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Acanthodactylus Adolfus Algyroides Anatololacerta Apathya Archaeolacerta Atlantolacerta Australolacerta Congolacerta Dalmatolacerta Darevskia Dinarolacerta Eremias Gallotia Gastropholis Heliobolus Hellenolacerta Holaspis Iberolacerta Ichnotropis Iranolacerta Lacerta Latastia Meroles Mesalina Nucras Omanosaura Ophisops Parvilacerta Pedioplanis Philochortus Phoenicolacerta Podarcis Poromera Psammodromus Pseuderemias Takydromus Teira Timon Tropidosaura Vhembelacerta Zootoca
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Arnold, E.N. (1989) - Systematics and adaptive radiation of Equatorial African lizards assigned to the genera Adolfus, Bedriagaia, Gastropholis, Holaspis and Lacerta (Reptilia: Lacertidae). - Journal of Natural History, London, 23: 525-555.
Abstract The Equatorial African group of lacertids comprises nine species which share a number of derived features and appear to constitute a holophyletic assemblage. Revision of the group using morphological characters analyzed by parsimony and compatibility methods results in the following taxonomic changes: Lacerta jacksoni = Adolfus jacksoni, Lacerta echinata = Gastropholis echinata, Bedriagaia tropidopholis = Gastropholis tropidopholis, Bedriagaia moreavi = Gastropholis prasina, the latter species being validated and removed from the synonymy of Gastropholis vittata. Adolfus jacksoni has most features in common with the hypothetical ancestor of the group, while Holaspis guentheri and the species of Gastropholis are the most derived forms. Geographical variation in Adolfus alleni is described and what is known of the ecology of the Equatorial group summarized. Most are forest dwellers with the majority of the more primitive forms living on tree boles and among litter and timber on the forest floor (Adolfus jacksoni, A. africanus, A. vauereselli). Another, Holaspis guentheri, is confined to tree boles but glides between them, while the species of Gastropholis appear to be climbers in flimsy vegetation and Adolfus alleni is ground-dwelling above the tree line. Many of the morphological features characterizing these lizards appear to be functionally related to their particular habitats.
Arnold, E.N. (2002) - History and function of scale microornamentation in lacertid lizards. - Journal of Morphology, 252 (2): 145-169.
Differences in surface structure (ober- hautchen) of body scales of lacertid lizards involve cell size, shape and surface profile, presence or absence of fine pitting, form of cell margins, and the occurrence of longitudinal ridges and pustular projections. Phylogenetic information indicates that the primitive pattern involved narrow strap-shaped cells, with low posteriorly overlapping edges and relatively smooth surfaces. Deviations from this condition produce a more sculptured surface and have developed many times, although subsequent overt reversals are uncommon. Like variations in scale shape, different patterns of dorsal body microornamentation appear to confer different and conflicting performance advantages. The primitive pattern may reduce friction during locomotion and also enhances dirt shedding, especially in ground-dwelling forms from moist habitats. However, this smooth microornamentation generates shine that may compromise cryptic coloration, especially when scales are large. Many derived features show correlation with such large scales and appear to suppress shine. They occur most frequently in forms from dry habitats or forms that climb in vegetation away from the ground, situations where dirt adhesion is less of a problem. Microornamentation differences involving other parts of the body and other squamate groups tend to corroborate this functional interpretation. Microornamentation features can develop on lineages in different orders and appear to act additively in reducing shine. In some cases different combinations may be optimal solutions in particular environments, but lineage effects, such as limited reversibility and different developmental proclivities, may also be important in their genesis. The fine pits often found on cell surfaces are unconnected with shine reduction, as they are smaller than the wavelengths of most visible light.
Bauer, A.M. & Günther, R. (1995) - An annotated type catalogue of the lacertids (Reptilia: Lacertidae) in the Zoological Museum, Berlin. - Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin, 71: 37-62.
A complete catalogue is provided for the type specimens of lacertid lizards in the herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum, Berlin, as of December, 1993. The collection contains a total of 514 type specimens, representing 63 taxa, of which 42 are currently regarded as valid at the specific or subspecific level. Types representing an additional four taxa appear to have been lost from the collection. The collections are especially rich in African lacertid types and in historically significant specimens collected early in the Nineteenth Century by Pallas, Eversmann, and Hemprich & Ehrenberg. Also present are the type series of many subspecies of Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis described by Eisentraut.
Bischoff, W. (2005) - Die echten Eidechsen der Familie Lacertidae - eine Übersicht. - Draco, 5 (21): 4-27.
(Mit freundlicher Genehmigung des Natur und Tier - Verlag, Münster)
Böhme, W. & Schneider, B. (1987) - Zur Herpetofaunistik Kameruns (III) mit Beschreibung einer neuen Cardioglossa (Anura: Arthroleptidae). - Bonner zoologische Beiträge, Bonn, 38: 241-263.
A recent herpetological collection in Cameroon yielded some 28 anuran, 16 lizard and 10 snake species. The species are listed and commented on under faunistical, taxonomical, ecological and zoogeographical aspects. Notes and corrections as to 7 other species listed in previous surveys are included. Specimens of Agama sankaranica, Mabuya buettneri, Panaspis aloysiisabaudiae and Lycophidion irroratum are first records from Came- roon. Noteworthy species are also Bufo villiersi, Adolfus africanus and Prosymna ambi- gua. The two last named are first records from the Adamaoua highlands, as are Holaspis guentheri, Hylarana albolabhs and Cardioglossa gratiosa. The Adamaoua population of C. gratiosa is described as a new subspecies C. g. peternageli.
Boulenger, G.A. (1906) - Additions to the Herpetology of British East Africa. - Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1906 (2): 570-573.
Broadley, D.G. (1991) - The herpetofauna of northern Mwinilunga District, northwestern Zambia. - Arnoldia - National Museums of Southern Rhodesia, 9 (37): 519-538.
The amphibian fauna of northwestern Zambia was quite well known, but no systematic collection of reptiles had ever been made. This was rectified when I spent the period 23 September to 12 October 1990 based at Sakeji School near Ikelenge and collected 258 reptiles and 77 amphibians. Five reptile species are new for Zambia, i.e. Adolfus africanus, Causus lichtensteinii, Limnophis bicolor, Thrasops j. jacksonii and Rhamnophis aethiopissa ituriensis.
Broadley, D.G. & Cotterill, F.P.D. (2004) - The reptiles of southeast Katanga, an overlooked `hot spot`. - African Journal of Herpetology, Johannesburg, South Africa, 53 (1): 35-61.
A review of the reptiles recorded from southeast Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, employing the evolutionary species concept, indicates that there are at least 119 species in the area (7 chelonians, 37 lizards, 4 amphisbaenians, 69 snakes and 2 crocodilians), 15 of which are endemic (12.6 %). Analysis of zoogeographical affinities shows that this reptile fauna is derived from all directions, with forest forms entering from the north accounting for 14.4 % and savanna forms entering from the east contributing 22 %.
Chirio, L. (1997) - Etude herpétologique de la région de Ngotto- Bambio (Republique Centrafricaine) - Projet ECOFAC-CENTRAFIQUE. 19 pp.
Chirio, L. & Ineich, I. (2006) - Biogeography of the reptiles of the Central African Republic. - African Journal of Herpetology, Johannesburg, South Africa, 55 (1): 23-59.
A large number of reptiles from the Central African Republic (CAR) were collected during recent surveys conducted over six years (October 1990 to June 1996)	and	deposited at the Paris Natural History Museum (MNHN). This large collection of 4873 specimens comprises 86 terrapins and tortois- es, five crocodiles, 1814 lizards, 38 amphisbaenids and 2930 snakes, totalling 183 species from 78 local- ities within the CAR. A total of 62 taxa were recorded for the first time in the CAR, the occurrence of numerous others was confirmed, and the known distribution of several taxa is greatly extended. Based on this material and an additional six species known to occur in, or immediately adjacent to, the coun- try from other sources, we present a biogeographical analysis of the 189 species of reptiles in the CAR.
Chirio, L. & LeBreton, M. (2007) - Atlas des reptiles du Cameroun. - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, IRD, Paris. 688 pp.
Garcia-Porta, J. & Irisarri, I. & Kirchner, M. & Rodríguez, A. & Kirchhof, S. & Brown, J.L. & MacLeod, A. & Turner, A.P. & Ahmadzadeh, F. & Albaladejo, G. & Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J. & Riva, I. de la & Fawzi, A. & Galán, P. & Göçmen, B. & Harris, D.J. & Jiménez-Robles, O. & Joger, U. & Jovanović Glavaš, O. & Karış, M. & Koziel, G. & Künzel, S. & Lyra, M. & Miles, D. & Nogales, M. & Oğuz, M.A. & Paf (2019) - Environmental temperatures shape thermal physiology as well as diversification and genome-wide substitution rates in lizards. - Nature Communications, 10: 4077.
Climatic conditions changing over time and space shape the evolution of organisms at multiple levels, including temperate lizards in the family Lacertidae. Here we reconstruct a dated phylogenetic tree of 262 lacertid species based on a supermatrix relying on novel phylogenomic datasets and fossil calibrations. Diversification of lacertids was accompanied by an increasing disparity among occupied bioclimatic niches, especially in the last 10 Ma, during a period of progressive global cooling. Temperate species also underwent a genome- wide slowdown in molecular substitution rates compared to tropical and desert-adapted lacertids. Evaporative water loss and preferred temperature are correlated with bioclimatic parameters, indicating physiological adaptations to climate. Tropical, but also some popu- lations of cool-adapted species experience maximum temperatures close to their preferred temperatures. We hypothesize these species-specific physiological preferences may con- stitute a handicap to prevail under rapid global warming, and contribute to explaining local lizard extinctions in cool and humid climates.
Greenbaum, E. & Villanueva, C.O. & Kusamba, C. & Aristote, M.M. & Branch, W.R. (2011) - A molecular phylogeny of Equatorial African Lacertidae, with the description of a new genus and species from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 163 (3): 913-942.
Currently, four species of the lacertid lizard genus Adolfus are known from Central and East Africa. We sequenced up to 2825 bp of two mitochondrial [16S and cytochrome b (cyt b)] and two nuclear [(c-mos (oocyte maturation factor) and RAG1 (recombination activating gene 1)] genes from 41 samples of Adolfus (representing every species), two species each of Gastropholis and Holaspis, and in separate analyses combined these data with GenBank sequences of all other Eremiadini genera and four Lacertini outgroups. Data from DNA sequences were analysed with maximum parsimony (PAUP), maximum-likelihood (RAxML) and Bayesian inference (MrBayes) criteria. Results demonstrated that Adolfus is not monophyletic: Adolfus africanus (type species), Adolfus alleni, and Adolfus jacksoni are sister taxa, whereas Adolfus vauereselli and a new species from the Itombwe Plateau of Democratic Republic of the Congo are in a separate lineage. Holaspis and Gastropholis were recovered in separate clades. Based on these molecular data, relatively substantial sequence divergence, and multiple morphological differences, we describe a new genus of lacertid for the lineage including A. vauereselli and the new Itombwe species. The recognition of this new, endemic genus underscores the conservation importance of the Albertine Rift, especially the Itombwe Plateau, a unique region that is severely threatened by unchecked deforestation, mining, and poaching.
Harris, D.J. & Arnold, E.N. & Thomas, R.H. (1998) - Relationships of lacertid lizards (Reptilia: Lacertidae) estimated from mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphology. - Proceedings of the Royal Society, 265: 1939-1948.
DNA sequences from parts of the 12S, 16S and cytochrome b mitochondrial genes, which totalled 1049 aligned base pairs, were used to estimate the relationships of 49 species of Lacertidae, including representatives of 19 out of the 23 recognized genera and 23 species of the paraphyletic genus Lacerta. These data were used, together with morphological information, to estimate the relationships within the family. Molecular evidence corroborates the monophyletic status of many genera and species groups originally based on morphology. It indicates that Psammodromus forms a clade with Gallotia, which is the sister taxon of all other lacertids. These comprise three units: the primarily Afrotropical armatured group; the largely Oriental Takydromus; and the west Palaearctic Lacerta and its derivatives, Podarcis and Algyroides. Morphology also supports the first three assemblages, but suggests that they are derived from a paraphyletic Lacerta. Within Lacerta and its allies, DNA sequence analysis corroborates the affinity of some members of each of the subgenera Lacerta s. str. and Timon, and of the L. saxicola group. It also supports the relationship of L. monticola, L. bonnali and L. horvathi, and suggests that the L. parva–L. fraasi clade and L. brandti are not related to Psammodromus–Gallotia, as morphology indicates, but instead are associated respectively with the L. danfordi and L. saxicola groups. DNA sequence data provide additional evidence that the eastern Arabian `Lacerta` jayakari and `L.` cyanura are members of the armatured clade and also sister species. Our analysis supports an origin for present lacertids in west Eurasia. The armatured clade invaded Africa, probably in the mid-Miocene, spreading widely and evolving increasingly xeric-adapted forms, one lineage of which later moved back into the Palaearctic. `Lacerta` jayakari and `L.` cyanura are assigned to Omanosaura, Lutz and Mayer 1986. The name Gallotiinae Cano, Baez, Lopez-Jurado and Ortega, 1984 is available for the Gallotia–Psammodromus clade, Eremiainae Shcherbak 1975 for the armatured clade and Lacertinae for Lacerta, Podarcis and Algyroides. Two new subgenera of Lacerta are proposed here: Caucasilacerta for L. saxicola and its allies, and Parvilacerta for L. parva and L. fraasi.
Hipsley, C. (2012) - Evolutionary consequences of Cenozoic climate change on African lacertid lizards (Squamata: Lacertidae). - Ph.D. dissertation, University of California. 126 pp.
The evolutionary diversification of many terrestrial vertebrate groups is strongly linked to climatic events in the Cenozoic, the period from 65 Million years ago to today when modern animals first appeared. I investigated the effects of Cenozoic climate change on the taxonomic and morphological diversification of the Old World lizard family Lacertidae, with particular emphasis on the African radiation. African lacertids exhibit an unusual pattern of diversification, in which their highest species richness occurs in deserts north and south of the equator, despite being spread throughout the continent. This disparity is particularly surprising given that desert lacertids are thought to be evolutionarily younger than their mesic-dwelling relatives, suggesting increased diversification rates in arid habitats. To identify the evolutionary factors underlying this pattern, I use a combination of phylogenetic, morphological and ecological techniques. In Chapter 1, I apply Bayesian methods and fossil-based calibrations to molecular sequence data to construct a time-calibrated phylogeny for Lacertidae. I estimate that the family arose in the early Cenozoic, with the majority of their African radiation occurring in the Eocene and Oligocene. In Chapter 2, I describe changes in lacertid body shape across biomes and substrates, and find widespread morphological convergence in similar habitat types. I suggest that in addition to foraging demands, fluctuating and extreme climatic conditions, largely driven by precipitation and temperature, contribute to morphological convergence across independent arid-dwelling clades. Finally, I test if ancestral transitions in ecology, morphology, and rates of diversification temporally coincide with paleoclimatic events in the Cenozoic. I use High Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography to characterize changes in the skull related to life in arid habitats, and apply maximum likelihood methods to test if the origins of those traits temporally coincide with significant shifts in habitat, diversification rates and climatic changes. My results show that African lacertids experienced three major peaks in diversification, accompanied by the evolution of suites of arid-adapted morphological traits. These changes coincide with climatic shifts in Africa, including the transition from closed forests to open grasslands and savanna in the late Oligocene, prior to the peak temperatures of the mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum, and following the formation of the Benguela current leading to hyper-aridity in southern Africa. I conclude that deserts are important centers for reptile evolution, but that expected changes in climate due to global warming may outpace the ability of arid-dwelling species to adapt and persist in the future.
Hughes, D.F. & Greenbaum, E. & Behangana, M. (2014) - Expedition report from Uganda: Herpetological surveys at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park and the northern shore of Lake Victoria. - UWA Report (2014)
Ineich, I. & Le Garff, B. (2015) - A new lizard species for Gabon, Ichnotropis bivittata Bocage, 1866 (Squamata, Lacertidae). - Herpetology Notes, 8: 471-478.
A lizard specimen recently collected from Gabon can not be assigned to any known species for the country. It is identified as Ichnotropis bivittata, a lacertid previouslnot reported for the country. The specimen is described in details and compared to related species. An older specimen examined by Boulenger (1921) was collected in the same area but not identified as from Gabon since the country was not always with the same borders and under the name `Congo français`.
Köhler, J. & Wagner, P. & Visser, S. & Böhme, W. (2003) - New country records of Adolfus africanus (Sauria: Lacertidae) – a rain forest lizard with disjunct distribution? - Salamandra, 39 (3/4): 241-248.
The lacertid lizard Adolfus africanus is recorded from Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, and Imatong Mountains, southern Sudan. Both localities represent first country records for the species. Kakamega Forest constitutes the easternmost locality for A. africanus which was also recorded from Cameroon. The known distribution of this rain forest species is reviewed and discussed in a biogeographical context.
LeBreton, M. (1999) - A working checklist of the herpetofauna of Cameroon - With localities for species occurring in southern Cameroon and a list of herpetofauna for the Dja Faunal Reserve. - Netherlands Committee for IUCN
Lewin, A. & Feldman, A. & Bauer, A.M. & Belmaker, J. & Broadley, D.G. & Chirio, L. & Itescu, Y. & LeBreton, M. & Maza, E. & Meirte, D.& Nagy, Z.T. & Novosolov, M. & Roll, U. & Tallowin, O. & Trape, J.-F. & Vidan, E. & Meiri, S. (2016) - Patterns of species richness, endemism and environmental gradients of African reptiles. - Journal of Biogeography, 43 (12): 2380-2390.
Aim To map and assess the richness patterns of reptiles (and included groups: amphisbaenians, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and turtles) in Africa, quantify the overlap in species richness of reptiles (and included groups) with the other terrestrial vertebrate classes, investigate the environmental correlates underlying these patterns, and evaluate the role of range size on richness patterns. Location Africa. Methods We assembled a data set of distributions of all African reptile species. We tested the spatial congruence of reptile richness with that of amphibians, birds and mammals. We further tested the relative importance of temperature, precipitation, elevation range and net primary productivity for species richness over two spatial scales (ecoregions and 1° grids). We arranged reptile and vertebrate groups into range-size quartiles in order to evaluate the role of range size in producing richness patterns. Results Reptile, amphibian, bird and mammal richness are largely congruent (r = 0.79–0.86) and respond similarly to environmental variables (mainly productivity and precipitation). Ecoregion size accounts for more variation in the richness of reptiles than in that of other groups. Lizard distributions are distinct with several areas of high species richness where other vertebrate groups (including snakes) are species-poor, especially in arid ecoregions. Habitat heterogeneity is the best predictor of narrow-ranging species, but remains relatively important in explaining lizard richness even for species with large range sizes. Main conclusions Reptile richness varies with similar environmental variables as the other vertebrates in Africa, reflecting the disproportionate influence of snakes on reptile richness, a result of their large ranges. Richness gradients of narrow-ranged vertebrates differ from those of widespread taxa, which may demonstrate different centres of endemism for reptile subclades in Africa. Lizard richness varies mostly with habitat heterogeneity independent of range size, which suggests that the difference in response of lizards is due to their ecological characteristics. These results, over two spatial scales and multiple range-size quartiles, allow us to reliably interpret the influence of environmental variables on patterns of reptile richness and congruency.
Lokasola, A.L. & Lotana, C.B. & Babangenge, G.B. & Tungaluna, C.G. (2017) - Distributional Data of the Lizard Fauna (Sauria) of the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape, Democratic Republic of the Congo. - Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, B 6: 151-159.
This paper presents the composition of the lizard fauna of Maringa-Lopori-Wamba landscape in the western portion of the central Congo basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its weak similarity with the lizard fauna of Gaboon and Ituri faunal areas. It also fills a gap of knowledge in a region where no previous research on Sauria has been undertaken and signals the presence of Leptosiaphos hylophilus and Lygodactylus n. sp. The paper mentions the finding of a subspecies of Gastropholis echinata. These data are important since collected for the first time in a spot where no herpetological research on lizards has previously been undertaken.
Loveridge, A. (1929) - East African Reptiles and Amphibians in the United States National Museum. - United States National Museum Bulletin, 151: 61-65
Loveridge, A. (1937) - Reports on the Scientific Results of an Expedition to Rain Forrest Regions in Eastern Africa. IX: Zoögeography and Itinerary. - Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, 79 (9): 481-541.
Loveridge, A. (1942) - Scientific results of a fourth expedition to forested areas in East & Central Africa – IV. Reptiles. - Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, 91: 237-373.
Loveridge, A. (1957) - Checklist of the reptiles and amphibians of East Africa (Uganda; Kenya; Tanganyika; Zanzibar). - Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 117(2): 151-362, i-xxxvi.
Meiri, S. (2008) - Evolution and ecology of lizard body sizes. - Global Ecology and Biogeography, 17 (6): 724-734.
Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world`s lizard species. The body size–frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.
Mertens, R. (1968) - Zur Kenntnis der Herpetofauna von Kamerun und Fernando Poo. - Bonner zoologische Beiträge, Bonn, 19 (1/2): 69-84.
Peracca, M.G. (1917) - Sopra una nuova specie di lacertide del gen. "Algiroides" dell´Uganda. - Atti della Reale Accademia delle Science di Torino, 52: 469-472.
Pérez i de Lanuza, G. & Font, E. (2016) - The evolution of colour pattern complexity: selection for conspicuousness favours contrasting within-body colour combinations in lizards - Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 29 (5): 942-951.
Many animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long- and short-wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long- and short-wavelength-based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co-occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long wavelength-based) and lateral (short wavelength-based) colour patches co-occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.
Schmidt, K.P. & Land, H. & Chapin, J.P. (1923) - Contributions to the herpetology of the Belgian Congo based on the collection of the American Congo Expedition, 1909-1915. Pt. II. Snakes. - Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 49: 1-475.
Schmidt, K.P. & Lang, H. & Chapin, J.P. (1919) - Contributions to the herpetology of the Belgian Congo based on the collection of the American Congo Expedition, 1909-1915. Pt. I. Turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and chameleons. - Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 39 (2): 385–624.
Includes bibliographical references and index. Introduction. List of localities. New genus. List of new species and type localities. Preliminary note on the distribution of African lizards. Note on the distribution of African turtles -- Testudinata. Testudinae. Kinixys Bell. Pelomedusidae. Pelusios Wagler. Pelomedusa Wagler -- Loricata (Crocodilia). Crocodylidae. Crocodylus Laurenti. Osteoblepharon, new genus. Ecological notes on Congo crocodiles -- Squamata. Lacertilia. Geckonidae. Gonatodes Fitzinger. Hemidactylus Cuvier. Lygodactylus Gray. Agamidae. Agama Daudin. Varanidae. Varanus Merrem. Lacertidae. Lacerta Linnaeus. Bedriagaia Boulenger. Algiroides Fitzinger. Ichnotropis Peters. Eremias Wiegmann. Holaspis Gray. Gerrhosauridae. Gerrhosaurus Wiegmann. Scincidae. Mabuya Fitzinger. Lygosoma Gray. Ablepharus Fitzinger. Anelytropidae. Feylinia Gray. Chamaeleontidae. Chamaeleon Gronovius. Rhampholeon Günther -- Appendix A: Lists of the turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and chameleons of the rain forest and of the Sudanese subprovince -- Appendix B: Notes on the types of Hallowell`s West African species in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Schmitz, A. & Euskirchen, O. & Böhme, W. (2000) - Zur Herpetofauna einer montanen Regenwald- region in SW-Kamerun (Mt. Kupe und Bakossi-Bergland). - Herpetofauna, 22(124): 16-27.
Seligmann, H. (2000) - Evolution and ecology of developmental processes and of the resulting morphology: directional asymmetry in hindlimbs of Agamidae and Lacertidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia). - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 69 (4): 461–481.
In this paper, the evolution and ecology of directional asymmetry (DA) during the developmental trajectory (DT) is compared with that of its product, morphological DA (MDA). DT and MDA are calculated for two bilateral morphological scale characters of lizards, the number of subdigital lamellae beneath the fourth toe in 10 agamid and 28 lacertid taxa, and the number of rows of ventral scales in 12 lacertid taxa. MDA, the subtraction between left and right sides (classical measure of DA), is functional in adult animals. Results confirm the hypodiesis that, in DT, the regression parameters a (constant) and b (regression slope) of counts on the right side with those on the left describe a developmental process. No phylogenetic or environmental effects were observed on a and b, but analyses considering both a and b together show non-random phyletic patterns. Independent analyses deduced the same ancestral DT in Agamidae and Lacertidae. In Lacertidae, distance between pairs of taxa in a + b (standardized values) correlates positively with die phylogenetic distance between taxa. Phyletic trends in MDA are indirect, and due to the link of MDA with a + b. The MDA of species is more dissimilar in sympatry than in allopatry. The phyletic trends suggest evolution of DT, while die association of MDA witii sympatry suggests that ecological pressures shape MDA in adult animals. Evolution of DT is independent from tiiat of its product, MDA–adaptive determinism defines the result of, but not the mechanistic process of, development. Deterministic environmental processes define MDA, and deterministic evolutionary processes define the interactive result of a and b, but not each separately. According to circumstances, different DTs produce similar or different MDA, and a particular DT can produce different MDAs.
Sternfeld, R. (1912) - Reptilia. - in: SCHUBOTZ, R. (ed.): Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Zentral-Afrika-Expedition 1907-1908, Band IV, Zoologie II - Klinkhardt & Biermann, Leipzig: 197-279.
Vanhooydonck, B. & van Damme, R. (1999) - Evolutionary relationships between body shape and habitat use in lacertid lizards. - Evolutionary Ecology Research, 1: 785-805.
The aim of this study was to determine if divergence in habitat use among lacertid lizards is paralleled by morphological differentiation. For 35 lacertid species, we measured body, head and limb dimensions. Habitat use was inferred from the literature: ground-dwelling on open terrain, ground-dwelling in vegetated areas, shrub-climbing, tree-climbing, saxicolous (i.e. rock-climbing). Traditional (i.e. non-phylogenetic) statistical analyses suggest morphological differences among species groups with different habitat use. Ground-dwelling species from open habitats tend to have longer femurs, tibiae and humeri (relative to body length) than other groups. Cursorial (i.e. level-running) species have relatively high heads and trunks compared to climbing species. These differences follow biomechanical predictions and it is tempting to consider tham as adaptations to habitat use. However, phylogenetic analyses of the data fail to establish a clear relationship between habitat use and morphology in the data set considered. There is a weak indication that the differences in head and trunk height have evolved as an adaptation to different habitat use, but the differences in relative limb dimensions among species groups with different habitat use vanish. Either adaptation of limb dimensions to habitat use has not occurred in lacertid lizards, or our methods are unable to demonstrate such an adaptation. We show that uncertainties in the topology of the phylogenetic tree used are unlikely to influence the outcome of our study. We also address the fact that habitat use is often similar in different branches of the phylogenetic tree, and the consequences this may have for the power of our statistical analyses.
Vonesh, J. (2001) - Natural History and Biogeography of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Kibale National Park, Uganda. - Contemporary Herpetology, 2001 (4)
This study lists the amphibian and reptile species of Kibale National Park, Uganda, and discusses the natural history and biogeography of this unique herpetofauna. This herpetofaunal inventory was compiled based upon literature records and collections made during 17 mo fieldwork between 1995 and 1997, and includes 28 anuran, 15 lizard, and 32 snake species. Faunal comparisons with seven other tropical African forests show a high degree similarity between the Kibale herpetofauna and those of central and West Africa.
Vonesh, J.R. (1998) - The amphibians and reptiles of Kibale forrest, Uganda: Herpetofaunal survey and ecological study of the forrest floor litter community. - M.Sc.. Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. University of Florida. 101 pp.
The amphibians and reptiles of Kibale National Park in western Uganda were inventoried over an 18-mo period in 1995 and 1996-97. A total of 75 species, including 28 amphibians and 47 reptiles, were collected or observed. Comparison with other equatorial African herpetofaunas confirms that the Kibale fauna is most similar to those of southwest Uganda and eastern Congo-Zaire, both hypothesized Pleistocene forest refugia. Comparison with a West Africa fauna also shows a fair degree of overlap, while almost no overlap was observed between Kibale and the forests of coastal East Africa. This confirms that the Kibale herpetofauna is an extension of the Guinea-Congolean forest faunas. Randomly placed 5 x 5 m plots were used to sample the herpetofauna of the forest leaflitter layer in unlogged forest, logged forest, and a neighboring exotic pine plantation. A total of 18 amphibian and reptile species were captured in the litter, a number similar to that observed in mid-elevation tropical forests in Central America and Southeast Asia. Density at Kibale was much lower than most previous studies. Analysis of the feeding ecology of the most abundant litter species showed that most diurnal litter frogs are active foragers of hard-bodied prey such as ants; sit-and-wait predators of larger soft-bodied prey are curiously absent. Plots sampled under fruiting Ficus natalensis trees showed significantly higher prey densities, but litter amphibians and reptiles did not seem to respond to this increase. Of the physical and biotic factors measured in each plot, seasonal changes in soil moisture were most closely correlated with the patterns of herpetofauna abundance observed in the forest. This is consistent with the fact that Kibale receives less rain than any site where the ecology of the litter herpetofauna has been studied, and that most of the species present in Kibale are believed to have evolved in the wetter forests of eastern Congo-Zaire.
Vonesh, J.R. (2001) - Patterns of Richness and Abundance in a Tropical African Leaf-litter Herpetofauna. - BIOTROPICA, 33 (3): 502-510.
I compared species richness and habitat correlates of leaf-litter herpetofaunal abundance in undisturbed and selectively logged forests, and an abandoned pine plantation in Kibale National Park, Uganda. I sampled 50 randomly located 25 m2 litter plots in each area during the wet and dry seasons in 1997. Ten anuran, five lizard, and three snake species were captured in plots over the study. Assemblage composition was most similar at logged and unlogged sites. The logged forest herpetofauna had higher species richness and abundance than the unlogged forest, but diversity was greater in the unlogged forest due to greater evenness. In contrast, the pine plantation site had the highest richness, abundance, and evenness of the three study sites, but species composition was distinct from the other areas. Herpe- tofaunal densities were significantly lower in all three areas during the dry season than in the wet season. During the dry season, soil moisture, litter mass, topography, shrub cover, and number of fallen logs were significant positive predictors of herpetofaunal presence in litter plots, but only soil moisture was significant in the wet season. The interaction of moisture and topography appears to be important in determining seasonal patterns of litter herpetofaunal distribution. Comparison of litter herpetofaunal studies across the tropics have shown that mid-elevation faunas generally support fewer species than lowland faunas. Compared with other tropical mid-elevation litter faunas, Kibale supports an intermediate number of species, but at lower densities than observed at any other mid-elevation site reported in the literature.
Wagner, P. &	Köhler, J. & Schmitz, A. & Böhme, W. (2008) - The biogeographical assignment of a west Kenyan rain forest remnant: further evidence from analysis of its reptile fauna. - Journal of Biogeography, 35 (8): 1349-1361.
Aim The Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, has been biogeographically assigned to both lowland and montane forest biomes, or has even been considered to be unique. Most frequently it has been linked with the Guineo-Congolian rain forest block. The present paper aims to test six alternative hypotheses of the zoogeographical relationships between this forest remnant and other African forests using reptiles as a model group. Reptiles are relatively slow dispersers, compared with flying organisms (Aves and Odonata) on which former hypotheses have been based, and may thus result in a more conservative biogeographical analysis. Location Kakamega Forest, Kenya, Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods The reptile diversity of Kakamega Forest was evaluated by field surveys and data from literature resources. Faunal comparisons of Kakamega Forest with 16 other African forests were conducted by the use of the 'coefficient of biogeographic resemblance' using the reptile communities as zoogeographic indicators. Parsimony Analysis of Endemism and Neighbour Joining Analysis of Endemism were used to generate relationship trees based on an occurrence matrix with paup*. Results The analysis clearly supports the hypothesis that the Kakamega Forest is the easternmost fragment of the Guineo-Congolian rain forest belt, and thus more closely related to the forests of that Central–West African complex than to any forest further east, such as the Kenyan coastal forests. Many Kenyan reptile species occur exclusively in the Kakamega Forest and its associated forest fragments. Main conclusions The Kakamega Forest is the only remnant of the Guineo- Congolian rain forest in the general area. We assume that the low degree of resemblance identified for the Guineo-Congolian forest and the East African coastal forest reflect the long history of isolation of the two forest types from each other. Kenyan coastal forests may have been historically connected through forest 'bridges' of the southern highlands with the Congo forest belt, allowing reptile species to migrate between them. The probability of a second 'bridge' located in the region of southern Tanzanian inselbergs is discussed. Although not particularly rich in reptile species, the area should be considered of high national priority for conservation measures.
Wagner, P. & Böhme, W. (2007) - Herpetofauna Kakamegensis - The amphibians and reptiles of Kakamega Forest, western Kenya. - Bonner zoologische Beiträge, 55 (2): 123-150.
We present an annotated checklist of the herpetofauna of Kakamega Forest with comments on the biology and systematics of the taxa. Twenty-five amphibian, one turtle, 22 lizard and 36 snake species are recorded from within the forest and its immediate environment. We discuss the generalized zoogeography of the forest and distribution pattern of the taxa comment on the protection of the forest. Analysis of the reptile species composition shows Kakamega Forest to be similar to the Guinea-Congolian rainforest and is considered the easternmost remnant of this forest block. Kakamega forest has a high diversity value for Kenya and represents a diversity hotspot on a national scale. Two species, Lrgodac- t}`lus gutturalis and Psammophis phillipsi. are recorded in Kenya for the first time. Several other first records and the description of a new species (Agamidae: Agama finchi) were published already separately.
Wagner, P. & Rödder, D. (2008) - Erfassung der Herpetofauna eines Waldfragments im nordöstlichen Sambia unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Biografie. - elaphe, 16 (3): 27-31.
Witte, G.-F. de (1953) - Ordre III - Squamata - In: Exploration of Upemba National Park: Mission by G. F. De Witte (1946-1949). Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo Belge, 1951-1976, 6. 322 pp.
Lacertidae from page 84.
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