Species:

Adolfus masavaensis  WAGNER et al., 2014

Common names:

Mount Elgon Bergeidechse (German)
Mount Elgon Alpine Meadow Lizard (English)

Types:

Holotype: ZFMK 75011 (75001 in Wagner et al. 2014), adult female; paratypes: CAS, FMNH, MCZ, ANSP

Terra Typica:

Type locality: Mount Elgon, Kenya, near Koitobos Guest House [coordinates approximately: 1.040983, 34.783645], 3372 m elevation.

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Wagner, P. & Greenbaum, E. & Malonza, P. & Branch, B. (2014) -  Resolving sky island speciation in populations of East African Adolfus alleni (Sauria, Lacertidae).  -  Salamandra, 50 (1): 1-17.     

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  The genus Adolfus Sternfeld, 1912 currently contains three species from Equatorial Africa. Two of these occur in widespread, low- to mid-elevation habitats, but Adolfus alleni is only known from four montane peaks (Aberdares, Mt. Kenya, Cherangani Hills, Mt. Elgon) in Kenya and Uganda. An integrative approach using 58 morphological characters and genetic analyses of mitochondrial (16S and cyt b) and nuclear (c-mos and RAG1) DNA sequence data revealed differences between these populations, and indicated that A. alleni is a complex of at least two cryptic species. Herein, we describe the populations from the Aberdares and Mount Elgon as a new species, and restrict A. alleni to Mount Kenya. This action underscores the importance of conservation strategies to protect these montane peaks, which may harbour additional, unique evolutionary lineages.