Mehelya poensis (Smith, 1847)

Figure 30A

Heterolepis poensis Smith, 1847: 2 . Type locality: Bioko.

Heterolepis bicarinatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854: 422 . Type locality: “cóte de Guinée ”.

Mehelya poensis (Smith, 1847): Lönnberg 1910: 3.

Distribution. This species extends from Sierra Leona to Uganda, southward to northern Angola. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Bioko (Smith 1847; Duméril et al. 1854; Bocage 1873; Martinez y Saez 1886; Boulenger 1893) at San Carlos (Bocage 1895 a, 1903; Loveridge 1939), Ureca, Musola, between Musola and Riaba (=Concepción) (Mertens 1964a), and in the island of Elobey (Pérez del Val 2001) (Map 34A).

Comments. We provide the first records of this species for mainland Río Muni. Duméril et al. (1854) found a specimen of Trachylepis in the stomach of this species.

Specimens examined. Fourteen specimens. Island of Elobey (MNCN 23115) . Río Muni: San Joaquín de Ndyiacom, 01 August 1986 (EBD 25001–25002) , October 1987 (EBD 27748), 1990 (EBD 31524, EBD 31491); San Joaquín de Ndyiacom (road from Bata to Ayamiken), 03 February 1987 (EBD 24951) ; Bata, October 1987 (EBD 27749) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang) (EBD 24952) ; Miboman ( Km 27, road from Bata to Niefang) October 1987 (EBD 27747) ; Miboman (road to Niefang), 29 March 1986 (EBD 20841) ; Mongomo, 16 April 1986 (EBD 20840) ; Efulan (Acurenam), 24 September 1985 (EBD 20942) ; Asonga, 08 November 1984 (EBD 18383) .