| Holotype: PEM R18465, adult male, with a partially everted hemipenis, collected by W.R. Branch, W. Conradie, G.J. Measey and K.A. Tolley, 19 January 2009
Allotype. An adult gravid female (PEM R18461) Paratypes. Thirteen specimens (five females, 8 males: PEM) |
| `along the road to Tambo`[= Tombua?], Namibe Provinz, SW-Angola (15°52’33.8’’ S, 12°12’21.0’’ E, 196 m elevation. . |
Conradie, W. & Measey, G.J. & Branch, W.R. & Tolley, K. (2012) - Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola - African Journal of Herpetology, Johannesburg, South Africa, 61 (2): 1-22.   × Although reptile diversity in Africa is high, it is poorly represented in Angola, with just 257 species known. Despite its greater surface area and habitat diversity Angola has significantly lower lacertid lizard diversity than adjacent Namibia. This is particularly notable in African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), where 10 species (two endemic) are known from Namibia but only two are recorded from adjacent Angola. Pedioplanis benguelensis was described from Angola, but its taxonomic status is problematic and it was previously synonymised with P. namaquensis. All other Angolan Pedioplanis were referred to Namibian P. undata, although this taxon is now known to comprise a complex of at least five different species and the relationship of Angolan material to this complex has not been assessed. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic placement of Angolan Pedioplanis using two mitochondrial (ND2 and 16S) and one nuclear (RAG-1) markers. A Bayesian analysis was conducted on 21 samples from Angola, combined with existing data for 45 individuals from GenBank and three additional samples from central Namibia. The phylogeny demonstrates that P. benguelensis is a valid species and that it is not the sister taxon to P. namaquensis with which it has been morphologically confused. In addition, Angolan lacertids previously referred to P. undata are not conspecific with any of the Namibian or South African species in that complex. Rather, there is strong support for the presence in Angola of additional species of Pedioplanis, which form a wellsupported sister clade to the P. undata complex (sensu stricto) of Namibia and two ofwhich are described herein. These discoveries highlight the need for further biodiversity surveys in
Angola, as similar increases in species diversity in other Angolan taxa might be found given sufficient investment in biodiversity surveys. Parrinha, D. & Marques, M.P. & Heinicke, M.P. & Khalid, F. & Parker, K.L. & Tolley, K.A. & Childers, J.L. & Conradie, W. & Bauer, A.M. & Ceríaco L.M.P. (2021) - A revision of Angolan species in the genus Pedioplanis Fitzinger (Squamata: Lacertidae), with the description of a new species. - Zootaxa 5032 (1): 1-46. × The genus Pedioplanis reaches its northernmost limit in western Angola, where it is represented by three species, Pedioplanis benguelensis, P. haackei and P. huntleyi. The taxonomic status of P. benguelensis remains problematic, mainly due to the vague original description and the loss of the original type material. Here we provide a revision of the Angolan representatives of the genus, with the description of a new species, Pedioplanis serodioi sp. nov., from the lowlands of southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analyses using a combination of mitochondrial (16S and ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1) markers, as well as morphological data, support the recognition of the new species. For purposes of nomenclatural stability, we designate a neotype for P. benguelensis and provide motivation to correct the spelling of the specific epithet to “benguelensis”. The clarification of the status of P. benguelensis and the description of a new species contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Pedioplanis, as well as the general biogeographic context of southwestern Angola, adding to the growing evidence in favor of the recognition of this region as a hotspot of lizard diversity and endemism. An updated key to the genus is also provided.
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