Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: October 31st, 2023.
 
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Genus
Lycophidion
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African Wolf Snakes
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Wolfsnattern
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Afrikanske Ulvesnoge
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1843 |  |
Lycophidion Fitzinger (type species: Lycodon horstokii Schlegel 1837) |
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Lycophidium Agassiz 1847 [emendation] |
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1857 | |
Lissophis Hallowell (type species: Lycophidion laterale Hallowell 1857) |
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1858 | |
Metoporhina Günther (type species: Coluber irroratus Leach 1819) |
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1968 | |
Cryptolycus Broadley (type species: Cryptolycus nanus Broadley 1968; syn. Broadley 1996) |
Contents:
23 species, of which 5 (21.7%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Remarks:
The single record of capense from Egypt (Flower 1923; Baha el Din 2006) lies far to the north of the remainder of the range of the genus and is disregarded herein, pending confirmation.
Another single record of capense from Yemen (Scortecci 1932) is regarded as unreliable, as are most other specimens in the same (Dubbiosi) collection
(Gasperetti 1988; Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013).
Distribution:
SubSaharan and NE. Africa.
Reported from:
Angola
(incl.
Cabinda),
Benin,
Botswana,
Burkina Faso,
Burundi,
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Chad,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Equatorial Guinea
(Bioko,
Rio Muni),
Eritrea,
Eswatini,
Ethiopia,
Gabon,
Gambia,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau,
Ivory Coast,
Kenya,
Liberia,
Malawi,
Mali,
Mozambique
(incl.
Bazaruto Archipelago
[incl.
Benguerua]),
Namibia,
Niger,
Nigeria,
Rwanda,
Senegal,
Sierra Leone,
Somalia,
South Africa
(Eastern Cape,
Free State,
Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province,
Northern Cape,
Western Cape),
South Sudan,
Sudan,
Tanzania
(incl.
Pemba,
Zanzibar),
Togo,
Uganda,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
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Lycophidion acutirostre
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Mozambique Wolf Snake
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Mosambikanische Wolfsnatter
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Mozambique-ulvesnog
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1868 | |
Lycophidium acutirostre Günther |
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Lycophidion acutirostre Broadley 1996 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of semiannule (e.g., Laurent 1968; Broadley 1983).
Revalidated by Broadley (1996).
Distribution:
Malawi,
Mozambique,
Tanzania.
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Lycophidion albomaculatum
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White-spotted Wolf Snake, (Spotted Wolf Snake)
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Weissgefleckte Wolfsnatter
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Hvidplettet Ulvesnog
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1870 | |
Lycophidion horstockii albomaculatum Steindachner |
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Lycophidion semicinctum albomaculatum Leston & Hughes 1968 |
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Lycophidion albomaculatum Condamin 1994 |
Remarks:
Verburght, Clark, Cauldwell & Branch (2013) published the first record of albomaculatum from Sierra Leone, however, the records of semicinctum from this country in Menzies (1966, with no indication of subspecies) might refer to albomaculatum, which was previously considered a subspecies of semicinctum. When comparing the distribution maps in Chippaux (2001) and in Trape & Mané (2006), it is fairly obvious that the first author has included records of albomaculatum in his semicinctum map. Based on the latter authors' maps, Menzies' (1966) records seem most likely to represent albomaculatum, and they are tentatively included herein as records of this species.
Distribution:
Gambia,
Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau,
Mali,
Senegal,
Sierra Leone.
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Lycophidion capense
|
Cape Wolf Snake, Common Wolf Snake
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Kap-Wolfsnatter
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Kap-ulvesnog
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1831 | |
Lycodon capense Smith |
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Lycophidium capensis Peters 1854 |
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Lycophidion capense Duméril 1859 |
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1837 | |
Lycodon horstokii Schlegel (Broadley 1996) |
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Lycophidion horstokii Fitzinger 1843 |
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Lycophidium horstokii Günther 1868 |
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1893 | |
Lycophidium abyssinicum Boulenger (Broadley 1996) |
|
1968 | |
Lycophidion capense loveridgei Laurent |
|
1968 | |
Lycophidion capense vermiculatum Laurent (Broadley 1996) |
Other common names:
capense: Cape Wolf Snake
loveridgei: Coastal Wolf Snake
vermiculatum: Vermiculated Wolf Snake
Remarks:
Previously included jacksoni, multimaculatum and pembanum.
The single record of capense from Egypt (Flower 1923; Baha el Din 2006) lies far to the north of the remainder of the range of the genus and is disregarded herein, pending confirmation.
A single record from Yemen (Scortecci 1932) is regarded as unreliable and needs confirmation (Gasperetti 1988; Sindaco, Venchi & Grieco 2013).
Records from Nigeria probably refer to multimaculatum (Trape & Baldé 2014) and are treated as such herein.
Distribution:
Botswana,
Eswatini,
Kenya,
Malawi,
Mozambique,
Namibia,
Somalia,
South Africa
(Eastern Cape,
Free State,
Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province,
Northern Cape,
Western Cape),
Tanzania
(incl.
Zanzibar),
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
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Lycophidion chirioi
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Sangba Wolf Snake
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Sangba-Wolfsnatter
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Sangba-ulvesnog
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2021 | |
Lycophidion chirioi Trape |
Distribution:
Central African Republic.
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Lycophidion depressirostre
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Flat-snouted Wolf Snake
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Flachschnauzen-Wolfsnatter
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Fladsnudet Ulvesnog
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1968 | |
Lycophidion depressirostre Laurent |
Distribution:
Central African Republic,
Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Somalia,
South Sudan,
Tanzania,
Uganda.
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Lycophidion hellmichi
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Kaokoveld Wolf Snake, (Hellmich's Wolf Snake)
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Kaokoveld-Wolfsnatter
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Kaokoveld-ulvesnog
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1964 | |
Lycophidion hellmichi Laurent |
Remarks:
Records from Congo-Kinshasa (Broadley 1998; Chippaux & Jackson 2019) seem doubtful.
Ceríaco, Baptista & Conradie (2020) only include Angola and Namibia in the distribution.
Distribution:
Angola,
Namibia.
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Lycophidion irroratum
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Western Forest Wolf Snake, Pale Wolf Snake
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Westliche Wald-Wolfsnatter
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Vestlig Skov-ulvesnog
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1819 | |
Coluber irroratus Leach |
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Lycophidium irroratum Boulenger 1893 |
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Lycophidion irroratum Hughes 1983 |
Remarks:
Records from Chad refer to semicinctum (Trape, Kodindo, Djiddi, Mad-Toïngué & Kerah 2020).
Distribution:
Benin,
Burkina Faso,
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Gambia,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau,
Ivory Coast,
Liberia,
Mali,
Nigeria,
Senegal,
Sierra Leone,
South Sudan,
Togo.
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Lycophidion jacksoni
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Kilimanjaro Wolf Snake, (Jackson's Wolf Snake)
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Kilimanjaro-Wolfsnatter
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Kilimanjaro-ulvesnog
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1893 | |
Lycophidium jacksoni Boulenger |
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Lycophidion capense jacksoni Laurent 1956 |
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2021 | |
Lycophidium jacksoni occidentale Trape |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a subspecies of capense (e.g., Laurent 1956).
Treated herein as a separate species, following Trape (2021).
Distribution:
Burundi,
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Eritrea,
Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Rwanda,
South Sudan,
Sudan,
Tanzania,
Uganda.
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Lycophidion laterale
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Masked Wolf Snake, Flat Wolf Snake, (Spotted Wolf Snake, Western Forest Wolf Snake)
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Masken-Wolfsnatter
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Maske-ulvesnog
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1857 | |
Lycophidion laterale Hallowell |
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Lycophidium laterale Boulenger 1893 |
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1919 | |
Lycophidium polylepis Boulenger (Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014) |
Remarks:
Chippaux & Jackson (2019) included Liberia in the distribution, but no localities were shown in or near the country in their map.
No other references have been found to support the presence of the species in Liberia.
Distribution:
Angola
(incl.
Cabinda),
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Equatorial Guinea
(Bioko,
Rio Muni),
Gabon,
Ghana,
Ivory Coast,
Nigeria,
Togo,
Uganda.
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Lycophidion meleagre
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Speckled Wolf Snake
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Afrikanische Gesprenkelte Wolfsnatter
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Afrikansk Spættet Ulvesnog
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1893 | |
Lycophidium meleagris Boulenger |
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Lycophidion meleagris Barbour & Loveridge 1928 |
Distribution:
Angola
(incl.
Cabinda),
Congo-Kinshasa,
Kenya,
Tanzania.
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Lycophidion multimaculatum
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Many-spotted Wolf Snake, Spotted Wolf Snake, (Blotched Wolf Snake)
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Vielgefleckte Wolfsnatter
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Mangeplettet Ulvesnog
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1888 | |
Lycophidium capense multimaculata Boettger |
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Lycophidion capense multimaculatum Laurent 1956 |
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Lycophidion multimaculatum Broadley 1991 |
Distribution:
Angola
(incl.
Cabinda),
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Namibia,
Nigeria,
Tanzania,
Zambia.
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Lycophidion namibianum
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Namibian Wolf Snake
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Namibische Wolfsnatter
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Namibisk Ulvesnog
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1991 | |
Lycophidion namibianum Broadley |
Remarks:
Included for Angola, based on Herrmann & Branch (2013) and Branch (2018), although the species was not mentioned by Marques, Ceríaco, Blackburn & Bauer (2018).
Distribution:
Angola,
Namibia.
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Lycophidion nanum
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Dwarf Wolf Snake
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Zwerg-Wolfsnatter
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Dværg-ulvesnog
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1968 | |
Cryptolycus nanus Broadley |
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Lycophidion nanum Broadley 1996 |
Distribution:
Mozambique,
Zimbabwe.
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Lycophidion nigromaculatum
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Black-spotted Wolf Snake, (Blotched Wolf Snake)
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Schwarzfleckige Wolfsnatter
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Sortplettet Ulvesnog
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1863 | |
Alopecion nigromaculatus Peters |
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Lycophidion nigromaculatum Leston & Hughes 1968 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of irroratum. Revalidated as a separate species by Leston & Hughes (1968). Not mentioned by Laurent (1968) or Welch (1982).
Distribution:
Ghana,
Guinea,
Ivory Coast,
Liberia,
Nigeria,
Togo.
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Lycophidion ornatum
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Ornate Wolf Snake, (Forest Wolf Snake)
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Pracht-Wolfsnatter
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Pragt-ulvesnog
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1936 | |
Lycophidion ornatum Parker |
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Lycophidion capense ornatum Loveridge 1942 |
Distribution:
Angola,
Burundi,
Cameroon,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Kenya,
Nigeria,
Rwanda,
South Sudan,
Tanzania,
Uganda.
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Lycophidion pembanum
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Pemba Wolf Snake
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Pemba-Wolfsnatter
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Pemba-ulvesnog
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1968 | |
Lycophidion capense pembanum Laurent |
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Lycophidion pembanum Broadley 1996 |
Distribution:
Tanzania
(Pemba).
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Lycophidion pygmaeum
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Pygmy Wolf Snake
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Pygmäen-Wolfsnatter
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Pygmæ-ulvesnog
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1996 | |
Lycophidion pygmaeum Broadley |
Distribution:
Mozambique,
South Africa
(KwaZulu-Natal).
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Lycophidion semiannule
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East African Wolf Snake, Northern Wolf Snake, Mozambique Wolf Snake
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Ostafrikanische Wolfsnatter
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Østafrikansk Ulvesnog
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1854 | |
Lycophidium semiannulis Peters |
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Lycophidion semiannulis Peters 1882 |
Remarks:
Previously included acutirostre.
Now restricted to Benguerua in the Bazaruto Archipelago (Broadley 1996).
Older mainland records of semiannule refer to acutirostre.
Distribution:
Mozambique
(Bazaruto Archipelago:
Benguerua).
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Lycophidion semicinctum
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Semi-annulated Wolf Snake, Ringed Wolf Snake
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Halbband-Wolfsnatter
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Halvbåndet Ulvesnog
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1854 | |
Lycophidium semicinctum Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril |
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Lycophidion semicinctum Leston & Hughes 1968 |
Remarks:
Previously included albomaculatum.
Records from Gambia and Senegal refer to albomaculatum (Rödel & Segniagbeto 2021).
Distribution:
Benin,
Burkina Faso,
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Chad,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Ivory Coast,
Mali,
Niger,
Nigeria,
Sierra Leone,
Togo.
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Lycophidion taylori
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Somali Wolf Snake, (Taylor's Wolf Snake)
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Somalische Wolfsnatter
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Somalisk Ulvesnog
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1993 | |
Lycophidion taylori Broadley & Hughes |
Remarks:
Recorded from Senegal on the basis of a single specimen of doubtful origin.
Presence in West Africa needs confirmation (Trape & Mané 2006a).
Records from Chad and Central African Republic refer to tchadensis (Trape 2021).
Distribution:
Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Somalia,
South Sudan,
Tanzania.
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Lycophidion tchadensis
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Chadian Wolf Snake
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Tchadische Wolfsnatter
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Tchadisk Ulvesnog
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2021 | |
Lycophidion tchadensis Trape |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a population of taylori (Trape 2021).
Distribution:
Central African Republic,
Chad.
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Lycophidion uzungwense
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Red-snouted Wolf Snake
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Rotschnäuzige Wolfsnatter
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Rødsnudet Ulvesnog
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1932 | |
Lycophidion capense uzungwensis Loveridge |
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Lycophidion uzungwense Laurent 1968 |
Distribution:
Tanzania.
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Lycophidion variegatum
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Variegated Wolf Snake
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Bunte Wolfsnatter
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Broget Ulvesnog
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1969 | |
Lycophidion variegatum Broadley |
Distribution:
Eswatini,
South Africa
(KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga),
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
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