The herpetofauna of Koanaka South and adjacent regions,Ngamiland, Botswana

摘要

The Koanaka South locality of western Ngamiland, Botswana, is a Plio-Pleistocenecave deposit. While this deposit has produced numerous reptile and amphibian fossils, a lack ofcomparative osteological material from the region has hampered taxonomic diagnosis, particularlybelow the level of family. In addition, the lack of a published account of the modern herpetofaunafrom the area prevents documenting how the reptile and amphibian faunas have changed over the lasttwo million years. A collecting trip to Koanaka South in the winter dry season (19-30 June 2008)resulted in the collection of 38 specimens of nine species belonging to seven squamate families(Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, Viperidae). Two additional species,the gekkonid Ptenopus garrulous and the elapid snake Dendroaspis polylepis are documented fromsound and sight records, respectively, and one additional lacertid, Heliobolus lugubris, is voucheredby older museum material. No amphibians were observed during the survey. Nine taxa are explicitlyreported from the Koanaka Hills or in quarter degree square 2021 Aa for the first time and a rangeextension and size record are reported for Pedioplanis namaquensis and Ichnotropis squamulosa,respectively. Based on collections made in the surrounding quarter degree square (2021 Aa), as wellas published range maps, we provide a list of 39 additional reptiles and amphibians expected, but notyet documented, in the vicinity of Koanaka South. 16