroon (young excepted) and Gaboon co lonorum have fa intly keeled ven trals ,of which there is not the slightest trace in the Usamba ra series .

Three Specimen s collected by Dr . John C . Phillips at Rhino Camp agree

with co lon orum in not being depressed,bu t with Usamba ra specimens in having

smooth belly sca les and the keeling and spinosity of the dorsa ls .

It might be poin ted out tha t the chara cter of the rela tive length of the longest

sp in es in the region Of the ear as compared with the diameter of the tympanum

is of little u se as so much va ria tion occurs ; Similarly the elonga te sca le o n themiddle of the snou t is but little help . Seven of the Usambara specimen s have 1 ,nin e have 2 , and two have 3 su ch elonga ted sca les .

Descripti on . Longest spines about ear a re less than half the diameter of the

tympanum in type bu t range from to 3 mm . in length in the pa ra type series ,

while the diameter of the tym panum ranges from to 6 mm . in the same series

and is 4 mm . in the type . M id- body scale- rows in typ e are 70 bu t range up to 80

in the nine pa ra typ e males , with an average of 76 . (In the eight fema le pa ratypes

the range is also 70 to 80,with an average of There are 12 femora l pores in

the type bu t the whole series shows a range from 10 to 14,with an average Of

12 . Dorsa l sca le—rows decrease in size from vertebra l line , where they are irregu lar in size

,to the sides

,where they change abruptly to very large

,mu cronate

,

bu t keelless ven tra ls tha t lose their spin es and decrea se in size towa rds the median

lin e of the belly .

Co lora tion of Type Above,crimson- lake on head

,Slightly orange on nape ;

back,inclu ding fore and hind limbs

,brilliant u ltramarine except a long the verte

bra l lin e,where it is pa le b luish-white ; some light spots on ba ck (in some fully

adult specimen s these are lacking) ; basa l portion of ta i l bright u ltrama rin e,there

a fter banded white and u ltrama rine,the la tter da rken ing towa rds the tip ,

where

the bands are a lm ost brown . Below ,bright crimson - lake on chin and throat

,with

four more or less - shaped,dark - grey lin es following the ou tline of the lower jaw

(in old specimen s these lines m ay be indistinct) ; breast , in cluding under Side of

fore limbs to wrist and from gula r fold to an imaginary stra ight line between the

axi lla,u ltrama rin e ; rest of u nder su rface , including soles of fore feet bu t excluding

base of ta il white (in on e pa ra typ e the colou rin g of breast and belly is reversed ,

the former being white and the la tter u ltrama rin e ; in adults the whole Of the

under su rface,except for a median praeana l pa tch o n the belly , is bright u ltra


marin e ; the praean a l region ,soles of fore and hind feet

,u nder side of thighs and

ta il in these indi vidu a ls is buff) ; ba se of ta i l blu ish .

Co loration of 9 . Above, pa le coppery- brown o n head and body

,lim bs and ta il

grey ; pa le - green spots edged with black o n head and n eck ; well- defined tran s

verse bars Of sepia on back and ta i l,and spots of the same colou r on limbs ; a con

spicu ou s band of brick—red , more o r less edged with black , above fore limb and

extending ha lf an inch a long the side ; a Simi lar bu t not qu ite su ch a long band

o n flank in fron t of hind limb . Below,throat creamy with three du sky bands fol

lowing its ou tlin e and some rather indistinct Spots o r blotches in the cen tre ; rest

of u nder - su rface , in clu ding limbs , pu re white .

M easu remen ts . Typ e or . Snou t to ven t 1 15 mm . Ta il 193 mm .

The n ine para typ e ma les range from 1 10 to 135 mm . in length from snou t to

vent and from 175 to 220 mm . in length of u n in ju red ta ils . The greatest tota l

length from snou t to tip of ta i l is 350 (130 220) mm .

The eight para type fema les range from 79 to 105 mm . in length from snou t to

ven t and from 135 to 175 mm . in length of unin ju red ta ils . The greatest tota l

length from snou t to tip of tail is 280 (105 175) mm .

A young agama taken on 2 1 . xii . 36 mea su res 91 (36 55) mm .

Breeding. Four of the six (M . C . Z . ) fema les held la rge , well- developed eggs .

Size of 9 (head to v en t) 105 mm . No of eggs 6 , measuring 19 X 1 1 mm .

104 7' 20 X 13

94 7 22 X 1392 6 20 X 13

They were a ll taken o n 31 . xii . 26,ra ther indicating a definite breeding sea son .

Diet. Unfortun ately the n ative collector removed the stomachs Of those he

procu red . The first pa ir obta ined by myself held a grea t many ants’heads , severa l

beetle elytra and a single gra sshopper . I was u nable to distingu ish a ny vegetable

ma tter .

[AGAMA ATRICOLL IS Smi th]

Agama atr i co l li s Sm ith, 1849 , ‘Illu s . Zool . S . 3,Append ix , p . 14 .

M on sieu r F . Angel in a recen t paper (1925 ,‘Voyage de Ch. Allu aud e t R .

Je ann e l en Afriqu e Orienta le [191 1 p . records seven agamas from

Kisumu,Kenya Colony

,as A . cyan oga ster Ruppe ll , a species usua lly rega rded

as ranging throu gh Arab ia and Abyssini a . The junior au thor , having previou sly

collected A . a tr ico l lis at Kisumu ,was anx iou s to examin e these specimen s , which

was possib le through the cou rtesy Of M on sieurAngel .

Bou lenge r’s1 key cha racter of

Nostril pierced on the canthus rostra lisNo str il pierced below the canthus ro stra lis

1 Bou lenger , 1885,‘Cat. Liz . Brit . p . 337 .


breaks down in pra ctice and it was this tha t probably led M o cqu a rd , who made

the identifications,a stray . A juveni le example of cyanogaster from Harar , Abys

sini a,in the Museum of Comparative Zoblogy (No . has the nostril p laced

in precisely the same position as a ll ou r series of atr ico l lis from va riou s Ea st

African loca lities .

Some a tr ico llis specimens collected at Lake Tanganyika by M r . Nutt (B .

'

M .

NO .

—13) were examined by the junior author when at the British

Museum in Febru ary . These have the nostril pierced below the canthu s,i .e .

,in

the same sca le and precisely the same position as in typ ica l Abyssinian cyano

gaster . The nostril in atr ico llis is round , while in adu lt cyanogaster it is more often

pea r- shaped,the apex pointing backwa rds or upwards .

The range of cyan oga ster as given by Angel (undoubtedly based o n M o c

qu ard’s identifica tions , the a lleged M ozamb ique example being in the Pa ris

Museum) , as extending to Kenya Colony andM ozambiqu e , can hardly be correct .

VARANID AE

VARANUS NILOTICUS (Linnaeus)

Lacerta n i lotica Linnaeu s, 1766 , Syst . Nat . , ed . 12 , p . 369 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24140) Mogogon i Swamp ne ar D ar es Sa laam , 9 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24141) S igi near Am an i, Usam bara Mtn s. ,

29 . xi . 26 .

Nhengi (Kikam i) ; kengi (Kiswahi li ) ; mbu lu (Kisumba ra ) .

M easu remen ts . The fema le from Sigi mea su red 4 feet in ches (600—850 mm . )

in length .

Breeding. She held forty- three eggs,ea ch measuring 50 x 35 mm . (approxi

mately 2 X 1 % inches) .

Diet. In her stomach were two large sca rabs and a crab ; the half- grown ma le

had also eaten a crab .

Pa rasites . The ma le was infected with numerou s nematodes (Tanqu a tia ra )

and a cestode (D u thiersia fimbria ta ) the fema le had no visib le interna l pa rasites bu t carried many ticks (Apon omma exorn atum ) .

Distribu tion . This monitor li za rd occurs in the Ulugur u Mounta ins as high

as feet (Bagilo) , bu t is no t comm on there , as none were seen anywhere ;

they are plentifu l at M orogoro at the foot Of the range .


SC INC ID AE

M ABUYA COMORENSIS (Peters)

Euprepes comorensi s Pe ters, 1854, Mona tsber . Akad . W iss . Berlin ,p . 6 19 .

M abu ia comorensis v ar . infra l inea ta Boettger, 19 13 , in Vo e ltzkow,

‘

Re ise in Ostafrica

(Europa Id . , Mo zambiqu e . )

2 (M . C . Z . 24147—8 ) Bagllo , Uluguru Mtns .

,20—23 . ix . 26 .

.1 (M . C . Z . 24149 ) Mkara z i , Uluguru Mtns .

,22 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24150) D ar es Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

25 (M . C . Z . 2415 1—70) Am ani,Usambara Mtns .

,xi . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 2417 1—3) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns .

,14 . X11 . 26 .

Ghond a in Kisum bara .

Va riation . Sca le- rows 34—38 ; these were carefu lly checked and recounted .

The supranasa ls m ay ,o r may no t

,be in contact behind the rostral

,in exactly

equa l proportion s ; the anterior loreal is u su ally in contact with the first labial

thou gh it very Often is no t ; the praefro nta ls also m ay ,o r m ay not , be in contact .

The species has a pretty wide range of variation,as will be seen from the descrip

tion in the ‘Ca ta logue of Liza rds in the British Mu seum .

’

Boettger , when describing his colou r varian t infra linea ta , states tha t he found

n o structu ra l difference between it and typ ica l comorensis . Its cla im to recog

n ition lies in a series of fine bla ck lines (formed by a speck on ea ch scale) from

snout to , and on , the base of the tail . In ou r series such lines are absent or pres

ent only o n throat and ta i l . It is , perhaps , a ma tter of persona l opin ion Whether

insu la r colou r va riants shou ld receive recognition .

Co lo ration . Bagilo 9 . Above,nu t- brown spa ringly speckled with cream ,

sides

darker brown with indica tions of a bla ck band separa ting sides from ba ck , sides

a lso freckled with cream ; rim arou nd eye l ight yellow ; throat greyish-white with

brown speckling sha rply divided from the under side of neck and body to anus ,

a l l Of which is clea r bright yellow .

Mkara z i d '. Almost identica l with that Of the brillian tly colou red Frere Town

Specimen described in Proc . 20 61. So c . Lond .,1923 , p . 956

,bu t in this presen t

Specimen the cream- coloured subocu la r stripe is broken up in to spots and there is

no blu e o n the throa t,which is Shiny whi te . Testes large .

M easu remen ts . Largest ma le measu red 237 (91 146) mm .,bu t one with a

reprodu ced ta i l had a head and body length of 98 mm . ; this pa tria rcha l individua l

measured 20 mm . a cross its head and 25 mm . across mid- body with age the head

develops ou t of proportion to the body . The largest fema le mea su red 258 (98

160) mm . bu t was mu ch more Slender than the ma le . Both were from Aman i .


B reeding. E leven eggs mea su ring 14 x 8 mm . in Bagilo 9 taken on 20 . ix .

undeveloped in an other fema le killed three days la ter at same place . Nine,

eleven and twelve eggs in three fema les collected a t Amani on 24 . xi . 26 .

Di et. La rge cricket in Bagilo Sk ink . Large locu st and a large praying mantis

and a mollu sk in the M kara z i specimen . Cockroach in D ar es Sa laam reptile .

Five Aman i Skinks examined had grasshoppers and beetles in their stomachs ; in

addition one had a ca terpillar .

Pa rasi tes . Red aca rin e parasites in ea rs Of Bagilo Skink . Nema tode in stomach

of an Am ani specim en taken 25 . xi . 26 .

En emies . On e recovered from the stoma ch of a snake (Lycophidion capense)

at Amani .

Distribu tion . The Comoro Id . Ski nk is appa rently no exception to the gen

era l ru le tha t most scarce creatu res are genera lly common in some locali ty . Its

ma inland records have been very few,for on ly single specimens are u su ally met

with , bu t at Amani it is a tolerably comm on reptile .

Ha bitat. On e Bagilo Specimen was shot while ba sking on the edge of a fissu re

in the face of a cliff ; it had for company many Hemidactylus persim i lis . The

M karaz i ma le was basking on a tree stump in the dry forest nea r the M v u a

R iver . The Dar es Sa laam fema le was ben ea th a pile of coconu t hu sks close to

the incinerator on the sea - front n ea r the golf course . AtMuheza on e was seen on

the tru nk of a rubber- tree in a plan ta tion . The rain - forest is appa rently the idea l

habita t,for a t Am ani it was comm on in the forest between 8 and 12 A .M . These

Skink s emerge from the fringe of swept- up leaves which border each path , to

ba sk in the sunshi ne,bu t so qu ick a re they in their movements tha t few bu t

n a tu ra lists wou ld see them ; a ru stle of the leaves is u su a lly the on ly Sign of theirpresence . At other times

,and indeed at a ll hou rs Of the day ,

they m ay be ap

prehended ben eath , o r within ,the fa llen tree- trunks tha t are sca ttered abou t the

a rboretum . Fa irly often they are seen on the trunks of growing trees bu t not SOfrequ en tly as o n the banks flankin g the pa ths . A pa ir were seen on tree- trunks

a t M t . Lutindi .

M ABUYA MACUL ILABR IS (Gray)

Euprepi s ma cu li la bris Gray ,1845 , Ca t . Lizards , p . 1 14 . (West Africa . )

Mabuia bou lenger i Stern fe ld , 19 1 1 , Sitz . Ges. Naturf.,Berlin ,

p . 248 . (Mako nde Highlands, S . E . Tang .

Terr. )M abuia macu li labri s ma jor Stern fe ld , 19 12 , W iss . Ergeb . Deu tsch Zen t . Afrika Exp . 1907—08 , 4, 2 , p . 232 .

(Cen tra l African Lake Region . )Mabu ia maculi la br is kim

’

djwi ensis Ste rn fe ld , 19 12 , Le . p . 233 . (Kwidjwi Is . , Lake Kivu . )Mabu ia macu li la br is wa -

uensi s Stern fe ld,19 12 , p . 233 . (Wau Is . ,

Lake Kivu . )


Mubu ia ma c uli labri s schu botz i Stern fe ld , 19 12 , l .c . p . 233 . P1. VI , fig . 3 . (Fort Ben i and Kassenje , Be lgian Congo . )

Ma bu ia ma cu li la bri s grau er i Stern fe ld , 19 12, l .c . p . 234 . P1. VI , fig . 4 . (Congo be lt . )M a bu ia mac uli la bri s rohrbecki Stern fe ld . 19 12 , l .o . , p . 234 . (Nguru Mtns . , and Langenberg in East Cen

tra l and So u th Western , T . T . )M abu i a al botae -

nia ta Bo ettger, 19 13 , in Vo e ltzkow ,Re ise in Osta frika , 3 , p , 350 . (Pemba Id . )

1 (M . C . Z . 24174) Vituri , Ul uguru Mtns .

,30 . x . 26 .

M a teria l . In addition to the above we have u sed for the pu rposes o f this in

v estigatio n forty- two examples from fifteen loca lities ranging from 850 Thome

Id . Off the West Coa st to Pemba Id . Off the Ea st Coa st , in cluding a series from

the Central African Lake region j u st brought back by Dr . Joseph Bequ aert .

Va ria tion . Schm idt 1 has a lready referred M . m . major and M . m . berger i

Sternfeld (D ufile , Sudan) to the synonymy of M . macu li labr is,and a ca refu l

peru sal of Sternfe ld’s description s , which a re brief and ba sed a lmost entirely o n

colou r varia tion s,forces us to the conclusion tha t in the presen t state of ou r

knowledge they are no t en titled to recogni tion .

M . bou lenger i is stated by its describer to be‘very n ea r macu li labr is

’ from

which it differs principally in the high number of keels on the sca les (7—9 with

here and there 10 o r the sma ller number o f supraciliar ies (4 , the type Of

macu li labr is had the greater body length (toes of the adpressed hind limb

sca rcely touching fingers Of the fore limb) , and the colou ring .

Boettger has proposed to differentiate Pemba Id . specimens o n the basis of

4 supraciliaries and the presence of a distin ct light latera l line . The latera l line

can be ma tched by a Specimen taken on board ship nea r Lu longa ,Belgian Congo

No . except fo r the Pemba examples this is the only o ne of our

long series in which it occu rs .

Below we have placed in tabu la r form pa rticu la rs Of ou r compa ra tive materia l .‘West Africa ’was given by Gray as the type loca lity of macu li labr is

,bu t it will

be Observed tha t a Sao Thome liza rd had from 7 to 1 1 keels , as a lso o ne Cameroon

liza rd ; A Cameroon Skink had 4 supraciliar ies, Schmidt has recorded from 3 to 6

in his Congo series Of 143 Specimens , there are two with 3 or 4 among ou r Congospecimens , another from S . E . Ruwenzori has 4 . It is true that the maj ority of

Tanganyika Territory liza rds have the lower numb er , three of the fou r Skinkshave 4

,and one of the two Pemba Id . Skinks has 4

,the other two have 5 . The

longer body o f Tanganyika Skinks is certa in ly n oticeable when compared with

Centra l African Skinks,bu t many Cameroon reptiles have the digits only ju st

meeting . In coloration a M kindo R iver,T . T .

,reptile agrees very closely with

the type of bou lenger i bu t has 5 supraciliaries and on ly 7 car inations on its sca les ,

1 Schm idt, 19 19 , Bul l . Am . M us . Nat. Hi st.

,39

,Art . 11, pp . 525—53 1 .


while the toes of the adpressed hind lim b reach to the w rist of the back- pressed

fore limb . It seems therefore that the single specimen of bou lenger i on which the

descrip tion was based had a combina tion of cha racters which do not usu a lly

occur in one individu a l , bu t are comm on cha racters of macu li la br is .

It appears tha t whi leM . macu li la br is is a common Ski nk in West Africa we

have recently received forty—one examples from one loca lity in the Cameroonsit is a scarce reptile in Ea st Africa ,

for the junior au thor secu red only fourteen in

eight years . There are ma rked fami ly likenesses in specimens coming from any

given loca li ty,both in colou r (thu s , while those from the Central Lake region

(major) are strongly spotted with l ight and dark , whi ch is also the case with the

S50 Thome reptile , Ea st African Skinks are bron ze with very few spots but canbe ma tched by Cameroon Skinks) and in other chara cters (there is a n oticeabledecrease in mid- body sca le—rows

,and possibly supraciliaries also , as one proceeds

from West to Ea st) , so that it appears as if macu li labr is is undergoing evolu tionary

differentiation , bu t these va riations have not progressed far en ou gh , o r become

sufficiently standardized, to merit ra cia l recognition .

LOCAL IT IES ARRANGED FROM EAST TO WEST

Numbe r G re a test Lo nges t M id- bodyo f head a nd body ta i l sca le

LO CALITY Skinks le ngths in mm . in mm ro wsPemba Id . 2 62

Tawa , Tanganyik a Territo ry 1 76

Mk in do Riv er, Tanganyika Terr. 1.

76

Kipera , Tanganyik a Territory 1 S2

Kil o sa , Tangany ik a Territory . l 85

Lul onga ,Be lgian Congo . 1 73

Rutshuru , Be lgian Congo 5 82

Mt . Mokia , s .e . Ruw en zori 2 85

Mu tea , White Nil e 2 84

Bum ba , Belgian Congo 6 S5

Metet, Camero on . 4 85

Lo lodorf,Cameroon 8 88

Sakbayeme , Cam ero on 8 83

S50 Thome Id . 1 84

M AB UYA MEGAL URA (Peters)

Euprepr is (Mabu ia ) mega lu rus Peters , 1878 , M onatsber . Ak ad . Wiss . Berl in ,p . 204, Pl . I I , fig . 4 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24175) D ar e s Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24176 ) Amani , Usam bara Mtns .,30 . xi . 26 .

Colora tion . The Am ani fema le has nine distinct longitu din a l lin es from throat

to vent,whi le the D ar es Sa laam specimen is norma l below

,i .e .

,iridescent whi te .

M easu remen ts . The male is unu su ally large,223 (56 167) mm .


MABUYA VAR IA VAR IA (Peters)

Eu prepes (E'uprepis) vari a s Peters, 1867 , Monatsber . Akad . W iss. Berlin ,

p . 20 .

M abu i a varia v a r . longiloba Me thuen Hewitt, 19 13 , Ann . Transvaa l Mus. ,4 , 19 14 , (Nama

qua land . )M . C . Z . 2418 1) Bagilo , Ul uguru Mtns. ,

23 . ix . 26 .

. .C Z . 24182) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtns .

, 8 . x . 26 .

C . Z . 24183) M isa lae , Usambara Mtns . , 7 . xii . 26 .

M . C . Z . 24 184) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns .

,14 . xii . 26 .

. .C Z . 24185) Kwa i , Usambara Mtns . ,24 . xii . 26 .

Kigo logondwa in Kik am i .

Va ria tion . All agree in having the anterior lorea l in con tact with the first

labia l ; fou r have the fronton a sa l widely sepa rated from the frontal (2 Bagilo ,

1 Nyange,1 M isa lae ) in all bu t the M isa lae Skink (where they are equa l) the

frontal is a little shorter than the frontopar ie ta ls and interparieta l together ;

in a ll bu t a Nyange specimen the fronta l is in conta ct with the second and third

suprao cu lars (in the Nyange specimen o n on e Side on ly it is in conta ct with thefirst

,secon d

,and third) ; fron topar ieta ls distinct ; parieta ls more o r less in co n

tact behind the in terpa rieta l except in two Nyange Skinks . The subocu la r is

u su a lly ‘feebly but distinctly na rrowed inferiorly ’; the condition of‘much nar

rowed in feriorly ’ is ni cely demonstra ted In this series by severa l which have,by

division of the subocu la r , given rise to an extra labia l at its expense . The varia

tion in the length of the hind limbs is well Shown,fo r some adpressed hind lim bs

barely meet the digits of the fore limbs while in others they nearly reach the

elbows . All have tricarin ate dorsal sca les . One has a reprodu ced b ifid ta il .We are fortu na te in having received from M r . Hewitt a cotype Of the form

longi loba cha racterized by unu su ally long and Sharp ear lobu les . Wherea s most

East African examples a re typica lly short - lobed , the Namaqu a land pa ratype can

be ma tched in the length of its e ar lobu les by individu a ls selected from large

series with ma in ly Short o r medium—sized lobu les , fo r examp le , M .O .Z. NO . 18668

from M ta li’s , M ka lama subdistrict of Tanganyik a Territory .

Co loration . In the la rgest ma le taken,a Bagilo Skink , the bla ck and white

dorsa l ma rkings are sharp ly contrasted ; while below ,from ju st in front of the

hind limbs to the tip of the tail,is suffu sed with sa lmon . An unusu a lly handsome

Skink with enlarged testes .M easu remen ts . This ma le measu red 172 (67 105) mm . ; the la rgest fema le ,

a lso from Bagilo ,mea sured 19 1 (7 1 120) mm .

Breeding . At Bagilo a 9 with 5 eggs showing traces Of embryos was taken on

1 1 . ix . 26,another with 10 eggs on the 14th

,and a third with 9 eggs on the 23rd ;

a l l the eggs were in the same stage of development . At Nyange du ring the first


fortnight of the following month all the females a ppea red to be pregn ant ; a

young Skink was taken o n 1 1 . x . 26 which measu red 56 mm . over a ll . M anyyoung were seen a t Vitu ri on 25 . x . 26 , M isa lae on 7 . xii . 26 , Phillipshof on 23 .

xi i . 26 and Kwa i o n 24 . xii . 26 . A youn g on e taken a t the la st loca lity on tha t

da te mea su red 60 mm .

Diet. A Bagilo Skink disgorged a stick in sect and a red grasshopper on being

caught ; the following day a second liza rd disgorged a gra sshopper in the same

way . In the middle of the road at Bumbu li was a Skink so preoccupied with its

meal that it allowed me to walk up and leisurely plant my snake- stick upon its

back .

Habitat. On rocks at Vitu r i and Bom o l i . At M ogogo n i it was fairly fre

quen tly seen upon the trunk s of the coconut palms , yet at D a r es Sa laam,which

is onl y a few m i les away,I have n ever seen va ria on a tree

,as there are few trunk s

u noccupied by M . stria ta . At M isa lae quite a number were seen o n the rocks

beside the path at 2 P .M .,in hot sunshine ; they were so tame tha t they allowed

on e to approach within a ya rd before retiring .

[M ABUYA IRREGULARIS Lonnberg]

Mabu ia (stri ata v ar ) i rregu la ri s sp . n .? Lonnberg, 1922 . Ark . Zool . 14,p . 4 .

Mabu ia (Mabu i opsis) jeann eli An ge l , 1923 , Bu l l . Mus . Hist. Nat .,Paris

,p . 1925 ,

‘Vo y age de Ch .

All uaud et R . Jeanne l en Afrique Orienta le (19 1 1 Paris, pp . 21—23,Pl . 1 , fig . iii .

Re lationship . It is a ma tter of person a l opinion if the subgenu s M abu iopsis

proposed by M on s . Angel is to'

be recogni zed . In tha t the whole fami ly Of Skinks

Show great va riability in the arrangement and division of their head shields,we

rather dou bt if the proposed division is a na tural one ; while the group of sca les

on the head of M . irregu la r is is certa in ly most unusu a l it has so many other

cha racters in comm on with M . stria ta and M . v. va ria tha t it seems inadvisable

to sepa ra te it from those Species by placing it in a subgenu s by its elf . See figu res

ofM . va ria in To rn ier p . 597,and M . acu ti labr is in Schmidt

,1919

,Bu ll .

Am . Mu s . Nat . Hist .,39

,Art . 11

,p . 552 .

Distribu tion . TO those interested in the mounta in fau na of East Africa,M ons .

Angel’s new record Of two specimens from Kinangop in the Aberdare Range a t

ft . will come as a welcome addition to ou r knowledge . It was described

from Soy near M t. Elgon in 1921,then recorded from M t. Kenia between

and feet in 1923,and M ons . Angel records the fifth and Sixth known

specimen s in 1925 .

Va riation . The j unior au thor on examin ing M on s . Angel’s specimens findsthem in agreement with those from M t. Kenia in the Six points cited in Proc .


Zool . So c .

,1923

, p . 952, except tha t in the larger example the anterior lorea l

is in conta ct with the first labia l on the right side but scarcely so on the left ; it

a lso disagrees with them bu t agrees with LOnnberg’S type in tha t (i) the parieta ls

are no t in contact behind the interpa rietal ; (ii) i t ha s a single pair Of enla rged

nu chals .

MABUYA STR IATA (Peters)Tropido lepisma stri atum Peters , 1844, M o natsber . Akad . W iss . Berlin

,p . 36 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24177 ) Bagilo , Ul uguru Mtns .,24 . ix . 26 .


2 (M . C . Z . 24179) Amani,Usambara M tns .

,19 . xi . 26 .

Also seen a t Nyange , M kanga z i , Vitu ri , Tanga and Muhe za .

Kiguruguja (Kikam i Kiluguru ,Kikujao ) ; mjusi islam (Ki swahi li) ; ghondo ya nyumba (Kisumbara) .

Though primarily in tended fo r the Striped Skink , these n ames are sometimes applied to M . v . varia,most

nativ es not distinguishing be tween them . The Kiswahi li name,litera lly ‘

lizard of peace , ’ is applied‘ because it lives with people without mak ing any trouble ’ (this is in re ference to its dwe ll ing in thethatch of so many huts) .

Breeding. Numerous ov a within the Bagilo Skink held embryos o n 24 . ix . 26 ;

this was a lso the ca se with a Skink from Nyange found in the stoma ch of a snake

2 . x . 26 .

Enemies . A large 9 recovered from a Lycophidion capense at Nyange ; an

other from the stomach of a kestrel (Cerchn eis tin nu n cu lu s ca r lo) at M kangaz i .

Habi ta t. On e was seen runn ing up a cl iff- fa ce at Vitu r i . At D ar es Sa laam

I distu rbed a Striped Skink on the steep bank of a dyke bordering a stream fou r

feet in width . The li zard made for the field bu t I headed it Off it ru shed ba ck to

the bank,down which it tumbled into the water , apparently swam across to the

other side under wa ter,put ou t its head and then disappea red entirely . This

species seems to be on the increa se in Dar es Sa laam,scarcely a tree in some

avenues being without on e . At Amani they were comm on on the trees bordering

the avenues butWere never met with in the forest where M . comorensis occurred .

RIOPA SUND EVAL L I I (Smi th)

Eum ices (Riopa ) su nder a ll i i Smi th , 1849 , ‘I llus . 20 51. S . Afr .

’3, Appen dix , p . 1 1 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24199) D a r es Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24200) betwee n Sigi and Am ani,25 . xi . 26 .

Vu ta zruta in Kikam i ; nyoka a ghondo in Kisumbara .

Distri bu ti on . Sundev a ll’s Sk ink has not been recorded from Am ani and it is

doubtful whether it occurs there ; the specim en referred to above was taken under

a log about 200 feet above Sigi ; doubtless with the deforesta tion of the ravines,

which are being planted with banan as , this Skink will spread up to Amani in time .

In the highlands ofKenya it is found a t feet,as well as at the coast .


Va ria tion . Angel has described from Nairobi u nder the name of A . massa ien

sis a Skink which differs from A . wahlbergi i on ly in having 26 in stead of 24 scale

rows and 2 suprao cu lars instead of 3 . To check his conclu sions we selected for

examin a tion two Nairobi specim en s (M . C . Z . which were found to have

28 and 26 scale- rows respectively ; also a series of fifty wahlbergi i collected in an

a rea of one hu ndred squ are ya rds a t Lum bo,M ozambiqu e

,the first two specimens

having 24 sca le- rows,the third 26 . AS for the suprao cu lars , both Na irobi Sk inks

have the normal 3,as have all specimens in the Lumbo series . It may be sup

posed therefore that Angel’s massa iensis is abnormal in this respect .

Habi ta t. The D ar es Salaam Skink s were taken among dried leaves beneatha mango tree near the golf cou rse .

SCELOTES EGGEL I To rn ier

Pla te 4,fig . 5

Sce lotes eggeli Torn ier , 1902 , Zoo l . An z . p . 700 .

21 (M . C . Z. 24213—24223) Phi llipshof and Kwa i , Usambara Mtns. , xu . 26 .

Nyoka a ghondo in Kisumbara .

Relation between Scelotes and Sepsin a . Hewitt 1 has a lready given very excel

lent reasons for uni ting Herpeto sau ra (Syn . He rpeto seps) with Sce lo tes, and more

recen tly 1 has discussed the di fficulties of differen tiating the genu s Sepsina from

Scelotes and points ou t tha t the chara cter of the pala tin e bones sepa ra ted on the

median line Of the palate in Sepsina (meeting in Sce lo tes) breaks down in the

genus Sce lotes ; an examina tion of the twelve species of that genu s in the co llec

tion Of the Mu seum Of Compa ra tive ZoOlogy corrobora tes this view ; in several

of them the point of sepa ra tion occursabout the median line so that the decision is

qu ite an a rbitra ry on e ; the same appl ies to ha lf- a - dozen species usu a l ly a ccredited

to the genus Sepsina ,which are a lso represented in the M u seum of Compa ra tive

ZoOlogy .

A second point in which the genera are supposed to differ is the absence of the

nasa l in Sepsin a , its disappea rance resulting in the nostril being between fou r

Shields a condition found in at least one species of undoubted Sce lo tes affinities

(S . brevipes) .

Hewitt su ggests tha t ‘A more striking point of difference between the two

genera is in the size of the in terpa rietal scale , sma l l in Sepsina bu t la rge and

broader even than the fron ta l in Sce lo tes . Yet,Sepsina grammica Cope is said

to have the in terparietal la rge a nd nea rly as wide as the fronta l .’

Hew itt, 1921 , Ann . of Durban Museum ,

p . 3 .

Hew itt,1927 , Records of the Al bany Muse um ,

p . 404 .


We have examin ed Cope’s type (M . C . Z . NO . 5787) and find tha t the in ter

parieta l is as sma ll as in the other members of the genu s . Sepsina weberi Roux

from the Sou th West Protectorate,however

,has an interparieta l mu ch broader

than the frontal,and its nostril is placed like those of the species of the genu s

Sce lo tes rather than those gen erally accredited to Sepsina .

Tornier evidently referred egge li to Sce lo tes o n the grou nds Of the pa la tine

bones meeting on the median line of the pa la te . He makes no mention of the

rudimenta ry na sa l ring whi ch is a lrn ost,if no t entirely

,indistinguishable in some

of the present series . On the basis of the width Of i ts in terparieta l scale , however ,S . eggeli shou ld be referred to Sepsina ; bu t this wou ld crea te an anoma ly

,for its

very n ea r a lly in the Ulugu ru M tns.is an undoub ted Sce lo tes, therefore we find

ourselves unable to main tain Sepsina as a distinct genu s . From extern a l cha r

acters it appears probable tha t these two genera shou ld be.

united and the char

acters referred to shou ld be employed to define subgen eric groups .

S . eggeli was ba sed on two Specim ens from Kwa i (where some Of the present

series were also Obtain ed) Phil lipshof is only abou t three miles from Kwa i .

This series adds con siderably to ou r kn owledge of the species and it seems ad

visable to redescribe it from the figured fema le (M . C . Z . NO . 24213) and this

series,incorpora ting To rn ier ’s description so as to sta te clearly the range of

varia tion .

Descripti on . Sn out modera te,about twice the length Of the eye ; rostral

twice as broad as deep ,with slightly lunu la te upper edge ; seven to n ine upper

labia ls,only 5th enters eye

,5th o r 6th the la rgest ; nostril pierced in the upper

posterior part of the rostra l , apparen tly separated from the postnasa l by a nar

row r im (rudiment Of na sal) , bounded above by the supranasal and below by the

first labia l ; a large loreal , deeper than broad , broadly in conta ct with the fron

tonasal , which is broader than long ; two praeocu lars, a large upper and a sma l l

lower,the latter wedged between the thi rd and fou rth upper labials ; frontonasal

sepa rated from the rostral by the supran asa ls which are in con tact ; fronta l as

long as its posterior breadth,longer than the snou t

,its posterior border slightly

concave ; the first supraocu la r pentrates in to the fronta l , fou r suprao cu lars ; six

o r seven (five) supraciliaries ; in terpa rieta l broader than lon g ; parieta ls in con

tact behin d in terparieta l ; two pa irs of en la rged nu chals ; sca les on lower eyelid

p la inl y visib le ; ear opening distinct ; 22 to 26 mid- body sca le- rows ; limb s penta

dactyle,very short

,the adpressed fore limb covering on ly three- quarters of the

distance to the ear,shorter than the distance between ear and tip of snout ; hind

limb equ a ls the distan ce between ear and tip of snou t . The thick tail j oins the

elonga ted body with very Slight diminu tion in ‘girth .


Co loration offigu red 9 . Above,iridescen t plumbeou s

,each scale with a lighter

spot . Below ,creamy- yellow on chin and throa t

,sharply divided from the rest of

the under su rface,which is bright salmon- pink and while each sca le on the throa t

has a la rge bla ck basa l Spot , these a re wan tin g down the centre Of the body fromfore to hind limbs thou gh present o n flanks and ta il .

Con siderable va ria tion occu rs bu t most specimens differ from S . u lugu ru ensis

in the heavy spotting of their u nder su rface ; in a few like the figured at these are

a lmost confined to the sides and thu s approa ch the imm a cu la te appearan ce of

S . u lugu ru en sis . Some of the va ria tions are as follows

(a ) 9 93 57 regen era ted . Below,excep t on chin and throat , the centre Of

each sca le is greenish- yellow and each has a larger or sma ller du sky spot

at its ba se ; this colou ring obtains only for a little more than the ba sa l ha lf

of the ta i l , the regenera ted portion being uniform ly plumbeou s both above

and below,though somewha t lighter below than o n the corresponding

upper su rface .

(b) a ,96 102 mm . and 9 , 83 103 mm . Creamy- yellow over whole of

under su rface excep t the end Of the tail , which is white ; ea ch scale has a

ba sa l spot in these specimens .

(c) 9 82 103 mm . Throa t white,fore limbs to anu s pale orange , ta il

bright salmon—pink ; each sca le with a ba sa l spot .

(d) Cr , 72 86 mm . Uniformly opaque white o n whole of lower su rface

except for a ba sa l spot on ea ch sca le . It will thu s be seen that the common

sa lmon colou ring of the ta il is not an infa llible guide to sexing ma les though

so often present in tha t sex,n o r is it adopted solely by breeding ma les , as

it is p resen t on some imma tu re Skink s .

(e) Embryos . 32 33 mm . Above,un iformly plum beou s ; light grey o r

almost white benea th . Still you nger embryos a re,of cou rse

,unpigmen ted .

M ea su remen ts . The largest fema le mea su res 205 (101 104) mm . The la rgest

ma le mea su res 206 (90 1 16) mm .

,but NO . 24220 , whi ch has a regen erated ta il ,

mea su res 102 mm . in length from snou t to ven t . The youngest independent

Skink taken mea su res 35 mm . from snou t to vent . For mea su remen ts Of embryos

see below .

B reeding . The figu red 9 taken o n 2 1 . xii . 26,held thr ee embryos mea su ring

65 (32 33) mm ; other fema les taken at the same time held less - developed

embryos .

Diet. Conten ts Of seven stomachs examined : (i) Beetle . (ii) Beetle, beetle

la rva,cockroach . (ii i) Cockroach . (iv) Cockroach . (v) Grub . (vi) Spider . (vii)

Spider .


Parasites . M os t in testin es con ta in very minu te n ematodes,invi sib le to the

naked eye ; in one stomach was a larger species .

Distri bu tion . So far known only from Phillipshof and Kwai in the Western

Usambaras .

Ha bita t. All save on e were taken ben eath logs on recently cleared forest or

pa stu re land . Whi le Sea ted on the side of the road,whi ch was cut through the

forest,I hea rd a

‘plop ’ behind me and,looking round

,saw on e of these Ski nks

,

which had fa llen over a fiv e -foot bank at the other side of the road and was

wriggling about among the dead leaves,none the worse for its fa ll .

SCELOTES ULUGURUENSIS sp . n .

Pla te 4,fig . 6

5 (M . C . Z . 24204—8) Bagil o , Ul uguru Mtns .

,25—28 . ix . 26 .

8 (M . C . Z . 24209—12) Vituri , Uluguru Mtns .,27—30 . x . 26 .

Vu ta v uta in Kikam i .

Type . No . 24204 . Museum of Compara tive Zoology . An adu lt ma le taken

beneath a log at edge of the rain- forest at Bagilo , Ulugu ru M ou n tains , Tan

gany ik a Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge,September 25th

,1926 .

Pa ra types . NOS . 24205 to 24212 and fou r dup lica tes .

Diagnosis. Together with Scelotes eggel i thi s n ew Skink is readily di stingu ishab le from the only other members of the genu s occu rring in East Africa by the

presence of five in stead of fou r digits on both fore and hind limb s . The inter

parieta l in thi s new species being in contact with the third and fou rth supra

ocu lars at on ce distingu ishes it from Scelotes eggeli . Its n earest relatives of the

genu s Sce lo tes (and Sepsina) appea r to occur on Comoro Id . and M adagascar .

Description . Rostra l very broad with lunulate upper edge , seven o r eight

upper lab ia ls , fifth,whi ch is largest

,below eye (occasiona lly 4th and 5th below

eye) ; nostril pierced between rostra l , suprana sa l , nasal and first labia l ; a large

postnasa l broadly in con tact with the fron tonasa l ; two praeocu lars present , a

la rge upper and a very sma ll lower ; frontona sa l separated from the rostra l by

the supranasals , which are in conta ct ; fou r suprao cu lars, the first thr ee in con

tact with the fronta l,the third and fourth in contact with the in terpa rietal ; six

supracili aries, of which the first is in conta ct with the postnasa l and the fron to

n asa l ; sca les o n lower eyelid p la inly visible ; a pa ir Of pa rieta ls in contact behind

the interparieta l ; two (sometim es a third indicated) pa irs of enl arged nu chals ;

ear - opening distinct ; 24 mid- body sca le- rows ; limbs pen tada ctyle .

Co lora tion of Type 5 ' in life . Above,snout to end of body tran spa rent reddish

brown,plates on head edged with darker

,a black spot o n the apex of each sca le ;


these spots coa lesce o n fore arm so tha t the la tter is la rgely black ; the black spots

on the hind limbs are so large that they give the latter the appea rance of being

black ; tail deep plumbeou s black ; first fou r upper labia ls black,rest dusky ;

sides of body and an terior aspects of limbs creamy-white,ea ch with a b lack spot .

Below,translu cent white on throat , body and limb s ; the blood vessels of

_thethroa t

,and interna l organ s of the body , m ay be seen throu gh the sca les , to whi ch

they impa rt red and orange tints ; the u nder side of the ta i l is opaque white with

double rows of du sky spots latera l ly .

The colou ring of the fema le para types is identica l with tha t of the ma le ; some

un sexed specimens Show pinkish beneath the ta il .

M easu remen ts . Type a . Sn ou t to vent 75 mm . Ta i l 96 mm . Largest Bagilo

Q . Sn ou t to vent 88 mm . Ta il 70 mm . (Perhaps regenera ted . )

Breeding. The Bagilo fema le , taken o n 25 . ix . 26 , held fou r ov a measu ring

10 x 7 mm . ; a Vitu ri female , collected 27 . ix . 26 , held fou r mea su ring 1 1 x 8 mm .

These latter showed a trace of embryos .

I m ight here men tion a strange find,thou gh in n o way su ggesting tha t it

has anything to do with this viviparou s Sk ink . At Ny ingwa , abou t feet ,

no Sign Of a live li za rd was seen du ring the week we were there , bu t o n 16 . x . 26

I fou nd six liza rd eggs beneath a thick ma tting of moss in the ra in- forest . I

measured them and found they were 10 x 7 mm . ; the only other possible sugges

tion cou ld be that they belong to S . ki limensis or possibly some chameleon .

Diet. The stomach con ten ts of five specimens exami n ed were as follows

(i) Smooth- Skinned lepidopterous la rva . (ii) Coleopterou s larva . (iii ) Beetles .

(iv) Beetles . (v) Beetles , woodlouse , spider .

Habi ta t. All the examp les taken were more or less concea led in the rich lea f

mou ld undernea th logs ; these were in ,or on the edge of the ra in - forest .

SCELOTES TETRAD ACTYLA (Peters)Sepsina (Rhi noscincus) tetrada ctyla Pe ters , 1874, M o natsber . Ak ad . Wiss . Berlin ,

p . 374 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24203 ) M kara z i, Uluguru Mtns .

,22 . x . 26 .

Va ria tion . 26 sca le- rows in stead of 24,5 supraciliaries o n o ne side

,6 o n the

other instead of 4 .

Co loration . The black lin es following the longitudina l sca le- rows , and the

blu e n etwork o n the ta il,are only very fa intly indica ted . The colou ring of the

upper su rface wou ld be best described as iridescent steely- brown .

M ea su remen ts . This ma le is larger than the type , and mea sures 133 (92 41)

mm . ; possibly the ta il is reproduced , as was that of the type according to Boulen

ger . The latter measu red 120 (82 38) mm .


Diet. A woodlou se was in the stomach of this Skink .

Habita t. Taken bu rrowing in to the mou ld beneath a log on the roadside a

hundred yards beyond the ford across the M v u a River on the M kara z i -Tawa

Road.

Distribu tion . The typ e , collected by Hildebrandt in 1874 , was described as

from the Zanziba r Coast ’ Since then Nieden has recorded on e collected by Bohmat M a rungu and three collected by Brown at M ilanji . In the British Mu seum

are Specimens from the Shire Highlands and Zomba,Nyasaland .

MELANOSEPS ATER LONGICAUDA To rni er

Mela noseps a ter v a r . longica uda To rnier , Zoo l . Jahrb . Syst . , 13 , p . 602 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24235) Vitur i , Uluguru Mtns .,27 . x . 26 .

Va ria tions and Rela tion s . Owing to the end of the ta i l being mi ssing it is withgrea t misgivings we refer thi s Skink to Torni er’s subspecies . As it stands it isnearer to Gunther’s M . a ter from the Zambesi

,agreeing with that reptile in

having 22 mid- body sca le- rows and not with longicauda in having 19 . It has

144 scale- rows from chin to vent as again st 1 18—120 in To rn ier’s two typ es from

M asailand and Kerogwe 1 (la tter loca li ty at foot of Usambara Ou r

reason for emp loying this name is to emphasize its identity with on e taken on the

Mkata Plains (n ear the Station and R iver) in 1921 . The points in which that

Skink differed from Torn ier’s types have a lready been mentioned .

2 Vitu r i is

abou t fifty mi les from Mka ta Sta tion as the crow flies,a lthou gh the habita t con

ditio ns could sca rcely be more different . It is probable tha t To rnier ’s name will

no t stand but it seems advisab le to awa it the collection of more materia l before

pla cing it in the synonymy .

Co lor in life . Above,uni formly steely blu e- black . Below

,very slightly pa ler ,

except for the rostra l , supranasa ls, menta l , postmen ta l and first lower labia ls ,

which are china - white .

M easu rements . M ale,from snou t to ven t 124 mm . ; end of ta il m i ssing .

Ha bitat. Taken ben eath a log in the ra in- forest in a ravin e,which is the first

o n the left as one enters the forest at Vitur i on the path to Nyange . The spot

was close to the base of a big rock over which a stream trickled , which mu st

be a considerab le waterfa ll in the rainy sea son so tha t the place mu st be con

stantly moisten ed with spray .

Fo r thr ee days I made persistent efforts to secu re another specimen in this

ravin e bu t withou t su ccess,thou gh many caecilian s were tu rned up du ring the

hunt .

1 ‘Karagwe am Panan i. ’ The first word wou ld appear to be a m isspe ll ing fo r Kerogwe , which is onthe Pangan i .

1 Lov eridge , 1923 , Proc . Zo o l . So c . ,Lo nd . ,

p . 963 .


CHAMAELEONTID AE

CHAMAELEO D ILEPIS D ILEPIS Leach

Chama eleo di lepis Leach, 1819 , in Bowdi ch, Miss . Ashan tee ,’ p . 493 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24246 ) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns. , ix—x . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24248) Am an i,Usambara Mtns . ,

26 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24249) Sakka ran i , Usambara M tns . , 18 . xii . 26 .

Kangawingo (Kikam i) ; luvi (Kisum bara ) . No t specific .

Distribu tion . Also found at Bagilo , and nine previ ously taken at Mkuyuni ,

Uluguru M ou nta ins . It must no t be supposed tha t becau se this series is sma ll

di lepis is less common in the Uluguru M ou ntain s , thou gh this was the case in the

Usambaras,where fischer i subsp . is the dominant chameleon . In the Ulu guru

di lepis is p lentifu l ; abou t a score were dispa tched a l ive to the London Zoologica l

Garden s and the na tives were then discouraged from bringing them in .

Co lor in life . 9 . Am ani . Above,bright yellow- green with darker green saddle

like mark ings and some yellow spots on the hind l imbs , lumbar region and ta il ,

a violet - brown spot behind ea ch occipital flap and a broad streak of same on

flank . Below ,ventra l crest

,praean al region and lower Side of limbs white .

Diet. (i) Leaf- l ike wings of some la rge orthopteran and the head of an ant

in the stomach of the Nyange adult . (ii) Grasshoppers in you ng Nyange chame

leon . (iii) Stomach and intestines of Am an i 9 cramm ed with coleopterou s and

orthopterous rema ins .

Fo lklore . The Wakami have the following story of this reptile . Once upon

a time the chameleon cha llenged a lion to a race ; they lined up for the start

bu t as the lion sprang forwa rd the kangawingo grabbed its ta il and clung o n .

The “lion ran for a ll it was worth and the chameleon held on for dea r life . Onreaching the winn ing post the lion sank down to rest

,at which the kangawingo

cried o u t,

‘Look where y ou are lying o r y ou will crush me .

’ The lion was a ston

ished and dispirited o n hearing the chameleon’s voice and excla im ed,

‘Wha t'

can you really ou tru n me? ’ The reptile replied

,

‘Of cou rse I can and as a mat

ter of fact have been wa iting fo r you to come in .

’

Thi s story seems to u s the African cou nterpa rt of ou r fable relating to the

choosin g of a king by the b irds , when the eagle was outwitted by the wren which

hid itself in the former’s plumage .

Pa rasites . A new species of nematode worm (Physa loptera ortleppi ) as well as

Strongylu rus brevicaudata , were taken in the intestin es of chameleon s collected a t

Dodoma .


The followin g notes on the typ e localities m ay help to elu cidate matters .

C. f. fischer i Reichenow .

Chamae leon fischeri Re ichenow ,1887

,Zo o l . An z .

,10

,p . 371 .

The Nguru M tn s . lie about ha lfway between the Usambara and Ulugu ru

M tns . , tha t is to say ,from sixty to ninety miles from each .

The fema le of C . f.fischer i is still unk nown ; in a ll probabili ty when it is found

it will be simi la r to tha t of C . j . ma tschiei and cau se the la tter to fa ll into the

syn onymy of the former .

C. f. ma tschiei Werner and C . f. vosse ler i Nieden .

It will at on ce be observed tha t the ranges of these two races overlap consider

ably,and more strangely still

,C. f. vosse ler i was also described from Ukami (i . e .

Ulugu ru M tns . ) and Usaram o (i .e . in the D ar es Salaam D istrict) as far to the

sou th of the Ngu ru M tn s . as are Am an i , Ngu e lo etc . to the n orth .

‘Bu loa near

Tanga ’ is,we imagin e

,Bu lwa n ea r Am an i

,in Torni er E ismann’s speci

men s are recorded as from ‘Bu loa bei Tanga in Usamba ra .

’

C. f. wern eri Nieden .

Thi s subspecies was described from ‘M lalo and Am bangu la in West Usam

bara s,

’ thu s ruling ou t M la lo nea r Amani in Ea st Usambara M tns . Ambangu la

lies fiv e mi les du e n orth of Kerogwe station o n the Tanga Railway . M la lo ,

though rarely Shown on maps,is a mi le from Ambangu la ; obviously this is the

M la lo mean t . The matter is complica ted , however , since a ma le cotype of Nie

den’s Ch. f. wern eri has been received in exchange from the BerlinM u seum and is

labell ed ‘M la lo beiWilhelmsta l . ’ When Wilhelmsta l was captu red by the Brit

ish it reverted to its n a tive name of Lu shoto . On arrival at Lu shoto the junior

au thor made very carefu l enqui ries as tothe whereabouts of this thir d M la lo and

foun d that the nea rest kn own M la lo was n ea r Hohenfriedeberg,to rea ch which

on e pa sses through Phill ipshof and so away to the north . To make a ssuran ce

doubly su re a series of Sixty specimen s was obta in ed from this M lalo a lso .

C. f. mu ltitu bercu la tu s Nieden .

Phillipshof is a well- known resort a few mi les ou t of Lu shoto .

CHAM AELEO FISCHER I MATSCHIE I Wern erChamaeleon matschi ei We rner, 1895 , Verb . Zo o l . bo t. Ges . Wien ,

p . 192 , PI. V , fig . 2 .

Chamaeleo torn i er i Werner, 1902 , Zo o l . Jahrb . Syst . 15 , p . 417 , Pl . XXIV (Mo zambique )Cham ae leo fischer i vosseleri Nieden , 1913 , Sitzber . Ges. Na turi Freun de , p . 241 .

80 (M . C . Z . 242 60—24285) Amani and Derema,Usambara Mtns . , xi . 26 .

Additiona l m ateria l . In addition to the cotype and topotyp es mentioned

above,others of three forms have been received by exchange from the Berlin

M u seum


No . 20192 . d ” Ch. f. fischeri ex‘Buloa ’ Bulwa ) . Eismann co ll .

20193 . 071 Ch. f. m atschi ei ex Am ani . Vo sseler co ll .

20194 . 6 1 Ch. vosseler i ex Tanga . Reimer co ll . A . cotype .

No . 20192is indistingui shable from 20194,whi ch is no t su rp rising , seeing tha t

‘Bul oa ’ is given as one of the type local ities of vosseler i .

Va riation . M a les . These have dorsa l spin es on the anterior part of the back

and u su a lly , but no t invariably , on the tail , which is sometimes perfectly smooth .

When sorted by the presence o r absen ce of spin es o n the ta il it was observable

that,in the ma in

,the absen ce of spines is correla ted with Short horns and sma ller

size and is evidently a juven ile character ; thou gh one la rge well- developed ma le

had a smooth ta il,whil e fou r half- grown and two young specimens w ere in an

in termediate condi tion . Other variation s con sist in the ca squ e of the parietal

region being pla ted o r covered w ith sma ll scales , o r characterized by many in

term ediate stages between these two extremes . There is a lso astoni shing va ria

tion in the breadth and length of the posterior part of the casqu e , whi ch m ay be

rounded or sharp ly pointed .

Fema les . No fewer than twen ty of these twenty- eight females are hornl ess o r

exhibit only the fa intest indica tion of horn s in the form of a pa ir of angu lar swell

ings on the canthi . The rema ining eight,whi ch with two exception s are mu ch

larger in Size than the other twen ty, have horns va rying in length from 4 to 8

mm . (measured from anterior u nder side at ba se,to the tip) . Horns in the fema le

are therefore obviou sly an age cha racter . This is corroborated by the fact that

the dorsa l crest in the horn ed fema les is slightly more developed than in the horn

less,whi ch are practica lly smooth . All agree in the n on - sp inou s condition Of the

tail,which is usu a lly absolu tely smooth .

Co lora tion . In life these chameleon s have a soft velvety appea rance u nlike

any other Species I have seen .

M easu remen ts . The b iggest ma le (24260) collected du ring the 1926 expedition

measu res 345 (130 195 20 mm . horn) mm .

,bu t is su rpa ssed by N0 . 20193

,

which is 399 (147 234 18 mm . horn) mm . ; the biggest fema le (24273)

mea su res 284 (1 12 + 165 7 mm . horn) mm . ; the sma l lest female (24285)

measures 1 13 (46 73) mm . In this specimen there is only a slight swelling to

indica te the position of the horn s .

Breeding. M any of these fema les have very la rge ov a or eggs .

Diet. About a dozen were exami ned which held beetle rema in s ; some were

those of brilliant green weevils . In addition to the beetles other insects were

recogni zable in Six o f the chameleon s . These were (i) Gra sshopper . (ii) Grass


hopper . (iii) Grasshopper and caterpillars . (iv ) Orthoptera and a ca terpilla r .

(v) A bug like a frog- hopper . (vi) Hemipteron .

Pa rasites . .La rval mi tes (Erythraeidae) were collected from these reptiles

and nematodes (Strongy lu r is gigas) were a lmost invariably present .

Habita t. Severa l which I captu red person a lly were a scending trees at the

edge of the forest . Most of the others were taken o n bu shes .

CHAMAELEO FISCHER I MULTITUBERCULATUS lNlEEdQIl 1

Chanl aeleon fischcr i mu lti tu ber cu la tu s Nieden ,19 13 , Sitzbe r . Ges . Na tu rf. Freunde , Berlin ,

p . 247 .

Chama eleon fischeri werneri N ieden , 19 13 , Sitzber . Ges . Natu rf . Freunde,Berlin , p . 243 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24286—87) M la lo near Ambangu la , Usambara Mtns .

,xii . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 24288—9 1 ) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns .

,xii . 26 .

18 (M . C . Z . 24292—308) Sakkaran i , Usambara Mtns .

, xii . 26 .

21 1 (M . C . Z . 24309—360 ) Phi l l ipshof, Usambara M tns . , xii . 26 .

60 (M . C . Z . 2436 1—72) M la lo n ear Hohen friedeberg , Usambara M tns .

,xii . 26 .

Rela ti on ships . C . f. wern er i Nieden,1913

,has page precedence over C . f.

mu ltitubercu la tu s bu t isp reoccupied o n accou n t of C. werner i To rnier,1899

,which

is an en tirely different reptile from Sou thern Tanganyika Territory . This is for

tu nate,as the n ame mu ltitu bercu la tu s is well chosen and at once defines the

principa l difference between the ma les of the Western and Ea stern Usambara

races . These reptiles a lso differ in tha t the fema les of mu lti tu bercu latus are in

va riably horned . C f. wern er i from M la lo nea r Am bangu la is probably somewha t

of an intermedia te . There are males in ou r Phill ipshof series with simila r crests

to that which is figu red and described for C . j . wernert .

Va ria tion . M a les . A series of sp ines , usua lly unin terrupted from nape to the

middle of the ta il,bu t sometimes very low o r interrupted in the sacra l region .

The teeth composing this crest m ay be con tinu ou s or with sma ll interspa ces

between each two ; they m ay a lso be flat blade- like) or cone- shaped , the

two typ es being very differen t in appea rance . There is grea t varia tion in the

horns,which are usu a lly more o r less para llel to one another

,thou gh they ire

qu en tly meet at the points and sometimes,thou gh ra rely , diverge as in Ch.

ta veten sis (which , however , is qu ite distinct) . The horn s m ay proj ect in the lin e

of the body axis or tilt upwards ; in a few specimens they are decidedly down

pointing . Some of the horn s have grown in pecu lia r twisted fashion , doubtless as

a resu lt of inju ry received when young ; o n e such pa ir lean well to the right . The

pa rieta l crest m ay extend right to the end of the ca sque o r be bu t a small ra ised

crest in the middle of tha t a rea . The pa rieta l region o n either Side of the crest m ay

1 Tho ugh Ch. f. werner t ha s page precedence o v er Ch. f. mu lti tuber cu la tu s , the latter name must beused

,as Ch. wernert is preoccupied .


be ra ised with a swollen appea ran ce , whi ch is a Sign tha t the reptile is wellnou rished

,o r deep ly sunk en , sau cer- like , the eviden ce of a sta rved condition .

The posterior edge of the ca squ e m ay be sharp ly defin ed , upstanding (famished)

o r sunken in to the ou tlin e of the back (well fed) ; qui te apa rt from this there is

a stoni shing individua l variation in some the posterior edge of the casqu e ter

m inates in a sha rp point,in others it is broad and sp ik y, o r again broadly rou nded

with scarcely noticeable proj ection s .

Fema les . One of the best fea tures by which to differentiate ma tschi ei and

mu ltitubercu latu s is tha t every fema le in the Western Usambara series is horn ed ,a lm ost to the same exten t as the ma les , while in the females from Eastern Usam

ba ra the ma j ority are horn less . The two topotyp ic fema les ofwerneri have rostral

processes 3 mm . long exa ctly li ke the typical fema le , bu t they can be ma tched by

specimen s in the Phillipshof series which perhap s are not so advanced as is usua l

in fema les ofmu lti tu bercu la tu s of the same size .

Co loration . The chameleons with a pair of white lines o n the belly are a lways

fema les bu t the absen ce of su ch lines is n ot evidence that the rep tile is a ma le .

These l ines in ma les are u su a lly a Sign of youth,being present in young specimens ,

and they are genera l ly wanting in adu lts a lthou gh occasiona lly persisting in large

individu a ls .

M easu remen ts . La rgest ma le measu res 319 (137 175 7 mm . worn horn)

mm . ; largest fema le 272 (1 12 148 12) mm .; youngest ma le 1 18 (51 65

2 mm . horn) mm . ; youngest fema le 95 (42 53 swellin g no t proj ecting

beyond sn out) mm .

Breeding. On e of the two M la lo (nea r Ambangu la ) fema les had undeveloped

ov a,the other held sma ll eggs of 7 mm . diameter o n 31 . xii . 26 . E ight ou t of

fifteen collected at Phillipshof on 20 . xii . 26 showed developing eggs . These va ried

in number from ten to twen ty- on e,more o r less

,dependi ng on the size of the

mother . The devel opmen t is best shown thu s :

10 eggs measuring 17 X 9 mm . 16 eggs measuring 7 X 7 mm .

11 14 X 16 14 X 812 15 X 8 17 14 X 8

13 13 X 8 21 15 X 8

Di et. Chiefly coleoptera and orthoptera .

Defence . The fact tha t the horns of a ll the b iggest ma les a re worn down to

ha lf the length of those of the younger ma les in their prime is su rely evidence

tha t these are u sed as fighting weapons , as is the ca se with C. jackson i vau erescecae .

Pa rasites . Larva l red m ites of the fami ly E rythraeidae (Pterygosoma sp . )

were numerou s,and n ematodes (Strongylu r is brevicauda ta ) are a lmost inva riab ly


present . After the chameleons were chloroformed and soaked over n ight in water ,

they were tran sferred to formalin ; then round worms wou ld appea r, a ttempting

to escape from the nostrils , mou th o r anu s .

Enemi es . In the ga rden of Lu shoto Hotel , I Shot a White- brea sted Crow

(Corvus a lbu s) which was being fed by its pa rents on a cham eleon . Fifty feet

away I caught a Boomslang (Disphol idu s typu s) with a chameleon in its stomach .

[CHAM AELEO FISCHERI EXCUBITOR (Ba rbour) ]

Chamaeleo ten n is excu bi tor Barbour, 191 1 , Pro c . Bio . So c . Wash ,24

,pp . 219—220 .

We take this Opportuni ty of pointing ou t tha t this chameleon from M t. M eru

district of Kenya Colony represen ts a race of fischer i in which the ma le is horn

less . The type is a ma le and not a fema le as w as at first supposed .

CHAMAELEO D EREMENSIS M atschie

Chamae leon deremens is Matschie,1892

,Sitzber . Ges . Naturf. Freun de Berlin ,

p . 103 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24234) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . ,1 1 . x . 26 .

l (M . C . Z . 24236 ) Vitu ri , Ul uguru Mtns .

, 30 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 24237—9 ) Am ani , Usambara Mtns . ,24 . xi . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24240—1 ) Derema , Usambara Mtns . , 30 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24242) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns . , 14 . xii . 26 .

Co lora ti on . In life these are a beautifu l da rk- green with lighter green and

mauve markings . M atschie does no t exaggerate when he speaks of it as a m ag

nificent species with its three long horn s and sa il- like dorsa l crest .

M ea su remen ts . The la rgest ma le measu red 328 (165 140 23 mm . nasa l

horn) ; largest fema le 295 (158 137) mm . Both Derema,i .e .

,topotyp es , yet

exceeding the types in size .

B reeding. The Derema and Bumbu li fema les have their o v a in mu ch the same

stage of development,i . e .

,abou t 8 mm . diameter and spherica l . An 83 mm .

(snou t to ven t) Aman i ma le is interesting as it shows the advanced age at

which the horn s first appea r,for in this specimen n one of them a re over 2 mm .

long .

Diet. (i) M any ha rd- shelled beetles,including M acropoda tu bercu lifera o r

a llied Species . (ii) Beetles , grasshopper and ca terpilla r . (i ii) Weevil and otherbeetles , two la rge green lo cu stids, two green stick in sects and a spider . (iv) Beetles

ofmany species , chiefly weevils , orthopteran , man tid , sn ail . (v ) Beetles ofmany

species , a mi llipede and Skink sca les . The only Sk ink s seen in the plantationwhere this chameleon was cau ght were M abuya comorensis and M . v . va ria .

(v i) M any weevils, grasshopper, millipede . By rea son of their diet consisting so


la rgely of beetles and orthoptera these chameleons are of no small economic

va lu e to coffee plan ters and shou ld be strictly preserved .

Defence . The claws of a struggling deremensis tea r one’s skin (ep ithelium)

very easily . The horns are doubtless used for fighting ; the na sa l horn of the

Nyange ma le (which was on ly 4 mm . short of being the la rgest ma le) measu red

23 mm .,while its occipital horns were 26 and 27 mm . respectively

Pa rasi tes. M any nema todes were found in the D erema and Bumbu li Speci

men s .

Distribu tion . Described from Derema and la ter recorded from M assailand

and Usaram o Dar es Sa laam District) ; the present are the first records of its

occurrence in the Uluguru M ou ntain s .

Habitat. At edge of forest in most loca lities . At Derema they occur in coffee

plan ta tions whi ch within the la st decade were forest land .

CHAM AELEO SPINOSUS M atschie

Chamaeleon spi nosus Matschie , 1892 , Sitzbe r . Ge s. Nsturt Freun de Berlin ,p . 105 .

1 (M . C . Z. 24243 ) Amani,Usambara Mtns .

,26 . xi . 26 .

M easu remen ts . A fema le whi ch measu res 66 (40 26) mm . and is therefore

somewhat smaller than the type from Derema , which was 87 mm .

CHAMAE LEO TENUIS M atschie

Chamae leon tenu is Matschi e , 1892 , Sitzber . Ges . Na turf. Freunde Berlin ,p . 106 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24244—5) Am ani, Usambara Mtns .

,27 . xi . 26 .

M easu remen ts . The male measu res 101 (48 53) mm .,and the female 129

(62 67) mm . The male is far larger than the type from Derema , which was

only 69 mm . They were taken together in long grass on M t . Bom o li . Werner

(1911) has recorded thi s species from Ukami Uluguru ) .

RHAM PHOLEON BREVICAUD ATUS (M atschie)

Chamae leo n (Brookesi a ) br euicauda tus M atschie , 1892, Sitzber . Ges . Naturf. Freunde Berl in ,p . 107 .

6 (M . C . Z . 24373—8) Bagil o , Uluguru Mtns .,13—27 . ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24379 ) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns .

,1 . x . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 24380—1 ) M kanga z i , Uluguru Mtns . , 12 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 24382—4 ) Vitur i , Ulugu ru Mtns .,29 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 24385) Am an i,Usambara Mtns .

,24 . xi . 26 .

Lwi vi (Kik am i) luvi (Kisumbara ) . It wi ll be observ ed that this is the o n ly Species of chame leon that theWakam i hav e a specia l name for

,and it is v ery sim ilar to that emp lo yed by the Wasumba ra fo r a l l

species of Chamaeleo and Rhampholeon .


Var ia tions. In his description of the fema le type from Derema,M atschie

’s

mea sur ements Show that the tail is one - sixth the total length from snout to tipof tail

,o r three and one - third the body length a lone

,yet in the text he says ‘less

than on e -fifth the body length,

’which is somewhat ambigu ous . In the present

series of fou r fema les the ta il is in cluded in the snou t- to- ven t mea su rements

to times ; in the nin e ma les , to times,which gives o n e a ready

means of sexing these creatu res by the longer ta il of the ma le . In this sma l l

series the average of both sexes is times .

M easu remen ts . The la rgest ma le (Nyange) measu res 94 (72 22) mm .

the largest female (Bagilo ) , 92 (75 17) mm .

Breeding. The largest female,taken at Bagilo 13 . ix . 26 , held fou r eggs ; these

measured approxima tely 6 mm . in diameter . At Vitu ri on 30 . x . 26 two fema les

were taken benea th large stones on the banks of a stream at the edge of the forest .

I assum ed at first tha t they had bu rrowed ben ea th the stones to lay their eggs,

but while one had six enlarged eggs mea suring 10 X 6 mm .,the other was

scarcely adult (61 mm . over a l l) and its o v a were not developed .

A fema le was taken atMkanga z i on 12 . x . 26 with 4 eggs ea ch 6 mm . in diam

eter . On the same day,while on the march

,Sa limu secu red the smallest specimen

I have ever seen ; it wa lked comfortab ly into the end of Rama zan’s flu te

,which

had a diameter of half an inch . There Salimu attempted to imprison it by plug

ging the aperture with some wool . Rama zan , not knowing it was there , removed

the plug and played lustily o n the flute as he brou ght up the tail end of the sa fa ri .

The loss to scien ce was learned only when he marched tootling into camp"Sa limu

seized the flu te,but the chameleon had departed .

Diet. Stoma ch contents : (i) Spider . (ii) Hard- shelled beetle . (iii) Reddish

gra sshopper . (iv) Grasshopper . (v) Cricket . Three others examined were empty .

CAEC I LI ID AE

SCOLECOMORPHUS VITTATUS (Bou lenger)

Bde llophis vi l la ins Bo u lenger , 1895, Pro c . Zool . Soc . Lo nd . ,p . 412

,Pl . XXIV, fig . 4 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12179) Bagilo , Ul uguru Mtns . ,29 . ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12180) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtns .

,4 . x . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 12181—4 ) Vitur i , Uluguru Mtns. ,28—30 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 12185—7 ) Am ani , Usambara Mtns . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12 188) Mt . Lu tindi , Usambara Mtns . 10 . xii . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12189) Phi ll ipshof, Usambara Mtns . 24 . x ii . 26 .

M vuvi (Kikam i) ; blafa (Kiluguru ) ; ma ngo (Kisumba ra ) .


Distri bu tion . There is in the British Museum a specimen,identified by M r .

G . A . Bou lenger , from M ombasa, Kenya Colony, collected by Dr . S . L . Hinde

in 1909 .

SCOLECOMORPHUS ULUGURUENSIS sp . n .

Scolecomorphus kirki i Lo v eridge (no t of Bo u lenge r) , 1925, Pro c . ZOGI. 80 0 . p . 765 . Sma l l dried Specimen from Bagilo .

3 (M . C . Z . 12190—12192) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns .,ix . 26 .

129 (M . C . Z . 12193—12293) Ny ingwa , Uluguru Mtns .

, x . 26 .

Type . No . 12193 . Mu seum of Compara tive ZoOlogy . Sex From Nyingwa ,

Uluguru M ou nta in s , Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge,October

19th , 1926 .

Pa ra types . The Ny ingwa specim ens enum erated above .

Diagnosis . The type ofS . ki rki i has been examin ed and compared with some

of the Nyingwa specimens . It is intermedia te between S . u lugu ru ensis and the

species about to be described , in its 152 circu la r folds and its diameter into tota l

length,which is (to 44) times ; bu t above a l l it differs very much in

colou r , whi ch is dark ol ive above and brownish Olive below (in alcohol) .

Description . Habit lik e Hypogeophis, head very sma ll , body rou nd , thi ck andheavy ,

tail blu n t . Snout prominent , obtu sely acum ina te , proj ecting far beyond

the lower j aw . Teeth well developed , 16 upper , 12 lower and 6 strongly recu rved

pa la tine teeth . Eye hidden . Ten ta cle rou nd,exsertile

,situ ated in a horseshoe

shaped groove openin g anteriorly , ju st behind an im aginary l ine connecting the

nostril with the apex of the lower jaw ,below and behind the n ostril bu t much

nearer the mouth than the nostril . 133 annu li (124 to 151 in count of forty

Nyingwa paratyp es ; it appears probable tha t ma les range from 124 to 139 and

females from 140 to 151 -but some overlapping may occur) ; annu li o n the nape

very pronou nced , giving an upward tilt to the head in adu lts (in the young this

a rea is as smooth as in adu lt B . vitta tu s) ; after first 14 (14 to 20 or thereabou ts)

rows on nape the annuli are interrupted on the vertebral line to the end of the

ta i l (bu t no t interrup ted on the last inch of body and ta i l in most paratypes)

ana l opening close to tip of tail , penis extended in typ e .

Co lora tion . In a lcohol . Above,du ll blue - grey (sometim es glossy in ma les)

inconspicu ou sly merging into the somewha t more plumbeou s grey of the lower

su rface ; throa t , and a similar o r more extensive a rea in fron t Of anal opening ,

white (in life this is bright flesh- pink) .

M easu remen ts

To ta l length of type Diameter a t m id - bodyDiamete r at m id - body Sm a llest specimenLargest specimen (9 ) Diam e ter at mid- body


This Species becomes proportiona tely more Slender with age , though this does

n ot appear at first Sight and one wou ld be apt to assume that the contra ry wasthe case . It is best Shown in the following tab le .

The average number o f times the diame ter is in clude d in the len gth o f

14 Specim ens o v er 140 but under 200 mm . in length is times

(the range be ing from to times)96 specimens o v er 200 bu t under 300 mm . in le ngth is . times

(the range be ing from 22 to tim es)19 Specimens o v er 300 but under 342 mm . in length is times

(the range being from 25 to tim es)

Breeding. Fou r embryos were present in o ne of the ovidu cts of a 305 mm .

fema le ; on e such embryo (unstra ightened) measured 13 mm .

,the eye was very

,

distin ct .

Diet. A cheese- like substan ce in many stomachs,probably the rema ins of

ma cera ted termi tes .

Distribu ti on . From to feet in the Ulugu ru M tn s .

Ha bi ta t. Taken in sodden lea f-mou ld benea th rotting,moss- grown logs in

the rain - forest,gen era lly in clea rings cau sed by the fa ll of trees .

SCOLECOMORPHUS ATTENUATUS sp . n .

2 (M . C . Z . 12 194—5) Nyingwa , Uluguru Mtns .

,x . 26 .

Type . No . 12194 . M u seum of Compara tive Zoology . Sex 9 . From Ny ingwa ,Ulugu ru M ou nta ins , Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge

,Octo

ber 15th,1926 .

Pa ra type . NO . 12195 collected October 19th,1920 .

Diagn osis . Teeth apparently somewha t sma ller than in S . u lugu ru ensis .

Snout more bluntly rounded . Habit mu ch more slender,the diameter being con

ta in ed in the tota l length 39 to 45 times as aga inst 24 to 29 times . When the

typ e was brought in with a number of S . u lugu ru ensis I was imm edia tely struck

by its long slenderh abit and j et - bla ck color .

Description . Habit more like S . vitta tus,head very small

,body rou ndish ,

slender,elonga ted . Sn ou t blun tly rounded

,proj ecting far beyond lower j aw .

Teeth numerou s,minu te ; 6 pa latin e teeth (actu a lly 5 discernible) . Eye hidden .

Tentacle round,exsertile

,situ a ted in a horseshoe- shaped groove Opening anteri

orly,ju st behind an imaginary lin e connecting the nostril with the apex of the

lower jaw ,below and behind the n ostril bu t much nearer the mou th than the

nostril . 146 annuli (125 in paratype) ; the folds on nape not pronounced , so that

the head is in the same axis as the body ; after the first few folds on the n ape the

rest are in terrupted o n the dorsa l line to end of the ta il .


Co loration . Above,glossy black , below ,

uniform ly grey- black except on the

throa t and a simi la r,or more extensive

,a rea in front of the anal openi ng

,which

is white in alcohol and in life .

M ea su rem en ts

To ta l length of type . To ta l length of para type .

Diameter at mid - body Diameter at m id - body

D iameter conta in ed in the total length from 39 to 45 tim es .

BOULENGERULA BOULENGERI To rnier

Bou lengerula bou leng eri Tornier , 1897 ,‘Kr iechthie re Deutsch -Ost Afrik as

,

’ p . 164.

57 (M . C . Z . 12296—12345) Aman i , Usam bara Mtns .

,20—30. xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12346) Kiz erui , Usambara Mtns . , 8 . xii . 26 .

Mcudi in Kisum bara .

Va riation . An nu l i were cou nted on 54 specimens and were found to range from

125 to 135 (average D iameter into length 3 to 7 times .

Co lora tion . In life . Adu lts . Above,bluish- grey with a darker band along

the back . Below,blu ish- grey except throa t which is pinkish flesh- color . Young .

These are mu ch more worm- like in appearance as they are largely pink ish flesh

color with the dorsa l band showing pinkish-mauve . The very sma ll Kiz eru i

caecili an differs from a l l the Am ani Specimens in being pale grey with a dark

grey band (in a lcohol) .

M easu rem en ts . The la rgest mea su res 278 mm . in length with a diameter of

mm .

,while the smallest is only 80 mm . long with a diameter of mm .

Breeding. In three fema les examined the ovu les were sma ll .

Diet. Ohe had the whole a lim enta ry can a l crowded with rema in s of termi tes ,

another the cheese- like or floury substance already referred to in connection with

other Species .

En em ies . Six were recovered from the stomachs of snakes (Elapso idea gu en

theri ) ; three of these had the flesh digested from the skulls while the rest of the

body was in excellen t preserva tion ; two others had evidently on ly ju st beenswa l lowed ; fiv e in a l l were preserved .

Habita t. Under logs in damp spots . The smallest (Kize rui ) specimen was

ben ea th a log lying some fifty feet distan t from a stream .


Habita t. The whole o f the Bagilo and Nyange series were taken by natives

when hoeing in their gardens on the edge of the ra in - forest,o r in tu rning over

heaps of rotting grass and weeds . I persona lly captu red three o f the M kara z i

specimen s in beetle borings in a very sodden,rotten log in the dry forest close

to the M v u a R iver .

PIPID AE

XENOPUS LAEV IS (Daudin)

Bufo la evi s Daud in , 1803 , ‘Hist. Nat. des Ra inettes ,’ p . 85 , Pl . XXX,

fig . 1 .

4 (M . C . Z . 12384—7 ) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns. . 14. xii

Kikolwe ya ma j i in Kisumbara .

Va ria tion . In only on e specimen are the first and second fingers of both

hands rela tively proportioned , the fi rst finger being either shorter than,equ a l

to,o r longer than

,the second o n one hand but not on the other . The tentacles

are very Short .Co lora tion . The flanks and hind l imbs are u nusua lly well spotted .

M easu remen ts . Largest measu res 68 mm . from snou t to ven t .

Diet. Three of the four specimens held very la rge Xen opu s tadpoles in their

stoma chs .

XENOPUS MULLERI (Peters)

D actylethra mu l leri Pe ters,1844, Mon atsber . Akad . Wiss. Berlin

,p . 37 .


Diet. In the stomach of this frog were masses of frog’s eggs as well as a beetle

la rva and the elytra of a twenty- spot ladybird . There is no doubt abou t the o v a

being in the stomach . This specimen was merely taken for record , the species

being very abundant at D ar es Sa laam at the time ofmy visit .

Correction . The junior au thor takes this opportun ity o f correcting an error

in his recen t paper on Ea st African Ba trachian s,

1 where a record of Xen opu s

laevis,collected at Ea st London , Cape Colony, is shown u nder X . malleri . The

senten ce comm encing ‘Others crabs’ was intended to be added to the end

o f the preceding pa ragraph ending‘Ka fu ro ’; by an oversight he fa iled to co r

rect i t in proof .

1 Lo veridge , 1925, Pro c . Zo o l . So c . Lo nd . ,p . 767 .


BUFON ID AE

BUFO BRAUN I Nieden

Bufo braun i Nieden , 19 10, Sitzber . Ges . Naturf. Freunde Berlin , p . 147 .

25 (M . C . Z . 12392—4 16 ) Bagilo , Ul uguru Mtns . , ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12417 ) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . , 1 1 . x . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 12418—420) Mka ra z i , Ulugu ru Mtns. ,22 . x . 26 .

34 (M . C . Z . 12421—444) Aman i , Usambara Mtns . , xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12445) Bumbu li , Usambara Mtns .

,14 . xii . 26 .

The Wakam i n ativ es hav e on ly o ne nam e for the Sa lientia , with the exception ofBrevicepitids. This name

is bu twa for a largish to ad or frog , and it has the u sua l prefixes,v iz . , kilmtwa fo r a sma ll toad , vibu twa

fo r many sma ll to ads and mabu twa fo r many large to ads . Shembumi is the Wasumbara equ iva len t.

Co lora tion . In life . Nieden ’s d escription is excellent : in two 9 9 Specimen s

before u s the dark band commences a nterior to the eye and termin a tes just

behind the fore limbs ; the under surface is creamy yellow ,n o t white in life ; in

o ne examp le there is a series o f large , light- edged , black blotches of irregula r

ou tline on the posterior pa rt of the pa rotids and the an terior part of the ba ck .

The rea son for these irregular blotches is apprecia ted only when the crea tu re is

seen among the dead leaves which ca rpet the forest floor its na tura l habita t .

These toads are rendered so inconspicuou s tha t I have often alm ost trodden upon

them .

M easu remen ts . The largest fema le (Am ani ) mea su res 1 10 mm . The smallest

toad (Mkara z i) 10 mm .

Breeding. M asses of black- and -whi te eggs in the two fema les taken at Bagilo

o n 14 . ix . 26 . Another fema le from the same place , bu t brou ght in two days

la ter,immedia tely sta rted spawning ; severa l others examined were likewise fu ll

of eggs . Very young toads were taken at Nyange and Mkaraz i ; those from the

la st-mentioned locality were benea th a log in the road which pa sses throu gh the

dry forest .

Diet. Eleven toads were examined and their stomachs found to conta in

(i) Grasshopper . (ii) Locu st , cockcha fer , beetle . (iii) O rthopterou s rema in s and

a large weevil . (iv ) Carab id beetles and a large p iece of gravel . (v) Carabid

beetles . (vi) M any carab ids . (vii) La rge cu rcu lioni d . (viii) M any beetles .

(ix) Beetles . (x) Beetles . (xi) Beetle and sma ll mi llipede .

Habitat. Essentially a ra in- forest species bu t still numerou s in the remnant

of prim aev a l . forest capping the hill a t Bumbu li in the Western Usam baras .

Usually where br aun i occu rs,regu lar is is absen t , bu t when both have been re

corded,as at Nyan ge and Am an is so fa r as my experience goes regu la r is is

confined to clea red plan tations o r the swampy n on - forested va lleys . It seems


strange that braun i , which is so abu ndan t in its typ e loca l ity Am ani,shou ld have

escaped descrip tion u n til 19 13 . On the evening of ou r a rriva l,having climbed

up a thou sand feet from the va lley , we were wa lking up the pa th to Dr . Braun’s

house when a toad hopped across ou r way, being revea led by the light of the

lantern we carried . It was a big Bufo braun i and a happy au gu ry of the topotypicma teria l which was to be collected at this spot .

In telligence ? As there was an excess Of blu ebottles in the batrachian cage I

in trodu ced a very la rge chameleon (C. d . di lepis) to assist in their redu ction .

In stead of doing so the foolish reptile went black to ma tch the soil and pawed the

gla ss of the Vivarium . I retu rned after a short absence and fou nd it lying o n its

Side with l ittle more than the head ra ised from the ground ; its black pupils , su rrounded by their orange circles

,roved about incessantly bu t the rest of the reptile

rema ined quiescen t . Then a strange thing happen ed . A large Bufo braun iemerged from its retreat

,stole forwa rds with its ga ze directed towards the mobile

eyes of the chameleon . It ha lted all alert beside the reptile’s head . Su ddenly‘Plop"’ ou t went the toad’s tongu e at the chameleon’s eye"The reptile scarcely

moved . The toad drew ba ck and su rveyed the situation,then leaning forwa rds

eagerly,tried again and yet aga in . In a l l I saw it make fou r attempts before I

took compassion o n the chameleon and removed it from the cage . The incident,

however,does not speak very well for the repu ted intelligence of the genus Bufo .

BUFO REGULARIS Reuss

Bujo r egu la r is Re uss, 1834, Mus. Senckenbe rg .,1 , p . 60 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12446 ) Nyan ge , Uluguru Mtns .

, 5 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12447 ) Vituri , Ulugu ru Mtns . , 9 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12448) Mkuyun i, U luguru 18 . x . 26 .

7 (M . C . Z . 12449 ) D a r es Sa laam , 4 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12450) Bagam oyo , 1 1 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12451 ) Ki z e ru i , Usam bara M tns. , 9 . xu . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 12452—3 ) Bumbu li , Usambara M tn s. , 14 . xii . 26 .

Spawn (M . C . Z . 12454) Bumbu li , Usam bara M tns .

,14 . xii . 26 .

Va ria tion . You ng toads Show no trace o f the enormous tympanum of the

adult . The presence o r absence of a tympanum being a u sefu l key- cha racter,this

observa tion is of some im portan ce ; it is based o n two young D ar es Sa laam

toads whi ch are 15 and 20 mm . long respectively . The tym panum in a 33 mm .

specimen is ah‘

eady 2 mm . in diameter .

Colora tion . The pa ir taken in the m iry puddle at Bum buli were absolu tely

as black as the mud when captu red,bu t changed to their more u su a l colou r and

characteristic ma rkings while being conveyed in a bag from the pool to camp .


together with an Arthro leptis sten odactylu s , by a small boy who proffered it verydiflidently amid the sa rca stic comm ents and j eers Of his companions who were

too indolent to go hunting themselves . The double reward paid for it , however ,

transferred the right to smile to the child .

NECTOPHR-YNO ID ES TORNIERI (Roux)

Nectophryne torn i eri Ro ux , 1905, Proc . Zo o l . So c . Lo nd . , p . 63 , Pl . I I , fig . 4 .

Nectophryn e werthi Nieden , 19 10, Sitzber . Ges. Na turi . Freunde Berl in ,p . 439 .

14 (M . C . Z . 12456—469 ) Bagilo , Uluguru M tns .

, 14 . ix . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 12470—472) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns ., 6 . x . 26 .

62 (M . C . Z . 12473—495 ) Nyingwa , Ulugu ru Mtns . , 15—19 . x . 26 .

55 (M . C . Z . 12496—520) Vitu ri , Uluguru Mtns. , 25—30 . x . 26 .

12 (M . C . Z . 12521—532) Am an i , Usambara Mtns. , xi . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 12533—535) Kize ru i , Usam bara Mtns ., 8 . xii . 26 .

Ki ja la in Kisumbara .

Re lations . N . werthi,based on seven Specimens sa id to come from Dar es

Sa laam ,is supposed to differ from torn ier i in having a smooth instead of a warty

skin,rounded instead of vertically ova l tympanum

,

‘obtu se ’ instead of ‘ strong ’

canthu s rostra lis,and tibio- tarsa l articu la tion of the adpressed hind limb reach

ing to between the eye and snou t instead of to the posterior border of the eye .

Va r ia tion . An examina tion of the present series shows the most a stounding

va ria tion from perfectly smooth skins through slightly rugose to wa rty specimens

like the type of torn ier i no t only warty, however , fo r in some Specimens the

warts are Spinose on the supraocular and parotid region,in others of the same

size su ch spin es are represen ted only by rounded wa rts . The tympanum is pres

ent,absent

,o r sca rcely distinguishable ;

‘rou ndish ’ o r ‘vertica lly ova l ’might

equa lly well describe its shape . The canthi are sha rp and distinct , no‘obtu se ’

ones being observed in this series . The tibio—tarsal articu lation s u sua lly reach to

the posterior border of the eye bu t many rea ch the nostril o r between the eye and

nostril .

Co lora tion . In life . Adu lt Bagilo . Above,almost uniformly red o n a l l

upper su rfaces,a fa in t light lin e from the eye a long the pa rotid glands ; tubercles

du sky grey ; sides and whole of u nder su rfaces marbled with grey .

Adult 9 . Bagilo . Above,bright ru sty red

,b rightest on Sides and hind limbs ;

centre of ba ck yellowish ; a single irregu la r black bar o n tibia and another on the

foot . Below,and on u nder su rface of limbs

,tran sparent white so tha t the da rk

interna l organ s in the chest region,and a cluster of eggs in the abdomen

,are

pla in ly visible .


The variab i lity o f the Ny ingwa series needs to be seen to be fu lly appreciated .

In life no two were alike in every detail and the varia tion defied description . Six

were selected fo r brief notice .

(a ) Above , da rk olive , an indistinct yellowish band uniting the upper eyelids ,

one o r two yel lowish blotches on the back and a vertica l line. above the

anus ; flanks sharply defined from back by their clear cream color ; limbs

and toes yellowish,with bands of dark olive of the same density as the

dorsa l colou ring . Below,transparent white

,bla ckish on belly by reason of

interna l organs being fu ll of food and Showing through ; some fifteen ,

rou nd , cream- colou red spots sca ttered o n the throa t and belly . These

Spots look like gilt when the toad is a live .

(b) Dark reddish- brown,no bars on limbs

,but a few scattered black spots o n

the upper su rface ; golden- cream spots on the throat and sides of belly,

which a lso extend to the flanks and a re more o r less visible from above .

(0) Yellowish- brown above,da rker brown o n flank s ; head , ba ck , and limbs

heavily sprinkled with red and bla ck blotches and Spots .

(d) Brown above , variega ted with darker , a very broad whi te vertebral band

from the snout to the anus . Below whitish , belly darker .

(e) Olive above , tinged with da rk sepia ; a white , ochre- edged , broad banduni tes the upper eyelids , ru fou s o n the outside edge of the limbs .

(f) Above , va riega ted with light and da rk brown , the whole of the upper andlower su rface bespattered with golden- cream spots .

M easu remen ts . Largest female (Nyingwa ) measu res 27 mm . All the largest

specimens are females,and without dissecting the whole series it would be difficu lt

to say which was the la rgest ma le , bu t on e Bagilo ma le mea su red 25 mm . Sma llest

specimens 11 mm . Embryo in mother 7 mm .

Breeding. Nieden (19 10 , Sitzber . Ges . Natu rf. Freunde Berlin , p . qu ot

ing Krefft,records

“

the characteristic ca ll,

‘pink, p ink- pink

,

’ of this frog which

he hea rd at Amani . There copu la tion took p lace in February and breeding in

M a rch which corresponds to the conmi encem en t of the big rain s . They were

certa in ly ca lling ‘

p ink-

p ink’at Ny ingwa in mid- October at a time when the

females a l l held well - developed tadpoles . On e is doubtfu l therefore whether it

is a breeding ca ll . We Shou ld suppose tha t in ra in- forest the breeding sea son

would n o t be well marked,and it m ay be merely a coinciden ce tha t at Bagilo in

September the fema les held eggs,at Nyingwa in mi d- October they held tadpoles ,

whilst a t Vituri there were perfect little toads in their abdomens , these toads

being without a trace of ta il in the last week of October .


Fou r Ny ingwa Specim en s examin ed hold 9 , 19 , 24 and 35 tadpoles respec

tiv e ly . One Vitu ri fema le had 27 frogs,a nd one cou ld detect the presence of

toads in the others through the transparent abdomina l skin .

Habita t. Bagilo specimen s were taken on ra in- sodden,leaf- strewn pa ths in

the rain- forest . The three Nyange toads were n ot taken in the va lley bu t nea r

the summi t ofM t. Tongoni ; the adult was found ben ea th a log,while the two

juveni les were in a wild banana . At Amani they were fou nd in domestic bananas

(planted on clea red forest land) a t to feet bu t were no t abundant .

At Kizeru i they were found in both wild and domestic banan as .

It was no t till the sixth day at Nyingw a that I discovered the true habita t

of the species . By l istening for the fa int p iping n ote,then marking down as

nearly as possible the spot from which it appa rently emanated , we secu red several

imma tu re toads under the ma tted moss- like growth which ca rpeted the forest

floor in places . On the sixth day I started opening bamboos and therea fter

fou nd an adu lt in about every tenth bamboo examined . Bamboos tha t had

fa llen over and were decaying were u n inhabited , as were a lso bamboos tha t had

been recently cut ; the favored bamboos were those tha t had been cu t by hum an

agency and well wea thered . Usually - su ch bamboos were chopped off at a height

of three o r fou r feet from the grou nd and held a certa in amoun t of wa ter at the

in ternode . The toads were found clinging to the inside wall of these stumps ju st

above the water . They rarely made any attemp t to escape u ntil tou ched butwere

very likely to be overlooked by rea son of their colou ring,which more or less har

m o ni zed with the mou ldy , variegated in teriors of the bamboos .

Distri bu tion . The Ulugu ru M tns . are the very hea rt of‘Ukami

,

’ so tha t all

specimens from tha t range are topotypic . Krefft has already recorded N . torn ier i

from Am ani .

Nieden described N . werthi,collected by Herr Werth , from D a r es Sa laam ,

whi ch is situ ated in the sandy coasta l belt and which seems a most unlikely

hab ita t , as the other members of the a llied genu s Nectophry ne occu rring in

Africa are known on ly from mou n ta in ranges o r from the Cameroon s . All are

ra in- forest forms .

Du ring the nine days spent a t D a r es Sa laam vigorou s sea rch was made for

this toad . Specia l attention was pa id to the Botani ca l Ga rdens . After my ex

perien ce with Nectophryno ides in the bamboos at Ny ingwa feet) I searched

the Japan ese and other imported bamboos in the ga rden s . Bamboo stakes which

were u sed for supporting p lants often con ta ined wa ter , but the on ly frog taken

in this situ a tion was an A rthro leptis sten oda ctylu s .


leaves amongst which they occu r . A young Bagilo toad , before me as I write , is

a rich da rk green heavily spotted with bla ck .

At Ny ingwa the va ria tion in colou r far su rpassed tha t occu rring in Bagilo .

The lower su rface was genera lly j et bla ck bu t ranged from tha t to pu re white .

Seven Ny ingwa specimens selected at random were ma rked as follows :

(a ) Uniformly j et black above and below ,except for the glandu lar regions o n

hind limbs,which a re bright ru sty brown .

(b) Like (a ) , bu t with a greenish vertebra l pa tch , and the supraocu lar and

glandu lar area s on the head , n eck and limbs are pinkish-white . Below

there a re white spots and patches o n the throa t , breast and fore limbs .

(c) Also like the first,but the centre of the head and back are bright yellow

while the glandu la r a reas of the hind limbs on ly a re pa le ochre .

(d) In this individu al all the upper surfaces are bright yellow except the

pa rotid and other glandu lar areas,which a re ru fou s the sides of the neck

and throa t and under Sides of fore limbs exhibit much white in Sha rp contrast to the rest of the u nder su rfa ce , which is bla ck .

(e) B la ck above,except fo r an ochraceou s—green dorsa l stripe from nose to

vent,which is crossed at right angles by a similarly colou red lin e from eye

to eye ; only the glandula r area s of hind limbs differentiated by reddish

brown colou r . Soles of the feet and under su rface of limbs blotched with

pure white,the rest of the lower surfa ces being black .

(f) A ha lf- grown toad . Un iformly black above and below except fo r a pa ir

ofpara llel , yellow ,dorsa l stripes from the supraocu la r regions to the loins ,

and the metata rsal glands,which are buffish.

(g) Ru fou s- brown above , the glandu la r a rea s ochraceou s- brown . Below,

bla ck except for a little white stippling on the lower j aws,and the pu re

white soles of a l l fou r feet .

M easu remen ts . Largest ma le mea su res 56 mm . ; largest fema le 60 mm . Both

from Bagilo ,bu t many fema les this size from other loca lities .

B reeding . An examination of fema les indicates a very definite breeding sea

so n,those from Bagilo ,

ix . 26,being distended with eggs ; in o ne these mea su red

56 mm . diameter , in another embryos were pla inly visible . At Ny ingwa , 15

19 . x . 26,a l l the la rger females held tadpoles bu t no toads were found in the ten

examined . At Vitu r i,23—30 . x . 26

,on ly on e held tadpoles ; of these there were

135, each measu ring 15 mm . long on 30 . x . 26 ; another toad , taken the same day ,


held 1 14 little toads,each measuring 6 mm . from snou t to ven t . Others examined

a lso held toads .

Diet. Conten ts of thirteen stoma chs , were (i) Beetle . (n ) Beetle and Phry

n isens whip - scorpion . (iii) Beetle and grasshopper . (iv) Beetle , grasshopper and

termites . (v) Three heads of soldier termites . (v i) Beetle and spider . (vii) Sp ider

and sna il . (viii) Big po lydesm id . (ix) M illipede and a large winged ant . (x) Sev

era l stink- an ts . (xi ) Woodlou se , tineid moth and five caddis la rvae . (xii) M any

caddis larvae . (xi ii) A huge smooth- ski nned ca terpilla r with a few ha irs o n it .

Defence . The enormou s glands on the limbs of this toad alone suffice to dis

tinguish i t from all other Ea st African Sa l ientia . Under stimu lu s from chloro

form,bu t not when anaesthetized

’

by potassium cyanide , a copiou s thick , white ,

and viscou s discharge is given off from the parotid and numerou s tibia l glands .

Habitat. The Bagilo series was taken o n the sodden,dead leaves of the

forest floor,or beneath damp

,moss- grown logs . On e at Vituri was found sitting

o n the top of a plant in the forest,its location being abou t a foot from the ground .

Their ven triloqu ia l ca lls are ra ther confu sing . At Ny ingwa , while endeavou r

ing to loca te the piping of one of these toads in my vicini ty , I examined a vertica l

stern Of bamboo and discovered it was occupied by an adult ma le and fema le . In

the cou rse of a couple of a fternoons,with the help of an assistan t

,I secured over

fi fty of these toads in bamboo stems . Generally on ly one toad was found in a

stem,bu t quite frequ ently pa irs were taken which

,to judge by their rela tive

sizes , were of opposite sex ; in one instance they were in embrace .

In contradistinction to Nectophrynoides torn ier i , which was found only in

vertica l stems,N . vioipa ra showed an u ndoubted preference for bamboos tha t

had been cu t and were lying at an angle among their fellows . Occas ion ally thesetoads were to be found in scraps of bamboo which were lying on the grou nd

,bu t

this was unu su a l . Like N . torn ier i,they never made use of bamboos which were

actually rotting . In examining small sections of bamboo , where there are no inter

nodes the hiding toad m ay often be discovered by holding the bamboo up to the

light , telescope- fashion . Here a wa rni ng may be given,fo r if there is an internode ,

or the Section happens to be choked with leaves,the investiga tor will receive

more than an eyefu l of very dirty wa ter in his face .


RAN ID AE

RANA OXYRHYNCHU S Smith

Ra na oxyrhynchus Sm ith , 1849 , ‘ Il lus. Zo o l . S . Africa , ’ 3 , Pl . LXXVII , figs . 2 and 2 a—c .

7 (M . C . Z . 12687—693) D ar es Sa laam , 9 . x i . 26 .

12 (M . C . Z . 12694—705) Bagamoyo , 1 1 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12706 ) Am ani , Usambara Mtns . , 20 . xi . 26 .

Co lora tion . In life . They were abundan t a long irrigation ditches at the

Catholic M ission and in a marsh three miles sou th of D ar es Sa laam . In the

former loca tion they were olive, o r grey- green

, o r reddish ; in the la tter , which was

o n black cotton soil , they were as black as the mud .

Breeding. All except the Amani frog are ha lf- grown specimen s .

Diet. Of ten stomachs examined a ll except two held sma ll grasshoppers . Theexception s were : (i) Cricket . (ii) Beetles and indetermin a te insect remain s .

RANA MASCARENIENS IS D um éril et Bibron

Ra na mascaren i ensis D uméril et Bibron , 1841 ,‘Erpét. 8, p . 350 .

4 (M . C . Z . 126707—10) D ar e s Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 1267 1 1—13) Bagamoyo , 1 1 . xi . 26 .

Breeding. The ma les were call ing in daylight at M ombasa on 3 . v . 26 . An

adu lt fema le in the Dar es Salaam series is fu ll of eggs but apparently not

breeding .

Diet. A big Spider in o ne , grasshopper remain s in another .

En emies . Captive Green Snakes (Chlorophis n eglectus) fed upon these frogs

at Dar es Sa laam .

RANA NUTTI‘ BOUlengeI

‘

Rana n u tti Bo u lenger , 1896 ,‘Ann . M ag . Nat . (6 ) 18, p . 467 .

Ran a fu sci gu la LOnnberg (no t D um . and 1907 , p . 2 1 .

Ra n a ango lensi s Lonnberg (not Bocage ) , 1907, ‘Reptil ia and Batrachia , ’in Sjostedt. Kil imandjarO -Meru

Exped . 1 , part 4 , p . 22 .

Rana n u tti LOnnbe rg , 19 11 , Sv ensk Vetensk . Ak ad . Handl . , 47 , No . 6 , p . 26—27 .

Rana dela la ndi i Nieden (n o t D um . et 19 15 , M itt . M us. Berl in , 7 , p . 352—353 .

Rana aberda r iensis An ge l , 1925, in ‘Voyage de Ch . All uaud et R . Jeann e l en Afriqu e Orien ta le (19 1 1pp . 42—46 , PI. 11, figs. 1 and 2 .

22 (M . C . Z . 126 11—620) Bagilo , Ul ugu ru M tns . , 10 . ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 12816 ) Mkuyun i, Ulugu ru M tn s., 18 . x . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 12621—624) Mkanga z i , Ulugu ru Mtns . ,20 . x . 26 .

5 (M . C . Z . 12625 - 629 ) Mka ra z i , Ul uguru Mtns. ,22 . x . 26 .

2 1 (M . C . Z . 12630—645) Vitu ri , Uluguru Mtn s. , x . 26 .

74 (M . C . Z . 12646—660) Amani, Usumbara M tns . , xi . 26 .

5 (M . C . Z . 1266 1—6 65) Bumbu li , Usum bara Mtns . , 12 . xii . 26 .

1 1 (M . C . Z . 12666 - 675 ) Lusho to , Usum bara Mtn s.,20 . xii . 26 .

49 (M . C . Z . 12677—685) Phi ll ipshof, Usumbara M tns.

, xi i . 26 .

Jula is Kisumbara. fo r a ll frogs,do ubtless derived from the Kiswahili chura .


M easu remen ts . La rgest males (Bagilo and Vitu ri) 74 mm . ; largest fema les

(Vituri) 1 10 mm . None of the Usambara series reached su ch a size,the biggest

ma le (Am an i) being 68 mm .,and female (Bum buli) 97 mm .

Breeding. The breeding sea son was apparen tly over in both ranges,as small

specimens 22 to 30 mm . in length were taken in every locality except Bumbuli .

At Bagilo young mea suring 22 to 30 mm . were tailless ; at Vituri one 23 mm .

Specimen had a stumpy tail,another 27 mm . had a tail 24 mm . ; a t Amani a

26 mm . frog was withou t a tail,while others from 25 to 27 mm . in length had ta ils .

The ma les had swollen pads on their hands ; the fema les held pepper- and- sa lt

ov a,bu t none were found Spawning .

Diet. The contents of ten stomachs examined was (i) Five ca rabids .

(11) Two ca rabids . (iii) Three bu gs . (iv ) Six flat bugs , three ca terpillars o fwhich

on e was smooth and two la rge and ha iry , mi llipede . (v) M illipede , hemipteron ,

ants,beetle . (v i) M i llipede , caterpillar , cockchafer . (vii) Caterpilla r , ela ter

beetle . (viii) Ha iry caterpillar , sna il . (ix) Beetle la rva and very large speckle

winged hemipteron . (x) Spider , crab and qu an tities of river gravel .

En emies . At Bumbu li,at 3 P .M .

,I hea rd a ru stling in the very dry grass and

leaves ju st opposite the hou se . I went across to see wha t was the cau se and found

an exceptiona lly large frog sitting blink ing with a great many sma ll bla ck ants

biting it,particularly on the web and toes of the hind feet . I picked twen ty

eight off it and qu ite as many dropped off as the frog was being an aesthetized .

It appeared dazed and apathetic like a frog which is being swallowed by a snake .

The sun was beating down upon it with withering hea t .

Habi ta t. This la rge frog is quite common o n the edge of the stream flowing

below the Amani Institute . The frogs rest du ring the day in the Short grass on

the bank s of the stream and take to the water when disturbed ; the larger ones

dive to the bottom ,where they m ay be seen resting ; the smaller ones , swimming

rapidly under wa ter,retu rn to the bank

,where they rest with ju st the head ex

posed u ntil they consider the danger is past,when they clamber up the bank .

In fa st- flow ing sections of the stream the la rgest frogs a lso pu rsu ed these tactics .

They are no t nearly so ha rd to ca tch as Ran a mascar en ien sis and ou r series

were secured by my wife wa lking a long the bank while I waded down the stream

and marked the spot where the frog came to rest . I wou ld then quietly place

the net beneath the frog and a movement from my wife wou ld scare it into the

net . In this way we lost very few . The environment at Phil lipshof was simila r to

tha t at Amani bu t here we did most of ou r ca tching a t ni ght . At n ight the frogs

were in the Short gra ss bordering the stream,often as much as ten feet away from

it and doubtless hunting insects . One of us would skirt the stream carrying a


lantern and point out the frogs to the other ; sometimes they appeared dazed and

could be caught by hand , bu t more often took a leap for liberty at the last mo

ment and landed into the net which was held ready .

At Bagilo they were found in pools in a rocky, rushin g torrent , at Lu shoto

in an irriga tion ditch close to the hotel . Curiou sly enough,on ly males were

found in the ditch .

RANA FASCIATA MERUMONTANA (Lonn berg)

Rana m erumontana Lonnberg, 1907 , in Sjostedt, ‘Kilim an j aro -Meru 1,part 4, p . 21, Pl . 1, figs. 4 a

and 4 b . (M t. Meru , T . T . )

106 (M . C . Z . 12715—35) Phillipshof, Usambara Mtns .,21 . xii . 26 .

Compared with R . merumon tana . In 1905 the Swedi sh Expedition secured a

single frog on M t. M eru,T . T .

, at metres ; thi s became the type of

R . merumon tana . Phillipshof is also approximately metres . The present

series agree very closely with the description of thi s frog,and the illustra tions

given convince u s tha t we are dealing wi th one and the same species .

While in the text the author has described the interorbital spa ce as ‘nearly

twice as broad as the upper eyel id , in his figure (as in the adu lts of the presen t

series) it is one and a ha lf times ; in young specimens it is twice as broad , bu t the

type was evidently adu lt (no measu rements are given ) for , he says , Skin smooth .

‘

This is more or less the ca se in adu lts,though the dorso- lateral folds are dis

tingu ishable when sou ght for . In the young there are 6 to 8 wel l-marked latero

dorsa l folds , all of them somewha t broken up . The length of the hi nd limb

develops disproportionately with age,fo r in the young the tibio- tarsal articu la

tion of the adpressed hind limb reaches just beyond the tip of the snou t , whi le

in adu lts it extends far beyond . The white line from the eye to the insertion of

the fore lim b shown in the figure is in rea lity a thickened ridge or raised band

of Sk in very characteristic of the species,though no tmen tioned in the description .

Compa red withR . fasciata . R . fasciata has never been recorded farther norththan the Shire Pla teau of Nyasa land , bu t o n comparing the Phillipshof series

with specimens from the Cape , or the Tran svaal , no structural difference can be

detected,except the more poin ted snout offasci ata , and the interorbita l width .

Twen ty- three frogs from four loca lities between the Cape Penin su la r and the

Northern Transvaal range in body length from 20 to 48 mm .,with hi nd limbs

from 35 to 106 mm .,the former being included in the la tter from to times .

An equ al number of frogs selected a t random from the Phillipshof series range

from 29 to 44 mm with hind limbs from 45 to 92 mm . the proportions being the

same as in the South African series v iz . to times .


Compa red with R. fu lleborn i . In 19 10 Nieden ba sed the description of this

species on a Single 50 mm . frog obta ined at metres in a crater lake'

of the

Ngosi Volcano . The onl y points in which it appea rs to differ from m erumon tana

are z'

‘nostril distinctly closer to eye than to end of snou t ’ as aga in st equ idistant

(in the Phillipshof series it is equidistant in ha lf- grown frogs , bu t closer to the

eye in adults) ; a second character rela tes to the interorbital spa ce , which infu lle

born i is stated to be,

‘as wide as upper eyelid

”

as again st ‘twice as wide ’ in

merum on tana or once and a ha lf to twice as wide in the Phillipshof frogs . The

author remarked that the species was very Simila r to fa scia ta bu t differs fromtha t species in the throa t having browni sh spots .

Compa red withR . sten ocepha la . This very long- toed species is closely rela ted

to,though qu ite distin ct from

,Rana sten ocepha la Bou lenge r from Entebbe ,

Uganda,of which there is a cotype in the collection of the M useum of Compara

tive Zoology . The cha ra cters in which the Phillipshof frogs differ from this cotyp e

a re as follows .

The head is broader and the snou t more rounded and less pointed than in

R . sten ocepha la ; the head is o n e and on e seventh as long as broad,while in this

cotype of sten ocepha la it is o n e and one fi fth (the origina l description says‘nea rly

once and a the snout,which is a little more than twice the diameter of

the eye,is less strongly proj ecting beyon d the mou th than in sten ocepha la ; the

nostril is somewha t nearer the eye than the end of the snou t,while in stenocepha la

it is equ idi stant ; the interorbital space , said to be equ a l to the upper eyelid in

the type,is on e and a half times its width in this cotype

,that is to say ,

exactly the

same as in a Phill ipshof frog of Simi la r mea suremen ts ; the tympana are a lso of

equal size though not nea rly as distinctin the Phillipshof frogs ; the fingers toes

and webbing are alike in their proportions,bu t the Phil lipshof frogs lack the very

small,more o r less distinct

,outer meta tarsa l tubercle’; the inn er is present and

equally developed in both species ; aga in ,both agree in possessing 6 to 8 glandu lar

longitu dina l folds and the strong glandu la r fold from benea th the eye to the

shou lder .

The differen ces between these closely rela ted forms m ay be best summed up

as follows :

La st three pha langes of 4th to e free , ba sa l two webbedLast fo ur pha langes of 4th toe free , on ly ba sa l j o in t webbed1 . Dorso - la tera l skin fo lds v ery distinct, interorbita l Space no t broader than

upper eye lid .

D orSO - latera l skin fo lds indistin ct o r broken up , in terorbita l spa ce once

and a ha lf to twice as bro ad as upper eye lid . Throat immacu la te2 . Throa t Spo tted .

Thr oat immacu la te .


RANA AD SPERSA (D um éril et Bibron )

Pyxi cepha lus adspersu s D uméril e t Bibron , 1841 ,‘Erpét. 8, p . 444 .

Ma ltzan ia bajan ia Bo ettger, 1881 , Abh. Senck . Ges . ,12

, p . 4 18, PI. 1 , figs. 3 a—e . (Senegambia . )Rana ma ltzan i i Boul enger , 1882, Cat. Batr. Sa l . Brit . Mus . , p . 34 .

Ran a adspersa LOnnberg , 19 10, in Sj5stedt, Kilim an jaro -Mew Exp . , 1, part 4, p . 21 . Pl . 1,

fig . 3a and 3b .

1 (M . C . Z . 12686 ) D ar es Sa laam , 4 . xi . 26 .

Va riation . Bo ettger’s Rana bufon ina is sa id to differ from adspersa in the

absence Of longitudina l dorsa l skin folds and ridges and in the la rger tympanum .

A comparison between LOnnberg’s excellent figure of a not fully adu lt adspersa

from Tanga, and Bo ettger’s figures of his type of bufon ina from Senegambia , will

Show how very sim ilar in appearance are these two crea tures .On the basis of the material in theM . C . Z . we are able to state with conviction

that Bo ettger’s smooth- Skinn ed 87 mm . typ e was only a young R . adspersa . The

materia l referred to is as follows

M . C . Z. No . 10369 . Frere Town , Kenya Co lony . Length 56 mm .

M . C . Z. N0 . 10367 . Kilosa , Tangany ika Terr. Length 96 mm .

M . C . Z. No . 12686 . D ar es Sa laam ,Tanganyika Terr. Length 98 mm .

M . C . Z. No . 10368 . Nyambita , Mwan za , Tangany ika Terr. Length 109 mm .

The first three of these are dorsa lly smooth - sk inned,Showing a gradu al devel

opm ent of lateral tubercles encroa ching on the ba ck . No . 10368 possesses a rou gh

back Simila r to LOnnberg’s figur e

,and comparable to the condition of the series

of adu lt South African R. adspersa in the collection . Probab ly methods of pres

e rv a tion have a s mu ch to do with a strongly tubercula r appea rance as has age .

Diet. Stomach fu ll of ants and sand .

Enemies . It had more than a score of dead soldier ants (D orylu s n igricans

subsp .) a ttached to its lim bs and belly .

Habita t. A half- grown specimen taken o n the edge o f a wa ter hole close to

M ogogoni Swamp .

ARTHROLEPTID ES MARTIENSSENI Nieden

A rthro leptides ma rti enssen i Nieden , 19 10, Sitzbe r . Ges. Naturi . Freunde Berlin , p . 445 .

23 (M . C . Z. 128 17- 21 ) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns. ,ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z. 12822) Vituri , Ulugu ru Mtns . , x . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z. 12823—4 ) Aman i, Usambara Mtns .,xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z. 12825) M t. Lu tindi , Usambara Mtns. , 10 . x11 . 26 .

Va ria tion . The interorbita l Space equ als the upper eyelid in large specimen s .

The deep concavity of the lorea l region is as pronoun ced in the young as in the

adu lts ; but while in the young the nostril is midway between the eyes and the

end of the snout , in full- grown frogs the nostril is once and a ha lf to twice as far


from the eye as from the end of the snou t . In very you ng specimen s,and in on e

adult ma le,the tibio- tarsa l articulation of the adpressed hind limb on ly reaches

the end of the snout . The ski n sometimes exhibits sca ttered fla ttened warts and

in one presents quite a granu la r appea rance .

Co lora tion . In life . d ‘. Bagilo . Above,dark olive- green

,lighter o n thighs

,

the whole freely sprinkled with white ; black blotches on back , and more o r less

well- defin ed bars on l im bs . Beneath , grey, darker on throa t , pa lms and soles ,

lighter o n chest , abdomen and thighs .

9 . Sigi below Am ani . This very reddish individua l was taken in the river

bed o n reddish soil . The larger d : from Amani was dark ol ive when found u nder

a log on the hillside abou t thirty yards from a stream . It was put into a white

linen bag to be taken ba ck to camp ; o n removing it from the bag it was found

to have changed to a pa le leaf- green .

M easu rements . The largest male (Bagilo ) measures 74 mm . ; largest fema le

(Vitu ri) 59 mm . Sma llest frog (Bagilo ) 17 mm .

Breeding. The Vitu ri fema le was fu ll of eggs on ly one other large female was

tak en . M ost of the Bagilo specimens were very young and were taken between

the 15th and 2oth of September .

Diet. The examina tion of eight stoma chs gave the following resu lts : (i) Gras s

hopper . (ii) Wasp . (ii i) Beetles . (iv ) Beetles and fly pupa . (v) Long - snouted

hemipteron lantern fly . (v i) Fou r neuropterous nymphs and a large spider .

(v ii) Big Spider . (viii) Abou t twenty aca cia leaf peta ls su ch as might have been

floa ting o n the sur fa ce of a pool .

Parasites . Worms of the family Physa lopteridae were found in the stomach

of an Amani frog .

PHRYNOBATRACHUS KREFFTII Bou lenger

Phryn obatrachus krefiti i Boii lenger , 1909, An n . Mag . Nat. Hist . , (8) 4, p . 496 .

100 (M . C . Z . 52736—60) Am ani , Usambara Mtns . ,25—30. xi . 26 .

46 (M . C . Z . 5276 1—75 ) Mt . Lu tin di,Usam bara Mtns .

,xii . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 52776—78) Bum buli , Usambara Mtn s. , 12 . xi i . 26 .

7 (M . C . Z . 52779—85) Phil lipshof, Usambara Mtns. , 21 . xii . 26 .

Va ria tion . Some of the above topotypes from Am an i have been carefu lly

compared with the female cotypes in the British Mu seum . The digita l disks are

very stron gly developed in thi s Phrynobatrachu s. In the types the tibio—tarsa l

a rticulation rea ches to the end of the snout,o r beyond . In the present series in

some examples it on ly ju st reaches the eye,in others the sn out o r beyond, nor

can this chara cter be u sed for separa ting the sexes . There is , however , a remark


ably interesting difference between the two,for in the ma les no t only is there the

ranid thickening of the thumb - pad,but the tubercles of the toes and meta tarsa l

region have developed into sharp li ttle spines . Cu riously enough there are li ttle

spinose points on the ba cks of the males,while the dorsal skin of the females is

perfectly smooth . These chara cters are probably of use only in distin gui shing

sexually matur e males,as none Of the small frogs seem to have them .

Co loration . In life . 6 1 . Above , olive with brown markings , sl ightly greenish

on head ; a fawn band , pinkish at its extremi ties , u nites the upper eyelids ; it is

sometimes backed with a darker one ; indications of another band at right angles

to this one commence o n the snout ; hind limbs fain tly barred with black , some

white specks on sides ofhead , fore lim bs and flanks . Below,upper aspect of lower

j aw white,wi th minute brown specks ; u nder aspect

,a Sharply distinct black

line running right round j aw ; throa t bright crome , a du sky band across chest

between fore limbs,brea st and belly sa tiny-white with a few brown flecks

,under

su rfa ce of limbs yellowish-

green with brown spots . Length 40 mm .

9 . The bright chrome- yellow throa ts are found only in the ma les ; in the

fema les they are white or greeni sh , as a lso in young immature frogs . The amount

o f marbling on the lower surface varies very mu ch . Some fema les have a light

band a long either flank and a light band benea th the eye .

M easu remen ts . The largest male measures 50 mm . ; largest females all 40 mm .

(type also 40 Smallest frogs 10 mm .,at which Size they first lose their tails .

Breeding. At Am ani . After a heavy shower just before sunset on December

2nd, we heard the frogs ca lling energetically from the bottom of a ravin e not very

far from the In stitu te . We hastened down as the light was fa ding , and loca ted

the frogs in a trickling stream . The males were call ing with vocal sacs inflated

and we were able to wa tch them at close qu a rters . Others were in embrace andseemed to favou r spots where wa ter flowed beneath rocks

,under which they would

retire at the la st moment . Spawn was fou nd which already held sma ll tadpoles ;

other free- swimm ing tadpoles with their hi nd legs showing were also collected .

From subsequ ent observa tions it wou ld appear that at this time of yea r,at any

rate,the frogs may collect for spawning a fter any heavy shower .

Description of Tadpo le . Length of body nea rly twice the width ; abou t o ne

half the length of the ta il . Nostrils slightly nearer tip o f snou t than eye . Eyes

dorso- la teral . Distance between eyes somewha t grea ter than the width of the

mouth . Sp iracle o n the left side , di rected upward ; much nearer the eye than to

the posterior end of the body,visible from above and below . Ana l tube horizon

tal , in the lower edge of the subcauda l fin ,slightly bent to the right . Tail slightly

more than four times as long as deep ; sha rply poin ted ; upper and lower fins


Re la tions. Thank s to the ki ndness of M r . H . W . Pa rker we have recently

received a cotype of P . bou lenger i from Beira , Portuguese Ea st Africa , which we

have compared with Cope’s origina l types and with the Dar es Sa laam speci

mens listed above and find identical beyond the slightest question .

Zanziba r,the type locality of P . acr idoides

,is almost opposite Bagamoyo on

the coast and not more than forty miles from Dar es Salaam . Nieden (1915)referred 71 Specimens from Zan zibar

,Bagamoyo and Dar es Sa laam to acri

doides,an undou btedly correct decision .

A compa rison of the description of P . acridoides,with the fu ller descriptions o f

P . bou lenger i and A . janenschi shows tha t they are all in absolute agreemen t with

the chara cters given by Cope except that Ahl’s jan en schi is said to lack a conica l

papilla on the tongu e,a fea tur e tha t may well have been overlooked . Ahl’s

description is,indeed

,a very excellent on e of P . acr ido ides from Dar es Salaam .

In 1924 Noble,

1on the basis of the variability of his hu ge series of Phryno

batrachus na ta lensis from the Congo and the publi shed description of P . bou len

geri , placed the la tter in the synonymy of the former . This cou rse was followed

by the junio r author in his 1925 paper cited above . The receipt of the cotype of

P . bou lenger i confi rmed the conclu sion already a rrived at tha t P . bou lenger i was

a much sma ller frog ; Dr . Noble fully concurs in the conclu sion that it is distinct

from P . na ta lensis .

Distribu tion . Ea st African specimens in the collection of the Mu seum of

Comparative Zoology are from the following localities :

Kenya Co lon y : Frere Town , near Mom ba sa .

Zanz ibar: Za n zibar (co types of Staur a is a crido ides Co pe ) .Tanga nyika Terri tory : Gonya , Bagamoyo , D ar es Sa la am , D uthum i, Tu lo , Moro goro , Ki lo sa .

Portugu ese Ea st Afri ca : Be ira (co type of P . bou lengeri ) ; Masiene , near Cha i-cha i, Limpopo River.

Tendaguru is n ear Lindi on the littora l between D ar es Salaam and Beira . All

the loca lities recorded above are on the coa stal pla in , o r have a typica l coastal

fauna and an a ltitude of less than feet .

Va ria tion . The key character of the interorbita l space , being n arrower than

the upper eyelid (a cr idoides) o r a little broader (bou lenger i ) , is of little use , fo r the

interorbita l spa ce in the presen t series equ als the upper eyelid or is a little n ar

rower Or a little broader . The tympanum ,which is sa id to be distinct in the type

,

is ju st distingu ishable below the postocu la r fold ; toes , sa id to be two- thirds

webbed in the typ e , are a lm ost fu lly webbed in the present series except the last

two j oin ts of the fou rth to e ; the tips of the fingers and toes,sa id to be dilated

in the type, are usu a lly n o t dila ted thou gh sometimes slightly dilated ; the tibio

ta rsa l a rticula tion o i the adpressed hind limb rea ches the posterior border of the1 Noble , 1924, Bu ll . Am . Mus. Nat . Hist . , 49, Art. ii , pp . 188—19 1 .


tym panum or the tip of the snou t or any point between these extremes ; ski n

folds from the posterior border of the eye to the fore arm are conspicuou s,bu t the

convergent,then divergent

,plicae from the orbits to the scapular region are

scarcely distingui shable .

Co loration . A dorsa l stripe , narrow o r broad , present o r absent . Juveni le

Specimens from a sandy wa ter hole nea r Dar es Salaam were so extraordinarily like

the gra ins of sand in colou r tha t they could rarely be detected until they moved .

M easu remen ts . The largest specimen,a female from Bagamoyo

,measured

28 mm . ; the smallest frog (Dar es Sa laam) measured 11 mm .

Breeding . Nearly all the D ar es Sa laam frogs are very sma ll but exhibit no

trace of tails,yet their presence showed tha t the breeding sea son was du ring the

big rains ’ M arch—M ay .

Diet. Beetles .

Habitat. They were found in the gras s bordering the irrigation ditches in the

Catholic M ission plantation,also arou nd a small water hole dug in a sandy hol

low near the sea and some thr ee mi les south of the town . When sufficien tly

a larmed the young frogs sprang into the wa ter,bu t qu ickly stru ck out for the

edge as if instinct wa rned them that the dangers of deep water might be greater

than those of the land .

PHRYNOBATRACHUS OGOENSIS - (Bou lenger)

Arthro leptis ogoensis Boulanger, 1906 (for 1905) Ann . Mus . Stor. Nat . Genova , (3) i i , p . 162, PI. 1 , figs. 7

a nd 8 . (Lambarene , Ogowe. ) Lo v eridge , 1925, Proc . Zob'

l . Soc . Lo ndon,p . 783 (Bagilo ) .

86 (M . C . Z . 12786—790) Bagi lo , Ulugu ru Mtns.

,ix . 26 .

50 (M . C . Z . 1279 1—795) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns .

,x . 26 .

17 (M . C . Z . 12796—800) Mkangaz i , Ulugur u Mtns.

,x . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 12801—804) Nyingwa , Uluguru Mtns., 19 . x . 26 .

Also seen at Mka ra z i, Ul uguru Mtns.

, T . T .

Rela tions . The two Bagilo frogs referred to Arthro leptis ogoensis by the junior

author in 1925 are specifically identical with the present series from the Uluguru

M ountains . M r . H . W . Parker has sent us a topotype of A . ogoensis which has

been examined by Noble,who was working here on amphibian gen eric characters

at the time . He finds that it possesses the bony sternum and omosternum of

Phrynobatrachus as defined by Hewitt , so tha t herea fter the species shou ld beknown as Phrynobatrachus ogoensis (Bou lenger) .

Arthro leptis rouxi Nieden (Buddu Forest , Uganda) has already been placedin the synonymy of P . ogoensis by the junior au thor . A ca refu l peru sa l of the

description of Phrynobatra chu s kinangopensis Angel from Kinangop , Aberda re

Mou nta ins , Kenya Colony, Shows tha t , like A . roumi and the topotyp e of ogoensis


referred to above,it has the first finger shorter than the second ; apart from this

there is no differen ce between the two species except tha t kinangopen sis is said to

have the toes three - qu arters webbed,and ogoensis nearly one- half webbed ; in both

it extends as a fringe nea rly to the end o r to the end . Without topotyp ic ma teria l

we hesita te to consider kin angopensis definitely as a synonym .

There is,in fact

,o n e doubt in referring Ulugu r u frogs to ogoensis . They agree

in every respect when compa red with the topotyp e except in colou ring , fo r like

roumi and kinangopensis it possesses a vertica l stripe , yet on e of the types (fig . 8)

a lso lacks this stripe and is colou red above exa ctly like theUluguru frogs . It seems

strange,however

,tha t in such a long series over 150 specimen s not a single

Uluguru frog should have a dorsa l stripe . West African frogs appear to be more

spotted benea th than those from the Ulugu ru ,where the throa t on ly is be

sprinkled or blotched .

Va riation . The sternum and omosternum are defin itely bony . D igita l disks

are u su ally present thou gh occasionally lacking ; in the Nyingwa series , for exam

ple,both conditions are found

,though the frogs are beyond qu estion ofon e species .

M inute spines on the back are more numerous in the ma les than in the fema les .

Co lorati on in life . Mkanga z i specimen . Above,back olive

,l imbs yellowish ,

the whole variegated with dusky ma rks,some of which form bars on the limbs .

Below,throat and belly sa tiny- white

,the former characteristica lly speckled or

marbled with bla ck as well as the flanks,the edge of the lower lip presenting a

chequered appearance .

M easu remen ts . The largest specimen , a female from Nyange , measures 27

mm . None of the Bagilo series measu re more than 25 mm . The smallest frog

(Bagilo ) measu res 1 1 mm . and has a ha lf- absorbed ta il 5 mm . long .

Br eeding. Nyange frogs were calling day and n ight in a marsh close to my

tent ; this was du rin g the first eleven days of October . Fema les from all loca litieswere distended with o v a . Young measu ring 12 mm . in length were taken at

Nyange and Mkanga z i . Evidently this species spawn s twice a year in these

moun ta ins,namely

,du ring the grea ter and lesser rains . Possibly the spines

referred to above a re present only dur ing the breeding season .

Diet. Beetles .

Pa rasi tes . Red subderma l parasites are so frequently present upon frogs of

this species in the Uluguru M ounta in s tha t they might almost be employed as

an a id to identifica tion "

Enemi es . A large frog from Nyange has the right leg missing from well above

the knee .

208 AFRICAN HERPETOLOGY

BARBOUR AND LOVERID GE 209

It then transpired that the key cha racters supposed to differentia te several

alleged Species were common to examples from several localities where large

series were collected . For example,the tibio- tarsa l j oint of the adpressed hind

limb is said to reach the tympanum o r posterior border of the eye (whyti i ) , be

tween tympanum and eye (brevipes) , eye (sten odactylus , lonn bergi , methn er i ) in

series it m ay only ju st rea ch the tympanum o r as far as the middle of the eye , a

sexual rather than a specific character,the shorter lim bed frogs being females .

The papilla o n the tongu e is absent in several ha lf- grown frogs o r is , at least ,

not to be detected , while it is present in other frog s from the same loca lity ; in

three ou t of the four Dar es Salaam specim ens it seems to be lack ing . The ab

sence of this papill a was sa id by Nieden to be the only distingu ishi ng featu re

differentiating lannbergi from stenodactylus , while formerly it was supposed to be

absent in the type of that species . Sometimes this papilla , as it lies in the li ttle

pit from which it springs,is flush with the level of the tongu e and i ts promi nen ce

appears to depend not only on age bu t a good deal on the state of preserva tion

of the specim en .

The shovel- l ike metatarsal tubercle so prominent in adu lts is sma ll,bu t quite

distinct,in the young (of. examples from Victoria Falls , Zambesi R iver , W . S

Brooks leg. ; cu riou sly enough no very young specM enS were met with du ring the

present expedi tion) and serves to di stinguish them at once from the young of

A . adolfi-j’

ri eder ici,whi ch has a rounded

,more oblong tubercle .

It is,therefore

,advisable to redescribe the species o n the basis of this series

onl y,and it wi ll then be found to embrace every variation cited in the de

scription s of the five spe cies which we relegate to the synonymy of stenodactylu s .

Description . A large species of stou t habit , rather Squat . Head moderate ,broader than long , varying with sex ; snou t rounded , as long as the horizonta l

diameter of the eye ; canthus rostra lis obtuse or distinct (sharper in the young) ;

nostril midway between eye and end of snout o r a li ttle nearer the end of the

snout than the eye (both conditions occur ring in adults from the same locality) ;

interorbita l space equa ls the breadth of the upp er eyelid o r is slightly narrower o r

slightly broader ; tympanum distin ct , one - third o r two- thi rds the diameter of the

eye (its size develops with age as in Bufo) ; tongue wi th , rarely withou t , a coni ca lpapilla Situa ted in a small pit on the front .Fingers Slender

,unequal

,their tips obtuse , slightly swollen but not di lated ,

l st and 2nd equa l,o r l st slightly longer o r slightly shorter than 2nd , 1st longer

than 4th, 3rd a l ittle longer than 1st in females , once and a half to twice as long

in males . Tips of toes slightly swollen , not dilated ; toes withou t webs or with


the very slightest trace ; a single inn er metata rsal tubercle , large , shovel- shaped

as in Rana dela landi i , as lon g as, o r slightly longer than , the inn er toe ; no ou ter

metatarsa l and n o tarsal tubercle ; subarticu lar tubercles on fingers and toes

well developed , papilla - like ; the tibio- tarsal j oint of the adpressed hind limb

reaches the tympanum o r as fa r as the eye .

Skin smooth above , below smooth o r subgranular,sides granu late o r slightly

warty ; very occasiona lly a narrow verteb’

ra l ridge from snout to anu s .

Colora tion . In life . An adu lt breeding female from Nyingwa is fa irly typical ,

thou gh great range of variation occu rs and the vertebra l l ine is generally

wanting .

Above,pa le brown with a yellow ,

thread- like,vertebral l ine comm encing o n

pr aefrontal region and continuing past the anus to the lower surface ; it is crossed

at right angles on the anu s by a simila r line extending across the hind limbs from

meta tarsus to metatarsu s ; the vertebra l line is flank ed o n either side by dark

brown,light- edged cha in s of markings typical of the genus ; other light- edged ,

irregular,darker brown blotches towards the flanks ; a very black cantha l band ,

light- edged above , pa sses from end of snout through nostril and eye over the

tympanum,where it terminates on a level with the buccal border ; lips brown but

heavily blotched with white ; limbs barred wi th brown and speckled with white .

Below ,white with some brown on throa t ; two noticeable , elongate , brown blotches

between fore arms,and brown ma rblings on flank s . Pupil black surrounded by a

narrow gold ring ; iris yel low , o r golden , obscured by black specklings .

Five of the Amani specimen s have imma cula te throa ts,wherea s all Uluguru

frogs have the throa t marbled . All the Dar es Salaam frogs (females) are

immacu late on the throa t , while two of them have each a broad , light , vertebral

band .

M easu rements . Largest ma les (Nyingwa , Am ani,M t. Lutindi)measu re 35 mm . ;

la rgest females (Am ani) 44 mm .

, others (Nyange) 42 mm . in length . The small est

male (Ny ingwa) was 24 mm . and sma llest fema le (Dar es Sa laam) 20 mm .

Sexes . The sexes showed a marked disproportion , only fifteen males being

taken as aga inst thirty- seven females . The males m ay be distinguished readi ly by :

(i) Much longer 3rd finger,which is o ne and a ha lf to twice the length of the l st.

(ii) Sma ller size , not exceeding 35 mm . in this series .

(ii i) Da rkly pigmented throa t or chin .

(iv) Loose skin of vocal sac on throat .


ARTHROLEPTIS AD O'

LFI- FRIED ERICI Nieden

Arthro leptis adolfi-j’

ri ederi ci Nieden , 19 10, Sitzber . Ge s. Naturf. Freunde Berl in , p . 440 .

22 (M . C . Z . 13140—44) Bagllo , Ulugu ru Mtns .

,ix . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13145) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtns. , 1 1 . x . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13146—4 7) Nyingwa , Uluguru Mtns. , 6 and 18 . x . 26 .

6 (M . C . Z . 1 3148—52) Vituri , Ul uguru Mtns. , x . 26 .

190 (M . C . Z . 13153—6 0) Am an i, Usambara Mtns . , xi . 26 .

5 (M . C . Z . 1316 1—6 5) Mt . Lutindi , Usambara Mtns .,10. xi i . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13166—6 7 ) Phi ll ipshof, Usambara Mtns. ,24 . xi i . 26 .

Rela tions. Nieden compared this frog with A . whyti i Bou lenger sten o

dactylus) , to which it bears a striking colou r likeness and general resemblance .

Constant featu res in which they diffe r, as demonstrated by the present series ,

are the longer hind lim bs ofadolfi-frieder ici , reaching to between the eye and snout

or,in the case of males

,not infrequ ently beyond ; the rounde d , not shovel

shaped,metatar sal tubercle , which is shorter than the inner toe ; the well- devel

oped disks ofboth fin gers and toes (these stron g disks appea r in all ages and while ,

perhaps,usually rounded , they are very frequently shar ply pointed as in A .

xenodacty lu s Bou lenge r) .

Colora tion . The coloration is very variable,more noticeably so in life

,when

it tends to resemble the tones of the env ironm ent . Three half- grown Bagilo frogs

and o ne Ny ingwa frog exhibit a broad , white , median , dorsa l stripe . In most

specimens the mi ddle of the belly is imm acu late white but in some it is marbled

like the throat and lower sides .

At Amani the variation exhibited was a stoni shing . Where bamboos shade

the path,and bestrew it wi th their long white leaves

,the frogs are white

,o r

whitish,but reta in their black ma rki ngs . Fifty yards away

,where the dead

leaves are rufous- stained through contact with the red soil of which the path is

composed , the frogs , particu larly the sma ller ones, were bright reddi shbrown .

On en tering the nearby forest where black soil predominated,frogs were less

plentifu l but very da rk in colou r .

M easu rements. L‘

argest male (Bagilo ) measures 32 mm .,next largest (Phil

lipshof) 31 mm . ; largest female (Amani) 42 mm .

,range of largest from every

local ity 38 to 42 mm . Sma ll est frogs at Amani,8 mm . ; at Bagilo , 12 mm .

Sexes . An interesting sexual difference , presum ably developed fo r the breed

ing season,appears in one Bagilo ma le (13143) and one Phillipshofmale

where the second and third fingers exhibit on their inn er side a series of tooth

like granu les as figu red by Bou lenger for A . poeci lonotus (1906 , Ann . M ag . Nat .

Hist .,Ser . 7

, Vo l . 17 , p . 320 , fig . Whil e the disks of the Bagilo male are sharply

pointed,those of the Phillipshof frog are roun ded .


Di et. (i) Big black ant . (11) Two species of caterp illa rs . (iii ) Cockr oach .

(iv) Cockroach . (v) Cockr oac h . (v i) Cockr oach and big Spider . (Vii ) Spider .

(viii ) Freshwa ter Shrim p . Apparently the cockr oaches,whi ch are very common

among the dead leaves frequented by the frogs,form one of their principa l articles

of diet .

Enemi es. One from the stomach of a Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia torn ieri at

Vitur i on 27 . x . 26 .

Ha bi tat. The species seems to court sunlight at Am ani,where the maj or ity

were captur ed in the mornings o n leaf- strewn paths exposed to the full gla re of

the sun . See a lso remarks under coloration .

ARTHROLEPTIS SCHUB OTZI Nieden

Arthro lepti s schubotz i Nieden , 1910,\

Sitzber . Ges . Na turf. Freunde Berlin ,p . 440.

5 (M . C . Z . 13168—72) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns .

,16 . ix . 26 .

Va riati on . Described in 1910 from a Single specim en taken in the Usumbur a

M tns .,ofwestern Tanganyik a Territory

,it has since been recorded from Langen

burg and west of Mpapua . Withou t any au thentic examples for comparison ,

though the series agrees perfectly wi th the somewha t meagr e description,the

identification Should be received wi th reserve . If,however

,they are correctly

determined , the author appears to have overlooked what is perhaps the most

di stinctive fea tur e of thi s small species, v iz .

,the num erous , almost spinose , tuber

cles on the tibia and foot . Al l agree wi th the typ e in that the tibio- tarsal articu la

tion of the adpressed hi nd lim b reaches the bi nder part of the eye . The very sli ght

di lations of the toes , and those of some of the fingers also,are more o r less

pointed in all fiv e frogs .

Colorati on . No colour descrip tion was given by Nieden . The following was

made on day of capture . Above,grey

,a somewhat indistinct chain ofmarkings

from the snout along the back to lumbar region , a black blotch above anus ; two

very striking b lack ma rks,on e on either side

,ju st in front of hind lim bs ; lips

black , ma rbled wi th white ; fingers and toes barred black and white , limbs barred

with black especia lly noticeable on the tibia, bright red on loins and posterior

aspect of thi ghs . Below,whi te

,mottled oir marbled with grey everywhere

,but

least conspicuously o n the bel ly .

M easu remen ts . The series measur es 19 , 19 , 17 17 and 16 mm . respectively ;

the typ e measu res 21 mm .

Diet. The stomach of the only Sp ecimen examined contain ed a very smallgra sshopper .


Pa rasites . Sma ll red mites o n the thi ghs of o ne or two of the frogs .

Habitat. Am on g fallen leaves on a damp path in a very wet section of the

rain- forest .

ARTHROLEPTIS XENOD ACTYLUS Bou lenger

Arthro leptis xenodactylu s Bo u lenger , 1909 , Ann . Mag . Nat. Hist. , (8) 4, p . 496 .

13 (M . C . Z . 13173—177 ) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns . ,ix . 26 .

3 (M . C . Z . 13178—179 ) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns ., 6 and 7 . x . 26 .

6 (M . C . Z . 13180—185) Mkaraz i , Ulugu ru Mtns. ,22 . x . 26 .

152 (M . C . Z . 13 186—209 ) Am ani,Usambara Mtns .

, xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13210) Phi llipshof, Usambara Mtns. , 27 . xii . 26 .

Va riati on . The character on which so much stress has been la id,that of the

sha rply pointed digital disks,is not specific : though it is usu a lly present , many

frogs have on ly rounded di sks . The snout from the nostril is invariably shorter than

the eye,mu ch shorter in very young frogs . In both sexes the nostril is somewhat

nearer the end of the snout than the eye,n ot equidistant . The first finger is much

shorter than the second (stated to be shorter in the origin a l description) and

should therefore cau se the species to fall into another section of Noble’s key

(1924, Bull . Am. Mus. Nat . Hist ., v o l . 49 , Art . ii , p . The tibio- tarsal

articulation of the adpressed hind limb reaches between eye and snout (as in

typ e) almost invariably, but in occa sional specimens it ju st fa lls short of

the eye .

Co lora tion . In the field the junior au thor thought that he had two di stin ct

species,SO different are the sexes in appearance and colou r . Some with flattened

heads and very depressed snouts,whi ch lack the typ ical chain of vertebral mark

ings characteristic of the genu s , being brown above (in alcohol) , appear to be all

adul t females . The description of a Bagllo frog as taken down in the field was as

follows . Above,y ellowi shbrown marbled with darker and stipp led with

white,a la rge orange blotch on the back ju st above the anal orifice (thi s Spot

Spreads to right and left o n to the thighs) ; sides dark brown separated from the

dorsa l colou ring by a light pinkish- white lin e commencing on the snout and passing

over the nostril and eye a long the side to the hind l imb ; thighs and inner aspect

of tibia of the same or ange shade as the an a l patch . Below,white marb led with

greenish- grey,soles of feet darker, almost bla ck .

Others were fou nd in whi ch,in addi tion to the la rge orange blotch

,the typical

vertebral cha in of ma rkings was a lso presen t,bu t the maj ority lacked the orange

blotch and possessed the cha in of dorsa l ma rkings . The adu lts o f this type which

were exam ined a ll proved to be males,and it appea rs to be the universa l colouring


ARTHROLEPTIS M INUTUS Bou lenger

Arthro lepti s m inu ta s Bou lenger , 1895 , Proc . Zool . Soc . Londo n , p . 539 , PI. XXX ,fig . 4.

9 (M . C . Z . 12826—30) Am ani , Usambara Mtns. , xi . 26 .

10 (M . C . Z . 12831—35 ) Phillipshof, Usambara Mtns . , 24 . xii . 26 .

Va ria tion . These specimen s answer perfectly to the description ofA parvu lus

Bou lenger from Angola .

Sin ce writing the foregoing some of these frogs have been submi tted to M r .

H . W . Parker,who has k indly compa red them with the types of minu tu s and

pa rvu lu s; he says that they‘certainly agree better w ith parvu lu s than with

mi nu tus,

’ but points out that,without careful ly stu dying the whole genus to

appreciate the rela tive va lu es , it is almost impossible to give a verdi ct as to the

specific identity or otherwise of A . m inu tus and A . parvu lus . He continues :‘They look different to me , minuta s being larger and heavier , but I have foun d

no defini te cha racter by which they can be distinguished . Be fore I could state

definitely that they were conspecific I Shou ld like to see material from the inter

v ening territories ; all ou r Specim ens ofA . pa rvu lu s (8) are from Angola, whereas

all those of A . minu tu s (12) a re from the eastern side of the Great Lakes . In pass

ing,the record of the la tter species from Portuguese Gui n ea (Bo u lenger , 1906 ,

Ann Mus . Civ . Genova , (3) 2 , 42, p . 161 , Noble , 1924 , Bull . Am . Mus. Nat . Hist .

49, i i , p . 316) is an error ; the specimen appears to belong to A . gu tterosu s

Chabanaud .

’

HYPEROL IU S spp .

Owing to the u nsatisfactory condi tion of this genus , its bad n eed of revision ,

the meagre descriptions ofmany of the species , and the diffiCu lty of distinguishi ng

Species which have little bu t colou r to separate them , though doubtless perfectly

distinct,it is quite possible tha t some of the following examples of conco lor ,

ma riae and puncticu latus are wrongly assigned .

A la rge series was collected in the hope tha t it might clea r up some of the

existing di fficu lties,bu t the reverse rather seems to be the case .

HYPEROL IUS CONCOLOR (Hallowell)ITa lu s con co lor Ha llowe ll , 1844, Pro c . Acad . Nat. Sci . , Phi la . , 2 , p . 60 .

1 (M . C . Z . 1326 1 ) Mkara z i, Ulugu ru Mtns. ,22 . x . 26 .

Vari a tion . Structur ally in agreement with topotypic material , the tibio

tarsal a rticu lation reaching the eye .

Co lora tion . If correctly determined , this young 20 mm . frog differs from

topo typic Liberian examp les in being almost colour less when preserved ; in place


of the dark ba cks of adul t L iberian specim ens there is only very mi nute stippling ,

nor does it Show any tra ce of pink on thighs o r feet . In this it is mu ch more like

Belgian Congo (det . Noble) and Bukoba (det . Loveridge) frogs in the M . C . Z .

collection . From the under -mentioned Derema frogs it differs in having the thighs

finely stippled ; those of the Derema frogs are colou rless , but L iberian specimens

have a narrow lin e of stippl ing .

In life this frog was ‘

uniform pale sa tiny- green,idea lly sui ted to the situa tion

in which it was found a banan a stem .

’

HYPEROL IUS MAR IAE sp . n .

Plate 3,F ig . 1

5 o" d ‘ (M . C . Z . 13262—66 ) Derema

,Usambara Mtns.

, 30 . xi . 26 .

8 Q 9 (M . C . Z . 13267—7 1) Derema , Usambara Mtns. , 30 . xi . 26 .

57 juv (M . C . Z . 13272—76 ) Derema , Usam bara Mtns . , 30 . xi . 26 .

Diagnosis . Nearest to con co lor , from which it differs in the smaller size of the

breeding adu lts and in the a lmost entire absence of any pigmentation on the

thighs , which is proba bly a character of some importance as it is related to the

amount of thigh exposed when the frog is at rest ; pigmenta tion in the form of

stippling is present on the thighs of our topotype Liberian specimens of concolor

as well as o n examples from the Congo and Tanganyika Territory.

If correctly referred to the new species,the juvenile frogs as well as one male

and two fema les Show by their canthal markings (lost in ma tu rity) rela tionship

with puncticu latu s and argus . Indeed,except in the matter of Size and markings

,

it is difficul t to distinguish the new species , though - it has apparently a greater

amount of webbing o n the hind feet thou gh the chara cter is not over- reliable in

a large series .

In a ll probabil ity the specim ens from Derema referred to conco lor by Nieden

are iden tica l with the form now described .

Type . No . 13267 , M useum of Comparative Zoology . An adu lt fema le taken

in sedges near the mi ll d am at Derema; Usambara M tns . , Tanganyika Territory .

Collected on November 30th, 1926 , by M rs. M . V . Loveridge,after whom it is

named .

Description . Head Slightly longer than broad ; snout rounded , Sl ightly pro

jecting , longer than the orbita l diameter (reckoni ng snout from anterior border

of eye) ; canthu s rostra lis di stinct but rounded ; lorea l region vertica l , very

slightly concave ; interorbita l space twice as broad as upper eyel id (one and a

half times in some female pa ra types) ; transverse orbita l diameter equ a ls the


distance from the anterior border of the eye to the nostril , a lso the distan ce be

tween the nasa l openings (or longer than the internasa l di stance in some fema le

para types) ; tympanum hid‘den . F ingers and toes moderate , di lated at their tips ,

fingers about two - thirds webbed,the web extending to the ba se o f the disk of

the ou ter finger , to the la st j oint but o ne on both Sides of the third finger , between

the la st j oint but o ne and the dista l j oint of the second , to the last j oin t but one of

the first ; toes fu lly webbed , that is to say ,to the ba ses , or a lmost to the base of

the disks ; the tibio - tarsal j oint of the adpressed hind limb reaches the end of the

snout in the typ e (usu ally the eye , or between eye and nostril in a ll fema le para

typ es) . Sk in smooth above and below excep t on the breast , belly , and thighs ,

where it is granu la r . One o r two ha rdly distingu ishable granules at the comm issure of the mouth .

Va ria tion in cf‘ para types . The interorbita l Space is from o ne and a ha lf to

twice as broad as the upper eyelid ; fi‘

ngers only ha lf webbed ; tibio - ta rsa l artic

u lation of the adpressed hind limb rea ches to the eye, o r slightly beyond . The

skin of the gula r disk is ma rkedly granular .

Va ria tion in young . It is highly probable that the young o f more than o ne

species of Hypero lius are included , and that some are young puncticu latu s, bu t

it is doubtful if they could be sa tisfactorily sepa ra ted . They appear to be some

wha t different to the young puncticu la tus from Phillipshof in genera l , though in

div idu als are simila r . Fingers and toes of these young are much less webbed

than those of the adu lts,the fingers exhibit a trace ofweb , and the toes might be

said to be two - thirds webbed .

Co lou r of 9 type in l ife . Above,uniform greyish-white o n head , back , tibia ,

and outside edge of foot ; a black Speck on snou t , nostrils ringed with black , edge

of upper eyelid black , an indefini te broad cream- colou red stripe o n Side with a

broad bl ack one below it ; thighs flesh- pink or blood- red . Be low ,lower lips tipped

with blood- red , throat white , rest of the under surface blood- red .

Colou r of 9 pa ra types in a lcoho l . The seven fema les exhibit a gradation

from light to da rk on the backs ; two specimen s (23 and 26 mm . long) , which are

very pale above and Show no pink,have a light cantha l band of the a rgu s typ e ,

passing through the eye to some distance along the flank ; there is a very Slight

con centration of bla ck pigment above and below this colou rless lin e . The remain

ing six (25 to 28 mm . in length and which are breeding fema les) do n o t Show any

light cantha l band,bu t its p lace is taken by a da rk spot a round the nostril and

another spot behind the eye,which exhibit a tendency to develop with age until

they a lmost meet to fo rm a very bla ck cantha l streak . There is a lso an isola ted


Relations . While the Derema frogs are undoubtedly specifica lly identical

with the M orogoro examples described and figured by M iss J . Procter 1 and those

from Bumbul i seem to be va riants of the same thing , the adult Phillipshof frogs

appear to be somewha t intermedia te with a rgus .

Co loration . The Derema frogs are well spotted above,except six o f the

sma ller specimens ; the very broad lateral band , bordered by a thick black line

above and : below ,is a constant fea ture in the markings of the adu lt females in

alcohol . In life one Derema specimen was colou red as follow s . Above,browni sh

orange wi th or wi thou t black spots ; a white line edged with yellow and broadly

with black both above and below begins o n snout,passes over (and the bla ck

line through) nostril and eye and term ina tes o n flank . A corresponding white

spot ringed with yellow and black on heel . Thighs and feet yellow,tinged with

bla ck . Below,uniformly yellow except hands and feet

,which are flesh- pink .

Another was brownish- yellow above ; a yellow line black- edged above and

below,over (and thr ough) nostril and eye to middle of flank ; thi ghs and feet

blood- red . Below,orange -yellow .

The Bumbuli series,all taken at one spot , exhibit the most bewildering

am oun t of variation from a uni formly colou red frog whose only marking is a black

ringed spot in front of the right eye (a rudim ent of the canthal band which is

present in most of the others) , to individuals with a ll the exposed su rfaces v er

m icu lated , o r with dorsal stripe and latera l markings . Scarcely two are iden

tical ly marked . The following descriptions of two unu sua l types,as taken down

in the field,are given in full .

No . 13286 . An adu lt female taken eight feet from the gr ound in full view on

the lea f of a banan a . Outer fingers certainly on e - third webbed,toes two - thirds

webbed and nea rly to the end of the outer toe . Tibio- tarsal articula tion just touch

es posterior border of the eye . Co lour in life . Above,pale yellow so heavily

stippled with minute black specks as to present a greyi sh- green ground colou r ; the

lighter area s (lighter because a lmost free from stippling) are edged with bla ck

and take the form of spots more or less free or confluent ; a pair of b lack s haped

lin es follow the outline of the snout to the eye and m ay be more o r less continu ed

o n flank o r broken up into black- edged,l ight yellow Spots (like the can thal bands

and latera l stripes ofH . a rgu s) ; tibia and foot,and fingers a lso to a lesser degree ,

reddi sh- orange . Below,lemon- yellow fingers

,thighs and toes tinged with orange .

No . 13295 . An adult female taken ten feet from the ground on the upper

surfa ce of a banana lea f . The outer to e is webbed to the disk , otherwise exactly

1 Procter, 1920, Proc . 2 0 61. Soc . London , p . 4 15 , fig . 2 .


simi lar to No . 13286 in the points cited above . Co lour in life . Above,pure whi te

,

a black line from the tip of the snou t through the nostril and eye to two - thirds

o f the way along flank ; a —Shaped mark on the snout corresponds with the ou terlines but terminates before it reaches the eyes ; supraocular region black , and an

interrupted line,parallel with the lower o ne o n flank

,eventu ally j oins with it ;

a pair of black , parallel , dorsal lines are connected anteriorly with the black

supraocular lines by transverse ones but are open in the frontal region ; these

parallel lines uni te j ust above the anus ; at irregula r in tervals la tera l transverse

lines unite the dorsa l with the flank lines ; all of these black lines are tinged with

lemon- yellow at their edges ; hands , thighs and feet are reddish- orange . Below,

lemon- yellow ; fingers,thighs and

'

toes tinged with orange .

The coloration of the young from Phillipshof is mu ch the same as those of

H . ma ria e from Derema , but the —shaped mark and latera l lines are invariablypresen t .

M easuremen ts . The largest male (Phillipshof) measures 34 mm . (average of

14,nearly 29 mm ) ; the biggest fema le (Phillipshof) measures 39 mm . (average

of45,nearly 31 Ar ranged according to sex and loca li ty they are as follows :

Range o f 2 Derema m a les . 25—29 mm . , av erage 27 mm .

13 Derem a fema les . 22—33 30

10 Bum bu li m a les . 26—31 28

23 Bumbu li fem a les 28—36 32

2 Phi l lipshof m a le s 31—34 32

12 Phil lipshof fem a les 25—39 31

Breeding.

‘

The ova ries of ten Bumbuli frogs examined on 14 . xi i . 26 were,

with o n e exception , in a pepper- and- sal t stage ; ovu les were fa irly well advanced

in the exception mentioned .

Wha tever species the adult Phillipshof frogs are , it is almost certain that the

young (mostly 14 mm . in length) belong to the same k ind , as thorough search was

made without revea ling any other Hypero li in the neighbou rhood . These young

were found in a swamp close to o ur camp . The vegetation,la rgely composed of

floating tu ssocks of gra ss,was scattered everywhere upon the sudd . The on ly

successful way to secu re these frogs , di scovered byM rs . Loveridge,who captured

most of them , was to part these tussocks , press them ou twards and then wa it .

In a few moments one o r two of these del ica te,a lm ost transpa rent

,little crea

tures wou ld come scrambling into view and clamber up o ne of the few gra ss

stems rema ining vertica l .

Diet. Thirteen Bum bu l i frogs were examined and ten of these were found toconta in insects as follows : (1) Two beetles (Chrysome lidae and Cleridae det . N .

Banks) . (ii) Two Cockcha fer beetles . (iii) Beetles . (iv) Beetles . (v) Beetles .


(v i) Beetle . (vii) Be etle and orthopteran . (viii) M any small , bla ck , spinose

orthopterou s legs . (ix) Earwig . (x) Two grasshoppers an d a hemipteron .

Ha bitat. At Derema in the heart of sedges growing by a swamp . At Bum buli

these frogs were found between 3 and 6 P.M . sitting in hot sunshine on the upper

or u nder surface of (cu ltivated) banana leaves , often in the gutter of the leaves ;

once on e was taken on the ou tside of the un opened centra l tube , never one on the

stem of the banana . We secured them by striking the lea f with a ten- foot wand,

which cau sed the frog to take a flying leap into space and genera lly resulted in its

landing o n the grou nd . At Phillipshof in wild banana s on the forest edge ; young

(see above) in swamp half a mile from these bananas .

HYPEROLIUS ARGUS Peters

Hypero l iu s argu s Peters, 1855, Arch . Na turg . , part 1 , p . 57 .

68 (M . C . Z . 13322—33) Ny ingwa , Uluguru Mtns . , 15 . x . 26 .

Eggs (M . C . Z . 13334) Ny ingwa , Ul uguru Mtns . , 19 . x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13335) Vituri, Uluguru Mtns.

,29 . x . 26 .

Va riation . Although this is undoubtedly wha t is genera lly called a rgus , the

orbita l di ameter is only equa l to the distance between the anterior border o f the

eye and the nostril . The snout is not,as Bou lenger says (Cat. Batr . Sal . 1882 ,

p .

‘as long as the orbital diameter . ’

Four out of fiv e frogs agree with the statement tha t ‘the adpressed hind limb

reaches the eye’; the chief exception appea rs to be in fully adult fema les , where it

fa l ls Slightly short . In very young frogs as well as in adult ma les it usually reaches

the eye ; exception s are three adult ma les where it pa sses , and two where it falls

Short of,the eye .

Co lora tion . These frogs differ markedly from tha t shown o n the coloured

plate XXII of Peters ‘R'

e ise n ach M ossambique , in having no red on the

thighs and no yellow spots o n the cen tre of the ba ck,su ch spots being a rranged in

a latera l line o n either flank . The evolution of these spots was well Shown in theNyingwa series as described below . It is to be noted tha t Bo ulenger (lo c . cit .

page 122) says‘thighs no t colored .

’

In l ife very young frogs up to 40 mm . in length are ma inly white,above and

below ; the fingers and toes a re oran ge ; the back and exposed su rfaces of the

limbs are stipp led with black specks which are denser in certa in pa rts , thus form

ing lines ; two of these lines , en closing a more creamy-white region ,run parallel

from the tip of the snout to just above the anus,where they nearly meet the pa ir


HYPEROLIUS FULVOVITTATUS Cope

Hypero liusfu lvooi tta tus Cope , 1860, Pro c . Acad . Nat. Sci . Phila . , p . 5 17 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13336—7) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns. , 1 . x . 26 .

9 (M . C . Z . 13338—46) Tawa , Uluguru Mtns . ,20 . x . 26 .

10 (M . C . Z . 13347- 56) D ar es Sa laam , 4 . xi . 26 .

17 (M . C . Z . 13357—60) Ki zeru i , Usambara Mtn s. , 8 . xi i . 26 .

Rema rks . A selection of these specimens was carefully compared by the

jun ior author with the examples from M orogoro and D u thumi in the British

Mu seum (Procter , Proc . Zobl . Soc . 1920 , p . 417) and found to be specifical ly

identica l .

Co lora tion in life . The colou ring of the living frog was very different from that

of alcoholic specimens a s described by Cope and M iss Procter . The following

notes were made in the field .

NYANGE Abov e,a satiny pa le greenish-

ye llow , two darker bands a long e ither side o f the spin efrom just abov e anus but conv erging to a po int be twe en the eyes, the who le of the

u pper surfa ce sprink led with m inu te brown specks ; an o ther band on e ither side andstill ano ther on ou ter aspect of tibia . Be low white .

TAWA . z Abov e,silv ery white tinged w ith green , a darker greenish stripe from nostril through

eye to flank and an a lm o st paralle l dorsa l pa ir term inatin g, bu t n otm ee ting , betweeneyes ; expo sed surfaces of thighs and fo ot darker than the rest; the who le of the uppersurface cov ered with v ery m inu te black specks. Be low ,

pure white withou t a trace ofmarkings of any kind .

D AR ES SALAAM . .Abov e , upper aspect of snout, back , arms and thighs Silv ery whi te , limbs heav ilymottled with fawn -brown a lm ost to exclusion of the white ; a brown m ark betweeneyes which term in ates in two ‘

arms’ posteriorly which frequ ently nearly m eet two

simil ar ‘arms ’ pro je cting forwards from a brown spo t abov e anus ; these lines a re

a lmost absent in the adu lts ; a dark latera l line from n o stril to hin d limb,where it

conn ects with o ne of the forward- pro j ecting po sterior ‘arms ’ a lready re ferred to .

The diff erent aspect presented by the se frogs is caused by a breaking down in thecen tre of the latera l li nes ; except fo r thi s fea ture , in a lcoho l they do not differ m arkedly from the Tawa frogs.

KIZERUI In frogs from this lo ca lity the dorsa l lines do meet between the eyes.

M easu remen ts . Largest of three males (D ar es Sa laam) 22 mm .,average 20

mm . La rgest of thirty-fiv e fema les (Nyange) 26 mm .,average 20 mm . Sma llest

frog , a fema le from D ar es Sa laam,15 mm .

Sex . The strange disproportion in the sexes (3 cr cf , 35 9 9 ) may probably

be accoun ted for by the ma les having some other habitat .

Breeding . Large ov a a re present in the Nyange 1 . x . 26) and D ar es Sa laam

(4 . xi . 26 ) frogs onl y .

Diet. Stomachs of ten specimens con ta ining identifiable materia l held the fol

lowing : (i) Beetle . (ii) Beetle . (i ii) Water beetle . (iv) Scarab beetle . (v) Long

winged green beetle . (vi) Cercopid bug . (vii) Cercopid bug . (vii i) Gra ss

hopper . (ix) Spider . (x) Aca cia leaves , doubtless acciden ta lly introdu ced ;

AFRICAN HERPETOLOGY 225 .

some were also present , with food , in the stomach of M . u luguru ensis from

Vituri .

Habita t. Nyange , Tawa , Kizeru i , and some of the D ar es Sa laam Specimen s

were personal ly taken by the ju ni or au thor inside the ou ter leaves of banan as ,

clinging to the ma in stem . The exceptions from D ar es Sa laam were beneath the

bark Of some poles standing in a swamp ; others were betwe en layers of palm

thatch ofdilapidated huts in the same swamp which had been bu ilt as Shelters for

watchers of the rice crops .

HYPEROLIUS FLAVOVI RID IS Peters

Hypero liusflavovi ridis Peters, 1855, Arch . Naturg . ,21

,part 1 , p . 57 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13361—2) D ar es Sa laam ,4 . xi . 26 .

Va ria tion . The fou rth toe in the ma le"

is longer than shown in the colou red

plate (Re ise nach M ossambique , xxi i , figs . 4 and 5) and the snou t is more acumi

nate . The only other difference appears to be that the tympanum is invisible in

thi s specim en (hi dde n but discernible in type) ; otherwise both frogs agree very

closely with Peters’ description except for some minor differences Of coloration .

Co loration in life . The green was a most vivid Shade exactly correspondin g to

the colou r of the new gra ss among whi ch it was caught . Above , brillian t green ,

yellow on snou t and lim bs except on exposed sur faces of latter in repose , which

are green ; a somewha t indefin ite brown l in e connects the nostril with the upper

eyelid over which it passes ; a light yellow latera l line commences at the eye and

term inates on the flank ; armpit and groin light blue , a trace of blue on the

lower jaw ,throa t and limb j oints .

M easu remen ts . Length of male 29 mm . Length of female 19 mm . Peters

gives the tota l length as 26 mm .

Habitat. Both were taken in a patch of fresh- grown grass on the northern

end ofM ogogoni swamp . The larger frog was secu red onl y a fter a long chase,as

it was so active .

HYPEROL IU S MICROPS Gunther

Hypero lius mi crops Gunther, 1864, Proc . Zoo l . Soc . London,p . 31 1 , Pl . XXVII , fig . 3 .

3 (M . C . Z . 13363—5) D ar es Sa laam ,4 and 10 . xi . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13366—7 ) Derema , Usambara Mtn s . , 30 . xi . 26 .

Va riati on , Sexu a l . They agreewith Noble’s key 1 in that the tibio - tarsa l articu

la tion of the adpressed hind lim b extends beyond eye . It is to be noted , however ,

1 Noble , 1924, Bul l . Am . Mus . Nat . Hist. 49, Art. 11 , p . 252.

226“ BARBOUR AND LOVERID GE

that there is a strongly marked sexu al dimorphism . Had it n o t been for the fact

tha t a pa ir (13363 0" and 13365 9 ) were taken close together in the same thatch

we should have hesitated to say they were Specifically identica l . In life , however ,the sim ilarities are more appa rent . In the males (13363—64) the tibio- tarsal

articulation reaches beyond , or far beyond , the end of the snout , while in the three

fema les (13365—67) i t rea ches to the eye o r nea rly to the nostril .

G ii nther’s type was a male with sha rp canthus rostra lis ; in these ma les it is

somewha t rounded and much Sharper in the females . In the ma les (in clu dingtype) the tympanum is hidden , but quite visible in the females , a very in teresting

sexua l difference .

Apart from these trifling varia tions they agree well with the somewha t meagre

descriptions .

The fingers are leSS than o ne - third webbed , the toes fu lly three- quarters

webbed .

Co loration in life . Descriptions of three of these very beautiful little frogs

were made in the field .

M ale (No . Above,yel lowish—green ; limbs creamy white ; a yellow line

comm ences on snout between the nostrils and passes over eye and along the sides,

more dorsa l than la tera l , to terminate j ust in front of ju nction of hind lim b ; in

the supraocula r region this line is interrupted by a du sky patch ; a very few

bla ck and white flecks on back may be di stingui shed with the a id of a lens .

Below,transpa rent whitish bu t discolou red by internal organs

,which are clearly

visible ; the throa t , which is tinged with blue , has also some white flecks .

Female (No . (M any eggs observable through abdom ina l skin .) Rich

grass - green above ; the line , yellow in male , i s Silver in fema le and hardly dis

tinguishable in front of eye ; its position is well indica ted by deep black spots

which are also fou nd o n the lateral line ; the whole upper surface is Speckled with

m inu te black spots ; limbs more greenish- yellow than in Cr . Below,greeni sh

tinged with blu e o n the throa t .

Female (NO . (Eggs minute , no t discernible throu gh skin .) Above ,

olive- green ; a light line , edged above and below with yellow ,commences o n

snou t , pa sses throu gh and over nostril and eye , broadens o n flank and then

term in ates abruptly in an obtu se point ; a white , yellow- edged spot on each heel ;

thighs and tibia yellowish heavi ly speckled with oli ve , as is the outer aspect of

foot to a less extent . Below,yellowish .

In alcohol all become pa llid except for the distinct black na so- lateral line of

Specks and the fine dusky speckling of the females .

228 BARBOUR AND LOVERIDGE

tion of Zanzibar , and Ugogo (now known as Dodoma District) these localities

are well within an irregular square lying between Dar es Salaam,the Uluguru

M ou nta ins,the Usamba ra Mountains , and Tanga , o r the a rea ski rted by the

present collecting trip . As M . lover idgi i is a very di stinct species it seems highly

probable tha t these records should refer to the latter . If the Ugogo record

is correct it wou ld indicate an anoma lou s distribution compa rable to thati

of

leptosomu s which , Noble has pointed out , occu rs in ra in- forest and savannah area .

Boettger has recorded as M . fornasin i i var un ico lor an examp le from Pembalack ing the vertebra l line whi ch Noble has a lready placed in the synonymy of

the former .

M . leptosomus . A ‘you ng one ’has been recorded from M avene in Usambara

by Boettger,and other specimens from Zanziba r

,Tanga and Undu ssum a by

To rnier . It would be of great service if someone cou ld reexamine these specimens

with a view to checking these identification s .

Nieden u ni ted M . fornasin i i and leptbsomus and recorded them from Pemba

Island,Tanga

,Bagamoyo

,Ukami

, M oho rro,Lindi

,and Bu gwe n ear Lake Rukwa .

Con clu si on . At present the range ofM . loveridgi i appears to be East Africa

from the Usambara Moun tains (Barbour and Loveridge) and Kilosa (Loveridge)to the Zambesi (Procter) . In all probability many records of fornasin i i and

leptosomu s shou ld be referred to this species .

Va ria tion . The series shows rema rkable uni formity in structura l characters ;

non e show the webbing of the hands as extensively as in the drawing of the

typ e one might rather say fingers ha lf webbed . (In the Tawa series they are

perhaps one- third to on e - half webbed . ) They are much more webbed than in

examples offornasin i i from Cameroon and Gaboon ; as a lso in a series of Congo

specimen s loaned by Dr . G . K . Noble for comparison .

One of the Nyange frogs was compared with the type M . loveridgi i , with

which it agreed in length and proportion s ; at the tim e the junior au thor noted

that its feet were slightly more webbed than infornasin i i .

On the whole the toes are three- quarters webbed : to the base of the subter

minal phalanx of the 4th toe , and to the di sk on one side of the 2nd , 3rd and 5th.

The length of the third finger,which is uni formly twice the length of the first ,

does n o t appea r to be a very helpfu l chara cter in differentiating lover idgi i from

fornasin i i , for the two Cameroon and Gaboon fornasin i i available for comparison

appear to be identica l in this respect . The more spinose character of the minute

tubercles in loveridgi i , is the readi est means of differentia ting the two species .


Whi le in the description M iss Procter states,

‘Length from snout to vent

3% tim es length of head ,’ in the table ofmeasurements the length from snou t to

vent is given as 36 mm .,and the length of head as 11 mm .

,i .e .

,between 3k and

3 % times , so tha t this character aga in is of li ttle use .

Peters gives the length offornasin i i as 35 mm .,and the head length as 10mm .

,

so in size there is only a small d ifference . The Cameroon and Gaboon specimens

show a head into body length of and 3 times respectively .

In the small series of five females from Nyange the variation is from to

times . It woul d appear as if the head is con tained in body length in loveri dgi i

to times and in fornasin i i to the latter figures being based

o n the measurements of Peters’ type and of the Cameroon,and Gaboon frogs .

The tibio- tarsal articu lation exactly reaches the eye in every specimen,except

in the ca se of two Derema females where it fa lls sl ightly short .

The tympanum is genera lly indi stingui shable in ma les , more often present

in fema les . On exam ini ng twenty specimens of each sex it was found present in

abou t 10 per cent of the ma les and n early 50 per cent of the females .

Co lorati on in a lcoho l . In no specimen of the present series does the vertebral

band appear shaped as in the figur e accompanying M iss Procter’s description ;

there is a good deal of variation in its outl ine , but where present it more closely

approximates to that shown in Bianconi ’s and Peters’ plates of fornasin i i .

In a lcohol the ground colou r is substantially as recorded by M iss Procter .

As to the dorsal band an examination by loca lity shows the following .

NYANGE All uniforml y purplish brown abov e , withou t v ertebra l markin g .

TAWA . As abov e , but one with fa in t suggestion of the v ertebral marking .MKARAZI . As in Nyange specimens, but one paler.Vrr um . Six as in Nyange frogs; four show the v ertebra l marking and are n oticeably paler.D AR ES SALAAM . .All except thr ee show v ery pronounced v ertebra l stripe ; two of these exceptions show

it fa intly , onl y one is witho ut.

Mr . LUTIND I . .Elev en withou t markin g, thr ee with v ertebra l stripe .

DEREMA 58 males w ithou t m arkin g,40 with v erte bra l stripe ; 31 fema les without markin g, 26

with v ertebra l stripe .

It wil l thu s be seen that thi s marking is more often absent than present in

frogs from thi s region .

Co loration in life . It is probable that thi s frog changes its colour to a consider

able extent .

NYANGE 9 . Abov e , o liv e—brown on a ll exposed surfaces; scattered white spots chi efly on sidesand lim bs but a lso a few on back . Be low , including hi dden upper surface of thighs,lemon -

ye llow with the exception of the thr oat, chest, and belly , which are white .

NYANGE 9 Abov e , opaque silv ery white in a shie ld- shaped patch extending from snout to

v en t, and side to side ; simil ar patches co v er the thi ghs and are , lik e the back, studdedwith black specks. Both were taken in bananas.


D AR ES SALAAM . . Fo ur silv ery whi te examples, each with a fawn - brown v ertebra l line . Taken in ho les ina po st. Of another, taken in a ba n ana clo se by , it was no ted : back and tibia silv erywhite , a brown dorsa l stripe terminatin g in po int between eyes ; flank s dusky , a lmostindicating a la tera l stripe from snou t to arms; be low ,

pure whi te .

Measu remen ts . Largest ma le 38 mm ., sma llest 31 , average of a hundred

ma les largest female (M karaz i and Derema) 38 mm ., sma llest (Tawa and

Derema ) 35 mm .

,average of a hundred females 35 mm .

Sex . In the first specimens coll ected the junior author was a stonished at

the disproportion of the sexes,v i z . 2 ma les

,43 fema les . These were taken in

ban an as . At Derema , where the collecting was done in sedges , the balan ce was

the opposite , v iz . 98 ma les and 57 fema les . It is entirely a coinciden ce that the

tota l should be 100 of each sex . The sexes m ay be readily told by the gular disk

of the ma le , which is lacking in females .

Breeding. In the Uluguru Mou n tain s these frogs did not appear to be breed

ing . Severa l Vitu ri specimens examined held only minute ova ; in those from D ar

es Salaam they were much larger ; while each of ten females examined at Derema

o n 30 . xi . 26 held a mass of develop ing eggs abou t 2 mm . in di ameter .

Diet. Of the stoma chs of ten specimens which were examined : (i) fromVituriheld a large

,ha rd lump a lmost the size of the stomach . This

,when broken up ,

was found to be composed of frog’s spawn . (ii) The largest mea l had been made

by a Derema frog which held a 20 mm . caterpillar,an 1 1 mm . gra sshopper (head

and abdomen mea surement) and a 5 mm . spider . (i ii) Spider . (iv) Sp ider and

beetle . (v) Beetle . (vi) Two species of beetles . (vii) Co ccine lid beetle . (viii)

D itto,same spe cies . (ix) Beetle and the wings of a hymenopterou s insect ,

a lmost certain ly an ant . (x) Two small grasshoppers .

Pa rasites . M inute worms .

Habita t. The first examples from Nyange were taken by the ju nior au thor

from between the outer skin and stem of wild ban an a plants growing in ravines

at a high altitude . Others from Obogwe near Vitu r i (inclu ded in Vitu r i series) , indomestic banana s . AtVitur i

,in wild banana s . At Dar es Salaam four were taken

in the holes of a ca rpenter bee in the posts of an abandoned hu t in M ogogoni

swamp . The swamp was at on e time p lan ted with rice , hence the watcher’

s hut,

long since abandoned . Over a hundred were taken in a single day in the sedges atDerema

,u sually between outer lea f and ma in sta lk ,

but concealed from sight

until the plant was stripped of the outer leaves . At Kizeru i and Lu tindi they

were found in both domestic and wild bananas , in o ne instance in the central

shoot so favou red by the bat (Pipistrel lus n anu s)


enamel- white) passes through nostril and eye and termin ates on flank . It will

be noticed that when the hind limbs are arranged in the norma l a ttitude of rest,

the tibial streaks form a continua tion of the latera l network l ines ; fingers , thighs

and pa rt of feet yellow . Below , transparent yellow except for a broad belt of

en amel-white across chest .

The whole Vituri series agreed with above description except for very minor

differences . Some have a third pair of spots between eyes .

Co lou r in Alcoho l . These spots appear brown in a lcohol,while the enamel

white entirely disappears,the frog being flesh- colou red with minute speckes ,

which m ay be so num erous dorsa lly as to give a distinctly browni sh appearance

to the upper sur fa ce .

Co lour of Bumbu li pa ra type in life . The Bumbuli frog,while stru cturally

agreeing with the Vitu ri series and having the same appearance in a lcohol,dif

fered considerably when a live . The colou ring noted in the field was as follows .

Above on head , back , fore arms , tibia and edge of feet , white with patches ap

pearing slightly rubbed and showing yellowish- green ; black specks are scattered

over the ‘who le of the upper surface , including upper arm and thigh,which are

yellowish ; a more o r less transparent , slightly greenish band from snout through

nostril and eye to flank shows the black stippling more clearly ; fingers and toes

clea r lemon- yellow . Below,transpa rent white , more opaque o n limbs than o n

belly,where internal organs show through ; fingers and toes lemon- yellow .

M easuremen ts .

Type 9 . Snout to v ent . 3 1 mm . Diameter of orbitLength of head 9 Length of tibiaLength of snout Length of foo tBreadth of head 10

Largest specimen (13314) also a female 32 mm . ; next four , after type , 29 mm .

each . The half- dozen sma llest frogs are 24—25 mm . and apparen tly ma les .

Sex . It seems highly improbable tha t all sixteen frogs are females . If , as we

suppose , the sma ller are males (and on e examined proved to be so ) , thenthese

males are without a gu lar disk .

Breeding. The adu lt females,including the type , hold numerous well- devel

oped eggs,visible in life through the transpa rent abdominal skin .

Diet. Be sides mu ch sma ll er, fragmentary insect remains, the following were

discernible in ten stoma chs examined . (i) Large mu scoid dipteron . (ii) M any

fruit fli es (Drosophila ) , one adu lt cercop id homopteron ,and several nymphal

ones . (ii i) Large cercopid of a different species . (iv) Cercop id bug . (v) E later

beetles. (vi) Beetle Lathr ididae ) . (vii) Two chrysomelid beetles . (viii) Severa l


beetles with long elytra . (ix) Beetle , bug and grasshopper . (x) Ea rwig , ant and

a sma ll n eu ropteran which M r . N . Banks considers is almost certa inly Myr

melon sp .

Habi tat. All the Vitur i specimens were taken o n wild bananas in the ra in

forest at an altitude a li ttle over feet ; the typ e at noonday was ful ly ex

posed . The Bum buli fro -

g was found at 9 A .M . sitting o n a wild banana leaf abou t

ni ne feet from the ground . The plant was growing on the edge of the patch of

remaini ng (dry ) prima ry forest above the M ission , which is abou t feet .

Pa rasites . A nematode in one of the Vitu ri frogs .

LEPTOPELIS AUB RYI (A . D um éril)

Hyla au bryi A . D umér il , 1856 , Rev . Mag . Zoo l . 8, p . 561 .

1 1 (M . C . Z . 1356 1—7 1) Mt. Lutindi , Usambara Mtns. , 10. xii . 26 .

Varia tion . The tympana of the two adu lts are approximately three - quarters

and seven- eighths of the eye diameter instead of ‘half ’ as given by Bo u lenger

(Cat . Batr . Sal .,1882 , p . in other respects they agree with the description .

In the nine young the tympanum is entirely wanting .

Coloration in life . A very beautifu l pale green .

M easu rements . The two adu lt females measu re 58 and 52 mm . respectively ;

the young,11 mm .

Breeding. Neither of the adu lts was in breeding condition , the ovaries being

shrunken and holding minute ov a . Nine of the young were fou nd one morning

sitting on the upper surfa ces of the leaves of a single ban ana plant within fifty

feet of where the adults were taken .

Diet. (i) A woodlouse , a 25 mm . reduv nd bug, a 16 mm . cercopid bug, to

gether wi th the head and limbs of a la rge gra sshopper . (ii) A brown cricket .

Distribu tion . This Cameroon species has a lready been recorded by Nieden

from Amani .

Habi tat. Both adu lts were taken concealed in the central shoots of domestic

banana s growing wild in the forest on the lower slopes of M t . Lu tindi . Specia l

search fa iled to reveal any others except the you ng .

LEPTOPEL IS RUFUS Reichenow

Leptopel is rufu s Re ichenow ,1874, Ar ch . Naturg . ,

40,part 1

,Pl . IX,

Figs 1 a and 1 h.

12 (M . C . Z . 13572—78) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns . , 9—30 . ix . 26 .

8 (M . C . Z . 13579—85) Vitu ri , Ul ugu ru Mtns. ,27—30 . x . 26 .

Va ria ti on . The size of the tympanum in rela tion to the diameter of the eye

varies a good dea l ; it is more often ha lf than three- fou rths the orbita l di ameter .


Co lora tion in life . In colou ring,East African rufu s differ from topotypic Cam

croon specim ens as already rema rked (Loveridge , Proc . Zobl . So c .,1925

,p .

The four following types were all taken at Bagllo .

9 70 mm . Rich olive- green ; a conspicuous , 1 1 mm . long,black

,yellow- edged

‘qu ery ’ma rk on head and nape ; two o r three more irregu lar blotches on back ;

fou r bla ck cross- bars on tibia,and three or four

,more or less distinct , on the hind

feet; simi lar cross- bars o n fore arms ; disks of fingers and toes bright yellow ;

lower surfaces white but so heavily stippled wi th green as almost to obscure the

white . Eyes red .

Another adul t 9 67 mm . in length,has a broad red band commencing o n the

snou t and passing over the eye and a long the sides till it terminates j u st before

the hind limbs ; the anu s is ringed round by a sim ilar red band . This seems to be

the most comm on type,as eight of o ur twelve females possess this la tera l band .

53 mm . Slightly reddish-

green without ma rk ings on crown o r ba ck . A

bla ck band,edged above with a bright- yellow lin e , passes from the snou t through

nostril and eye to disappear ju st in front of the hind lim b,where it is broken up

by yellowish- white vermiculations . One o r two fa int indications of possib le

black bars on the limbs ; a black circle , edged above with yellowish-white,a round

anus ; upper lip more o r less edged with yellow ,with a streak nearly running up

to the anterior border of the eye . Below,white

,less stippled with green than in

the 9 .

Another apparen tly imm atu re d‘ has a broad black , yellow - edged bar con

necting the upper eyelids , while there is a sim ila r yellow- edged,black

, A- shaped

marking o n the back between the fore arms .

Yet another presumably juven ile s'has a n arrow bar like the last,but the

A - shaped ma rking is replaced by an almost rou nd black spot,and the whole of

the back is vermicu lated with da rk lines .

M easu remen ts . The largest male (Vitu r i) measu red 46 mm .,range being 34

to 46 mm .

,with an average of 40 mm . ; the sexing of the sma llest being some

what doub tfu l . Largest females (Bagilo and Vitu ri) 70 mm .

,range 54 to 70

,with

an average of mm . All adult and breeding .

Sexes . At Bagilo one male and seven fema les were taken ; at Vitu ri , seven

ma les and five fema les .

Breeding . All the Bagilo fema les held develop ing eggs (9—30 . ix . 26) bu t those

in the Vitur i frogs are mu ch larger (27—30 . x . some being as mu ch as 4 mm .

in diameter .


parent yellowish,each wi th an orange spot ; lower arms the same bu t so liberal ly

besprink led with minute brown specks as to appear brownish . Below , throat

blue,rest of the under sur faces whi te

,more o r less tinged with blu e

,pa rticu la rly

at axi l and groin . Iris white,speckled with black ; pupil bla ck .

Of a 9 pa ratyp e from Vitu ri it was noted : colou r as in typ e but back greeni shbrown ; a very few yellow spots on the flank s .

Co lou r of a type in a lcohol . Above , head pu rpl ish- brown shading to fawn

on back , the spots yellowish - green,limbs fawn

,thighs almost colourless . Below ,

whi te .

M easu remen ts .

Type Snout to v ent 42 mm . Diameter of orbit .

Len gth of head 15 Length of tibiaLength of sn o ut 6 Length of foo tBreadth of head

The type is probably the largest male taken ; la rgest fema le 59 mm . ; smallest

frog 28 mm .

,taken 28 . x . 26 .

Breeding. All the fema les exam ined had well- developing ovu les abou t 2 mm .

in di ameter , 27—30 . x . 26 . In li fe these eggs could be observed throu gh the fa irly

transparent abdomina l skin .

Di et. (i) Spider . (ii) Spider . (ii i) Earwig and grasshopper . (iv) Pa llid

acridi an . An interesting featu re of the stomachs of all six specimens examined

was the presence of acacia leaf petals in ea ch o ne ; in two there wa s nothing else ;

one held over thirty . These peta ls are continu ally twink ling down from the trees

into the ban an as where the frogs live,and form la rge drifts in the leaves . At first

the collector was inclin ed to suppose that they were acciden tally taken up with

food , bu t it seems possible tha t some frogs m ay be foolish enough to snap them

up in mistake for insects as they a light o n the la rge flat leaves of the banan as .

Enemi es . On e of these frogs was recovered from the stomach of a snake

(Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia torn ier i ) at Vituri .

Habi ta t. The type was fou nd sitting in the gu tter- lik e sta lk of on e of the im

mense top leaves of a wild banana . It made no attempt to escape other than to

squ a t back into its retreat . The Vitu ri series were a l l taken in wild or domestic

banana s .

LEPTOPEL IS PARKER I sp . n .

Pla te 4,Figs . 9 a nd 10 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13597) Vituri , Uluguru Mtns .

,27 . x . 26 .

Type . No . 13597,M u seum of Comparative Zoology . An adu lt female taken

on a domestic banana plant at Vitu ri , Ulugu ru M ountains, Tanganyika Terri

tory . Collected by A . Loveridge,October 27 th

,1926 .


Di agnosis . Near L . u luguru ensis , from which it is di stinguished by its well

separated vomerin e teeth , its longer hind limbs , smooth dorsa l skin and colou r

ing . Undivided omosternum and bony metasternum .

Description . Vomerin e teeth in two wel l- sepa rated groups between the choanae .

Head broader than long ; distance between the nostrils slightly shorter than the

di stance between a n ostril and the anterior border of orbit , rather more than

two - thirds the longitu dina l di ameter of the eye ; can thus rostra lis distin ct , lorea l

region concave ; tympanum ju st distinguishable o n both sides of head (possibly

an individu al chara cter) , one- thi rd the longitudinal diamete r of eye open ing. In

ner finger barely webbed , outer one one - third webbed , disks well developed . Toes

webbed to the disks o n the inner side of the second , third , and fifth ; only as a

no t very distinct seam to the disk of the fou rth ; first to e half we bbed . A sma ll ,

thinl y compressed , inner metata rsa l tubercle (considerably different in appearance

to that of L . u lugu rue nsis) . The tibio- ta rsa l a rticulation of the adpressed hind

limb reaches the n ostri l . Skin sm ooth above , granula r beneath except on tibia and

sole of foot ; the granula tions of the throat noticeable only on close inspection .

Colour of 9 type in a lcohol . Above,fawn with very irregula r stipples and

dashes of dark rufou s - brown o n the back , besides severa l light spots ; a line of

stippling connecting the upper eyelids ; lorea l region to tympanum and a long

flanks mottled with white and brown,as are also the fore limbs with fou r cross

bars on the fore arm formed by a concentration of the mottling ; on the tibia also

are four cross- ba rs indi cated in a simi lar mann er ; the upper a spects of thighs and

feet mottled like the fla nks . Below,imma cula te white except fo r a little mottling

on the extreme edges of the lower jaw .

Unfortunately, thou gh in the field a note was madeas to this being an unde

scribed species , pressu re of other work prevented colour notes being made as to its

appea rance in li fe , which was very different from tha t of L . u luguru ensis .

M easu remen ts .

Type 9 . Snout to v ent . Diameter of orbit .

Length of hea d . Length of tibiaLength of sno ut Length of foo tBreadth of head

Breeding . Ovu les small,ovaries contracted .

Di et. 'Rema ins of wha t are apparently orthopteran lim bs were found in the

intestine,together with numerou s lea f petals lik e those found in L . u lugu ru ensis .

The stomach was emp ty except for two of these petals .

Named a fter M r . H . W . Pa rker of the British Mu seum,who has sokindly as

sisted these investigations by making compa rison s with types in his care, and in

many other ways .


LEPTO PEL IS VERMI CULATU S (Bou lenger)

Hylamba tes verm i cu la tus Boul enge r , 1909 , An n . Mag . Na t. Hist. , (8) 4 , p . 497 . Nieden , 19 10, Sitzber .

Ges. Na tu rf. Freun de , Berlin , p . 448 . Nieden , 19 15 , Mitt. Zobl . M us. Berlin , v ii , p . 370.

1 (M . C . Z . 13598) Am ani, Usambara Mtns .

,xu . 26 .

Re la tions. Nieden has pointed out tha t Torni er’s Plate V,fig . 1 (Torni er ,

1897 , Kriechthiere Deutsche-Ost-Afrikas) , of H . aubryi rea lly represents verm ic

u latu s and tha t the a ccompanying text refers to both frogs,under the impression

tha t vermicu latus was the young of aubryi . Nieden himself considers it more

closely rela ted to L . rufu s . Ou r examin ation of the unforked omosternum con

firms this view and places the species in the genus L eptopelis .

Va ria tions . While in London o n the way back from Tanganyika Territory

the juni or au thor reexamined the 34 mm . type and closely compa red it with the

46 mm . specimen listed above . Some points in the origina l description which had

pu zzledhim in the field were resolved as follows . The quotations are from the

origina l description .

Snout rounded,as long as the eye

,

’means from the anterior border of the

eye to the end of the snou t .

tympanum two - thirds diameter of eye ’ in the type was found almost

to equal the diameter of eye in our specimen .

‘fingers with a mere rudiment of web ’ is most misleading,fo r the d evelop

ment is the same in both specimens , whose fingers are at least one- thir d webbed ;

the lea st webbed is the third finger,with two free j oints

,apart from the di sk , on

its inner side .

‘toes half-webbed .

’ In the type the webbing on the third and fifth actu ally

does not reach to the end as in o ur specimen .

‘ inner metatarsa l tubercle rather small,oval

,feebly prominen t . ’ This

tubercle in the larger frog measures 2 mm . in length and may be sa id to be well

developed .

‘the tibio- tarsal a rticulation rea ches j u st in front of the eye .

’ In ou rs it

reaches only to the posterior border of the eye . The type,however

,is somewhat

macera ted,which m ay a ccount for this difference .

M easu remen ts . Tota l length 34 mm .

Sex .

Diet. Stomach empty ; intestine held what were appa rently rema ins of

termites .

Distribu ti on . The typ e ,which is still the only example in the British M u seum ,

came from Am ani . Apart from these the only other examples known to us are


mentions as indistinct are very pronounced on the ma les , but lacking in the

females . There is a striking similarity between the colour pattern of this species

and tha t of L . bocagi i .

M easu rements . The males both mea sur e 48 mm .,the larger female 49 mm .

The typ e was 42 mm .

Breeding. Ovaries contracted,not breeding in September .

Diet. Remains of grasshoppers in two of these frogs .

Distr ibu tion . This species has a lready been recorded from Mombo at the

foot of the Usamba ra Mountains by L'

6nnberg, probably the most northerly rec

ord for the species which , origina l ly described from Nyasaland , has since been

recorded from the Transvaal .

Habi tat. All fou r frogs were taken on a recently hoed native clea ring o n the

mountain side,but quite close to a patch of rain- forest .

HYLAMBATES MACULATUS A . D uméril

Hylambates macu la tus A . D uméril , 1853, Ann . Sci . Nat. , (3) 19 , p . 165, PI. VI I , figs. 1—1 b and 4. (Typeloca li ty , Zan zibar. )

Hylambates a rgenteus Pfeffer, 1893 Jahrb . Hamburg . Wiss. Anst. , 10, pt. 1 , p . 100, Pl . I I , fig. 3 .

(Type lo ca l ity , marsh sou th of Bagamoyo , T . T . )

12 (M . C . Z . 13603—10) D a r es Sa laam , 4 . xi . 26 .

Va ria tion . Unfortu na tely the type of H . a rgen teus is lost (fide Nieden ,

but a careful comparison of the description with topotypes of H . ma cu latu s,as

well as with the description of that species,shows beyond reasonable doubt

that it was based o n a va riant in which the chain of vertebral spots had coa

lesced to form a dorsal line . In the series before u s va rious stages of su ch

linking up are represented . On geographical grounds o ne would expect these

frogs to be iden tical . Zanzibar is thirty mi les off shore from Bagamoyo . The

marsh at Dar es Sa laam,where this series was obta ined

,is thirty miles sou th of

Bagamoyo,so that the specimens a re not fa r from being topotypic ofH . a rgen

teus; indeed the silvery colou ring is so striking in life tha t the j u n ior au thor

reported having taken a rgen teus . The only structural point of difference in the

transla ted descriptions is ‘ toes ha lf webbed ’ for macu la tus and‘ toes only

webbed at base ’ for argen teu s , which , in the less d iscriminating days when it

was described,might well be intended for the same thing . The series is remark

ably u niform ; in no specimen does the tibio- ta rsa l articulation va ry bu t, like the

type,reaches to the tympanum when the hind limb is adpressed . Compared

with the series ofmacu la tus in the Br itish Mu seum and topotypes in the Mu seum

of Compara tive Zob logy .


Coloration in life . This is one of the most handsome frogs in East Africa,a

fa ct one would n ever glean from the original description of a preserved specimen

from Zanzibar .

Above,silvery grey with numerous silver- edged , brown blotches of very

irregular shape ; on the fore and hind limbs these blotches take the shape of irreg

ular band s,of whi ch there are four on the anterior and ten on the posterior limb ;

the groin and posterior aspect of thigh are scarlet except for the brown blotches,

whi ch lose their silver edging when they impinge on the scarlet . Below ,white

,

studde d with mi nute grey specks ; armpits red ; lower surface of arms tinged

with orange .

M easu rements. Larger of two ma les is 57 mm .,the largest female 55 mm . ;

the series of ten fema les ranges from 37 to 55 mm .

Sex . The sex is readily distinguished by the adhesive disk on the throat of

the male , flanked by subgu lar vocal sa cs .

Breeding. A few eggs in each ovary are in the ‘pepper and sa lt ’ stage,the

larger measu ring mm . in diameter .

Diet. Gra sshoppers were recovered from the stomachs of two frogs .

Defen ce . Their smooth sk in s are very sticky in life .

Parasites. Oxyuroid worms were found in one of the two specimens examined .

Habitat. Al l were taken in the vicinity ofM ogogon i Swamp . I captured the

first beneath a heap of gra ss hoed from the swamp,a second benea th a palm

lea f lying on the ground in an abandoned but, and three others between the lay

ers of palm- leaf tha tch of a watcher’s hut in the swamp .

BREVICIPITIDAE

CALLUL INA KREFFTI Nieden

Cal lu lina krefl'

ti Nieden , 19 10, Sitzber , Ges . Na turf. Freunde,Berlin ,

p . 449 .

6 (M . C . Z . 136 11—16) Bagilo , Ul uguru Mtns . , 15—21 . ix . 26 .

18 (M . C . Z . 13617—22) Vituri , Uluguru Mtns.

,x . 26 .

20 (M . C . Z . 13623 Am ani , Usambara Mtns . , xi . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 13628—31) Kiz erui , Usambara Mtns. , 8 . xii . 26 .

4 (M . C . Z . 13632—35) Phil lipshof, Usambara Mtns . , xii . 26 .

It a lso occurs at Obogwe , Uluguru Mo unta ins and Mt. 'Lutindi in the Usambara Range .

Va r ia tion . The interorbita l space,sa id to be abou t 1stimes as broad as the

upper eyelid in the type , is a character which varies with age . While it is 1—5 times

in adu lt toads , the in terorbita l space equals the breadth ofthe upper eyel id in small

specimens . The tibio—tarsal articulation,supposed to reach half-way between


the armpit and the eye,does not reach beyond the armpit in any specim en , whi le

in small examples it extends onl y midway along the flank"While the first finger

at times is equal to onl y half the length of the second,particularly in small toad

’

s,

in large frogs the first extends as far as the base of the terminal phalanx of the sec

ond ; in the Kizeru i toads this is the case with every specimen .

Coloration in life . Above,grey- brown mottled wi th darker and lighter .

Many have a typica lly Brevi ceps marking in the shape o f a light , slightly p inkish

bar from below the eye to the angle of the mouth .

Measu rements . Largest 9 (Bagilo ) 47 mm .

, (Amani Kizerui ) 45 mm

(Phillipshof) 44 mm .

, (Vitu ri) 41 mm . Without di ssecting the whole series it is

impossible to say which is the la rgest ma le ; they appear to be abou t half the size

of the females . The sma llest toads (10 mm . ) were taken in a wild banana a t

Am ani on 25 . xi .

Sex . The 0“ inflates the throat to a considerable extent . One specimen

(M . C . Z . 13617) is preserved wi th the throat so infla ted .

Breeding. The Bagilo , Vituri , and Phillipshof females exam ined had only

small ovu les ; those from Am ani and Kiz eru i held large ova 3 mm . in diameter .

Diet. (i) M illipede and beetles . (ii) M illipede and beetles . (i i i) Beetles and

ants . (iv) Beetles and ants . (v) Beetle and cockroa ch . (vi) Cockroach .

'

Beetle

legs and Gasteracantha spider . (vii) Ant . (viii) Large Camponotus ant . Both

these la st stomachs conta ined much hard matter , bu t nothi ng approaching a

term ite could be recognized .

Defence . A gummy exudation from dermal glands .

Enemies . On three occasions these toads were recovered from the stomachs

of Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia torn ieri , twice at Am ani , once at Mt. Lu tindi .

Distribu tion . Originally described from Amani and Tanga ; we believe theabove recordsare the first extension of its range westward to the Western Usam

baras and southwa rd to the Uluguru Mountains .

Habi tat. In the Usamba ra Mountains they are usually found in the cu lti

v ated bananas in damp situa tions , o r in those growing on the outskirts of the

forest ; not infrequently found in or benea th rotting logs .

In the Uluguru M ountain s it was invariably a ssociated with the wild banana

plants, found either (1) among the collection of moist and rotting leaves col

lected in the upper fronds , (2) between leaf and stem ,or (3) among débris at

the bas e of the plan t .


We had a lr eady prepared a generic description,to which Dr . Noble wou ld add

,

‘No interca lary,coccyx with two condyles

,procoracoid present ’; and he con

siders ‘the genus closely allied to Breviceps, but differing from tha t genus in its

palate (the folds of which are uniqu e among the Salientia) , its coccyx , and less

robust form .

’

Pup i l horizontal . Tongue large , pyriform ,free

,not notched behind ; pa late

toothless with transverse derma l ridge posteriorly . Ma xilla toothless . Tym

panum present . Fingers and toes free , short , thick , with undilated tips . Outermetatarsals uni ted . Bony clavicles ; ca rtilaginous omosternum ; coracoids

broad and well developed,bony ; sternum larger than in Breviceps u lugu ru ensis .

D iapophyses of sacral ver tebra very strongly di lated . Termin a l phalanges simple .

Va ria ti on . The description of the figured specimen , a male (M . C . Z . No .

is as follows . Habit rather stout , very similar to that of Phrynomeru s,from which it differs in the form of its lim bs

,coloration

,and in possessing a thick

gummy excretion which is probably unique among amphibia in tha t it is more

tenacious than the upper layers of derm . Head s’mall,obtu sely truncated ; nostril

at tip of snout ; snout (as from anterior border of eye) much longer than the

orbita l diameter ; interorbita l space twice to thrice the breadth of the upper eye

lid ; tympanum di stinct,vertica lly rou ndish

,its diameter equal to tha t of the

orbit . Fingers rather short,first very slightly shorter than the second ; toes short ,

no terminal di sks ; subarticu lar tubercles very distinct ; well - developed , but low ,

inn er and outer metatarsal tubercles . Hind limb very short , and excessively

thick ; the tip of the longest toe of the adpressed hind limb ju st reaches the eye

(or fore arm in many of the paratypes) . An attempt to adpress the hi nd l imb

generally results in ruptur ing the skin .

Sk in pitted , rugose , granul ar o r smooth , according to preservation ; usually an

indistinct fold from the eye to the shoulder . M ale with a subgular vocal sac .

Co loration in life . Above,j et black ; a bright scarlet - shaped band , following

the ou tline of the snout from behi nd and above the tympanum,passes close above

the eyes . Below,edges of j aw bla ck

,rest of lower sur face brownish .

M easu rements offigu red d'.

Length of head and body Length of tibiaLength of head . Le ngth of foo t .

Breadth of he ad Length of 4th to e

Diam eter of orbit .

The four largestmales and fema les all measure 52 to 53 mm . from snout to vent ;

the two j uveni les , 32 mm . (Nyange) and 27 mm . (Mk araz i)


Diet. The enormous stomach of the only specim en examined was stuffed with

termi tes,mostly big- j awed warriors .

Defen ce . If wrapped in leaves,a l inen bag (unl ess thi s is wringing wet) or

anything with a dry su rface , the derma l secre tions , owing to their extreme

stickin ess , cau se the upper layers of the toad’s slug- lik e skin to come off in great

patches,leaving the whi te tissu e exposed .

Habi ta t. Fou r were obta ined from ben eath the rotting grass thatch of a co l

lapsed n ative hu t (two were taken the same day ,and from beneath the same bu t,

as was Typhlops u lugu ruensis sp . One was under a heap of gra ss and weedsin a native plot . Two small ones u nder damp logs in the dry forest a hundred

yards from the Mvu a R iver ford .

Distribu ti on . Origina lly described from a single specimen from Nangom a Cave,

M atum b i nea r Kilwa , Tanganyika Territory . The present records constitu te a

cons iderable extension of its range to the northwe st .

BREVICEPS MOSSAMB ICUS Peters

Brevi ceps mossambi cu s Peters, 1855,‘Arch . Naturg .

,21

,part 1 , p . 58 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13647 ) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns. ,2. x . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13648) Mkangaz i. Ul uguru Mtns . ,20. x . 26 .

Var iation . A thi rd example was taken at Bagilo on 29 . ix . 26 and sent to Mr .

J . H . Power ofKimberley,who had j ust brought out ‘A M onographic Revision of

theGenu s Brev iceps with D istribu tion Records and Description s of New Species .’

It is to be regretted tha t the author di d not make it pla iner that it was onl y the

Sou th African records whi ch were cons idered,no attempt having been made to

exam in e Uganda and East African material o r inclu de them in the range of the

species .

Of the specim en submi tted M r . Power writes (20 . xii .

‘

The thir d Brevi

ceps is a Cen tral African variety of B . mossambicu s; it exten ds northwards from

M a shona land .

’

They agree perfectly with the M ozambique and Tanganyik a specimens

hitherto referred to mossambicus by the ju n ior author,nor do they appear to dif

fer from Rhodesian and Transva a l specimens in the Mu seum of Comparative

Zoology collection . They certa inl y agree wel l with the revised description of the

Species given by Power . The four th finger is .62 and .5 tim es as long as the second

in the two examp les listed above,which thu s fa ll under mossambicu s in M r .

Power’s key .

Co lora tion in life . Above,reddi shbrown mottled with black ; head black , upper

su rfaces of lim bs black ; lips pure whi te , connected by white bars with eyes ; a


broad bla ck bar conn ects eye with lower jaw ; this bar is edged with white pos

terior ly and then a tinge of reddish - orange . Below,chin and throa t to an almost

stra ight line across between fore arms,blacki shbrown ; ha lf- a - dozen small white

spots o n lower j aw ; u nder sides of all limbs , breast and belly white , wi th a very

few brown blotches .

Va riati ons . Sk in smooth,fine pits visible by magn ifica tion ; rugose and

wr inkled on head and posteriorly .

M easu remen ts. d ‘ 22 mm .

, 9 40 mm .

Breeding. Ov a in the 9 moderately developed (2 mm . diameter) at Nyange

on 2 . x . 26 .

Diet. (i) Staphyl inid and coccine lid beetles ; large bla ck and smaller ants .

(11) Ants and termites’ heads .

BREVICEPS spp .

Toads of this genus in the Ulugu ru and Usambara M ountain s presen t many

difficu lties in the way of classifica tion ; before proceeding to discuss these an out

line of the position m ay be helpfu l .

Tornier and Nieden referred specimens from Amani,Bulwa and M agrotto

in the Eastern Usambaras to B . verru cosus Rapp . (1842) from Na ta l , a species

chara cterized by its porou s tubercles and hidden tympanum . In 1910,however,

Bou lenger placed this species in the synonymy of B . gi bbosu s (Linne) 1758 of no

defini te type locality . With thi s decision we agree,and it is apparently followed

by Power in his recent paper o n the genus , for he omits the species a fter rema rk

ing that Bo u lenger had placed it in the synonymy .

In investigating the matter we had occasion to con su lt two specim ens in the

collection sent to us as B . gibbosu s by the Berlin and South African Mu seum re

spe ctiv e ly . These are :

1 1620 Port Nata l , Wucherer leg . Exch. Berlin Muse um .

1 1789 Port St. Johns, Pondo land . Exch . S . Afr . Museum .

When Power’s revision appea red the data ofNo . 1 1620 were sent to M r . Power,

who repl ied that from its loca lity the specimen must be either B . rugosus or B .

mossambicu s . I t is obviou sly not the latter,while the absen ce of a tympanum

and the presence of porous tubercles preclu de the idea of it being the former .

According to M r . Power’s key to the genu s and its double- chinned physiognomy

as shown o n his Plate XXXIX,fig . 4

,and the illustration o n Plate XLI , fig .

c, 9 it must be B . gibbosus .


showed that there was no trace of a tym panum in any o ne of the long series

collected .

A specimen was sent to M r . Power from the field and he replied : ‘The little

Breviceps which yo u send from Ny ingwa is more like your figure and description of

B . u lugu ru ensis bu t differs therefrom in some respects , prin cipa lly in the presen ce

of a metata rsal tubercle .

’

Va ria tions . It may be remembered that the type was described as having ‘no

shovel—shaped inner metatarsa l tubercle,

’and it was su ggested that its absence

might be due to infestation by larva l ticks,the ‘heels ’being very swollen . The

inner and outer metatarsal tubercles are hardly no ticeab le in specimens under

25 mm . ; they apparently develop more rapidly as the creatu re becomes adu lt ;

but in the largest the inner is only a swollen pad 3 mm . in length,the ou ter insigni

ficant .

The limbs in some cases are even shorter than in the type,the metatarsal

tubercle rea ching on ly as far as the fore arm in some , though u su ally to the tym

panic region,while in males it m ay rea ch the eye .

The second finger,described as

‘slightly shorter than the fourth ’ equa ls the

fourth as frequen tly as it fa lls short .

There is a great dea l of varia tion as to the skin : in the ma j ority perhaps it

might be described as smooth ; in others it is as ru gose as in the following species .

Fine pits,presumably the glandula r orifices

,m ay be observed in some .

With the exception of these slight varia tions the series agrees well with the

type .

Co loration . Some were cream colou red,others an a lmost terra—cotta hue . In

both these typ es the dorsa l colou ring was sha rply marked off from the pu rplish

hue of the sides and belly . The indistin ct reddish latera l streak of the type is a

remn ant of a terra - cotta upper su rface which has been impinged with pu rplish .

M easu rements . L'

argest toad,a 9 , measu red 43 mm . The twelve largest fe

males measured 38 to 43 mm .

,with an average of 40 mm . Probably the ma les do

not exceed 30 mm . in length ; a l l above tha t length examined proved to be fema les .

Sma llest toad 16 mm .

Breeding . On October 15th,1926 , Sa limu secu red a 9 , 42 mm . in length

(M . C . Z . No . in a bu rrow with twen ty eggs . Ea ch egg is creamy white

and measu res 4 mm . in diameter,but is su rrou nded by a tran spa ren t ba ll of j elly

whose outside di ameter measu res mm . It m ay be observed tha t there are

more 4-mm .- diameter eggs within the mo ther .


Diet. (i) Termites , ants,woodlice . (11) M illipede and beetles . (iii) Tick .

(iv) Caterpilla r and beetle larva .

Distribu tion . It is curious tha t n o more examp les of this toad were secured

at Bagilo on the presen t exp edition . Perhaps it occu rs on ly on the mounta in tops

feet) at Bagilo ,while most of ou r collecting was done at lower levels .

BREVIC-EPS RUGOSU S Power

Breviceps rugosu s Power, An n . S . Afr . Mus . Cape Town , 20, part 6 , p . 467 , PI. XL I I, figs. 8—9 .

15 (M . C . Z . 13686—95) Bagilo , Uluguru Mtns. , ix . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13696 ) Nyange , Ul uguru Mtns. , 4 . x . 26 .

27 (M . C . Z . 13697—7 10) Vituri, Ul ugur u Mtns . , x . 26 .

Kimbofa in Kikami .

Rela tions. This frog is so simi lar to B . u lugu ru ensis in appearance,and fre

quently in colou r a lso,that it is a matter of the greatest difficu lty to separate it

from B u lugu ru en sis except by the presence of a tympanum ,whi ch

,as already

remarked,is concea led on one side of the head in fou r examples of the Bagilo

series .

A Nyange adu lt was sen t to M r . Power by the junior au thor , when at Nyange“

.

M r . Power replied o n 20 . xii . 26 :‘It agrees with my B . rugosus (see An n . S . Afr .

Mu s .

, Vo l . 20 , pt . 6 , p . I have posted y ou a copy to the M . C . Z . It is very

in teresting to know that the species occu rs so far north .

’As we have no speci

mens of rugosu s with whi ch to comp a re our examples , we accept M r . Power’s

determination .

Va r ia tion . They agree in most points with the author’s description

,which

was based on a very sma ll series . The fou rth finger,stated to be two - thirds to

three- fourths the length of the second in the type series , is longer than the second

in eleven of the Bagilo toads , equ a l to the second in thr ee others , and shorter in

only on e .

In the Bagilo series the snout is conta ined to times in the body length

as aga inst to times in rugosus .

In the Bagilo series the eye is con ta ined to (average times in the

body length as aga inst 1 1 to 13 times in rugosu s .

The metatarsa l tubercle reaches the eye or en d of snout excep t in young

(18 when it reaches onl y the tym pani c region .

The outer toe in adu lts seems proportionately much the same in its rela tion

to the in ner toe as is the case in u lugu ruen sis , where it is onl y slightly longer in

the young,more markedly so in the adu lts .


In both species the inner metatarsal tubercle is very sma l l in young toads and

develops in adults to the somewhat flattened pebble- like form .

Co lora tion in l ife . Both sexes are uniformly purplish - brown above . Below,

lighter,often pinkish , frequ ently with purpl ish- brown ma rkings which m ay be

concentrated o n the throat till it appears white - dotted,or even to the exclusion

of a ll li ghter colour .

M easu rements. Largest toads,Bagilo and Nyange , 9 9 ,

measure 46 mm .

ea ch ; largest Vitu ri 9 measu res 45 mm . The twelve largest females in the above

series measure 38 to 46 mm .,with an average of 43 mm . The largest ma le meas

ured was 34mm .,from Bagilo . The smallest toads

,measuring 18 mm . each

,were

taken a t Bagilo on 20 and 21 . ix .

Breeding . The six largest females,taken at Bagilo 9—30 . ix . 26 , each held

many cream- coloured eggs measu ring 5mm . in di ameter . The Nyange and Vitu r i

fema les were in much the same condition . On e fema le , taken in its bu rrow at

Vituri on 29 . x . 26,was guarding 35 eggs . The undeveloped cream centres meas

ured 4 to 5 mm . in di ameter , o r 6 mm . outside the protective coat of transpa rent

j elly . A few eggs , round o r oblong , were evid’

e ntly unfertilized,as they measured

only 1 mm . in diameter and were opaquely white .

Diet. (i) Two species of ca rabids, one weevil and orthopteran remain s .

(11) Beetles and millipede rema ins . (ii i) Beetles . (iv) Beetles and wha t appea rs

to be a freshwater shrimp . (v) Beetles , ant , cockroa ch minute larvae . The

above l ist probably gives a wrong impression of this toad s di et . The stomachs

were filled with broken insect rema ins , but only hard parts su ch as beetle elytra

cou ld be easily recogni zed ; many soft- bodied in sects would be pa ssed over .

Defence . This species exu des a very sticky secretion . See Folklore .

Pa ras i tes . Nema tode worms were fou nd in Bagilo and Nyange toads .

Enem ies . One was recovered from the stomach of a snake (Crotaphopeltis

hotamboeia torn i er i ) at Bagilo and another at Nyange .

Distri bu tion . The type was described from M ariannhill , Na ta l , and para types

from Umbilo,Nata l and M axambu li

,Transkei . The extension of range to the

Uluguru Mounta ins is rema rkable .

Habi ta t. The series was collected under moss- grown logs or beneath leaves

in the ra in - forest . On e was taken in decayed and shredded wood in the ba se of

a hollow tree,and one or two u nder ston es . After ra in they sometimes emerge

from their retreats and hop about the forest floor .

Folklore . The Wakami state that any of the sticky Breviceps causes a sick or

disea sed condition of the throa t when swa llowed by fowls . If a fowl eats severa l


to times,wi th av erage u luguru ensis

to tim es,with av erage rugosu s

to 3 times,with average usamba ri cu s

Neitherare the proportionate characters whi ch M r . Power fou nd usefu l ofmuch

a ssistance . The snout is mea sured a s from an imaginary line connecting the

posterior corners of the eyes , as used in his keys .

Snout is co nta ined in body length 6 to times .

Snout is con ta ined in body length to tim es

Snou t is conta ined in body length to times

Eye is conta ined in bo dy length 9 to 1 1 timesEye is contained in body length 9 to times

Eye is conta ined in body length 9 to 15 tim es

For pu rposes of description the twenty- fou r registered paratypes were oriti

ca lly examined ; these ranged in size from 29 to 60 mm .

Description . Habit short and stou t (65 mm . long by 46 mm . broad) ; head

sma ll ; snout proj ecting , fa irly prominent , to in registered para type

series) tim es into body length , proj ecting beyond the lower lip , which is nearly

vertica l . Eye small , di ameter 1 1 times into body length (9 to 15 times in

para type series) ; interorbital width one and a third times the width of the

upper eyelid . Tympanum di stinct bu t i ll defined (round and well defined in

some paratypes,very difli cu lt to distingu ish in young) , sub - circu la r

,its diameter

about two - thirds that of the eye- opening . Fi ngers and toes moderately slender ,bluntly rou nded at the tips ; a series of pads beneath the fingers and toes ; a very

sma ll tubercle at each a rticu lation of fingers and toes . Pa lms of hands with

larger bli ster- like folds ; soles of feet with sma ll , rounded , rather indistinct gran

u les . Fou rth finger minutely longer than second (equ a l to or slightly shorter in

pa ratypes) fifth toe longer than first . A large (4 mm . ) pebble- like inn er m e ta tar

sa l tubercle ; outer metatarsa l flat, incon spicu ou s , separated from inn er . The

tarsal tubercle of the adpressed hind limb reaches the eye (a lso in 20 of 25 para

types examined,the tympanic region in No . 137 17

,the nostril inNo s . 13723 , 13724

and Skin above,rugose or granu lar (ra rely almost smooth) below ,

smooth,

except edges of chin and so les o f feet,which have numerou s sca ttered granules .

Co loration in a lcohol . Uni formly purplish above and on throat . Below,lighter

,

va riegated with brown and purp li sh - brown ; some light spots on the pu rplish

throa t .

M easu remen ts .

Tyye 9 . Snout to v en t . Diameter of tympanumLength of head Length of tibiaBreadth of head Length of foo t .

Diameter of orbit


Breeding . The species evidently breeds at Am ani during the November‘sma ll ra in s

,

’ as six of the paratype fema les examin ed held eggs ranging in size

from 4 to 5 mm . It is to be regretted that no eggs were found in bu rrows .

Diet. (i) Ant and beetle . (ii) An ts and beetles . (iii) Ants and beetles .

(iv) Two beetles and indeterminate matter .

Habita t. Very comm on under logs at Am ani , even on exposed hi llsides from

which the forest had been cleared many years . Scarce at M t . Lutindi,where

condi tions were much drier than at Am ani .

HOPLOPHRYNE gen . nov .

Gen otype . No . 13766 . Museum of Comparative Zoology .

Diagn osis . D istinguished from all other African brevicipitids by the reduced

thumb .

Descripti on . Clavicle represented by a minute moon- shaped nodu le j u st mesia l

of the a cromion process in genotype u lugu ru ensis (or absent in r ogersi ) ; procora

co ids present as a thi n cartilaginous bar in both sexes of u lugu ruensis (or absent

in rogersi ) ; omosternum redu ced to a mere cartilaginous nodu le ; coracoids well

developed , bony , united by cartilage o n the medi an line ; a sma ll,cartilaginou s ,

expanded metasternum . Sacra l diapophyses are very well dilated . Termin a l

pha langes T- shaped .

Pupil rou nd . Tongue ova l,entire and free behi nd ; choan ae large , widely

separa ted . Tympanum absent .

Pa ra l le l Deve lopmen t in Ran i dae . This frog and its interesting a lly from the

Usambara range have their nearest coun terpart in externa l characters in the

three Cameroon frogs of the genu s L eptoda ctylodon . The only species which we

have for comparison is L . ova tu s from Lolodorf,Cameroon . In thi s latter frog

there are fou r fingers and a swell ing indicating a prepollex ; o n the prepollex are

fou r (or five) sharp thorn- like spin es,while on the first finger there are fou r (some

times five) more . In a crescen t- shaped ban d across the chest from axilla to axilla

is a series of sma ll sp ines , while there seem to be faint indi cation s ofminu te spines

o n the tib ia . The under side is marb led very mu ch in the same mann er that the

under side of H . rogersi is vermicu la ted . These characters in Hoplophryne are

discu ssed below .

Leptodacty lon ,however

,has two series of large and prominen t vomerine

teeth,while Hoplophryn e has none .


HOPLOPHRYNE ULUGURUENSIS sp . n .

Plate 2,F igs . 3 and 4

26 (M . C . Z . 13766 - 789 ) Nyange , Ulugu ru Mtns ., 5 . x . 26 .

Eggs and tadpo les (M . C . Z . 13790—795) Nyange , Uluguru Mtns . , 5 and 19 . x . 26 .

2 (M . C . Z . 13796—797) Bagil o , Ul ugu ru M tns .

,26 . ix . 26 .

5 (M . C . Z . 13798- 802) Nyingwa , Ulugu ru Mtns. , 18 . x . 26 .

Eggs and tadpo les (M . C . Z . 13803) Nyingwa , Ulugu ru Mtns .

,18 . x . 26 .

9 (M . C . Z . 13804—812) Vitu ri , Ulugu ru Mtns . ,28—30 . x . 26 .

Tadpo les (M . C . Z . 138 13) Vitu ri , Ulugu ru Mtns.

,29 . x . 26 .

Type . No . 13766 . Mu seum ofCompa ra tive Zoology . An adu ltma le collected

in a wild banana at the top ofM t . Mbov a (local n ame) above Nyange , Uluguru

M ountain s,Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge

,October 5th,

1926 .

Description . Habit moderately stout . Head moderately small,snout sub

acuminate , mouth norma l , exten ding backwards beyond a vertical line from the

posterior border of the eye ; interorbita l space taken in a line between the middle

of the upper eyelids , three times the width of the upper eyelid , anteriorly a little

more than twice ; arms (in dea th) permanen tly bent inwa rds close to breast ,

position of first finger indicated onl y by a swelling,second a li ttle shorter than

four th , a little more than ha lf as long as the thi rd , a l l three fingers unwebbed,

broadened at the tips withou t actual disks ; fiv e toes , well developed , entirely

free of webbing ; 1st abou t ha lf the length of 2md , which is ha lf the length of the

3rd ; 3rd a trifle longer than 5th, 4thmu ch longer than the rest ; a very small , flat ,

ill- defined , inconspicuou s , inn er metatarsa l tubercle ; hind limb well developed ;

the tibio - ta rsal articu la tion of the adpressed hind limb ju st reaches the posterior

border of the eye .

Skin perfectly smooth above and below bu t covered with minu te papillary

tu bercles dorsa lly ; num erou s small tubercles border both upper and lower lips ,‘

the region between mou th and for e arm as well as the anterior part of the chest .

On either side of the chest,and norma lly hidden by the fore arms

,is a rosette o f

spines with nine points o n the site of the first finger (prepollex region ) is a group

of three spines,and adj a cent to it o n the back of the second finger (first fun ctional

finger) another group of five sp ines ; on the ou ter a spect of the tib ia and foot is

a fu rther a rmatur e of sp ines , abou t thirty- two o n tibia and sixteen o n the foot ;

these characters a re sexu a l,and absent in the fema le

,which has a slightly super

ficia l resemblance to Ar thro leptis xen oda ctylu s except for the longer limbs and well

developed digits of the la tter .

Co lou r in a lcoho l . Above,br ownish - black with a pu rpl ish bloom and indistinct

light specks ; a con centra tion of these forms a fine vertebral line , an uninterrupted


In life these frogs are very flat,but swell appreciably when soaked over night

in wa ter . It was only o n the following morning tha t the spikes were observed

and it was the junior au thor’

s impression in the field that they wereeverted . T’he

senior -au thor su ggests tha t they were bu ried in mucou s . In their natu ra l habita t

these frogs are very slippery ; and from the position of the sp ines , and the fact

that they occur only in the ma les,it wou ld seem impossible to escape from the

conviction that they were to a ssist them in embracing the females while spawning .

Breeding. Eggs and tadpoles were found from the 5th of October u ntil mydepartu re from the Ulugu ru mou nta ins on October 3 1st .

The frogs were found in wild banana plan ts (Mu sa ensete or M . u lugu ruensis)

growing in ravines near the top of a forest- clad mounta in known to the natives

as Mbov a . Wa ter cou rses down these steep ravines after rain , bu t owing to their

precipitou sness they are u nable to hold a stream ; the rich , leaf-mould soil , how

ever,reta ins mu ch moistu re . In stripp ing off the ou ter leaves of the banana s ,

one finds qu ite a qu an tity of wa ter held between lea f and stem,and it is on the

stem or in this wa ter tha t the frogs have their home . The natu re of their habita t

is ample explana tion of their very flat appearan ce .

Upon the inner surface of the lea f and on the stem were masses of eggs adher

ing by means of their j elly coa ting,the poin t of their a ttachment va rying from

o ne to two feet above the junctu re of lea f and stem ; bu t whether the eggs are

constantly submerged in wa ter or not is rather difficu lt to decide a fter opening

up the leaf . I came to the con clu sion tha t they were no t so immersed . While

some of these creamy- white eggs were undeveloped o n October 5th, others showedthe tadpoles curled up within

,while others aga in had a lready ha tched and the

tadpoles were swimming in the small amoun t of flu id reta ined between the base

of the leaf and its ju n ction with the stem .

In making camp at Ny ingwa on October 13th , my native assistan ts cut a

good many bamboos with which to bu ild themselves a hut . A clump of bamboos

was growing within twen ty feet of the hu t . The waste ma teria l was thrown in a

heap on the ground . In on e bamboo,freshly split in ha lf

,I fou nd a number of

eggs o n the 16th in these the tadpoles cou ld be. clearly seen . I a ssumed therefore ,

and a lrn o st certa inly incorrectly,that they were la id on or since the evening of

the 13th. Some more were fou nd in a bamboo forming part of the hut roof , but of

their age n othing could be a scerta ined and they were dried up when shown to me .

On the 18th a na tive brought in a‘banana frog ’which he sa id he had found

in a wild banana . Banana s were rare,bu t now that I knew the species occurred at

this a ltitude I sta rted to search the bamboos the same day , and a fter examining


many scores espied some eggs throu gh a crack in a l iving bamboo whose stem

was slightly spli t . On cu tting this down and o pening it up ,no t only a ba tch

of fresh eggs was found , bu t the parent frog , a 19 mm . female . H er depressed

habit had permi tted her to get throu gh the crack into the bamboo . Fu rther

search resulted in the finding of fou r more adu lts,bu t no more eggs .

An egg withou t its gelatinous capsule measur es from 3 to 4 mm . in di ameter,

and about 5 mm . with the capsu le . These eggs are deposited only o ne deep o n

the stem of the banana,but more or less clumped . Usu ally what wa s apparently

the laying of o ne frog was not laid in a single patch but in severa l adj acent

group s . In the case of the Nyingwa eggs (No . laid o n the inn er surface of

a bamboo stern,there are two clumps separated by a space of 15 mm .

,besides a

single egg,the tota l number of eggs la id being twenty- eight .

The developing tadpoles within the eggs are creamy white , with colourless

tails ; they noticeably a ssume darker pigmen tation only about a fortnight after

hatching . As they hatch they wriggle violently on the moist and polished sur

fa ce of the banana stem and go sliding down it till they rea ch the wa ter retain ed

between stem and leaf . Doubtless their progress is often assisted by the frequent

showers of ra in . They u ndergo their metamorphoses in the seclu sion of this pri

va te swimming pool,nourished by the rema ins of many small insects that are

drowned in the flu id .

1

Description of tadpo le . (No . Length of body twice the width , and o ne

fifth the length,of the tai l . A pigmen ted spot marks the site of the external

nares ; eyes on the upper sur face of the head , the distance between them twice

as great as that between the p igmented spots , greater than the width of the

mou th . M outh opening forwa rd , upper lip arcuate,lower lip folded

,a medi an

groove and two lateral flaps most conspicuou s . Over each branchial region is a

pecu lia r flap ,the fu nction of which

,at present , is unknown . Spiracu lurn o n the

lower su rface somewhat nearer the snou t than the anu s . Not visib le from above .

Anu s medi an ,opening on the lower su rface of the subcau dal crest . Ta i l three

and a ha lf times as long as deep , bluntly pointed .

To ta l length of fu lly dev e loped tadpo leTip of nose to v en t, abou t

Diet. (1) Six species of beetles , inclu ding two weevils . (ii) Beet le and ants .

Defence . The on ly two frogs found away from their n atu ra l habitat , i .e .,those

from Bagilo , were so sticky tha t I lifted on e up by merely laying my finger o n

the back of the frog,which then adhered to my finger .

Pa rasites . Small red subderma l parasites on belly .

1 Dr. Noble has found v egetable matter in their stomachs.


Enemies . On e frog was recovered from the stomach of a snake (Geodipsas

procterae) which was captured in vegetable débris at the very foot of the banana

plant inhabited by the frogs .

Distri bu tion . In the Ulugu ru Mountain s from to feet .

Habi tat. In wild ban an as (see note above o n breeding) and bamboos . Twofrogs were taken u nder logs o n a hillside in the rain- forest

,at a spot about half

way down the mounta in on the Morogoro-Bagilo path , perhaps fifty feet on the

left side of the said path as you descend . Both were taken within a radiu s of ten

feet .

The only batrachians found sharing their retreat in the bamboos were two im

mature Nectophrynoides torn ieri (Roux) .

HOPLOPHRYNE ROGERSI sp . u .

1

Pla te 2,Fig . 5 .

4 (M . C . Z . 13814—6 ) Am an i, Usambara Mtns. ,20—30 . xi . 26 .

Type . No . 13814 . Museum of Comparative Zoology . An adu lt male co l

lected in a wild banana in the rain- forest o n M t . Bomo li near the Institu te of

Aman i,Usambara Mounta ins

,Tanganyika Territory . Co llected by A . Love

ridge,November 2oth, 1926 .

Pa ra types . Above series,all ma les

,of which the unreg istered specimen is in

the British Museum .

Description . Habit modera tely stout . Head moderately sma ll,snout sub

acuminate , mouth normal , extending backwards beyond a vertical line from the

posterior border of the eye ; interorbital space taken in a line between the mi ddle

of the upper eyelids , a li ttle more than twice the width of the upper eyelid , an

terio r ly twice ; arms somewha t bent inwards but not so markedly as in u lugu

ru ensis,and not so as to concea l the chest ; a stum p of a fir st finger with a needle

like bon e (prepollex) proj ecting from its truncated end . Second finger much

redu ced,half the length of the third (or less than ha lf the length of third in para

type) ; all fou r fingers unwebbed , the 2nd , 3rd , and 4th broadened at the tips

without actua l di sks ; well- developed tubercles ben eath fingers and toes ; five toes

well deve loped,entirely free ofwebb ing ; 2nd , 3rd , and 4th broadened in to squ a rish

expansions at their tips , l st very small , mu ch less than ha lf the length of 2nd ,

2nd ha lf the length o f 3rd , which is a little longer than the 5th, 4th very mu ch the

longest ; a very sma ll , flat,ill - defined , inconspicuou s, inner meta tarsa l tubercle ;

1 Named after Mr . F . W . Rogers, custo dian o f the Aman i Institu te at the time o f o ur v isit,whose

lo ca l knowledge and ass istance were a grea t asset.


PARHOPLOPHRYNE gen . nov .

Genotype . No . 13818 . M useum o f Comparative Zoology .

Diagnosis . D iffers from Hop lophryne by the possession of a well- developed

clavicle,simple instead of T—shaped term inal phalanges and well- developed

metatarsal tubercles .

Descripti on . Clavicle well developed ; procoraco ids present ; omosternum

very mu ch reduced ; coracoids well developed , bony , uni ted by ca rtilage on the

median line ; a sma ll,ca rtilaginou s expanded meta sternum . Sacral diapophyses

well dila ted . Termin al pha langes simple .

Pupil round . Tongue oval,entire and free behind ; choanae la rge and widely

separa ted . Tympanum absen t .

Rela tion s. Presum ably the genus from which Hop lophryn e was derived .

PARHOPLOPHRYNE U SAMBAR ICUS Sp . n .

1 (M . C . Z . 138 18) Am ani , Usambara Mtns. , 30 . xi . 26 .

Tadpo les, etc . (M . C . Z . 138 17) Amm i , Usambara Mtns.,3 . xii . 26 .

Type . No . 13818 . Museum of Cbmparativ e Zoelogy . An immatu re fema le

collected in a wild banana in the forested hills to the west o fAmani,Usambara

M ountains,Tanganyika Territory . Collected by A . Loveridge , November 30th,

1926 .

Description . Habit moderately stout . Head small,snou t more acum inate

than in H . rogersi , mouth rather sma ll , extending ba ckwards a little beyond an

imaginary vertical lin e from the middle of the eye ; in terorbital space , taken in a

line between the middle of the upper eyelids,twice the width of the upper eyelid ;

a rms normally placed ; four fingers,the l st shorter than the 2nd

,whi ch is half

the length o f the 3rd and slightly shorter than the 4th, no trace ofweb , not di la ted

at the tips , well—developed subarticu lar tubercles ben eath fingers and toes ; five

toes well developed,entirely free ofwebbing

,1st very sma ll, about ha lf the length

of 2md,2nd more than ha lf the length o f the 3rd , which proj ects beyond the 5th,

4th mu ch the longest , no digital expansions ; a strongly developed , rounded , a l

most spade- like,inner metatarsal tubercle

,and almost equally strong ou ter

tubercle,two - thirds the length of the inner ; hind limb rather short , its tibio

ta rsa l articu lation when adpressed barely reaching the axi l la .

Skin perfectly smooth above and below without trace o f spinosities , beset ,

however,with many short rugose folds .

Co lour in a lcoho l . Above,purpli sh- grey

,darker on the flank s , dark pu rplish

blotches on grey ish ground of the fore and hind limbs and digits . A white bar , as


in Brev iceps, from eye to base of fore limb . Below,white handsomely blotched

and spotted with dark brown .

Co lou r in life . So similar to that of H . rogersi tha t no difference was observed

by the j un ior author in the field .

M easu remen ts .

Type 9 Snout to v ent . Le ngth of tibiaLength of head Len gth of fo o tBreadth of head Length of 4th toe

Diameter of orbit

Breeding. As no receptacle was available in which to put the tadpoles and

young located in wild bananas on November 3oth, when the type was secured

together with the type series o f Hop lophryne rogersi , Salim u return ed for them

o n the 3rd of December .

The series which he brought back consists of approximately fou r tadpoles

with minu te hind limbs , five tadpoles with hind limbs , four frogs with long tails

but all limbs well developed , two frogs without trace of ta il . The last two men

tio ned are young ofCa llu lin a krefi‘ti

,and it is onl y presum ed (and that with reser

vation) that the tadpoles are young ofParhop lophryne; they m ay well be those of

H . rogersi .

By the advanced stage of d‘evelopmen t of this brood

,it may be supposed that

the breeding season corresponds to that ofH . u lugu ru ensis, i .e .,that eggs are laid

in October,though fu rther investigation m ay revea l tha t in these mountain forests

where ra in fa lls eleven months in the year (according to na tive reports) , the breed

ing season may be qu ite indefini te .

HEM ISUS MARMORATUM (Peters)

Engystoma marmoratum Peters, 1855, Arch . Naturg . , 21 , part 1 , p . 58.

3 (M . C . Z . 13819 ) D ar es Sa la am ,4 . xi . 26 .

1 (M . C . Z . 13822) Tanga , 15 . xi . 26 .

M easu remen ts . L‘a rgest specim en,a fema le (D ar es Salaam) , measur es 30

mm . ; the other three frogs , from 27 to 25 mm .

Breeding . The la rge fema le held sma ll eggs .

Habi tat. The D ar es Sa laam frogs were a ll taken in the bottom of a circular

pit ten feet deep ,dug in sandy soil . They had probab ly tumbled in to it from one

of the numerou s tunn els which honeycombed the first foot below the surface of

the ground and which had been cut in to du ring the con stru ction of the pit .

264

LOVER ID GE ,A.

MATSCHIE , P .

MOCQUARD , M . F .

NICKEL,E .

NIE D EN , F .

NOBLE,G . K .

PETERS, W.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1920 .

“ Notes o n East African Lizards collected 19 15—19 19 .

Pro c . Zool . So c . Lon d .

, pp . 13 1—167 .

1922 . New Reptiles from Tangany ika Territo ry. Pro c . Zoo l . So c .

Lon d ., pp . 313—3 15 . (Geodipsas proctera e , etc . )

1923 .

“ No tes on East African Snakes co llected 19 184 923 . Pro c .

Zoo l . So c . Lond .

, pp . 87 1—897 .

1923 . Notes on East African Lizards co llected 1920—1923Pro c . ZOO] . So c . Lon d . , pp . 935—969 .

1924 . Check List Of the Reptil ia recorded from the British Territories in East Africa . Jou r. E . A . and Uganda Nat . Hist . Soc . ,

Supplement NO . 3 .

1925 . On Natr ix o livacea (Peters) , from Pemba Island , and othernotes on reptiles . Proc . ZoOl . Soc . Lond .

, pp . 7 1—74 .

1925“ Notes on East African Batrachians co llected 1920—1923 .

Proc . Zool . Soc . Lon d . , pp . 763—79 1 .

Ueber eine kleine Samm lung v on Saugethieren und Reptilien ,welche Herr L . Con radt aus Usambara (Deutsch- Ostafrika )he in gebracht hat . Sitzber . Ges . Naturi . Freunde, Berlin , pp .

101—1 10 . (Lygodactylu s conradti, Chamaeleon deremensis, Ch.

tempora lis, Ch. tenu is, Ch. spin osus, Ch. (Brookesia ) brevi caudatus. )

1897 .

“ No te sur quelques Reptiles de Tanga , don de M . C ierra .

Bu ll . Mus .

,Pa ris

, p . 122 . (Typhlops gierra i . )

1901 .

“ Die Kriechtiere Deutsch-Ostafrikas . Helios,18

,

pp . 65—73 .

19 10 .

“Verzeichnis der be i Aman i in D eutschostafrika vorkommen

den Reptilien und Amphibien .

” Sitzber . Ges . Naturf. Freunde,Berlin

, pp . 441—452 .

19 12 . Wiss . Ergebn . Deut . Zentr—Afrika Exped . 4, p . 206 . (Lygodactylu s fi scheri v ar . scheflleri . )

19 13 .

“Chamaeleon i scher i Rchw . und seine Unterarten . Sitzber .

Ges . Natu rf. Freu nde , Berlin , pp . 231—248 . 3 Taf. (Chamaeleo

fischeri vosseleri , Ch. f. wern eri , Ch. f. mu ltitubercu latu s subspp . n . )19 13 . NeuesVerzeichn is de r Kriechtiere (auber den Schlangen ) v onDeutsch—Osta frika .

”I Teil , Reptilia . M itt . Zool . Mus .

,Berlin ,

7 , pp . 53—100 . (Ablepha rus mega lu rus. )19 15 .

“ Neues Verzeichn is der Kriechtiere (auber den Schlangen )v on Deu tsch- Ostafrika .

”

II Teil , Amphibia . M itt. ZOO’

l . M us .

,

Berlin, 7 , pp . 345—390.

192 1 .

“The bo ny structu re and phy letic rela tion s OfSphaerodactylus

and a llied Lacertilian genera , with the description Ofa new genus .

”

(Paragonatodes fo r on e and possibly a l l African Gona todes . )1926 .

“An ana lysis Of the rem arkable cases Of distribution among

the Amphibia , with descriptions Of n ew genera .

”Am . M us .

Nov it. , No . 2 12, pp . 10—15 . (Nectophrynoides for Nectophry netorn ieri and Pseudophryn e vivipara . )

1882 .

“ Reise n ach M ossam bique .

” Zoologie,III, Amphibien .

POWER, J . H .

PROCTER,J . B .

Rou x , J .

SCHMI D T,K . P .

STERNFELD,R .

TORN IER ,G .

WERNER ,F .

BIBLIOGRAPHY 265

1926 . A M onographic Rev ision Of the Genus Brev iceps, with D istribu tion Reco rds and Descriptions Of New Species .

” Ann . S .

Afr. Mus. , Cape Town ,20

, Part 6, pp . 451—47 1 .

1920 .

“On a Co llection Of Ta illess Batrachian s from East Africa

m a de by M r . A. Lov eridge in the years 19 14 Pro c . ZoOl .

So c .,Lon d .

, pp . 41 14 20 . (M ega lixa lus looeridgi i . )

1905 .

“ Synopsis of the toads of the genus Nectophryne B . and P.,

with specia l rem arks on som e known species and description of a

new species from Germ an East Africa .

” Proc . 20 61. So c . , Lon d .

,

pp . 58—65 , Pl . ii , fig . 4 . (N . torn ier i . )

19 19 .

“Contributions to the Herpetology Of the Belgian Congo .

Part I . ,Turtles, Crocodiles, Lizards and Chameleons . Bu ll .

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. Hist . 39,Ar t . II , pp . 385—624 .

1923 .

“Con tribu tions to the Herpetology of the Belgian Congo .

Part II . ,Sna kes . Bu ll . Am . Mus . Na t. Hist. 49

, Ar t. I,

pp . 1—146 .

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“ Neue und ungenugend bekann te afrikan ische Schlangens.

Sitzber . Ges . Naturf. Freunde , Berlin , pp . 92—94 . (Coronellaschefi

‘ler i , flficrelaps bicoloratu s, M iodon grau eri , Atractaspis con

radsi,and discusses Chlorophis macrops Blgr . )

19 10.

“ Die Schl angen Deutsch- Ostafrika . Die Faun a derdeu tschen Ko lon ien Vom Zoologischen Museum in Berlin . ReiheIII

,Heft 2

,Be rlin .

19 1 1 .

“Zur Reptilien fauna Deutsch- Ostafrikas . Sitzber . Ges .

Naturf. Freun de,Berlin

, pp . 245 . (Lygodactylu s grotei , Amphis

baenu la orienta lis, M abuya die'

sn eri , flf . bou lengeri . )

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m atik und D escenden z lehre .

”164 pp . , 5 Pls .

,1 1 text figs ,

Berlin . (M any species described . )1897

“Zur Fauni stik Deu tsch- Ost-Afrik as . Reptilien und Amphi

bien . Arch . Natu rg . 63 , pp . 63—66 .

1900 .

“ Neue Liste der Croco dil e , Schildkroten und EidechsenDeu tsch- Ost-Afrikas .

” Zool . Jahrb . Syst. 13, pp . 579—6 18 , fig .

(D ip lodactylus wolterstorfii ) .

1901 .

“ Ueber Atractaspi s hi ldebrandti Peters . Zool . Jahrb . Syst .14

, pp . 85—86 . (Notes on Ca lamelaps Spp . )1902 .

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pp . 700—701 . (G’eodipsa s oau erocega e , Sce lotes eggeli , etc . )

1902 .

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” Zoo l .Jahrb . Syst. 15

, pp . 578—590 . (A theris n itschei , M abu ia braun i . )

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45, pp . 190—194 , Pl . v .

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1904 .

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, p . 54,

f . 1—3 . (Gon ionotophis degrijsi , Gerrhosau ru s bergi . )

PLATE 1

1 . The Ul uguru Moun ta ins from Morogoro .

Ar eas Of ra in - forest occur o n crests of peaks and sides of ravines too steep fo rma ize cu ltiv ation .

2 . Wild bananas (Ensete musa o r u luguruensi s) on edge of ra in - forests .

The wa ter reta ined a t the base of the lea v es form s the breeding habita t Of thenew Brevicepitid genera Hoplophryne and Pa rhoplophryn e .

3 . Ra in - forest a t Phi llipshof (nativ e name , Magamba ) .Much Of the forest has been cleared in the Western Usambara Mo un ta in s fo r

gra z in g land . On the edges of rema in ing pa tches o f forest, as we ll a s in the irOpen glades, Chamaeleo fischer i mu lti tu bercula tu s wa s abunda n t .

(Photo by J. T . Zimmer, reproduced by perm ission Of the Fie ld Museum of

Natura l H istory , Chicago , Ill . )

PLATE 2

l . Agama co lonorum u sambarae subsp . n . 0" Type .

Ventra l View No .

2 . Prosymna orna ti ssima sp . n . 9 Type .

No .

3 . Hoplophryne u luguru ensi s gen . et . sp . n . d ‘ Type .

Dorsa l View NO . X 15.

4 . Hoplophryne u lugu ruensi s gen . et . sp . n . d 'Type .

Ven tra l View No . X 15.

5 . Hoplophryne rogersi gen . et Sp . n . 6 ‘ Type .

Ven tra l View NO .

Spelaeophryn e methn er i Ahl . d‘.

Latera l View NO .

MEM . MU S . C O MP . ZO O L . A FR IC AN HE RPETO L O G

PLATE 3

1 . Hypero liu s mariae Sp . n . 9 Type . NO . X 2 .

2 . Ill ega lixa lus u lugu ru ensis Sp . n . 9 Type . NO . X 1

3 . Leptopelis u luguru ensi s sp . n . 6 ‘ Type . No . X 2 .

PLATE 4

Egg Of Hemida ctylu s persimi li s sp . 11 .

Egg of Hemida ctylu s ma bou ia,to Show difference in size .

Under surface of le ft hand of Hemida ctylus persimi lis sp . n . 6 'Type .

X 2 .

4 . Under surface o f le ft hand of Hemida ctylu s mabou ia , to show lame llar differences .

X 2 .

Upper surface of head Of Scelotes eggeli To rn ie r . N0 . X 2 .

Upper surface of head ofS celotes u lugu ru ensi s sp . n . 9 Type .

No . X 2 .

7 . Under surface of le ft foo t ofPhrynobatra chu s krefiti i o",to show spinosities.

NO . X 2 .

8 . Under surface of le ft fo o t ofPhrynobatra chus krefi'

ti i Q to show a lmost entire absenceof spin osities. NO . X 2 .

9 . Upper aspect of right hand of Leptopelis parkeri sp . n . 9 Type .

NO . X 3 .

Upper aspect of right foot of L eptopelis par lcer i sp . n . 9 Type .

No . X 3 .

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