Hapsidophrys smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837)

Figure 18B

Dendrophis smaragdina Schlegel, 1837: 237 . Type locality: “Gold Coast”, Ghana.

Leptophis gracilis Hallowell, 1844 . Type locality: “ Liberia, W. Africa ”.

Leptophis smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837): Hallowell 1854b: 100.

Hapsidophrys coeruleus Fischer, 1856: 111 . Type locality: none provided; but according to the general comments: “WestAfrika”.

Gastropyxis smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837): Cope 1861b: 558.

Ahaetulla smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837): Sclater 1891: 35.

Hapsidophrys smaragdina (Schlegel, 1837): Boettger 1889: 279

Tropidophidion steini Werner, 1902: 335 . Type locality: “ Boké am Rio Nunez ”, Guinea.

Distribution. This species extends from Gambia to Uganda, and southward to northern Angola. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Bioko (Boulenger 1894) at San Carlos and Natividad (Hacienda Natividad) (Bocage 1895 a, 1903; Mertens 1964a) and in Río Muni at Cabo San Juan (Boulenger 1905) and Monte Alén National Park (Lasso et al. 2002), including Monte Mitra (Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) (Map 21A).

Comments. One of the commonest snake species in Río Muni. The specimens erroneously recorded by Martínez y Sáez (1886) and Pérez del Val (2001) as H. lineatus (MNCN 20286–20289 and MNCN 20290–20293) are herein regarded as H. smaragdina .

Specimens examined. Thirty-seven specimens. Equatorial Guinea (without specific locality), July 1891 (MNCN 23810) . Island of Elobey (2 specimens) and Río Muni, from Río Campo to Río Benito (2 specimens) (MNCN 20286–20289) . Río Muni: without specific locality, likely part of the material examined by Boulenger (1905) from Cabo San Juan (MNCN 22571, 22572, 22573–22575) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom, December 1987 (EBD 27733) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacon (road from Bata to Ayamiken), August 1987 (EBD 27531), 20 May 1987 (EBD 24965), 03 February 1987 (EBD 25013–25014) ; San Joaquín de Ndyiacom, 1990 (B9572, EBD 31502) ; Nvom (road from Aconibe to Asoc), 08 May 1987 (EBD 24964) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang), March 1987 (EBD 24966) ; Asonga, Bata, 08 April 1986 (EBD 20785) ; Miboman (road to Bata, Km 29), 15 November 1986 (EBD 20832) ; Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang), 28 July 1987 (EBD 27535) ; Mongomo, 16 April 1986 (EBD 20786, EBD 20788) ; Suguisa, Niefang, 29 November 1985 (EBD 20787) ; Ayene to Niefang, 15 June 1986 (EBD 20941) ; Bata (EBD 23091) ; Colegio la Salle, Bata, 1967 (EBD 2859) ; Ncoaebeñ (=Ncoeakieñ), 16 June 1984 (EBD 18360) ; Niefang (road to Evinayong), 15 October 1984 (EBD 18366) ; Road from Movó to Bata, Km 14, 13 June 1984 (EBD 18371) ; Bata, Litoral (MNCN 22570) . Bioko (MNCN 20290–20293; MNCN 22568–22569) .