(recorded prior to or after the survey)
Some species were photographed prior to the initiation of the herpetofaunal survey and these were identified by MOS. If they were not subsquently recorded during the actual survey they will be found here, along with species collected and photographed by KS following completion of the initial phase of the survey. This section therefore includes two lizard species from two families: Agamidae (agamas and dragons) and Gerrhosauridae (plated lizards); and eight snake species from four families: Typhlopidae (blindsnakes), Pythonidae (pythons), Colubridae (typical snakes) and Elapidae (cobras and their kin).
Agamidae:
Agama etoshae - Etosha agama
A single specimen was captured at the roadside at Roland's Pos (location O) in the months leading up to the survey.
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Etosha agama, Agama etoshae
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Gerrhosauridae:
Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus - Black-lined plated lizard
A single specimen, observed in the reserve which would be at the extreme southeastern edge of its range.
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Black-lined plated lizard, Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus |
Typhlopidae:
Rhinotyphlops schlegelii petersii - Peter's beaked blindsnake
A single specimen was found at ORC (location L) and photographed prior to the survey beginning. Fossorial species such as this are more likely to be discovered in the drift fences, or abroad after rain, in the wet season.
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Peter's beaked blindsnake, Rhinotyphlops schlegelii petersii |
Pythonidae:
Python anchietae - Angolan python
Africa's smallest python is a rarely encountered snake which is primarily found to the north in southern Angola. Although we knew specimens have been recorded in the rocky outcrops around Little Ongava and Ongava Lodge (location I), especially around the kitchen area, where they feed on Rock dassies (Procavia capensis) and Dassie rats (Petromus typicus), a specimen was not captured for documentation until shortly after the initial survey was completed.
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Angolan python, Python anchietae |
Colubridae:
Psammophis angolensis - Dwarf sandsnake
A small and rarely encountered species, a single specimen was found after the survey, on the side of the Bellway (location B), not far from a larger Striped skaapsteker (Psammophylax tritaeniatus).
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Dwarf sandsnake, Psammophis angolensis |
Psammophis leopardinus - Leopard sandsnake
A specimen with damaged scalation, making positive identification difficult, was discovered near ORC (location L) after the survey was completed.
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Leopard sandsnake, Psammophis leopardinus |
Telescopus semiannulatus polystictus - Western tigersnake
A single specimen was collected under a tarpaulin at the gate (location G) shortly after the survey was completed.
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Western tigersnake, Telescopus semiannulatus polystictus |
Elapidae:
Aspidelaps lubricus cowlesi - Western coralsnake
A single specimen was found at ORC (location L) following the survey.
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Western coralsnake, Aspidelaps lubricus cowlesi |
Elapsoidea sundevalli fitzsimonsi - Kalahari gartersnake
A single recently road-killed (DOR) specimen was collected on the Bellway (location K) after light rain shortly after survey was completed, the only fossorial snake taken at that time.
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Kalahari gartersnake, Elapsoidea sundevalli fitzsimonsi |
Naja anchietae - Angolan cobra
We had good records of Angolan cobras, especially from the region around Sonop (location P in the southwestern corner of the reserve) and a large skin on the wall at Tiervlei was identified as this species. However, no specimens were obtained for positive identification until after the initial survey was completed when in early 2008 a badly injured 2.16m female was reported on the reserve.
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Angolan cobra, Naja anchietae |
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