I NTRODUCT ION 



This paper is a compilation of keys and synopses found in the herpetolog ical literature from 

 1850 to the present, early 197 4 - "^ '* covers the Eastern Hemisphere and includes the Atlantic and 

 Pacific oceans and the Galapagos Archipelago. The other coastal islands of North and South America 

 and the Caribbean have been omitted. The major portion of the world literature has been examined, 

 but readers may find other references which they may wish to add. However, the citations contain a 

 means to identify almost every described reptile and amphibian within the geographical limits of 

 this paper, given the locality where found or collected. 



Both keys and synopses have been listed and can be used for identification, although it should be 

 remembered that keys as artificial arrangements are developed solely for identification of specimens 

 and synopses, often found in key format, are developed to show interrelationships. Ultimately, the 

 researcher will have to go into the literature in depth to be certain of an exact and accurate identifi- 

 cation of the specimen. For purposes of this paper, keys and synopses have not been differentiated. 

 Accordingly, all of the referenced works should be treated as containing keys and used as such. 



The keys cited are meant to afford a quick, fJirly accurate and tentative identification of an 

 herpetolog ical specimen. Most of the keys are arranged for the analysis of species, but many are 

 arranged for genera and a few for families only. Higher taxa are mentioned, but in general, keys to 

 orders and suborders have not been emphasized. In some of the older literature classification breakdowr 

 to sections, tribes, etc. are found and have been listed for their historical value. 



Most of the references are to keys of the couplet type, some of the older ones are a mixture of 

 the couplet, multiple choice, and even bracket multiple choice. These latter also have been listed for 

 historical purposes. 



The work has been divided into sections based on political and/or geographical designations under 

 which taxa are listed. An introductory general listing is presented, comprised of keys to those 

 amphibians and reptiles which are widely distributed over two or more land masses, or to those animals 

 where the distribution should not or could not be pinpointed. In some ways this list is a "catch-all" - 

 but necessary. It is suggested that this list be referred to concurrently with the others. 



Under each of the major political-geographical land and ocean masses, including the general list, 

 are listed taxa of forms which occur over the whole area or those which have not been identified withir 

 a specific smaller political or geographical area. Beneath this section subdivisions of each major 

 area are then listed alphabetically by country (an attempt was made to use the most modern name of the 

 country). Subdivisions of countries into smaller units also have been listed. 



The political-geographical areas for which the keys are lised are: 



Africa 

 Afars and Issas 

 Alger ia 



Angola (including Cabinda) 

 Burund i 

 Cameroon 

 Central Africa (may include area from 



Ethiopia and Somali Republic west t 



Senegal and south to Angola and 



Mozamb ique) 

 Chad 



Congo Republ ic 

 Dahomey 

 East Africa (Somali Republic south to 



Mozamb ique) 

 Egypt (including Sinai Peninsula) 

 Eth i op ia 

 Gabon 

 Ghana 

 Gu i nea 

 Ivory Coast 

 Kenya 

 t i ber ia 

 L i bya 

 Malawi 

 Mali 



Maur i tan ia 

 Morocco 

 Mozamb i que 

 N i ger 



Nigeria 



North Africa (Morocco east to Egypt, southeast 



to Ethiopian coast and Somali Republic's 



northern coastal area; Barbary Coast) 

 Northeast Africa (Egypt, Sinai, Sudan east to 



north Kenya and Somali Republic) 

 Rhodesia (Southern Rhodesia 

 Rwanda 

 Senegal 



Somal i Republ ic 



Southern half of Africa (l0° N. lat., south) 

 South and southern Africa (Angola east to 



Mozambique, south to South Africa) 

 Southeast Africa (Mozambique, Rhodesia, 



eastern South Africa) 

 Southwest Africa (Angola, Southwest Africa, western 



South Africa) 

 Subsahara Africa 

 Sudan 

 Tanzan ia 

 Togo 



Tropical Africa 

 Tun is ia 

 Ubang i-Sha ir 

 Uganda 

 Upper Volta 

 West Africa (countries of the western coast of 



Africa from S° N. lat., south to western 



South Africa) 



1 A few earlier works have been cited, especially those of John Edward Gray. 





