A molecular phylogeny of the snakes of the Philothamnus heterodermus (Hallowell, 1857) (Squamata: Colubridae: Colubrinae) species group with the description of two new species

Abstract

The molecular phylogeny of specimens from the Philothamnus heterodermus species groupin West and Central Africa reveals important unrecognized specific diversity. In West Africa, four speciesare present: P. heterodermus, P. bellii, P. pobeguini and one cryptic species previously confused withP. carinatus. In Central Africa, five species are present: P. heterodermus, P. carinatus, P. ruandae and twocryptic species, one previously confused with P. carinatus, the second one with P. heterodermus. Here wedescribe two of these three cryptic species: Philothamnus brunneus sp. nov. from the Guinean rainforestof West Africa and Philothamnus mayombensis sp. nov. from the rainforest of the Mayombe mountains inCongo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa.