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This review lists Agama smithii Boulenger 1896 as a synonym of Agama agama (Linnaeus 1758), Agama trachypleura Peters 1982 as a synonym of Acanthocercus phillipsii (Boulenger 1895) and describes for the first time Acanthocercus guentherpetersi n. sp. Without more convincing evidence, Chamaeleon ruspolii Boettger 1893 cannot be accepted as specifically distinct from Chamaeleo dilepis Leach 1819, nor Chamaeleo calcaricarens Böhme 1985 from C. africanus Laurenti 1768. Consequently, 101 species of lizard are currently recognised in Ethiopia, of which some 40% appear to be denizens of the Somali-arid zone. This significant proportion is attributable in part to the importance of the Horn of Africa as a centre for reptilian diversification and endemicity, in part to the fact that this lowland fauna was rather extensively sampled during the 1930s, but also to the conspicuous neglect of lizards in other regions of the country. Mountain and forested habitats are widespread in Ethiopia, so it seems extraordinary to record only five saurian species which are believed to be endemic in such environments. The inference that there are many more still to be discovered has important implications for conservation, because montane forest is known to be among the most threatened of Ethiopian biomes and there is clearly an urgent need for its herpetofauna to be more thoroughly researched and documented.

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Aim To map and assess the richness patterns of reptiles (and included groups: amphisbaenians, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and turtles) in Africa, quantify the overlap in species richness of reptiles (and included groups) with the other terrestrial vertebrate classes, investigate the environmental correlates underlying these patterns, and evaluate the role of range size on richness patterns. Location Africa. Methods We assembled a data set of distributions of all African reptile species. We tested the spatial congruence of reptile richness with that of amphibians, birds and mammals. We further tested the relative importance of temperature, precipitation, elevation range and net primary productivity for species richness over two spatial scales (ecoregions and 1° grids). We arranged reptile and vertebrate groups into range-size quartiles in order to evaluate the role of range size in producing richness patterns. Results Reptile, amphibian, bird and mammal richness are largely congruent (r = 0.79–0.86) and respond similarly to environmental variables (mainly productivity and precipitation). Ecoregion size accounts for more variation in the richness of reptiles than in that of other groups. Lizard distributions are distinct with several areas of high species richness where other vertebrate groups (including snakes) are species-poor, especially in arid ecoregions. Habitat heterogeneity is the best predictor of narrow-ranging species, but remains relatively important in explaining lizard richness even for species with large range sizes. Main conclusions Reptile richness varies with similar environmental variables as the other vertebrates in Africa, reflecting the disproportionate influence of snakes on reptile richness, a result of their large ranges. Richness gradients of narrow-ranged vertebrates differ from those of widespread taxa, which may demonstrate different centres of endemism for reptile subclades in Africa. Lizard richness varies mostly with habitat heterogeneity independent of range size, which suggests that the difference in response of lizards is due to their ecological characteristics. These results, over two spatial scales and multiple range-size quartiles, allow us to reliably interpret the influence of environmental variables on patterns of reptile richness and congruency.

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Latastia taylori spec. nov. (fig. 4) Latastia boscai (part) Parker, 1932, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 355 (specs, e-m). Holotype a male, number 1931.7.20.337, in the British Museum, from the Buran Valley, 2500 ft. (10°20`N x 49°E); collected by Capt. R. H. R. Taylor, 17.X.1929. Head flat, depressed, once and three quarters as long as broad, its depth a little less than the distance between the tip of the snout and the anterior corner of the eye, and its length contained 4.25 times in the length from snout to vent. Nostril pierced between four shields; upper nasals forming a suture half the length of the fronto-nasal which is a little broader than long and broader than the internarial space; prefrontals forming a median suture shorter than that between the nasals; frontal not grooved, a little longer than its distance from the rostral, once and two thirds as long as broad; interparietal not quite twice as long as broad, in contact with an occipital half its length; 4 supraoculars, the first divided into two, second and third large and subequal, fourth very small; a row of granules separating the supra- oculars from the 5 supraciliaries. Lower eyelid scaly, translucent. Rostral not entering the nostril ; two superposed post-nasals, the lower in contact with the first and second labials ; anterior loreal half as long as the second; five or six labials anterior to the subocular, which is much narrowed on the lip and separated by two scales from the pos- terior loreal ; lateral edge of the parietal bordered by 3 elongate, narrow scales, of which the anterior is much the longest; anterior margin of the ear bordered by 3 or 4 scales of which the uppermost is the largest. Four pairs of chin-shields, the first 3 in contact and the last the largest; 31 gular scales between the chin-shields and the collar which has about nine scales on its edge, the median very large and the laterals grading into the granules of the neck. Dorsal scales oval, or subhexagonal, flat and smooth, in 39 series across the middle of the body and in 105 series between the occipital and the base of the tail (vertically over the vent) ; twenty-two in a transverse series between the hind limbs. Ven- trals in six longitudinal series, with straight posterior borders, the two median series much narrower than the others; no group of small pec- torals; twenty-five transverse series of ventrals; one very large preanal bordering the vent, preceded by another, but much smaller, shield. A series of enlarged plates beneath the fore-arm; upper tibial scales small, imbricate, keeled; ten or eleven femoral pores on each side; sub- digital lamellae strongly bicarinate 26 beneath the fourth toe. Caudal scales in equal whorls, oblique and strongly keeled above, smooth be- neath. Tip of the fourth toe reaching to midway between the arm and the ear. Pale reddish brown above and on the tail, faintly marbled with grey anteriorly and on the head; flanks anteriorly and side of the neck with very irregular brown and greyish-white vertical marblings. Lower sur- faces uniform white. Length from snout to vent 43 mm. Fore-limb 13 mm. Hind-limb 26 mm. Tail (regenerated in part) 87 mm. The following specimens are paratypes of this species: 1931.7.20.339 9 2000 ft. 10°15`N x 49°E 13.1.1930 1931.7.20.338 9 20 ft. 11°14`N x 49°E 3.XII.1929 1931.7.20.340-342 3 & & 2000 ft. 9°40`N x 49°E [Ex. Field Mus.j 8.II.1930 19317.20.335-336 d 9 3100-3300 ft. 10°13`N x 48°46`E 8.1.1930 This series shows the following variations from the holotype: The head may be once and two thirds as long as broad, and its depth equal to the distance from the snout to the eye; supraciliaries 5 to 7; one or two scales between the posterior loreal and the subocular; 5 or 6 labials anterior to the subocular; dorsals in 36 to 41 series across the middle of the body; ventrals in 23 to 26 transverse series; gular scales 28 to 32; plates in the collar 5 to 7; femoral pores 9 to 12; subdigital lamellae beneath the fourth toes 24 to 27. The fourth toe extends to some point between the shoulder and the middle of the neck. The colour is usually olive, almost uniform, but with traces of lighter marblings anteriorly and on the sides of the neck and anterior part of the flanks, the latter having a tendency towards the formation of verti- cal bars. The subcaudal scales are smooth proximally, but keeled dis- tally and an unregenerated tail is a little more than twice as long as the distance from snout to vent. These specimens were originally believed to be all immature, but a female of 42 mm. from snout to vent is pregnant and the species ap- pears to be consistently smaller than boscai. It is closely allied to the latter but may be distinguished by its broader, natter dorsal scales, the absence of a frontal groove and different colour; it appears to be restricted to the north-eastern districts of Somaliland from the Sol Haud to the coast, an area close to that in which the strongly striped L. boscai burii also occurs (fig. 4).