REVIEW OF ALGERIAN MACROPROTODON 



95 



separated. The outermost row of spots takethe form of oblique bars 

 which border the ventrals. 



Belly chequered in varying degrees (Fig. 6c, d & e). These 

 markings vary from broad, angled bars and/or rectangles, centred or 

 otherwise, with few separations to conditions in which the marks 

 may be reduced and widely spaced and ultimately intergrading to the 

 immaculate state. Belly immaculate or nearly so in about 40 indi- 

 viduals (48%): this condition is never associated with that in which 

 labial smudging or entire postorbital streaks occur. 



REMARKS ON THE SYNONYMY. The author was unable to locate the 

 holotype of Lycognathus taeniatus Dumeril & Bibron 1854. The 

 specimen has been lost (Brygoo, in litt., Wade. 1988) for well over a 

 century. At least neither Strauch, (1862) nor Doumergue, (1901) 

 claim to have seen the specimen, although they both presented 

 extracts from the original description. The type locality was given as 

 'Deserts of Western Algeria' ('?= El Aricha) as for/., textilis. El Aricha 

 is a region of subsaharan steppe in which neither of the two forms of 

 the M. mauritanicus complex are likely to occur. The original 

 description is principally concerned with the body pattern, the 

 'taeniatus' pattern sensu Wade, (1988) shades of which may occasion- 

 ally be found in any of the taxa. Clear evidence of any diagnostic- 

 features is lacking. F. Schousboe who collected the holotype was 

 principal translator for the French Army in Algeria and was closely 

 associated with theomithologistCommandantV. Loche who travelled 

 extensively in that country. In consequence Schousboe was unlikely 

 tohave restricted his activities solely to western Algeria: the specimen 

 therefore could have originated from anywhere in Algeria. As defined 

 here Macroprotodon mauritanicus is restricted to northeastern Alge- 

 ria (Algiers eastwards) and northern Tunisia. 



GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION. Scarcely any geographic variation 

 discernible: the only two melanocephalic individuals were found in 

 the Medjana region, Algeria (38°04'N, 4°40'E). 



Affinities. Resembles most closely the new species described 

 below (p. 105). 



Distribution. Northern Algeria from Algiers eastwards and south 

 as far as Biskra (34°51'N, 5°44'E): northern Tunisia south to Sidi 

 Bou Zit (32°02'N, 9°30'E). 



Localities 



ALGERIA - no locality Boulenger, 1 896; Dumeril & Bibron. 1 854; Gervais, 

 1857; 1869; Olivier, 1894: Busack & McCoy. 1990 BMNH 93.11.30.2; 

 MNHN 2172, 1994.2339^11 (syntypes of Macroprotodon mauritanicus) 

 Algiers (36°47'N, 03°03'E); Giinther 1858; Boulenger, 1896; Hediger, 

 1935; Busack & McCoy, 1990 BMNH 59.3.29.17; MNHN 3735; ANSP 

 3484; 3488; NMB 2422; USNM 56437 as M. c. mauritanicus fide Busack & 

 McCoy, l990=Coronella girondica; Maison-Carree=El Harrach. 36°43'N, 

 30°08'E, Le Cerf. 1907: Medea (36°16'N, 02°45'E); Hediger, 1935; 

 Mullerl882 NMB 2016: Ben Arous=Bordj ben Arous (36°01'N, 3°25'E) 

 ZFMK 143 16: Lalla Khadidja(36°27'N,4 14'E)MHNG 847.69: Medjana 

 (34°08'N, 4°40'E) 1 8 km NW EW 92.5, 92.9. 1 -6, 93.9. 1-3: Guellal ( 36°02'N, 

 7'05°21'E); Sura.1983: Setif (36°12'N, 05°24'E): Werner, 1909: Bougie= 

 Bejaia (36°45'N, 5°05'E); Jan & Sordelli. 1 866; Bellairs & Shute, 1 954; Sura, 

 1983 BMNH uncatalogued: Massif de I'Aures; Sindaco. 1990: Col de 

 Tibharine, (35°21'N, 6°25'E) Gruber,1989; Bischoff & In den Bosch, 1991 

 ZFMK 49602: Batna (35°34'N, 6°11'E); Wade, 1988; Busack & McCoy, 

 1990BMNH1920.120.1525(skeleton), 1920.1.20.3108:MCZ6421;ZFMK 

 4841-2: Biskra (34°5I'N, 5°44'E) Jan & Sordelli, 1866; Boettger, 1885; 

 Busack & McCoy, 1 990 MHNG 203 1 .98; SMF 20 1 69 Constantine (36°22'N. 

 6°37'E); Werner, 1929; Busack & McCoy, 1990 MCZ 144.371: Guelma 

 (36°28'N, 7°26'E); Gough, 1903: Hammam Meskoutine (36°27'N, 7°16'E); 

 Anderson, 1882; Busack & McCoy, 1990 BMNH 91.5.4.14: 

 Bugeaud=Seraidi (36°55'N, 7°40'E): Busack & McCoy. 1990 BMNH 

 1920.1.20.1186; CM 58420-1: Bone, Bona, ?Annabes=Annaba (36°54'N, 

 7°46'E); Hediger, 1935; Wade, 1988: Busack & McCoy, 1990 BMNH 



1920.1.20.1620; NMB 2018-2024; MNHN 1981.31; 30km E ZSMH 77/ 

 1985.1-4: Mt Edough (36°53'N, 7°37'E), Werner, 1892: Teniet (locality 

 unknown) MNHN 8507. The specimens NMW 25840 Algiers and MHNG 

 1379.68 Bordj Bou Arreridj (36°4'N, 04 C 46'E) have been identified as 

 Macroprotodon brevis: 



TUNISIA - no locality Busack & McCoy. 1990 MNHN 

 1891.316,1908.88; ZFMK 4843, 4845; FMNH 83650-1: lies Galita 

 (37°32'N, 8°56'E); D'Afbertis, 1878; Davidson, 1964; Lanza & Bruzzone, 

 1960; Schneider. 1 969): Ain Drahm (36°47'N, 8°42'E); Gadeau de Kerville, 

 1908; Busack & McCoy, 1990BMNH 1906.8.29.20-21, MNHN 1891.316- 

 322: road to Sedjenane (37°03'N, 9°14'E) just past junction to Cap Serrat 

 (37°14',9 13'E);Busack&McCoy, 1990 USNM 1 65874: Bizerte (37° 17'N, 

 9°52'E); Busack & McCoy, 1990: Bulla Regia (36°33'N, 8°44'E); Davidson, 

 1964: Mateur (37°03'N, 9°40'E) MHNG 1379.81-83: Megrine (36°46'N, 

 10°14'E); Chpakowski & Chneour, 1958: Zaghouan (36°24'N, 10°09'E); 

 Chaignon, 1904: Tunis (36°48'N, 10°1 l'E);Gunther 1858; Boulenger, 1896; 

 Escherich, 1896; Werner, 1909; Busack & McCoy, 1990 BMNH 47. 1 0.203.1- 

 3; ZMB 14338, 14381, 14854, 51650-1; between Sidi bou Said (36°47'N, 

 9°49'E) and Hammam Lif (36°44'N. 10°20'E); Busack & McCoy. 1990 

 SMF 34340: Cap Bon (36°45'N. 10°45'E); Blanc. 1988: Soukra (36°53'N, 

 10°15'E; Mosauer, 1934: Bir el Bey=Bordj el Bey (36°02'N, 10°18'E); 

 Davidson, 1964: ?Sfax (34°44'N, 10°45'E) MNHN 1982.115: Sidi bou Zit 

 (35 o 02 , N,9°30 , E); Chaignon, 1904; Busack & McCoy, 1990 FMNH 75967. 

 NMW 19193.3 Tunis has been identified as Macroprotodon brevis. 



NORTH AFRICA - no locality ZMH R0432 1 . 



'LEVANT' - MNHN 3736b. 



Macroprotodon abubakeri sp. nov. 



Lycognathus ciicullatus: '.'Gervais, 1857: 511, PI. 5, Fig. 2. 

 Coronella cucullata: Strauch (part), 1862: 55. Lallemant (part), 



1867:28. 

 Macroprotodon ciicullatus: Doumergue (part). 1901: 282-288; PI. 



XXI, fig. 12a. Gough (?part). 1903:468 . Werner (part), 1909 161; 



1929: 11-12, ?20; (part), 1931: 300-301. Zulueta (part), 1909: 



354. '.'Maluquer, 1917b: 564. Hediger (part), 1935: 24-26. 



Sochurek. 1956: 87+ pi. (part), 1979:221. 

 Macroprotodon ciicullatus ciicullatus: Pasteur (part), 1959 



(1960): 136-7 ?. Bons (part), 1960: 64. 74; (part), 1967: 29, ?87, 



192, Fig. 16, Map no. 16; (part), 1972: 1 16. Pasteur & Bons (part), 



1960: 116. Bons & Girot, 1962: 50. 

 Macroprotodon ciicullatus brevis: Busack & McCoy (part), 1990: 



269-27 1 . 

 Macroprotodon ciicullatus mauritanicus: Wade (part), 1988: 242, 



Fig.l. Busack & McCoy (part), 1990: 268-269. Bons & Geniez 



(part). 1996: 226-228, (314, appendix in English). 



HOLOTYPE. BMNH 19 13.7.3. 14 (Figs. 5a & 6f) from Oran, Alge- 

 ria; collected by the Hon. Walter Rothschild and Dr. Ernest Hartert. 

 Named in honour of M. Aboubakeur Sid-Ahmed, a naturalist from 

 Tlemcen, Algeria. 



Paratypes. MNHN 3734 (Fig. 5b); MCZ 27502, 29919; FMNH 

 42840: all from the region of Oran (see end of species description for 

 locality data). 



DIAGNOSIS. A species of Macroprotodon characterised by a series 

 of four maxillary teeth preceding the fangs, nuchal collar entire or 

 sometimes divided; postorbital streak usually entire uniting with the 

 'arms' of the V-mark. Dorsal body pattern of the 'undifferentiated' 

 or 'taeniatus' state. Belly usually chequered. Supralabials separated 

 from the parietals or in contact with them. Four posterior infralabials 

 in the majority of specimens. 



Close to M. mauritanicus from which it is readily separated by 

 possession of an additional maxillary tooth. Postorbital streak usually 

 unbroken. Separable from M. c. brevis by 19 dorsals or in patches of 

 21 along the body (cf 21 uninterrupted rows); sutural contact 



