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PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Series 4, Volume 64, No. 8 
Comments. — Early Telescopus records 
from North Africa were typically referred to 
T. dhara (Forskal, 1775) and subsequently to 
I guidimakaensis (Chabanaud, 1916) (e.g., 
Geniez et al. 2004) or T. obtusus (Reuss, 1834) 
(e.g., Bons and Geniez 1996), the later now 
considered as occurring in Egypt (Sindaco et 
al. 2013). Telescopus tripolitanus was treated 
as a nomen dubium {fide Crochet et al. 2008) 
before Crochet et al. (2008) verified that this is 
the name applicable to western T. dhara com¬ 
plex. Kramer and Schnurrenberger (1963) con¬ 
sidered the type locality of Tripoli as question¬ 
able, but a specimen from Nalut (Ibrahim and 
Ineich 2005) confirms the occurrence of the 
species in northwestern Tripolitania. 
IUCN Threat Status.— Not assessed, 
but assumed to be Least Concern. 
Map 56. Distribution of Telescopus tripolitanus in Libya. 
Family Lamprophiidae 
Malpolon insignitus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1827:151, pi. 7, fig. 6) 
1827 Coluber insignitus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Description des reptiles qui se trouvent en Egypte, pp. 
121-160 in M.J.-C.L. de Savigny, (ed.), Description de l’Egypte, ou Recueil des Observations et des 
Recherches qui ont ete Faites en Egypte Pendant l’Expedition de l’Armee Frangaise. Histoire Naturelle. Tome 
premier. Partie premier. Imprimerie Imperiale, Paris, France. 
Holotype.— Specimen illustrated on fig. 6 of pi. 7 of the Atlas accompanying the “Description de 
l’Egypte,” location unknown, “Egypte” [ = Egypt] (“Unteragypten” [Lower Egypt] fide Mertens and Muller 
1928:51). 
Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus, Kramer and Schnurrenberger 1963:509. 
Malpolon monspessulanus, Le Berre 1989:280. 
Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus, Schleich, Kastle, and Kabisch 1996:502. 
Malpolon insignitus, Sindaco, Venchi, and Grieco 2013:165. 
Distribution.— From northeastern Morocco and western Algeria across North Africa to the 
Middle East, western Iran, the Caucusus and southern Russia and from Turkey and Cyprus west¬ 
wards to the Adriatic coast. The subspecies M. i. fuscus (Fleischmann, 1831) is present in the 
Balkans. Within Libya the species is represented by the nominate form, predominately in the 
Mediterranean region. 
Libyan Records (Map 57): TRIPOLITANIA: Nuoat al Khams : 5: BMNH 1960.1.5.94; 
Kramer and Schnurrenberger 1963. Zawiyah : II: Frynta et al. 2000. 15: BMNH 1960.1.5.99; 
Kramer and Schnurrenberger 1963. 22: MCSN 4213. Tripoli : 36: BMNH 1954.1.7.27, 
1954.1.7.29 Kramer and Schnurrenberger 1963. 38: Sayers 1964. 39: FMNH 82953. 40: BMNH 
1960.1.5.95; Kramer and Schnurrenberger 1963. 45: ZMB 15341, 15344, 15348, 15354; Gunther 
1858; Condorelli-Francaviglia 1896; Werner 1909; Ghigi 1913; Zavattari 1934; Sayers 1964. 
Murqub : 60: MSNM [no specific number given]; SK 2095; Peters 1880, 1881; Werner 1909; 
Ghigi 1913; Zavattari 1934.; Kramer and Schnurrenberger 1963. 62: Frynta et al. 2000. 67: Sinda- 
