360 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Series 4, Volume 65, Supplement II 
Xenocalamus mechowii mechowii Peters, 1881 Elongate Quill-Snouted Snake 
Xenocalamus Mechowii Peters 1881:147. Holotype: ZMB 10044 (eollector F.W. von Mechow). Type loeali- 
ty: “Malanje,” Malanje Provinee, Angola. 
Xenocalamus Mechovii: Boulenger (1915:214). 
Xenocalamus mechowi: Monard (19376:127), Branch (1998:69), Broadley (2003:88), Chippaux (2006:213), 
Wallach et al. (2014:781). 
Xenocalamus mechowi mechowi'. de Witte and Laurent (1947:49), Broadley (1971a:681) Laurent (1954a:45). 
Xenocalamus mechowii inornatus: Branch and McCartney (1992:2). 
Global conservation status (lUCN): Not Evaluated. 
Global distribution: The species as a whole 
Republic of Congo. Through eastern Angola, 
to northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana 
and northwestern Zimbabwe. 
Ocurrences in Angola (Map 323): The 
species probably occurs throughout the entire 
country with the exception of the western 
regions along the coast. Lunda Norte: 
“Sombo (Kassekue river, right affluent of 
Chiumbe)” [-8.68333, 20.95000] (Laurent 
1954a:45). Malanje: “Malanje” [-9.55000, 
16.35000] (Peters 1881:147; de Witte and 
Laurent 1947:49; Chippaux 2006:213). 
Taxonomic and distributional notes: Within 
Angola Broadley (1971a), considered the typi¬ 
cal form to be restricted to northern Angola. 
Figueroa et al. (2016) synonymizQd Xenocala¬ 
mus with Amblyodipsas, however, as their data 
were limited, we retain the highly distinctive 
Xenocalamus as valid pending further data. 
is known from southern Congo and Democratic 
I2”E 20“E 24“E 
Map 323. Distribution of Xenocalamus mechowii 
mechowii in Angola. 
Xenocalamus mechowii inornatus de Witte and Laurent, 1947 Inornate Elongate Quill- 
Snouted Snake 
Xenocalamus mechowii inornatus de Witte and Laurent 1947:51. Holotype: SAM 19719 (collector unknown). 
Type locality: “Ovamboland (Sud-Ouest africain)” [= Ovamboland, Namibia]. 
Xenocalamus mechowii inornatus'. Branch and McCartney (1992:2). 
Global conservation status (lUCN): Not Evaluated. 
Global distribution: This subspecies is known from northern and northeastern Namibia, and 
adjacent regions of Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola. 
Ocurrences in Angola (Map 324): This subspecies is confirmed form a single record in the 
southeast of the country, but it may occur more broadly. Cuando Cubango: “vinicity of Cuito Cua- 
navale- approximatley 45 km S of Lupire” [-15.08333,19.58333] (Branch and McCartney 1992:2). 
Taxonomic and distributional notes: Branch and McCartney (1993) recorded 
X. mechowii inornatus from Cuando Cubango Province and considered theirs to be first record 
of the southern race in Angola, although there are several records from immediately adjacent to 
Cuando Cubango in the Caprivi Strip and western Zambia. 
