100 



E. WADE 



Affinities. Close to the preceding species with which it shares the 

 frequent irregularities in dorsal scalation and identical body pattern. 

 In scale characters (supralabial-parietal contact, ventral, subcaudal 

 and infralabial counts, points of reduction) it appears intermediate 

 between M. mauritanicus and M. cucullatus . However, the con- 

 dition of the head and body patterns suggest intermediacy between 

 M. mauritanicus and M. brevis. 



Distribution. Northwestern Algeria from the coast towards the 

 Hauts Plateaux at altitudes below 1,000 metres, Extends eastwards 

 as far as Algiers, westwards to northeastern Morocco as far as 

 Melilla (35°19'N, 2°57'W). Specimens having been taken from 

 localities as far south as El Kreider (34°09'N, 0°04'E) and Laghouat 

 (33°48'N, 2°53'E).With respect to the natural and bioclimatic range 

 of the species the last named locality is unexpected and may be 

 erroneous: it is possible that the specimen (MNHN 1899.273 pre- 

 sented by Secques) could have originated from further north. 



Localities 



SPAIN (North African possessions) - Melilla (35°19'N, 2°57'W); Zulueta, 

 1909 MNCN 1795. 



MOROCCO - Ras el Ma (35°08'N, 4°26'W): Bons & Geniez, 1996: 

 Berkane (34°56'N, 2°40'W); Bons, 1960: 1967: Bons & Geniez. 1996 

 MNHN 1912.221: Guenfouda (34°29'N, 2°03'W) 19 km S (photographs + 

 exuviate); D. Donaire in litt.. Taforalt (Beni Snassene) (34°49'N, 2 C 14'W); 

 Werner, 1931; Bons & Geniez, 1996 MCZ 29920. 



ALGERIA - no locality BMNH 1931.2.4.23; MNHN 3731; MHNG 

 524.59: Sebdou(34°38'N, F20'W); Doumergue, 1901: Beni Snous=Khemis 

 (34°38'N, 1°35'W); Doumergue, 1901: Arlal=Aghlal (35°12'N, 1°04'W); 

 Doumergue, 1901: Nemours=Ghazaouet (35°06'N, I°51'W); Busack & 

 McCoy, 1990 MCZ 144369-70: Oued Sefioun (34°59'N. 0°07'W): 

 Doumergue, 1901: Saint Leu=Bettioua (35°48'N, 0°16'W); Doumergue, 

 1901: Beni Saf (35°18'N, 1°23'W); Doumergue, 1901: Mostaganem 

 (35°56'N, 0°05'E); Strauch, 1862: Mascara (35°24'N, 0°08'E); Doum- 

 ergue,1901: Djebel Mourdjadjo (35°40'N, 0°45'W); Werner, 1929; 193; 

 Busack & McCoy, 1990 MCZ 27502 (paratype): lies Habibas (35°44'N, 

 1°08'W); Doumergue, 1901: Oran (35°43'N, 0°38'W); Doumergue. 1901: 

 Werner, 1909; Busack & McCoy, 1990 BMNH 1913. 7.3.14 (holotype); 

 MNHN 3734 (paratype); Oran, Batterie Espagnole; Werner, 1931 : Busack 

 & McCoy, 1990 MCZ 29919 (paratype): Arcole=Bir el Djir (35°43'N, 

 0°34'W); Sochurek, 1956: Es-Senia (35°39'N, 0°38'W) Busack & McCoy, 

 1990 FMNH 42840 (paratype): El Kreider (34°9'N, 0°04'E); Werner. 1929; 

 Busack & McCoy, 1990 MCZ 27500: Chellala=Ksar Chellala (35°13'N. 

 2°41'E) MHNG 1379.85-86, 1379. 88-89: Miliana (36°19'N, 2°14'E); 

 Strauch, 1862: Hammam Righa (36°23N, 2°24'E) ZMH R04327: Algiers 

 (36°47'N, 3°03'E); Wade, 1988: Busack & McCoy, 1990 BMNH 53.2.4.23, 

 MNHN 3732, ANSP 3486, RMNH 212a-b, ZMH R04322. ZSMH 2095/0, 

 NMB 9401: 100 km W EW 91.1: Laghouat (33°48'N, 2°53'E) MNHN 

 1899.273: 'Bona'= 'Annaba'(36°54'N, 7°46'E); Hediger, 1935 NMB 2017. 

 MHNG 12 14.40 Chellala=Ksar Chellala (35° 13'N,2°41'E) has been identi- 

 fied as Macroprotodon brevis. For NMB 2015 (Oran) see under 

 Macroprotodon mauritanicus. 



'LEVANT' - MNHN 3736a. 



Four maxillary teeth in series preceeding the fangs; nuchal collar entire 

 in majority: postorbital streak never short M. abubakeri 



DISCUSSION 



The distribution pattern of the forms of Macroprotodon cucullatus 

 as understood by Wade (1988) (Fig. lb) followed naturally that of 

 Bons (1967) (Fig. la). However, that conceived by Busack & 

 McCoy (1990) (Fig. lc), purportedly in accord with bioclimatic 

 parameters was probably the result of dismsissal of certain characters 

 and application of heavier weighting in others, notably that of 

 infralabial counts. With the exception of midbody counts characters 

 states used were shared at least in part by most of the taxa. The 

 diagnoses of Busack & McCoy (op. cit. pp 268-271) do not ad- 

 equately differentiate the subspecies. Their conclusions, insofar as 

 Morocco is concerned, have been accepted by Fahd & Plegezuelos 

 (1992) but rejected by Bons & Geniez (1998): Schleich etal. (1996) 

 present both conceptions. The results of this analysis supplement 

 that of Wade (1988) and resolve the uncertain status of many of the 

 populations from areas from which hitherto no material had been 

 seen by the author. The subspecies cucullatus. brevis, mauritanicus. 

 are raised to full species, the population from northwestern Algeria 

 and extreme northeastern Morocco (mauritanicus auct.), is recog- 

 nized as a new distinct species, abubakeri and the forms textilis and 

 ibericus are for the present retained as populations (or varieties) of 

 cucullatus and brevis respectively (Fig. 10). 



Of the species of Macroprotodon, M. mauritanicus presented the 

 greatest areas of conflict of opinions in respect of its distribution and 

 composition. This is due in part to different interpretations of some 

 of the character states. 



The position on the neck at which the count reduces from 2 1 to 1 9 

 is variable in all of the taxa (Fig. 8). The variability is most 



Macroprotodon cucullatus 



5- 



1 - 



£tft 



Macroprotodon abubakeri 



*h n , n , p 



Macroprotodon mauritanicus 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 



Usually 19 scale rows at midbody 2 



( 21 or 23 scale rows at midbody M. brevis ) 



Body with 'textilis' pattern; maxillary teeth 4—5 in series preceeding the 

 fangs; 'pale' collar usually indistinct or absent M. cucullatus 



Body with undifferentiated or 'taeniatus' pattern; 3 or 4 maxillary teeth 

 in series preceeding the fangs; 'pale'collar nearly always present .... 3 



Three maxillary teeth in series preceeding the fangs; nuchal collar 

 divided; postorbital streak often short M. mauritanicus 



10- 



5 10 15 



percentage of ventral number 



Fig. 8 Histogram showing anterior reductions (nuchal) from 21 to 19 

 scale rows. Percentage of ventral number (ordinate); number of 

 specimens (abscissa). Open bars = males, solid bars = females. 



