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Taxonomic and distributional notes: This species was originally described in the monotyp- 
ic genus Colopus Peters, 1869. Bauer and Lamb (2005) retained Colopus as valid despite poor 
molecular phylogenetic support. Heinicke et al. (2017), however, have conclusively shown that 
Colopus wahlbergii is embedded within Pachydactylus. Haacke (1976b) cited Colopus wahlbergii 
from Angola, noting its occurrence in southeastern areas near the Namibian border, but without 
providing specific localities. 
Genus Rhoptropus Peters, 1869 
Rhoptropus afer Peters, 1869 Namib Day Gecko 
Rhoptropus afer Peters 1869:59, pi., figs. 2, 2a-e. Leetotype: ZMB 6149A (eolleetor J. Wahlberg), designat¬ 
ed by Loveridge (1947) by implieation fide Bauer and Gunther (1991) and Bauer et al. (1995a:56). Type 
loeality: “Damaralande” [northwestern Namibia]. 
Rhoptropus afer. Boeage (1870:68, 1873b:212, 1887b:203, 1895a: 16, 1897b:210), Boulenger (1885:217, 
1910:643), Loveridge (1947:286), Bauer and Good (1996:643), Braneh (1998:267), Lamb and Bauer 
(2001:71), Ceriaeo et al. (2016a:55). 
Global conservation status (lUCN): Not Evaluated. 
Global distribution: The species is known from northern Namibia and adjacent southern 
Angola, in the Namib Desert, although absent from the dune seas. 
Ocurrences in Angola (Map 147): The 
species is known from southern Namibe 
Province. Namibe: “Maconjo” [-15.01667, 
13.20000] (Boeage 1873b:212; Ceriaeo et al. 
2016a:55); “Capangombe” [-15.10000, 
13.15000] (Boeage 1873b:212, 1895a:16, 
1897b:210; Ceriaeo et al. 2016a:55); “Mossa- 
medes” [-15.20000, 12.15000] (Boulenger 
1885:217; Ceriaeo et al. 2016a:55); “Rio Coro- 
ca” [-15.78333, 12.06667] (Boeage 
1887b:203, 1895a:16, 1897b:210; Ceriaeo et 
al. 2016a:55). 
Taxonomic and distributional notes: 
The genus Rhoptropus is a monophyletic 
group of rupicolous and diurnal geckos 
endemic to Namibia and southern Angola 
(Bauer and Good 1996; Lamb and Bauer 
2001). A record from Lake Ngami, northern 147. Distribution of in Angola. 
Botswana (as R. braconnieri (Thominot, 1878)) has long ago been discredited, with the locality in 
error and the type specimen (MNHN 294) referable to R. afer (see Bauer and Good 1996). Boeage 
(1873b, 1887b, 1895a) cited the s^QciQS Rhoptropus Peters, 1869 from Namibe Province (“Rio 
Coroca” and “Campagombe”), later he also identified one specimen from “Hanha,” Benguela 
Province (Boeage 1897b) as R. afer. Boeage (1897b) considered that the specimen captured in 
“Hanha” proved that the species probably extended further north, however the distribution of this 
species is limited to the Namib Desert only (Bauer and Good 1996; Branch 1998). Loveridge 
(1947) omitted the records from Boulenger (1885, 1910) for “Mossamedes” and “Angola,” respec¬ 
tively. 
