Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872

Figure 23B

Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872: 28 . Type locality: “ Gabon ”.

Helicops marginatus Fischer, 1883: 11 . Type locality: “Süd-Amerika”.

Helicops lineofasciatus Sauvage, 1884: 203 . Type locality: “ Majumba (Congo)”.

Hydraethiops melanogaster Günther, 1872: Boulenger 1893: 281.

Distribution. This species ranges from Cameroon to Republic Democratic of the Congo. In Equatorial Guinea it has been recorded in Río Muni at Monte Alén National Park (Lasso et al. 2002), including Monte Mitra (Gonwouo & Nsang 2005) (Map 26A).

Comments. The genus Hydraethiops is sister to Heliophis (Deepak et al. 2021).

Specimens examined. Forty specimens. Equatorial Guinea: without specific locality (EBD 25131) . Río Muni: Miboman, December 1987 (EBD 27728–27729) ; Miboman, 30 km from Bata, 14 October 1985 (EBD 20962) , 14 October 1985 (EBD 20967); Miboman (Km 27, road from Movo to Bata), 15 November 1985 (EBD 20963–20964) , 15 February 1986 (EBD 20969), 29 July 1985 (EBD 22771); Miboman (road to Niefang), 06 October 1985 (EBD 20965–20966) , 29 March 1986 (EBD 20968, EBD 20970); Miboman (road from Bata to Niefang) (EBD 24937– 24941) , 28 July 1987 (EBD 27513, EBD 27554–27555); Miboman (Km 30, road to Niefang), 01 February 1987 (EBD 24942–24947) ; Miboman (road of Bata-Movo-Niefang), August 1987 (EBD 27522–27529) ; Río Miong, Noayong, 23 km from Evinayong, 16 April 1987 (EBD 24936) ; Mongomo, 16 April 1986 (EBD 20961) ; Yengüe, 26 February 1988 (EBD 27763–27764) ; province of Litoral (without specific locality) (EBD 27739).