field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of arusha national park

Charles Andekia Msuya is currently 

a Chief Laboratory Scientist at the 

University of Dar es Salaam. He 

holds a Ph.D in Zoology on the 

ecology of Amphibians and a Full 

Technological Certificate from the 

Institute of Science and Technology. 

He has a long field experience 

and conducts field surveys on 

Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and 

Small Mammals in Tanzania. 

European 

Commission 

Lombardy Region 

(Italy) 

Tanzania 

National Parks 

(Photo Paola Mariani) 

Edoardo Razzetti graduated in 

Biological Sciences at the University 

of Pavia (Italy) in 1993. He devotes 

most of his time to the study of 

herpetology, including distribution, 

habitat preferences and taxonomy. 

He has published over 25 scientific 

papers and is presently working on 

several zoology research and 

conservation projects with Istituto 

Oikos, the University of Insubria and 

the University of Pavia. 

University of Dar es Salaam 

(Tanzania) 

University of Insubria, 

Varese branch (Italy) 

Istituto Oikos 

(Italy and Tanzania) 

FIELD GUIDE TO THE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK (TANZANIA) 

EDOARDO RAZZETTI & CHARLES ANDEKIA MSUYA 

FIELD GUIDE TO THE AMPHIBIANS 

AND REPTILES 

OF ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK 

(TANZANIA)


AND REPTILES 

OF ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK (TANZANIA) 

The publication of this book has been made possible through contributions from: 

European Commission 

Lombardy Region (Italy) 

Tanzania National Parks 

University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) 

University of Insubria, Varese branch (Italy) 

Istituto Oikos (Italy and Tanzania)

Primary forest on the slopes of Ngurdoto crater.

EDOARDO RAZZETTI & CHARLES ANDEKIA MSUYA 


AND REPTILES 


(TANZANIA)

Acknowledgements: 

The study of the amphibian and reptile populations of the Arusha National Park has 

been carried out in the framework of the Mount Meru Conservation Project (2000- 

2002), a joint effort of the University of Insubria, Varese branch, Tanzania National 

Parks (TANAPA) and Istituto Oikos, funded by the European Union. The publication 

of this guidebook, that includes the results of two field campaigns, has been possible 

thanks also to financial contributions by the Lombardy Region (Italy). The authors are 

therefore grateful to all the above mentioned institutions for their support. 

They extend especial thank to TANAPA for granting permission to work in the park, to 

Arusha National Park’s staff, for its guidance, cooperation and assistance in the field, 

Istituto Oikos and University of Insubria staff for co-ordination and logistic. 

We are also grateful to the many people who have contributed to the completion of 

this book, and particularly to: Prof. Kim M. Howell for confirming the identifications; 

Rossella Rossi for the co-ordination and enthusiastic support; Paola Mariani for 

preparing the distribution maps and carrying bags full of venomous snakes in her car; 

Paola Codipietro, Valeria Galanti, Silvia Porrini, Cesare Puzzi, Stefania Trasforini and 

Archiebald Temu for their assistance during fieldwork; Donald G. Broadley, John 

Poynton and Guido Tosi for the invaluable help on the revision of the text and scientific 

support; Franco Andreone, Michael Lambert, Ronald A. Nussbaum, Jens 

Boedtker Rasmussen, Sebastiano Salvidio, Stefano Scali, Roberto Sindaco, Richard 

Wahlgren and Martin Whiting for their useful suggestions and the bibliographic material, 

Stephen Spawls and Michele Menegon for providing some of the excellent slides 

and finally Josephine Driessen for the editing. 

Front cover: Hyperolius viridiflavus 

© Copyright 2002 TANAPA 

Text by: Edoardo Razzetti and Charles Andekia Msuya 

Photography: All photographs by Edoardo Razzetti with the following exceptions: 

pages 42 and 47 by Michele Menegon, pages 43, 44, 64 and 70 by 

Stephen Spawls. 

Maps by: Paola Mariani 

All rights reserved - Printed in Varese, Italy

CONTENTS 

FOREWORD by Lota Melamari 

(Director General Tanzania National Parks) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Aim of the booklet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Arusha National Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Arusha National Park amphibians and reptiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

Data collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

LIST OF SPECIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Bufo gutturalis (Guttural Toad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Xenopus muelleri (Mueller’s Clawed Frog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Ptychadena mascareniensis (Mascarene Grass Frog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

Rana angolensis (Common River Frog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Strongylopus fasciatus merumontanus (Striped Long-toed Frog) . . . . . . 26 

Phrynobatrachus keniensis (Puddle Frog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Hemisus marmoratum (Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Kassina senegalensis (Bubbling Kassina) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Hyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus (Painted Reed Frog) . . . . . . . . . . 34 

Hyperolius nasutus (Long Reed Frog) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Geochelone pardalis babcocki (Tropical Leopard Tortoise) . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Hemidactylus mabouia (Tropical House Gecko) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

Pachydactylus turneri (Bibron’s Thick-toed Gecko) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

Keys for the identification of the chameleons 

of Arusha National Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

Bradypodion tavetanum (Kilimanjaro Two-horned Chameleon) . . . . . . . 41 

Chamaeleo dilepis (Common Flap-necked Chameleon) . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

Chamaeleo gracilis (Gracile Chameleon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Chamaeleo rudis (Ruwenzori Side-striped Chameleon) . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Chamaeleo jacksonii merumontanus 

(Meru Three-horned Chameleon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Agama agama (Rock Agama) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Mabuya striata (Eastern Striped Skink) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Mabuya varia (Variable Skink) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

Lygosoma afrum (Peter’s Writhing-skink) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 

Panaspis wahlbergii (Wahlberg’s Snake-eyed Skink) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

5

Adolfus jacksoni (Jackson’s Forest Lizard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

Nucras boulengeri (Boulenger’s Scrub-lizard ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 

Leptotyphlops scutifrons merkeri (Merker’s Worm-snake) . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

Python natalensis (Southern African Python) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 

Bitis arietans (Puff Adder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

Elapsoidea loveridgei loveridgei (Loveridge’s Garter Snake) . . . . . . . . . 62 

Naja haje (Egyptian Cobra) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 

Dendroaspis angusticeps (Green Mamba) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 

Lamprophis fuliginosus (Brown House-snake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Lycophidion capense jacksoni (Jackson’s Wolf-snake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

Psammophis phillipsii (Olive Grass Snake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

Natriciteres olivacea (Olive Marsh-snake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (White-lipped Snake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 

Thelotornis mossambicanus (Mozambique Twig Snake) . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 

Dasypeltis scabra (Common Egg-eater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 

OTHER SPECIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

CHECK LIST OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 

AT THE ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 

6

FOREWORD 

The breathtaking scenery of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro is not the only reason 

for visiting Arusha National Park. Rather, the extraordinary quality of the 

park lies in the variety of its landscapes and habitats, ranging from open 

savannah to montane forests, lakes, marshes and rocky peaks, hosting a 

highly diverse wildlife community. Therefore visitors, during their walks 

through the park, besides enjoying the view of an elephant roaming in the forest, 

have the possibility to discover the enchanting world of the minor 

species: birds, butterflies, frogs, snakes. The Arusha National Parks herpetofauna 

seems to be particularly interesting and diverse. 

In the last 50 years many species of amphibians throughout the world have 

declined markedly in numbers, also within apparently pristine habitats, such 

as national parks and nature reserves. Concern is so high that the Species 

Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of 

Nature (IUCN) established the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force 

to collect and monitor data on amphibian populations and to assess their 

geographic distribution, their decline and possible causes. In order to contribute 

to this international effort, TANAPA decided to gather updated information 

on the Arusha National Park herpetofauna and to keep monitoring its 

populations. 

This booklet is the result of the joint effort of two naturalists: Charles Msuya 

from the University of Dar es Salaam and Edoardo Razzetti from the 

University of Pavia. They have been working within the framework of the 

Mount Meru Conservation Project (2000-2002), a joint effort of the University 

of Insubria, Varese branch, Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and Istituto 

Oikos, funded by the European Union and aimed at studying and preserving 

the Arusha National Park biodiversity. The authors’ competence, commitment 

and enthusiasm, together with their ability to take beautiful photographs, 

resulted in this fine work, that is expected to gently guide visitors into 

the fascinating world of amphibians and reptiles, two groups of animals, 

which have been on earth so much longer than man. 

LOTA MELAMARI 

(Director General 

Tanzania National Parks) 

7


AND REPTILES 


(TANZANIA)

Aim of the booklet 

INTRODUCTION 

Tanzania is internationally recognised as a key country for the conservation 

of African biological diversity. Its herpetofauna numbers about 130 amphibians 

and over 275 reptiles, many of them strictly endemic and included in the 

“IUCN” Red lists of different countries. This unique resource is still relatively 

unknown even if amphibians and reptiles are ideal subjects for zoological 

inventories and biogeographical analysis as they are relatively easy to survey 

and often strictly related to a particular environment. Moreover, since 

1989 the scientific community has started to realise that amphibians are 

declining in many areas of the world and that they are more sensitive than 

other species to diverse environmental modifications. This is probably due to 

the fact that their larval and adult stages occupy different habitats and have 

limited vagility (Stebbins & Cohen, 1995; Houlahan et al., 2000). 

Despite its importance, the Arusha National Park herpetofauna has never 

been completely studied up to now, even if some scientific papers showed 

already its peculiarity and importance. 

The aim of this booklet is to fill the existing gap in the literature and to provide 

a stimulus that will strengthen ecological tourism in the park. Visitors will 

be encouraged to appreciate also this fascinating and a bit mysterious component 

of the ecosystems. 

Arusha National Park 

Arusha National Park is situated on the eastern slopes of Mt. Meru in 

Tanzania. The area lies on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. The 

geology and soils dominating much of the park and Mt. Meru area are volcanic 

by origin, resulting from the activity of the mountain. The volcanic 

nature of Mt. Meru began during the Pleistocene, forming the Meru caldera 

and several minor craters including Ngurdoto Crater. About six thousand 

years ago the eastern part of Meru caldera collapsed forming an extensive 

lahar and the closed alkaline lakes. The only lake which has an outflow water 

system is the Small Momela, which empties into Big Momela Lake. 

Continued volcanic activity built an ash cone in Meru Crater, an attractive feature 

on Mt. Meru. A combination of climatic changes and river flows have 

influenced the concentration of alkali in the lakes and therefore the biological 

diversity and distribution of organisms. The highest biological diversity is 

found in Lake Longil, which has relatively low alkaline levels. 

11

The vegetation of Arusha National Park follows an altitudinal zonation 

(Hedberg, 1951). The lower altitude (1440-1700 m) vegetation cover varies 

from shrubland, thicket and bushland to dry evergreen forest, where 

Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) and Olea hochstetteri Baker are common. 

The mid altitude (1700-1800 m) vegetation on Mt. Meru is dominated by an 

evergreen mist fed forest, with Olea hochstetteri, Assearis, Croton, Ficus and 

Nuxia sp. On the walls of Ngurdoto Crater Cassipourea malossana (Baker) 

dominates. 

The higher altitude (1800-2100 m) forest is dominated by Juniperus, 

Podocarpus, Ilex, Xymalos, Afrocrania sp. and several epiphytes. Plant communities 

around Meru caldera are mainly pioneers. 

Most of the lakes are very alkaline and open with Cyperus leavigatus dominating 

at the edge. Lake Longil has a less alkaline environment and littoral 

vegetation, with Cyperus, Papyrus and Typha sp. dominate. The lake is also 

covered with Nymphaea caerulea, Ceratophyllum demersum and Pistia stratiorates. 

Pitfall traps at Lokie swamp; many species of amphibians can be found in this area including: 

Xenopus muelleri, Ptychadena mascareniensis, Phrynobatrachus keniensis, Kassina senegalensis, 

Hyperolius viridiflavus and Hemisus marmoratum. 

12

Lokie swamp after heavy rainfalls, hundreds of Xenopus muelleri can be found in a single pitfall 

trap. 

Arusha National Park amphibians and reptiles 

The Arusha National Park herpetofauna has never been completely studied 

although some specimens were collected in the Mt. Meru area during the 

Swedish scientific expedition in East Africa at the beginning of the last century 

(Andersson, 1911; Lönnberg, 1910, 1911). Later (1956-1957) some 

chameleons and a few other reptiles were collected by the hunters and snake 

experts C.J.P. Ionides and Lt. Col. J. Minnery (Loveridge, 1959; Rand, 1958; 

1963). Finally, a paper about the most common snakes was posthumously 

published by the Scientific Officer of Tanzania National Parks, Desmond 

Foster Vesey-FitzGerald (1975). 

The Arusha National Park is particularly interesting for amphibians and reptiles 

because (1) there are still large areas of montane forest, (2) the mountain 

systems of Meru, Kilimanjaro and Kenya are quite varied and host many 

endemic species, (3) there are many different habitats. 

Last but not least, Arusha National Park is regularly visited by many tourists 

interested not only in large mammals, but also in smaller animals such as 

birds or butterflies. The opportunity to watch some brightly coloured endemic 

chameleons (such as Chamaeleo jacksonii merumontanus) or listen to the 

13

melodic calls of beautiful frogs (like the endemic Hyperolius viridiflavus 

ommatostictus or the mountain frog Strongylopus fasciatus merumontanus) 

could add value to the Park and help people to appreciate a different aspect 

of this beautiful protected area. 

Data collection 

This guidebook includes the results of a field campaign carried out in April- 

May 2001. Some scattered data were also collected by one of the authors 

during the ichthyological and limnological survey of the park in October- 

November 2000. 

The methods used to collect data on amphibians and reptiles agree with the 

standard ones proposed by Heyer et al. (1994), Blomberg & Shine (1996) 

and Halliday (1996). Two trained persons were active for at least 6 hours a 

day (day time and night time) for 17 days (April-May 2001) always assisted 

by three more biologists. 

Photographs were taken of all taxa to document their natural coloration and 

pattern variation. As a further aid to taxonomic identification the acoustic 

repertoire of some amphibians was recorded with a Marantz professional 

tape recorder. Voucher specimens were deposited at the University of Dar es 

Salaam to confirm identification but this was, if possible, limited to specimens 

occasionally killed by ants or drowned in the traps. 

Two main survey techniques were adopted: (1) Drift fences & pitfall traps and 

the (2) Systematic Sampling Surveys (time-constrained). Both techniques 

were applied in all the major natural habitats available in Arusha National 

Park. 

Drift fences & pitfall traps. Drift fences intercept amphibians and reptiles 

moving on the ground and redirect them into pitfall traps. Four drift fences 

were located in different habitat types. Each fence was made from a 60 cm 

wide plastic sheeting placed in a 10 cm trench, backfilled with soil and fastened 

every three meters to a staple. The pitfall traps were made from large 

plastic buckets (diameter 30 cm, high 40 cm) buried in the ground, with the 

opening flush with the surface. Fifty meters of fencing with 10 traps were 

placed near to possible amphibian breeding sites (swamps, ponds, streams) 

and 75 meters of fencing with 10 traps in suitable reptile habitats. The traps 

were checked every day in the morning for seven days and then moved to 

another location. 

Pitfall traps are extremely useful to obtain information about ground dwelling 

amphibians and reptiles, but some species are captured more easily than 

others: amphibians that are strong jumpers or climbers (like Ptychadena or 

Hyperolius) or large reptiles (large snakes) are more difficult to trap. 

Systematic Sampling Surveys (time-constrained). This is an opportunistic 

search for amphibians and reptiles with the goal of finding as many species 

as possible. Before each search, the exact locality, latitude and longitude, 

14

Lake Longil during the wet season with Kilimanjaro on the background. 

date, number of observers, weather conditions, temperature, habitat type, 

vegetation, slope and starting time were recorded. When a habitat had been 

adequately sampled in the judgement of the investigator (i.e. when the whole 

area had been thoroughly investigated or when no new species had been 

located within a given period of time), the finishing time was recorded and the 

observers moved to another location. This technique is very useful, making it 

possible to obtain quantitative values as percentage composition of species 

and numbers seen per man-hour of searching. 

Secretive species were sought in their refuges (e.g., under stones, tree barks 

or fallen logs, in leaf litter or among the branches of trees). Night searches 

were carried out with the aid of head-lamps and flashlights. The calls of 

amphibians at breeding sites were used to detect different species (sometimes 

they can be heard up to 2 km away) and traced to their source when a 

“different” call was heard. Specific searching techniques were applied to find 

some taxa (Caecilians, Chameleons). Different kinds of stake nets were used 

to catch adult amphibians and tadpoles; fishing rods with slip knots were 

used to noose lizards, agamas and skinks; thick leather gloves and boots, 

hooks, tongs and “T” shaped sticks helped to catch snakes. 

15

Results 

During the herpetological survey of the Arusha National Park 10 species of 

amphibians and 24 of reptiles were found. Analysis of the data collected 

shows that the survey allowed us to do a complete (or almost complete) 

check list of the amphibians, but the accumulation graphs for the reptiles indicate 

that a few species are still lacking and more research is needed to complete 

the list. This is due to the limited time of the survey and also because 

the rainy season is optimal for the amphibian census, but is also the worst 

period to look for reptiles due to cold weather and high grasses. In particular 

most of the large snakes were probably hibernating. We were unable to 

observe any large pythons, for example, during the survey, whereas in 

October and November many specimens had been found. 

16

LIST OF SPECIES

The species accounts are based on the following references except where 

noted: 

Common names for Reptiles are taken from Broadley & Howell (1991), 

Loveridge (1957) and Branch (1994); for Amphibians from Passmore & 

Carruthers (1995), Lambiris (1989b) and, for the species not listed, from 

Frank & Ramus (1996). 

Systematics and Nomenclature are based on Frost, 1985, 2000, Duellman, 

1993, Meirte, 1992 and Uetz, 2001 except where noted. 

Relevant data about identification, geographic range, ecology and reproduction 

were taken from (Amphibians): Andersson, 1911; Bowker & 

Bowker, 1979; Channing & Griffin, 1993; Duellman & Trueb, 1994; Frost, 

2000; Lambiris, 1989a, 1989b; Loveridge, 1925, 1953; Passmore & 

Carruthers, 1995; Passmore et al., 1995; Poynton, 1964; Poynton & 

Broadley, 1985a, 1985b, 1987, 1988, 1991; Rödel, 2000; Schiøtz, 1999; 

Stewart, 1967. (Amphibians and Reptiles): Barbour & Loveridge, 1928b; 

Bauer et al., 1993; Lambert, 1985, 1987; Laurent, 1964; Largen, 1997; 

Loveridge, 1935; 1957; Rose, 1962. (Reptiles): Broadley, 1990; Chippaux, 

1999, FitzSimons, 1943; Lönnberg, 1911, Loveridge, 1936, 1959; MacKay & 

MacKay, 1985; Marais, 1992; Neças, 1999, Pitman, 1974; Schleich et al., 

1996; Uetz, 2001; Vesey-Fitzgerald, 1975. 

Notes: Due to graphic necessities the order in which the species are presented 

have been slightly modified but a complete systematic check-list has 

been added at the end of specie accounts. 

The synonymies are limited to those names that can be found in field guides 

on African amphibians and reptiles published in recent years. 

18

Bufo gutturalis 

Power, 1927 

Common names 

Guttural Toad, Greater Cross-marked 

Toad 

Synonyms 

Bufo regularis gutturalis Power, 1927 

Identification 

Bufo gutturalis, as it is common in the 

species of the same genus, is stout with 

short strong limbs and reduced webbing 

on the feet. The skin is rough and warty, 

granular below; there are two large 

prominent paratoid glands just behind 

the eyes. The top of the snout is typically 

marked by four dark patches with a 

light cross between them. The ground 

colour is usually brown with symmetrically 

arranged irregular dark blotches 

and often a light vertebral stripe. Some 

individuals show a reddish tinge in the 

back of the legs. This species can grow 

up to 98 mm of length but the biggest 

animal we found in Arusha National Park 

was just 57.8 mm. 

Geographic Range 

Eastern and southern Africa: from Kenya 

southward to South Africa including 

Botswana, northern Namibia and eastern 

Angola. 

Local distribution 

The guttural toad is apparently confined 

to the lowlands and we found it up to the 

Park Rest House (less than 1700 m). It 

is quite common in the bushland 

between Momela Gate and the shore of 

the Ngare Nanyuki river but can be 

found also in the bushland Uwanja wa 

Momela and between Big and Small 

Momela lakes. 

Ecology and general behaviour 

This species lives in open country bushlands 

and grasslands often quite far 

from wet areas and it is not unusual to 

find it on roads, in gardens and near to 

human habitations. The diet is wide, 

they will eat almost any animal of a suitable 

size. The call is a deep vibrant 

croak. 

Reproduction 

Breeding usually takes place in permanent 

shallow waters; the eggs are characteristically 

united in paired strings and 

are laid among submerged vegetation. 

During our survey in April and May we 

heard the call of a few males only one 

night in the Serengeti Ndogo. We never 

observed toads in the water and we 

never caught any Bufo gutturalis in the 

pitfall traps that we put close to the 

water. All the guttural toads we found in 

the pitfall traps were caught in open 

bushlands and over 75% of them were 

juveniles (less than 50 mm of length). 

19

Xenopus muelleri 

(Peters, 1844) 

Common names 

Northern Platanna, Mueller’s Clawed Frog 

Synonyms 

Dactylethra mülleri Peters, 1844 

Taxonomy 

While Xenopus muelleri has a wide 

range of distribution in Tanzania and 

Kenya, there is confusion in geographic 

distribution with Xenopus laevis. The 

species is monotypic. 


The head is small with upwardly directed 

eyes, the pupil is circular and there is a 

short tentacle under each eye; tympanum 

and tongue are lacking. The body is 

flattened and there are sensory lateral 

lines organs on the sides made by many 

tubercles; the skin is very slippery. 

Fingers lack webbing while toes are fully 

webbed and the inner three terminate in 

a black claw. The back is usually dark 

brown or grey with irregular dark patches, 

the belly is usually greyish white. 

Females can be distinguished by the 

larger skin folds around the vent and are 

usually larger than males. In Arusha 

National Park Xenopus muelleri can 

reach 82.5 mm of body length. 


All southern Africa: from Burkina Faso to 

Kenya and Uganda, southward to the 

Republic of South Africa. 


Xenopus muelleri is one of the most 

common and widespread species in 

Arusha National Park. from the open 

grassland of Serengeti Ndogo up to the 

wetlands of Kilimanjaro view point and 

the big pond near Njeku Camp (2519 m). 

It can be found both in temporary and 

permanent waters even in some soda 

20 

lakes like Lekandiro and Small Momela. 

Using a beach seine we caught some 

platannas even in the muddy waters of 

El Kekhotoito pond, a place that is 

organically enriched by a large herd of 

buffalos and a few hippos. The highest 

density population is probably located in 

the Lokie swamp where, using a drift 

fence, on a few occasions we caught 

over 100 platannas in a single pitfall 

trap. Many authors reported the presence 

of Xenopus muelleri in streams 

and rivers, but we never found any in the 

watercourses of Arusha National Park. 


Platannas are usually restricted to 

aquatic habitats, they move on land during 

rainy nights. If the weather is wet 

enough they sometimes wander into the 

forest or bushland; we observed some of 

them over half a kilometre from the nearest 

wet zone. During the day they are 

usually difficult to spot, but in pools with 

poor oxygen it is possible to detect their 

presence by circles in the water when 

individuals come to the surface to take 

air. In the night with a lamp it is possible 

to observe them as they float motionless 

in the shallow water. Xenopus can feed 

both in the water and land; a wide range 

of arthropods are preyed on but also 

small fish and even small tadpoles. The 

call is a soft buzzing sound uttered 

under water by both sexes.

Reproduction 

The mating begins immediately after the 

start of the rainy season and amplexus 

occurs under water. Several thousands 

of eggs are laid on the aquatic vegetation. 

The tadpoles are plankton feeders 

and swim with the head directed downward. 

The body is almost transparent 

with a long tail and two sensory tentacles 

in the mouth region. They somewhat 

resemble the glass catfish 

Kryptopterus bicirrhis, a common 

species of aquarium fish. 

21

Ptychadena mascareniensis 

(Duméril and Bibron, 1841) 

Common names 

Mascarene Grass Frog 

Taxonomy 

Despite the fact that species of the 

genus Ptychadena are common and 

widespread in most of Africa they are 

often very difficult to identify. 


A “green frog” with six longitudinal ridges 

on the back, and only the outer ones 

may be interrupted. This species is 

medium sized reaching a snout-vent 

length of 51 mm (average size of adults 

in Arusha National Park 25.5 - 30 mm). 

Fingers lack webbing and on the toes 

webbing is present between the outer 

metatarsals. The back is usually brown 

or green with rounded green or brown 

blotches usually smaller than the size of 

22 

the eye. There is a light creamy vertebral 

band and a longitudinal light coloured 

line on the upper surface of the tibia. 

Males have paired gular slits on the 

sides of the throat. 


Widespread in most of Africa: from 

Sierra Leone to Egypt through Eritrea 

and Ethiopia to South Africa; also 

Madagascar and Seychelles Islands. 

Introduced into Mascarene Island. 

Male of Mascarene Grass Frog from Kilimanjaro View Point; the opening of the vocal sac fold 

can be spotted under the tympanum.

Female of Mascarene Grass Frog from Kilimanjaro View Point almost ready to lay the eggs. 


Widespread and abundant in many 

areas of the park, the Mascarene grass 

frog is the most common amphibian 

around the brackish waters of the 

Momela lakes (Big and Small Momela, 

Lekandiro). Walking on the banks 

among the reeds it is possible to see a 

hundred frogs leaping away in the water 

in less than ten minutes. This species 

also inhabits most of the ephemeral 

ponds in the grasslands, for example, in 

Serengeti Ndogo and the small pond 

between Lekandiro and Tulusia lake. 

Some specimens were found on the 

shore of the fast flowing stream Ngare 

Nanyuki. In Arusha National Park 

P. mascareniensis can be found as high 

as Kilimanjaro view point and the Arched 

Fig tree (about 1900 m). 


Lives in grasslands, wooded grasslands 

and forest not too far from water. This 

species is extremely common in most of 

the wet areas as long as it can find 

refuge among the vegetation. According 

to Inger and Marx (1961) the diet consists 

mainly of terrestrial prey: beetles, 

grasshoppers, dragonflies, ants, butterflies 

and small amphibians although 

aquatic invertebrates are preyed on as 

well. The voice of the male can be heard 

both during the day and the night, a 

short low pitched nasal “quack” often 

associated by a series of clucking 

sounds. The males call from a concealed 

position in grass or just floating 

on the surface with open legs. 

Reproduction 

During the rainy season, small pigmented 

eggs are laid in a series of small 

clumps among vegetation in shallow 

water. We were not able to observe any 

oviposition site but at the beginning of 

May we found a few females that looked 

almost ready to lay. 

23

Rana angolensis 

Bocage, 1866 

Common names 

Common River Frog, Angola River Frog 

Synonyms 

Rana fuscigula angolensis Bocage, 

1866 


Alarge “green frog” that can attain in 

some areas (Malawi) 90 mm of snoutvent 

length but usually no more than 70 

mm. Skin with incomplete longitudinal 

ridges variable in development (cf. 

Ptychadena mascareniensis), long legs 

(length of the tibia is 55-72% of the 

snout-vent length). Toes extensively 

webbed (cf. Strongylpus fasciatus), fingers 

not webbed. Ground colour on the 

back usually green or brown with blotches 

about the size of the eye, a light 

green or yellow vertebral line usually 

present. 


Upland areas from Ethiopia to Angola, 

eastward to Mozambique, including 

most of South Africa. 


The common river frog in Arusha 

National Park can be found both in 

24 

brackish and fresh water, at low altitude 

(Maksoro river springs, about 1400 m) 

and medium altitude (Kilimanjaro View 

Point, arched fig tree wet area) up to the 

Maio falls (1926 m). 


The typical habitat of this species are 

slow flowing streams with permanent 

water. In Arusha National Park most of 

the frogs can be found in forested areas 

though many can also be observed 

among the aquatic vegetation of the 

Maksoro river. Rana angolensis has two 

distinct calls, a sharp rattle of about one 

second followed after a short pause by a 

short “croak” that resemble the call of 

the European green frogs Rana synk. 

esculenta. 

Reproduction 

Breeding may occur throughout the 

year; several thousands of small pigmented 

eggs are laid in shallow water 

with a very slow current. The tadpoles of 

Rana angolensis reach a length of 80 

mm at Gosner’s stage 40. We observed 

some of them close to metamorphosis at 

Kilimanjaro view point at the end of April. 

Adult River Frog from 

Kilimanjaro View Point.

The wet area at Kilimanjaro View Point; in the area it is easy to spot: Xenopus muelleri, Rana 

angolensis, Strongylopus fasciatus, Ptychadena mascareniensis, Phrynobatrachus keniensis, 

Kassina senegalensis and Hyperolius viridiflavus. 

Only few amphibians can survive in the soda waters of the Small Momela lake: Xenopus 

muelleri, Hemisus marmoratum and Ptychadena mascareniensis. 

25

Strongylopus fasciatus merumontanus 

(Lönnberg, 1910) 

Common names 

Striped Stream Frog, Striped Long-toed 

Frog 

Synonyms 

Strongylopus fasciatus (Smith, 1849) 

Taxonomy 

Three subspecies are actually considered 

valid (Poynton, 1964): the nominal 

form, S.f. fuelleborni and S.f. merumontanus. 

This latter subspecies was 

described by Einar Lönnberg from a single 

specimen collected on Mt. Meru at 

3000 meters during the first Swedish 

expedition in 1905 (Lönnberg, 1910). 


Snout-vent length up to 50 mm (46 mm 

in S.f. merumontanus), very similar to a 

river frog but with extremely long slender 

legs and toes. Webbing absent from fin- 

26 

gers and very reduced on the toes. 

There is a dark stripe on each leg from 

the knee to the ankle. The dorsal surface 

lacks the skin ridges of Ptychadena. The 

ground colour is usually buff or golden 

yellow with conspicuous dark longitudinal 

stripes. Some specimens of the Mt. 

Meru lack the dorsal stripes and have a 

brown-red back. 


Strongylopus fasciatus forms isolated 

Strongylopus fasciatus from Kilimanjaro View Point, individual with striped pattern.

Strongylopus fasciatus from the same locality, individual with plain reddish back. 

populations in the mountains from northern 

Tanzania to South Africa, westward 

up to Zambia and eastern Zimbabwe. 

This scattered distribution is a clear relict 

of the cooler periods during the 

Pleistocene when these populations 

were linked together. Strongylopus fasciatus 

merumontanus is endemic in the 

uplands of northern Tanzania including 

Mt. Meru, Uluguru and Usumbara Mts. 

S.f. fuelleborni occurs in southern 

Tanzania, eastern Zambia and Malawi. 

S.f. fasciatus is widespread in South 

Africa and Zimbabwe. 


Limited to the upper meadows and open 

forested areas of Mt. Meru from 

Kilimanjaro view point upwards, and the 

wet areas near the arched Fig tree 

(about 1900 m) up to Njeku camp in the 

caldera (over 2500 m) and Kitoto forest. 

The species probably occurs also in 

higher zones since the type specimen of 

S.f. merumontanus has been collected 

at 3000 meters. 


Stream frogs are generally found near 

open grasslands within the forest, but 

during the wet season they move into 

the forest quite far from wet areas. We 

observed several young individuals 

Strongylopus along the road from 

Kilimanjaro view point to Kitoto forest 

view point. Taking photographs of this 

species is quite difficult as they are fast 

moving and can jump long distances. 

The call of Strongylopus fasciatus is a 

clear high-pitched “pip” uttered singly or 

in a short burst of three or four; it is quite 

difficult to distinguish from the call of 

Hyperolius viridiflavus. 

Reproduction 

The eggs are laid singly among vegetation 

in shallow waters. During April and 

May on Meru we found many juveniles 

of about 20 - 25 mm body length. The 

reproduction peak probably occurs during 

the small rains of October to 

December. 

27

Phrynobatrachus keniensis 

Barbour and Loveridge, 1928 

Common names 

Puddle Frog, Cricket Frog 

Taxonomy 

This species has been described by 

Thomas Barbour and Arthur Loveridge 

in 1928(a) from a specimen collected in 

“a marsh on the northeast slope of Mt. 

Kenya, Kenya Colony”. The systematics 

of puddle frogs is still quite confused 

especially in some African regions: “As 

long as we lack a thorough revision of 

this genus, these frogs cannot be determined 

for certain” (Rödel, 2000). 


In Arusha National Park Phrynobatrachus 

keniensis is, along with Hyperolius nasutus, 

the smallest amphibian species; it 

may attain a body length that ranges 

Adult Puddle Frog from Mbuga Za Raiden pond. 

28 

from 14.6 to 26 mm (29 individuals 

examined). The body is rather stocky 

with short limbs, the head is small and 

pointed. The pupil is horizontal and the 

tympanum quite small. The most important 

diagnostic feature of this genus is a 

tubercle in the middle of the tarsus. 

Colour and markings are very variable 

within the Arusha National Park with at 

least three different patterns. Ground

Phrynobatrachus keniensis from Kilimanjaru View Point. 

colour is usually brown, grey or beige 

with a golden tinge. The back can be 

uniform, faintly mottled or marked with 

dark blotches; some individuals have a 

yellow vertebral line extending from 

snout to vent. Most of the frogs observed 

had a dark lateral band on both sides of 

the head and on the flanks. 


Phrynobatrachus keniensis is endemic 

of the upland meadows of Kenya 

(Kikuyu, Molo, Mt. Kinangop, Mt. Kenya) 

and Mt. Meru. 


Common and widespread in all the wet 

areas of the Park especially in grasslands 

but also in some forested areas 

(Kitoto) from Serengeti Ndogo (1400 m) 

up to Njeku Camp (over 2500 m). This 

species can be observed especially in 

the small temporary ponds of Serengeti 

Ndogo and near Lokie swamp. We 

never found any Phrynobatrachus near 

soda lakes and brackish streams. 


Puddle frogs usually live on the banks of 

swamp, pools and streams and they are 

ready to seek refuge in the water when 

disturbed. They usually move away from 

the wet areas only after rainfall, but in 

the meadows inside the caldera of Meru 

the average humidity is so high that it is 

common to find many individuals wandering 

around. The voice of the males is 

a quick series of ticks that resembles the 

sound of a coin falling on the ground. 

Reproduction 

Breeding occurs in shallow standing 

waters. The small eggs float in a single 

surface layer. 

29

Hemisus marmoratum 


Common names 

Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog 

Synonyms 

Engystoma marmoratum Peters, 1854 

Kakophrynus sudanensis Steindachner, 

1863 

Taxonomy 

The systematic position of Hemisus 

marmoratum has been tentatively 

revised by Laurent (1972) that recognised 

a few subspecies: H.m. marmoratum, 

H.m. ingeri, H.m. loveridgei and 

H.m. sudanese. 


Asmall amphibian with short, fat body; 

the limbs are powerful and short, the 

head is small with transverse fold and 

has a pointed snout hardened for digging. 

The eyes are small with a vertical 

pupil. In Arusha National Park females 

reach a snout vent length of 35.5 mm 

and males 29.5 mm (30 individuals 

measured). The dorsal colour is usually 

brown with a pattern of darker reticulation 

and yellow patches. The throat of 

males is usually grey. 


Sub-Saharan Africa excluding rainforest 

from southern Somalia to northern 

South Africa. 


The Mottled shovel-nosed frog is quite 

common in most grasslands and open 

wooded areas from 1400 to 1670 m (we 

found it up to the big fig tree near 

Leopard Hill View Point on Ngurdoto 

crater). Usually lives near watercourses 

(Maksoro, Ngare Nanyuki rivers) and 

most of the ponds, swamps and even 

brackish water lakes (like Big and Small 

Momela lakes). 

30 


This species is rarely seen as it spends 

most of its time underground and can be 

found above the surface only during the 

night or in wet weather. Unlike most 

of the other burrowing amphibians 

Hemisus burrows headfirst using the 

forelimbs and pointed snout to penetrate 

the soil. The prehensile tongue of 

Hemisus marmoratum has a peculiar 

structure that allows it to be protracted 

slowly (increasing capture success) and 

also to be elongated hydrostatically to 

double its length during feeding 

(Nishikawa et al., 1999). The diet consists 

mainly of ants and termites. Males 

call from the mouth of a small burrow 

near water, the voice is a repetitive highpitched 

buzz that can be confused with 

the sound produced by crickets. 

Reproduction 

Eggs are laid in an underground chamber 

near water and the female remains 

with the brood (Van Dijk, 1997). The tadpoles 

develop inside the chamber and 

they react very quickly to the first rains 

going into temporary ponds before any 

other species of amphibians. In Arusha 

National Park during April and May we 

found some tadpoles that were on the 

edge of metamorphosis and we could 

hear very few males calling, so the 

breeding season probably occurs during 

the small rains period.

Hemisus marmoratum from Momela gate. 

Shovel-nosed Frogs call from concealed positions on the banks of Lokie swamp. 

31

Kassina senegalensis 

(Duméril and Bibron, 1841) 

Common names 

Bubbling Kassina, Senegal Running Frog 

Synonyms 

Cystignathus senegalensis Duméril and 

Bibron, 1841 

Taxonomy 

Possibly composed of various cryptic 

species or at least a number subspecies; 

Schiøtz (1975) discussed the 

differences in eastern African material 

and observed four different “forms” 

based mainly on dorsal pattern, but 

rejected the recognition of subspecies. 

Poynton & Broadley (1987) concluded 

that: “...the material appears to provide 

no clear grounds for the separation of 

taxa within the senegalensis complex”. 

Examination of K. senegalensis in the 

Arusha National Park shows both specimens 

with Schiøtz’s “Form 1” (pattern 

senegalensis) and “Form 3” (pattern 

argyreivittis). 


Bubbling kassinas are medium sized 

frogs reaching a length of 44 mm in 

Arusha National Park (34 individuals 

examined) with short hind legs. Fingers 

lack webbing and do not bear terminal 

discs. The pupil is vertical. The back is 

usually bright yellow, khaki or dark 

brown (darker individuals are more common 

at Njeku camp) with a disruptive 

pattern of longitudinal dark bands that 

can be continuous or broken into streaks 

and oblong spots. Males have a gular 

disc and a large dark subgular sac divided 

into paired lateral pouches. 


African savannas south of the Sahara, 

from Senegal and southern Mali to 

Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, southward 

to Namibia and South Africa 

(excluding the western Cape province). 

32 


In the Arusha National Park bubbling 

kassinas avoid the brackish waters of 

soda lakes but are quite common both in 

grasslands and forested areas from the 

lowland temporary ponds in Serengeti 

Ndogo (1414 m) up to the Njeku camp 

pond (2519 m). Kassinas are good walkers 

and sometimes single individuals 

can be found quite far from wet areas. 

We found a few specimen on the 

Ngurdoto crater rim and a subadult in 

stony bushland about one kilometre from 

the nearest pond. Lokie swamp, the wet 

areas near Kilimanjaro View Point and 

the rest house ponds are the best places 

to observe this species in the Park. 


Even though Kassina senegalensis 

belongs to the Hyperoliidae family (the 

same as the reed frogs) it is a slow moving 

ground dwelling species that prefers 

to walk rather than jump. During the dry 

season the species seeks refuge under 

logs and stones. The voice is an unmistakable 

“quoip!” that resembles the popping 

sound of bubbles coming to the surface. 

Males usually call from submerged 

vegetation in shallow water during late 

afternoon and night. Large choruses can 

be heard over great distances; during the 

wet season for example the large aggregations 

of Kassinas calling from swamps 

and ponds inside Ngurdoto crater can be 

distinctively heard from the rim.

Bubbling Kassina from Kilimanjaro View Point. 

Reproduction 

In Arusha National Park we observed 

small clumps of eggs on submerged 

grass during April and May. The tadpoles 

are often brightly coloured and grow 

quite big (usually about 50 mm); they 

have broad fins and a pointed tail. 

Cluster of eggs laid by a single kassina at Lokie swamp. 

33

Hyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus 

Laurent, 1951 

Common names 

Painted Reed Frog 

Taxonomy 

The taxonomy of the Hyperolius viridiflavus 

group is extremely complex with 

28 subspecies recognized by Schiøtz, 

(1999). Wieczorek et al. (2001) split H. 

viridiflavus into 10 species and according 

to this paper the subspecies 

of Arusha National Park should be 

included, along with seven more taxa 

in Hyperolius glandicolor (Peters, 

1878). Most of the books published 

before Schiøtz (1999) considered the 

ommatostictus subspecies as members 

of the large group of Hyperolius marmoratus. 

Christina M. Richards (1981) 

discussed the pattern variation of different 

subspecies of Hyperolius viridiflavus 

including H.v. ommatostictus. 


Amedium sized treefrog with a snoutvent 

length up to 30 mm, the shape 

resembles somewhat the European 

treefrog Hyla arborea or the American 

barking treefrog Hyla gratiosa. Fingers 

and toes bear terminal adhesive discs 

and are webbed. The snout is truncate. 

Spotted individual from the rest house pond. 

34 

As in all the species of the genus 

Hyperolius,the pupil is horizontal and the 

tympanum concealed. The colour pattern 

of H.v. ommatostictus is extremely variable 

usually the dorsum is dark brown 

with small white rings or white spots that 

can be completely absent in some individuals. 

During the day frogs seen resting 

on the vegetation can be almost 

white. A few adult males and most juveniles 

are beige or brown with undulating 

dorsolateral stripes. The limbs are often 

red especially on the underside. Males 

present a large vocal sac on the throat 

protected by a gular disc. 


The distribution range of Hyperolius 

viridiflavus complex includes most of the 

tropical Africa, while the subspecies of 

Arusha National Park Hyperolius viridiflavus 

ommatostictus is an endemic of 

the Kilimanjaro and Meru areas. 


The painted reed frog is widespread 

near the freshwater ponds of Arusha 

National Park; it is quite easy to see 

because it reaches high population densities. 

In Arusha National Park it can be 

found in all wet areas from 1400 to 2400 

m (the highest point we found the 

species is the Giraffe pond between the 

Kitoto view point and Miriakamba huts). 

It is not present near the Momela lakes 

as it usually avoids brackish waters.


This species can be found near 

swamps, ponds, or slow flowing streams 

in different habitats both in savannas 

(like Serengeti Ndogo) or in small open 

areas in the forest (Kilimanjaro view 

point). The males call from reeds and 

sedges at the edge of ponds but also 

from bush and trees that they are able to 

climb up easily. The males spend a lot of 

energy during reproduction (Grafe, 

1996) and despite small body size 

are able produce very loud calls: a 

short “weep!”, resembling that of 

Strongylopus. Loud choruses can be 

heard during the night throughout the 

year, but single frogs call often during 

the day especially in the dry season. 

Reproduction 

This species lays small clusters of eggs 

(up to 12 per season according to Grafe) 

on submerged water plants. 

Tadpoles have a long tail with a pointed 

tip. Grafe and Linsenmair (1989) report 

Brown individual from Mbuga Za Raiden pond. 

Calling male from rest house pond. 

that some females of H.v. ommatostictus 

are able to change into males. This is 

the only known case of sex change 

occurring among amphibians. 

35

Hyperolius nasutus 

Günther, 1864 

Common names 

Long Reed Frog 

Taxonomy 

The systematics of the Hyperolis nasutus 

group is still not clear and many 

subspecies of uncertain systematic 

value have been described. Poynton 

and Broadley (1987) proposed the 

name Hyperolius benguellensis for the 

southern Mozambique and Natal populations. 

Channing (in press) states that 

the South African populations should 

be separated in a different species: 

Hyperolius poweri. 


A very small sharp-nosed reed frog with 

green translucent elongated body and 

white belly; the dorsum could be completely 

uniform or finely stippled with 

dark spots occasionally forming a middorsal 

stripe. A bright white dorsolateral 

often black bordered band is frequently 

present in males and sometimes also in 

females. The size of breeding males is 

usually 19-22 mm, the maximum snoutvent 

length is 24 mm. Males have a yellow 

or white gular disc. 


This species is common in most of the 

savanna areas south of the Sahara 

both in west Africa (from Ivory Coast to 

Cameroon) and in east Africa (from 

Ethiopia to South Africa). 


In Arusha National Park Hyperolius 

nasutus is localized at lower altitudes 

(1400-1600 m) and not common; it can 

be found around the ponds and swamps 

in the open areas of the south eastern 

part of the Park like the pond Mbuga Za 

Raiden, the edges of the Lokie swamp 

(near lake Longil) and in a few shallow 

pans inside Ngurdoto crater. 

36 


The long reed frog lives in grasslands 

and open wooded grasslands. Usually it 

can be found, in the wet season only, 

well concealed on grass stems in the 

dense vegetation bordering ponds and 

wetlands. During the afternoon and the 

evening the males call from sedges and 

reeds above the water, a harsh high 

pitched chirp about 0.3 seconds long. 

Reproduction 

The small egg masses of about 20 eggs 

are laid on submerged vegetation just 

below the surface, usually the clutch 

size ranges from 60 to 292. Tadpoles 

hatch in five days, are light brown with 

dark spots and resemble those of 

Phrynobatrachus. Larger tadpoles usually 

have a dark-tipped tail.

Geochelone pardalis babcocki 

(Loveridge, 1935) 

Common names 

Tropical Leopard Tortoise 

Synonyms 

Testudo pardalis babcocki Loveridge, 

1935 

Taxonomy 

The species is probably monotypic. 


Alarge tortoise that can grow up to 35- 

40 cm and exceptionally 70 cm of total 

length. Neck hidden when the head is 

withdrawn into the shell. Carapace without 

hinge, convex and humped (not flattened). 

Shell colour yellow or light 

brown, speckled with black. Leopard tortoises 

from the Arusha area are usually 

sparsely coloured while the ones from 

Serengeti are buff with radiating spots; 

this could be related to the drier habitat 

in the Arusha area (Kabigumila, 2000). 


Geochelone pardalis is distributed 

throughout the savannas of Africa 

Individual from Tarangire National Park. 

from southern Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, 

Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi to 

Swaziland, including Zaire and Angola. 


During our survey this species was never 

observed inside the Park but large tortoises 

have been found in different areas 

by park rangers and by some biologists 

of Oikos Institute (usually between 

Momela gate and Serengeti Ndogo). The 

leopard tortoise is probably the most 

endangered reptile in Arusha National 

Park since it is a conspicuous, slow moving, 

long living species very vulnerable 

to collecting. Two specimens have been 

collected in Arusha N. P. by Yngve 

Sjöstedt in 1905 (Lönnberg, 1910). 

Ecology and Reproduction 

The growth rate is higher in immature animals 

(6.9 mm per month) than in adults 

(2.9 mm per month) in northern Tanzania 

(Kabigumila, 2000). Sexual maturity is 

usually reached at 15 years. The females 

are usually much bigger than the males 

(usually 1.7 times) but are also less 

numerous; this could be because annual 

mortality is higher in females (Hailey & 

Coulson 1999). During the breeding season 

males engage in combat. Females 

lay clutches of 6-15 eggs in a small hole 

in the ground. Food consists of a variety 

of plants and grasses. 

Protection 

Included in CITES appendix II. 

37

Hemidactylus mabouia 

(Moreau de Jonnès, 1818) 

Common names 

Tropical House Gecko 

Taxonomy 

Loveridge, 1947 


Amedium sized gecko with a flattened 

head which is longer than it is broad and 

a little broader than the neck. Toes 

dilated with paired adhesive lamellae 

below with a free distal digital joint rising 

from the end of digital expansion 

(cf. Pachydactylus). Thumb clawed; 

enlarged tubercles on tail and body (12- 

18 rows). Distance from anterior border 

of the eye to the tip of the snout longer 

than the distance from posterior border 

of the ear opening to posterior border of 

the eye, 7-10 transverse dorsal scale 

rows in a caudal verticil. 22-40 preanofemoral 

pores in males. Pupil vertical. 

Colour very variable as in most of 

the geckos, usually brown or grey 

(sometimes almost white) with scattered 

dark spot, often four to five dark transversal 

bands on the body and 10-12 

bars on the tail. 


This is a widely distributed reptile: most 

of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal 

38 

to Ethiopia down to South Africa. 

Elsewhere also on Madagascar, 

Seychelles, Antilles, Comoro and other 

islands, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad, 

Puerto Rico, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, 

Guyana, French Guyana, Suriname and 

Argentina. The species has been introduced 

into Florida and Honduras and is 

still expanding its distribution (Meshaka, 

2000). 


This species has been found exclusively 

on the wall of the rest house where we 

lived and on the building nearby but few 

attempts has been made to check its 

presence on other buildings inside the 

Park. Medium search time 0.084 geckos 

per hour. 


This species is usually found on the 

walls and roofs of buildings but can be 

found also on cracked rocks, in the hollows 

of trees, on baobabs and the crown 

of palms. As with most geckos, this 

species is able to emit sounds while 

communicating with conspecifics: a soft 

“tik-tik-tik” repeated 7 or 8 times. The 

breeding period has its peak from 

September to January (Moodley & 

Biseswar, 1997); sometimes the females 

lay their eggs in a communal depository 

of 50-60 eggs. Loveridge reports H. 

mabouia seizing a small white-headed 

dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus picturatus).

Pachydactylus turneri 

(Gray, 1864) 

Common names 

Bibron’s Thick-toed Gecko 

Taxonomy 

The origin and nomenclatural position of 

geckos of the Pachydactylus group 

(especially the endemic forms) is actually 

under study (Bauer et al., 1997, 

Bauer, 1999). Gerald Benyr (1995) separated 

P. laevigatus from P. bibronii and 

placed turneri and pulitzerae as subspecies 

of it. However, the name turneri 

Gray 1864 has priority over laevigatus 

Fischer 1888, so Pachydactylus turneri 

is the correct name for the species. 


Astocky gecko with large keeled tubercles 

on the neck, back and limbs. Toes 

dilated throughout with a single row of 

adhesive lamellae, distal joint not compressed 

(cf. Hemidactylus) and thumb 

clawless or with tiny claws. Pupil vertical; 

lower eyelids vestigial or absent. 

The back has minute granules and large 

tubercles. Rostral not bordering nostril, 

preanal pores in males absent. The 

back is usually grey or brown with 4-5 

curved dark bands on the back and 8-10 

on the tail. 


From South Africa to Rwanda, Botswana 

and Tanzania including Angola, 

Mozambique and Swaziland. 


Usually found in rocky areas especially 

on lake shores (Big Momela and 

Tulusia) but also under stones in the 

grasslands near Kusare post. Number of 

animals per hour of search: 0.320. 


This species is gregarious and many individuals 

can be found under the same 

stone. P. bibronii usually feeds in the 

evening and early morning, eating mainly 

ants, termites, grasshoppers, beetles and 

flies. The female usually lays two eggs 

(16 x 14 mm) hidden in a rock crack. 

39

Keys for the identification of the chameleons 

of Arusha National Park 

(Simplified from Broadley & Howell, 1991) 

1a. Asingle series of enlarged granules forms a gular crest on the median line of the 

throat, often extending along the belly as a ventral crest; a white line from chin 

to vent ................................................................................................................. 2 

1b. Gular crest absent ............................................................................................... 3 

2a. Body scalation homogeneous ............................................................................. 4 

2b. Body scalation heterogeneous, scattered large 

tubercles present ........................................................................ Chamaeleo rudis 

3a. Body scales homogeneous, or at most a few slightly enlarged 

tubercular scales .............................................................. Bradypodion tavetanum 

3b. Body scales heterogeneous, granular scales interspersed 

with large tubercles ............................................................... Chamaeleo jacksonii 

4a. Occipital lobes merely indicated, not moveable ...................... Chamaeleo gracilis 

4b. Occipital lobes small to large, mobile, in contact on the median line 

or narrowly separated ............................................................... Chamaeleo dilepis 

Bradypodion tavetanum from Seneto Post. 

40

Bradypodion tavetanum 

(Steindachner, 1891) 

Common names 

Kilimanjaro Two-horned Chameleon 

Synonyms 

Chamaeleo tavetanus Steindachner, 

1891 

Taxonomy 

The genus Bradypodion is endemic to 

South Africa and the East African species 

should be returned to Chamaeleo for the 

moment. Several people are trying to 

sort out the problematic chameleon phylogeny 

(Broadley, pers. comm.). 


Casque raised on the median line of the 

head, males (and some females) have 

paired rigid scaled horns extending forward 

from preorbital region. Canthal 

crest which is not shovel shaped on the 

snout. Body scalation heterogeneous, 

small granules with scattered large 

tubercles, gular crest absent. 


Kenya (Teita Hills), Tanzania (Arusha 

area, Kilimanjaro, south to North Pare 

Mountains). 


Observed during our survey on the trees 

around Seneto Post. Loveridge (1959) 

reports about a series of specimen collected 

on the Meru for C.J.P. Ionides by 

Col. J. Minnery. 

Protection 


Individual from Seneto Post. 

41

Chamaeleo dilepis 

Leach, 1819 

Common names 

Common Flap-necked Chameleon 

Synonyms 

Chamaeleo petersii var. kirkii Gray, 1865 

Taxonomy 

The subspecific status of Chamaeleo 

dilepis is controversial with five doubtful 

subspecies that urgently need a revision: 

dilepis, idjwiensis, isabellinus, 

martensi and petersii. 


Alarge species (20-24 cm) with occipital 

lobes small to large, mobile, in contact 

on the median line or narrowly separated, 

body scalation homogeneous. A single 

series of enlarged granules forms a 

Individual from Micumi (Tanzania). 

42 

gular crest on the median line of the 

throat and on the belly. 


Most of the savannas of tropical Africa. 


This species has never been observed 

in the park but it is listed here as it is 

common in different areas in north 

Tanzania and could be present as well. 


Found in savannah and bushland, usually 

feeds on grasshoppers and beetles. 

Breeding time is usually in the early 

rains. Egg development takes 3-4 

months and finally in the dry season the 

female lays 25-50 small eggs that will 

hatch in approximately 150 days. 

Protection 

Included in CITES appendix II.

Chamaeleo gracilis 

Hallowell, 1842 

Common names 

Gracile Chameleon 

Synonyms 

Chamaeleo granulosus Hallowell, 1856 

Chamaeleo burchelli Hallowell, 1856 

Chamaeleo simoni Boettger, 1885 

Taxonomy 

This species is monotypic since 

Chamaeleo gracilis etiennei has been 

elevated to species rank. 


Alarge chameleon (up to 40 cm) that 

greatly resembles Chamaeleo dilepis 

but can be distinguished by the occipital 

lobes that are merely indicated and not 

moveable. Body scalation is homoge- 

neous, a single series of enlarged granules 

forms a gular crest on the median 

line of the throat. 


Found in most of equatorial Africa. 


Reported for Mt. Meru by Loveridge 

(1957). 


This widespread species can be found in 

different habitats including wet and dry 

forest, forest borders and bushlands but 

humid areas are usually avoided. After 

mating, the female digs a small hole in 

the ground and lays 20-30 eggs that will 

hatch after 240-300 days. 

Protection 


43

Chamaeleo rudis 

Boulenger, 1906 

Common names 

Ruwenzori Side-striped Chameleon 

Synonyms 

Chamaeleo rudis sternfeldi Rand, 1963 

Taxonomy 

Klaver and Böhme (1997) list only one 

subspecies Chamaeleo rudis sternfeldi, 

but they mention also that this taxa could 

be considered a full species. 


A small chameleon with snout-vent 

length 62-85 mm. Body stocky, head 

short and broad. No cranial horns, no 

sail-like dorsal crest, nostril laterally 

directed, body squat with scalation heterogeneous: 

large scattered tubercles 

on the flanks. 

44 


Mountain areas in south western 

Uganda, eastern Zaire, Rwanda and 

Burundi. The relict populations on Mt. 

Kilimanjaro and Meru belong to the 

Chamaeleo rudis sternfeldi subspecies. 


Recorded on Mt. Meru at “Laikinae” 

(7500 ft. alt.) by C.J.P. Ionides on August 

1957 and by B. Cooper on the eastern 

slope at 9000 ft. (Rand, 1963). 


Amountain species usually found over 

2500 m. 

Protection 

Included in CITES appendix II.

Chameleons can be observed mainly on the trees at the edge of the forest. 

45

Chamaeleo jacksonii merumontanus 

Rand, 1958 

Common names 

Meru Three-horned Chameleon 

Synonyms 

Chamaeleo jacksonii merumontana 

Rand, 1958 

Taxonomy 

Chamaeleo jacksonii has three subspecies: 

C.j. merumontanus small sized 

and limited to Mount Meru, C.j. xantholophus 

the largest subspecies (up to 

35 cm) from the eastern slopes of Mount 

Kenya and the nominal species C.j. 

jacksonii (medium sized: up to 25 cm) in 

the rest of the geographic range. Klaver 

& Böhme (1986) placed C. jacksoni in 

Adult male from unknown area on Mount Meru. 

46 

the subgenus Trioceros. Finally it must 

be stressed that the genus Chamaeleo 

is masculine, thus the correct spelling of 

Rand’s subspecies is merumontanus. 


Asmall chameleon (up to 16 cm snout 

vent length), with a low casque and a 

dorsal crest formed by 17-20 large conical 

twin scales. The males have three 

forward oriented horns, the central one 

starts from above the mouth, the other 

two from the orbital crest; the females 

usually lack horns and if they are present 

they are smaller than in the males. 

According to Howell & Broadley these 

characteristics allow the identification of 

the species: no gular crest, body, tail and 

limbs without soft spines, no occipital 

flaps, body scales heterogeneous, granular 

scales and scattered large tubercles.

Adult individual from Nairobi. 


High mountain areas of Kenya, Uganda 

and Northern Tanzania. The merumontanus 

subspecies is strictly endemic to 

Mount Meru. There are naturalized populations 

on Hawaii islands. 


The type locality indicated by Rand 

(1958) of merumontanus is the farm 

Laikinoi on Mt. Meru, 7500 ft. alt. (misspelled 

Laikinae in Rand, 1963) but 

nobody in Arusha National Park has any 

knowledge of this location. C.J.P. 

Ionides in a letter dated 5 th December 

1957 wrote about the specimen collected 

by Lt. Col. J. Minnery “they are found 

on bushes and in low small trees. 

Laikinoi is a farm on the very edge of the 

rain forest”. As far as we know, there 

have never been any buildings at 7500 

ft. alt. except Miriakamba Huts on the 

eastern slopes, and other specimens of 

C. jacksoni have been collected on the 

eastern slope at 9000 ft. alt. It seems 

likely therefore that Miriakamba is a new 

name for the old Laikonoi. No Meru 

Three-horned Chameleon was found 

during the limited time of our research 

(little time was spent searching at altitudes 

above 2500 m). 


C. jacksoni is a mountain species that is 

particularly common up to 2800 m. It can 

be found in humid mountain forests 

but also in coffee plantations, gardens 

and in the bushes around paths. 

Ovoviviparous gestation lasts for 6-7 

months and finally the female gives birth 

to 7-51 youngs. 

Protection 


47

Agama agama 

(Linnæus, 1758) 

Common names 

Rock Agama 

Synonyms 

Lacerta agama Linnæus, 1758 

Taxonomy 

The genus Agama includes about 60 

species of the 317 species of Agamids of 

the world; the biogeographical affinities, 

dispersal models and biochemical phylogenetics 

have been studied by Moody 

(1980 fide Jacobsen, 1997) and Joger 

(1991). Agama agama includes nine 

subspecies, four of which are present in 

Tanzania: A.a. usambare, A.a. elgonis, 

A.a. dodomae, A.a. ufipae. The subspecies 

of Arusha National Park is probably 

the Elgon rock agama (Agama 

agama elgonis Loveridge, 1923) that is 

Adult male from Momela gate with regenerated tail. 

48 

distributed from Mt. Elgon (Kenya) south 

to Usandawi in central Tanzania. 


Top of the head covered with small irregularly 

arranged scales and with the interparietal 

larger than the adjacent scales. 

Eyelids completely moveable (the eyes 

can be closed). Dorsal scales uniform, 

keeled and imbricate except for a small

Female or young individual from Ngare Nanyuki river. 

vertebral crest limited to the neck. 

Agama agama elgonis can be distinguished 

from the other subspecies by 

the colour of the throat of the males: 

brick red with a black transverse mark at 

the base. 


From Senegal to Ethiopia and southward 

to Angola, Democratic Republic of 

the Congo and Tanzania. 


In the Park Agama agama is usually 

found in open areas: at the sides of 

roads, on concrete buildings (like the 

weather station on Ngurdoto crater) or 

near to the water (Ngare Nanyuki river, 

Lekandiro and Tulusia lakes). The individuals 

on Momela gate live together 

with Mabuya striata and are quite tame; 

by slowly moving towards them, it is pos- 

sible to get very close. Medium search 

time 0.708 agamas per hour. 


This species is usually much more common 

in habitats that have been modified 

by man: piles of brush, bridges, buildings, 

but also on solitary trees. The agamas 

like the sunlight and they can be 

found in exposed situations during the 

hottest hours of the day. Males show a 

brighter colouration especially on the 

head and the neck while females are 

much duller. The breeding season is not 

confined to a single period. Growth is 

fast especially during the first year, juveniles 

can double their length in 12 month. 

Sexual maturity is usually reached during 

the second year when the snout-vent 

length is about 80 mm (Daniel, 1961). 

Diet consists mainly of ants, termites, 

beetles and grasshoppers. 

49

Mabuya striata 


Common names 

Common Striped Skink, Eastern Striped 

Skink 

Synonyms 

Tropidolepisma striatum Peters, 1844 

Euprepes punctatissimus Peters, 1854 

Taxonomy 

Donald G. Broadley (2000) has recently 

reviewed the taxonomy of the genus 

Mabuya in south-eastern Africa. He 

has given specific status to all the previously 

recognised subspecies: Mabuya 

striata punctatissima, M.s. wahlbergii, 

M.s. sparsa and has revived Mabuya 

mlanjensis from synonymy. According to 

this paper the species should be considered 

monotypical and the geographic 

range restricted. 


Amedium sized skink with body length 

up to 107 mm (males) and 113 mm 

(females). Eyelids movable, the lower 

one has a large transparent disc. Dorsal 

scales with 3-7 keels, midbody scales 

row 32-43; limbs well developed (cf. 

Panaspis and Lygosoma). No white lateral 

stripe (cf. Mabuya varia). The back 

is usually red-brown with yellow dorsolateral 

stripes; the belly is white. 

50 


Most of eastern Africa, from Ethiopia to 

Congo, south to central and north eastern 

South Africa. The species is also 

present on the Comoro Islands. 


The common skink is a savanna species 

even if its anthropophilous habits make it 

easy to observe in Arusha National Park 

basking on stone walls, every kind of 

concrete building and on the sides of 

roads. We found it as high as the Park 

Rest house (1686 m). One of the best 

place to observe this species is Momela 

gate, but it is quite common also on the 

shores of Big Momela and Tulusia lakes. 

Systematic sampling surveys: 0.792 

skinks per hour. 


Although this species is considered 

arboreal, it is also quite common on 

rocks. M. striata is viviparous and the 

reproduction can occur throughout the 

year (Patterson, 1990). In Arusha 

National Park many new-borns were 

found at the end of April. The growth is 

fast and sexual maturity is reached in 

15-18 months. The diet consists of different 

invertebrates including insects 

(termites, beetles) and snails. Lambert & 

Dewhurst (1998) observed a M. striata 

hunt down and eat a dwarf gecko 

(Lygodactylus luteopicturatus).

Mabuya varia 


Common names 

Variable Skink 

Synonyms 

Euprepes varius Peters, 1867 

Euprepes damaranus Peters, 1870 

Taxonomy 

No subspecies is actually considered 

valid. A recent taxonomical review 

(Broadley, 2000) has confirmed that 

Mabuya varia nykae do not represent a 

valid taxon. 


Amedium sized skink with body length 

usually up to 70 mm and exceptionally 

117 mm (but individuals found Arusha 

National Park usually around 50 mm). 

Eyelids movable, the lower one has a 

large transparent disc. Dorsal scales 

with three keels, midbody scales row 30- 

36; limbs well developed (cf. Panaspis 

and Lygosoma). White lateral stripe 

always present (cf. Mabuya striata). The 

colouration can be very variable, the 

back is usually olive red-brown with or 

without vertebral and dorsolateral stripes 

and black blotches; the belly is white. 

Head of Mabuya varia 

modified from 

FitzSimons (1943). 


South eastern Africa, from Eastern Cape 

Province in South Africa north to Sudan, 

Ethiopia and Somalia. Westward up to 

Congo, Angola and Namibia. 


The distribution data collected are 

scarce; most of the individuals have 

been observed in the bushland on the 

banks of Ngare Nanyuki river (about two 

kilometres up from Momela gate) and in 

the grasslands around Kusare post. The 

distribution and maximum altitude (1650 

m) here presented are probably very 

underestimated. Number of animals 

observed per hour 0.388. 


Mabuya varia is a terrestrial species that 

can be found around rocks, bushes and 

at the base of the trees in savannahs 

and montane grasslands. It preys mainly 

on insects: beetles, crickets, caterpillars, 

termites and a few other invertebrates. 

Reproduction usually occur during 

the winter, females give birth to 2-4 

up to 10 youngs. 

Adult from Ngare Nanyuki river. 

51

Lygosoma afrum 


Common names 

Peters’ Writhing-skink, Mozambique 

Writhing Skink 

Synonyms 

Eumeces afer Peters, 1854 

Mochlus afer Bocage, 1867 

Taxonomy 

The genus Lygosoma has been 

reviewed by Donald G. Broadley in 

1966a and1994; L. afrum has been distinguished 

from Lygosoma (Riopa) sundevalli 

by the different pattern of the 

back (speckled) and larger size. In East 

Africa four species has been distinguished. 


Movable eyelids, the lower one scaly (cf. 

Panaspis). Dorsal scales smooth in 26- 

28 rows at midbody (cf. Mabuya), limbs 

short. Dorsum light to dark brown, 

speckled with dark and white spots, ventrum 

white. Total length 80-140 mm. 


From Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia 

south to Mozambique (north of latitude 

24° S), west to northern Zambia and 

Congo. This species is also present on 

Zanzibar. 

Adult from Uwanja wa Momela. 

52 


Found under stones only in open areas 

at low altitude (1400-1650 m); in grasslands 

(around Kusare post), bushland 

(Uwanja wa Momela) and around lakes 

(Longil, Big Momela) and streams 

(Ngare Nanyuki). Search time: 0.118 

skinks per hour. 

Head of Lygosoma 

sundevalli modified from 

FitzSimons (1943). 


Oviparous, lays 4-7 eggs in an underground 

chamber. The young measure 24 

mm (snout-vent length). Preyed items 

include caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, 

sandhoppers and tiny snails. 

Atractaspis bibroni and Lycophidion 

capense have been reported to feed on 

L. afrum.

Panaspis wahlbergii 

(A. Smith, 1849) 

Common names 

Wahlberg’s Snake-eyed Skink, Savanna 

Snake-eyed Skink 

Taxonomy 

The first complete review of this group 

has been done by the Rumanian herpetologist 

Iohan Fuhn (1969, 1970) who 

assigned the European species to the 

genus Ablepharus (with the exception of 

one cosmopolitan species) and the 

African species to the genus Panaspis. 

Subsequently Greer (1974), Perret 

(1975) and Broadley (1989) modified the 

nomenclature status of many African 

“ablepharine” skink, erecting new genera 

and assigning P. wahlbergii to the 

genus Afroablepharus. Finally Jacobsen 

& Broadley (2000) recognized a new 

species: Panaspis maculicollis formerly 

included in P. wahlbergii. 


Asmall dark skink with elongated cylindrical 

body and limbs reduced but with 

five digits. Eyelids fused and immoveable, 

the lower one with a large transparent 

disc which covers the eye (cf. 

Lygosoma and Mabuya). Interparietal 

distinct and frontoparietal fused. Dorsal 

scales smooth, row 22-28 at midbody. 

Ground colour usually olive to dark 

brown; the back can be uniform or may 

present six longitudinal continuous or 

broken dark lines. A white lateral line is 

present at least on the anterior part of 

the body. Breeding males are usually 

pink to vermilion on the ventral parts of 

the body. 


From Democratic Republic of Congo to 

Somalia and Ethiopia; southward to 

Zambia and Zimbabwe. 


In Arusha National Park Panaspis 

wahlbergii is very common in all the lowland 

open areas and can be easily 

observed basking on stones especially 

along the Ngare Nanyuki river, around 

Longil, Tulusia and big Momela lakes but 

also at Asili post, Kinandia and the old 

“picnic” area. During our survey the 

medium search time for this species was 

0.742 skinks per hour. 


These skinks are diurnal and can be 

found in a variety of habitats including 

grassland and bushlands. They frequently 

take refuge under stones or 

inside grass tussocks. The diet consists 

mainly of spiders, termites, homopteran 

and hemipteran bugs, beetles and ants. 

The females lay 2-6 small eggs under 

stones or logs during November- 

January. 

53

Adolfus jacksoni 

(Boulenger, 1899) 

Common names 

Jackson’s Forest Lizard 

Synonyms 

Lacerta jacksoni Boulenger, 1899 

Taxonomy 

Adolfus jacksoni kibonotensis, the subspecies 

of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, is 

not considered valid anymore. 


Abrown-greenish lizard that resembles 

the European wall lizard Podarcis 

muralis. Frontoparietal present, dorsal 

scales small and granular, ventrals 

smooth, subdigital lamellae not keeled. 

Snout to vent length of five individuals 

measured in Arusha National Park up to 

51.5 mm. 


Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, 

Burundi and Democratic Republic of 

Congo. 


Many Jackson’s forest lizards have been 

found under stones near a tree at Njeku 

camp (about 2500 m) and a single specimen 

in a pitfall trap on the slopes of 

Head of the same individual. 

54 

Ngurdoto crater near to Leopard hill 

(1670 m). Einar Lönnberg in 1911 

observed on Mt. Meru some Adolfus at 

the “escarpment station” on the trunks of 

big cedar trees (this locality is probably 

Miriakamba huts as the other station, 

Saddle huts, is well above the tree line). 

Adult male from the forest on southern side 

of Ngurdoto crater. 


This species usually lives in trees at the 

edge of the forest where it feeds mainly 

on beetles, moths and spiders. It is an 

arboreal species but can be found also 

under stones and debris. Loveridge 

reports of a female laying four eggs 

measuring 14 x 7 and 15 x 7 mm respectively.

Nucras boulengeri 

Neumann, 1900 

Common names 

Boulenger’s Scrub-lizard 

Synonyms 

Nucras kilosae Loveridge, 1922 

Taxonomy 

Broadley and Howell (1991) examined 

specimens from the same locality of 

description of Loveridge’s Nucras kilosae 

and could not find any diagnostic 

feature, so they placed this species in 

synonymy with Nucras boulengeri. 


A lizard with rounded head and very long 

red tail; frontoparietal present, dorsal 

scales small and granular, ventrals 

smooth, subdigital lamellae not keeled, 

nostril bordered by 2 or 3 nasals and 

well separated from the first labial (cf. 

Adolfus). Collar well marked, head 

shields smooth. 


Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, south to 

north-western Zambia. 


We found a single juvenile specimen 

(SVL 26.5 mm) at the beginning of May 

in the open bushland sandy area along 

the Ngare Nanyuki river (about 600 

meters west of Momela gate). 


The beautiful lizards of the genus 

Nucras are usually found in open areas 

with sandy soils; they are quite secretive 

as they forage mainly in the early morning 

and evening. If threatened by a predator 

they are able to run away with 

notable speed and agility. The main 

breeding period of this species is probably 

the during the rainy season. 

Young specimen from 

bushland around 

Ngare Nanyuki river. 

55

Leptotyphlops scutifrons merkeri 

(Werner, 1909) 

Common names 

Merker’s Worm-snake 

Synonyms 

Stenostoma scutifrons Peters, 1854 

Glauconia merkeri Werner,1909 

Taxonomy 

The worm snakes of south eastern 

Africa have been reviewed by Broadley 

& Watson (1976). Two subspecies were 

recognised, the nominal form L.s. scutifrons 

(southern form, from South Africa 

up to central Tanzania) and L.s. merkeri 

(Kenya and Tanzania). Broadley (1990) 

and Webb et al. (2000) report that 

Leptotyphlos conjunctus can be considered 

a subspecies of L. scutifrons. 


Size and body shape resembling an 

earthworm except for the colour that is 

dark reddish brown to dark brown and 

the shiny appearance. Blunt head with 

snout prominent, no teeth on the upper 

jaw, the eyes are vestigial and covered 

by scales. Ventral scalation similar to the 

dorsal one. Maximum size in Arusha 

National Park 253 mm (body + tail). 

56 


From South Africa northward up to 

Kenya, Tanzania and Angola. 


Usually found by turning up stones in 

grassland and bushland areas; five individuals 

were observed along the banks 

of Ngare Nanyuki river. Other worm 

snakes were found on the shores of 

small and big Momela lakes and near 

Kusare post. Medium search time 0.152 

snakes per hour. 

Ecology 

Worm snakes live underground and can 

be observed only after heavy rains when 

they are flushed out or during the night. 

The females lay two or three eggs that 

look like a rice grain and the new-born 

are just 55 mm long. Merker’s worm 

snake feeds almost exclusively on ant 

larvae and pupae; they produce 

pheromones that prevent them from 

being attacked by the ants (Webb et al. 

2000). 

Individual from Lenganassa river.

The shore of the Big Momela lake is very poor in amphibian species but rich in reptiles: 

Lygosoma afrum, Mabuya striata, Pachydactylus turneri, Psammophis phillipsi. 

Ngare Nanyuki river is a good habitat for amphibians like Hemisus marmoratum and Bufo 

gutturalis but especially for reptiles: Panaspis wahlbergii, Mabuya varia, Agama agama, 

Psammophis phillipsi, Leptotyphlops scutifrons and Python natalensis. 

57

Python natalensis 

A. Smith, 1840 

Common names 

Southern African Python 

Synonyms 

Python sebae natalensis A. Smith, 1840 

Taxonomy 

Python sebae natalensis has been elevated 

to full species status by Broadley 

(1999). 


This is, along with Python sebae, the 

largest African snake with adults averaging 

3-4 meters and exceptionally attaining 

6 meters. The back is light brown 

with black edged dark patches irregularly 

connected to form sinuous crossbars. 

On the sides there are irregular dark 

blotches, the underside is light grey 

speckled with black spots and small dark 

patches. Typical of the Boidae family are 

the ventral scales narrower than body, 

Pythons can be easily observed along the 

Ngare Nanyuki river as they are very fond of 

water. 

58 

anterior supralabials scales with deep 

pits and vestiges of hind-limbs present 

and visible externally. Python natalensis 

can be distinguished from Python sebae 

by the frontals broken up in 2-7 scales, 

no dark preocular patch and subocular 

patch reduced to a dark oblique streak. 


From north eastern parts of South Africa 

to central Kenya, in the west up to southern 

Angola including eastern Congo, 

Zambia and Burundi. 


The Southern African python is fairly 

common in Arusha National Park and 

large snakes can be observed in many 

wet areas. The best places to meet 

pythons are the shores of the Small 

Momela lake (they are usually hidden 

among the reeds or swimming in shallow 

waters) but also walking on the banks of 

the Ngare Nanyuki river (starting from 

the Momela gate area) could be an 

excellent way to observe them (for 

example, the 3.70 meters long individual 

shown in the picture). The largest python 

we saw was basking on the floating vegetation 

of lake Longil at the beginning of 

November. The best periods to observe 

large snakes are during hot weather; 

during the rainy season, the weather is 

probably too cold for this species and we 

observed just a single juvenile along the 

Small Momela lake.

Ecology 

Pythons are non venomous snakes but 

due to their large size and long recurved 

teeth their bite can inflict deep wounds. 

The rock pythons are the only African 

snakes large enough to be potentially 

able to eat a man and even if attacks on 

man are probably mostly legend, a few 

records in the past have been reported 

(Branch & Haacke, 1980). 

Pythons are very fond of water and usually 

they do not live too far from it. They 

often lay submerged with just the head 

on the surface waiting for prey like small 

antelopes, wild pigs, monkeys, hares, 

cane-rats or sometimes fish. The female 

lays 30-50 large eggs that she protects 

by coiling around them. The newborn 

are 60 cm long and in the wild probably 

need 10-15 years to reach full maturity. 

The African python is protected in some 

Countries and has been included in 

CITES Appendix II. 

The head of a Southern African Python from Small Momela lake. 

Lower jaw of Python sebae: the long 

recurved teeth of this snake can inflict 

nasty wounds. 

59

Bitis arietans 

(Merrem, 1820) 

Common names 

Puff Adder 

Synonyms 

Echidna arietans Wagler, 1828 

Taxonomy 

Two subspecies are actually considered 

valid: Bitis arietans arietans (Merrem, 

1820) is distributed in most of Africa 

including Tanzania and Bitis arietans 

somalica Parker, 1949 in Somalia and 

Northern Kenya. 


An extremely stout, heavily built snake 

with a broad flattened hornless triangular 

head covered by small scales, snout 

rounded, tail short. Eyes of moderate 

size with vertical pupil. The scales are 

strongly keeled. Colour yellow or brown 

60 

(pale, dark, orange or reddish) sometimes 

greyish with a pattern of regular 

chevron-shaped bars on back and tail, 

venter yellowish or white. Total length 

usually up to 90 cm, exceptionally 150 

cm with a weight of 6 kg. 


One of the most widespread African 

snake distributed from Southern 

Morocco to Arabia and south to the 

A Puff Adder perfectly camouflaged among the low grass of a garden.

Mobbing of few superb starlings against a 

large Puff Adder (same individual of the 

picture on right). 

Cape excluding the Sahara and the rain 

forest areas. 


This species has been found in Arusha 

National Park by Vesey-Fitzgerald 

(1975) and often seen by biologists of 

Oikos institute and Park rangers. During 

our survey, in the cold rainy season, we 

never observed this species inside the 

park. The best way to observe puff 

adders is to look for them on the roads 

during the night where they often rest 

while hunting for prey or bask on the 

warm soil. Puff adders are sluggish and 

can be safely approached and photographed 

from a few meters distance, 

but are also able to strike suddenly 

Large Puff Adder found during the night 

along a road in Tarangire N.P. 

extremely fast and they must be treated 

with extreme care and respect. 

Ecology 

Bitis arietans has long recurved fangs 

(12-18 mm in large individuals) at the 

front of the upper jaw that are capable of 

injecting a large quantity of haematotoxin 

venom deep into the victim. 

Symptoms of bites include large 

swelling, pain and necrosis. This species 

is responsible for most of the severe 

snake bites in Africa, even if only 5% of 

them prove fatal to man. 

The puff adder is a terrestrial snake and 

only seldom climbs low bushes. The typical 

movement is rectilinear and caterpillar 

like but if annoyed it can move 

faster sideways. It usually relies on its 

cryptic colour pattern to escape notice 

and catch its prey. Diet consists mainly 

of small terrestrial ground living mammals 

including rats and mice, but also 

lizards, frogs and toads are often preyed 

upon. The species is ovoviparous with 

one litter per year. Litters of 20-40 are 

common but extremely large litters of 

147-156 neonates have been recorded. 

During cold periods the puff adder usually 

hibernates or emerges for a few 

hours to bask in the midday sun. 

The same individual of the opposite page; 

found about 20 km west of Mount Meru. 

61

Elapsoidea loveridgei loveridgei 

Parker, 1949 

Common names 

Loveridge’s Garter Snake 

Synonyms 

Elapsoidea sundevalli loveridgei Parker, 

1949 

Taxonomy 

Elapsoidea loveridgei was originally 

included in the Elapsoidea sundevalli 

and elevated to specie rank by Broadley 

(1971). Recently a revision has been 

published by Jakobsen (1997). Four 

subspecies are actually recognized: E.l. 

colleti, E.l. multicincta, E.l. scalaris and 

the nominal form E.l. loveridgei, this latter 

is the subspecies of Arusha National 

Park and is limited to central Kenya and 

northern Tanzania. 


A stout, medium sized dark snake (total 

length usually not exceeding 60 cm) with 

16-20 white or pink transverse lines (or 

narrow bands); the body has a smooth 

“oily” appearance. As in all the members 

of the Elapidae family this species has 

one pair of enlarged, fixed, tubular poison 

fangs not enclosed in a membranous 

sheath, but this is not a useful characteristic 

unless you are handling the 

animal. Internasal not bordering nostrils, 

dorsal scales in 13 rows at midbody. 

Garter Snake from lake Tulusia. 

62 


North eastern Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, 

Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, Sudan, 

Ethiopia and Somalia. 


Only one garter snake was caught during 

the survey; it was resting under a 

large boulder on the shores of lake 

Tulusia. 

Closer view of the same individual, the 

opaque eye is typical of the early shedding 

process. 

Ecology 

A nocturnal and secretive species that 

feeds on geckos, skinks, lizards and 

sometimes amphibians. The area where 

the snake was found sheltered a large 

population of Pachydactylus bibronii as 

well as skinks and agamas, but no 

amphibians. The strange colour of the 

animal is due to the fact that it was 

almost ready to shed. The venom is neurotoxic 

but the species is not aggressive 

and very few human bites have been 

recorded.

Naja haje 


Common names 

Egyptian Cobra 

Synonyms 

Coluber haje Linnæus, 1758 

Taxonomy 

There are five races N.h. arabica, N.h. 

legionis and the nominal form N.h. haje. 

Naja haje annulifera has been elevated 

to species rank and Naja haje anchietae 

is now considered a subspecies of this 

taxon (Broadley, 1995). 


Alarge snake (150-200 cm) with thick 

body and stout head. Large dilatable 

hood on the neck. Young specimens are 

yellow-grey or brown to black larger 

ones usually darker. Fangs as in all the 

elapid snakes, one preocular in contact 

with nasal and separating prefrontals 

from labial scales; supralabials not in 

contact with the orbit of the eye. 


Saudi Arabia, Oman and throughout 

Africa north of Angola, Zambia, and 

The Egyptian Cobra shedded skin found 

near lake Lekandiro. 

southern Tanzania. The range of N.haje 

haje is from Morocco to Egypt, south to 

central Tanzania and west to Senegal. 


The presence of the species has been 

confirmed on the basis of a large (183 

cm) complete exuvia (shedded skin) 

found on the shores of Lekandiro lake. 

Local snake catchers affirm that along 

the rivers, near the eastern borders of 

the park, Naja nigricollis (another cobra 

species) is quite common but we personally 

never found one in the park nor 

did Vesey-FitzGerald in the past. 

Ecology 

Aterrestrial species that often remains in 

the same area for a long time. They are 

normally not aggressive even if the poison 

is neurotoxic and extremely dangerous. 

Despite the wide distribution of this 

species the number of fatal bites is very 

low. The Egyptian cobra feeds mainly on 

amphibians and other snakes. The 

Egyptian cobra is not able to spit venom 

but the close species Naja nigricollis is. 

If annoyed they are able to stand up and 

display a large hood. As defensive 

behaviour Naja haje often shams death. 

63

Dendroaspis angusticeps 

(A. Smith, 1849) 

Common names 

Green Mamba 

Synonyms 

Naja angusticeps Smith, 1849 

Dendroaspis sjöstedti Lönnberg, 1910 

Taxonomy 

Einar Lönnberg described Dendroaspis 

sjöstedti from a specimen with aberrant 

scalation collected at Kibonoto; the 

species is not considered valid anymore. 


A large slender green snake (adults 

average 180 cm, exceptionally up to 250 

cm), with coffin shaped head and 

smooth scales. Fangs as all the elapids, 

3 preocular scales. Dorsal scales in 17- 

19 rows at midbody, inside of mouth 

white to bluish-white. This species is not 

easily distinguishable in the wild from 

Philothamnus hoplogaster. 


Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, 

East Zimbabwe, Natal in South Africa. 


This species was reported in Arusha 

64 

National Park by Vesey-FitzGerald, we 

observed a green mamba among the 

acacia trees along the Ngare Nanyuki 

river. 

Ecology 

This is an arboreal snake rarely seen 

outside forests or dense bushlands; it 

feeds on birds and eggs. Along with the 

black mamba (that has never been 

reported in the area) this is the most 

feared African snake due to its extreme 

agility, aggressiveness and the power of 

its poison. Compared to the black 

mamba the green mamba is less 

aggressive and the venom is less toxic, 

but still capable of inflicting fatal envenoming. 

Medical treatment is always 

needed for this species (Hodgson & 

Davidson, 1996). 

Green Mamba from Arusha N.P.

Lamprophis fuliginosus 

(Boie, 1827) 

Common names 

Brown House-snake 

Synonyms 

Lycodon fuliginosus Boie, 1827 

Boaedon fuliginosus Schmidt, 1923 

Taxonomy 

FitzSimons (1962) recognized only one 

subspecies L.f. mentalis (but considered 

it questionable), but Broadley (1990) in 

the revision of the same book concluded 

that: “there is no justification for retaining 

mentalis as a subspecies of Lamprophis 

fuliginosus”. 


Head relatively flat with round snout, 

head slightly distinct from the neck, eyes 

rather small with vertical pupil. The back 

colour in Arusha National Park is usually 

blackish grey (but in some areas this 

snake can be brown). Typical of this 

species are two light stripes on the sides 

of the head and the high number (27-33) 

of midbody scales row. Total length 

between 60 and 120 cm. 


Throughout Africa but restricted to south 

western Morocco in North Africa. 

All the Lamprophis that we found in Arusha 

N.P. were almost black. 


The brown house-snake is considered 

common in Arusha National Park by 

Vesey-FitzGerald; we observed young 

individuals of this snake at Leopard hill 

(Ngurdoto Crater) and Uwanja wa 

Momela (about 1 Km north of Momela 

Lodge). 

Closer view the same individual from 

Uwanja wa Momela. 

Ecology 

This harmless species, as the common 

name suggests, is often found near villages; 

in traditional communities it is 

much appreciated because it eats 

rodents. Rodents are hunted inside their 

burrows and killed by constriction. Diet 

includes also lizards (incl. Heliobolus 

neumanni and Hemidactylus mabouia) 

and occasionally birds and bats. 

65

Lycophidion capense jacksoni 

Boulenger, 1893 

Common names 

Jackson’s Wolf-snake, Jackson’s Tiger 

Snake 

Synonyms 

Lycophidion jacksoni Boulenger, 1893 

Lycophidion irroratum Schmidt, 1923 

Taxonomy 

Lycophidion capense (A. Smith, 1831) is 

a polytypical species and the different 

subspecies show great variability in the 

colouration patterns. The genus has 

been reviewed by Laurent (1968) and 

later by Broadley (1996) and three 

subspecies are considered valid: L.c. 

capense, L.c. jacksoni, L.c. loveridgei; 

all these taxa, except the nominal form, 

occur in Tanzania. 


A small species measuring 35-40 cm 

with short tail, head flattened and not 

very distinct from the neck. L.c. jacksoni 

is usually dark grey or brownish, the 

dorsal scales are usually bordered with 

white at the apex and there is a pale 

band around the snout. No enlarged poison 

fang in the upper jaw, dorsal scales 

Aggressive posture of Wolf-snake from 

Small Momela lake. 

66 

smooth, nostril pierced in an entire nasal 

shield followed by a small postnasal, 

pupil vertically elliptic in strong light, dorsal 

scales row reduced to 15 before the 

vent. In males 170-211 ventrals and 31- 

58 subcaudals; in females 178-221 ventrals 

and 21-55 subcaudals. 


Lycophidion capense is widely distributed 

throughout Africa. The range of L.c. 

jacksoni includes southern Sudan, 

Ethiopia, north eastern Congo, Uganda, 

Western Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and 

Western Tanzania extending south-east 

to Morogoro and the Uzungwa mountains. 


Considered common in Arusha National 

Park by Vesey-FitzGerald. The specimen 

in the picture was found on the 

western shores of Small Momela lake. 

Ecology 

The tiger snake is a nocturnal species 

that feeds mainly on skinks: Panaspis 

and Mabuya. The prey is seized on the 

back of the neck and constricted. 

Lycophidion capense is a harmless 

snake, but in the field caution is needed 

as it can be confused with the stiletto 

snake Atractaspis bibronii.

Psammophis phillipsii 

(Hallowell, 1844) 

Common names 

Olive Grass Snake 

Taxonomy 

The species included in the 

Psammophis sibilans complex (P. sibilans, 

P. phillipsii, P. subtaeniatus, P. brevirostris, 

P. leightoni and P. rukwae) do 

not have a clear systematic position. 

The group has been reviewed by 

Loveridge (1940), Broadley (1966c, 

1977, 1990) and later by Brandstätter 

(1994, 1995 fide Hughes) critically 

reviewed by Hughes (1999). According 

to Brandstätter the plain (unpatterned) 

specimen from Arusha should be 

ascribed to Psammophis sibilans irregularis 

while Hughes does not justify the 

existence of the subspecies. The same 

unpatterned Tanzanian Psammophis 

were regarded as P. phillipsii by 

Broadley & Howell (1991). Broadley 

(pers. comm.) probably will assign the 

specimen from Arusha to Psammophis 

mossambicus. Since the situation is still 

confused and a complete revision is 

urgently needed we decided to follow 

Broadley & Howell (1991). 


Alarge robust brown long tailed snake 

(up to 190 cm) that can be not patterned 

or with black edged scales forming thin 

black longitudinal lines. 17 rows of 

scales at midbody, 151-183 ventrals, 1 

preocular, 82-110 subcaudals, 8 upper 

labials of which the fourth and fifth or 

fourth, fifth and sixth are in contact with 

the eye, the first four infralabials in contact 

with anterior chin shield. The two 

specimens examined from Arusha 

National Park showed anal shield divided 

and 10 lower labials. 


From Senegal to Kenya, south to northern 

Namibia, Botswana and part of 

South Africa. 


Observed along the Ngare Nanyuki river 

(three individuals) and on the western 

and southern shores of Big Momela 

lake. 

Ecology 

This snake is common in grassland and 

savannas especially near water and it is 

often encountered on the roads. It is not 

an arboreal species even though it may 

climb on bushes to bask. It moves very 

quickly and when captured bites fiercely. 

The mild venom of P. phillipsii may 

cause pain and nausea that will pass 

within 48 hours. The olive grass snake 

feeds mainly on lizards, but also on 

mammals, frogs and small snakes 

(including venomous species such as 

puff adder and black mamba). 

67

Natriciteres olivacea 


Common names 

Olive Marsh-snake 

Synonyms 

Coronella olivacea Peters, 1854 

Natrix olivacea Cott, 1928 

Taxonomy 

Reviewed by Broadley (1966). This is 

actually a monotypical species, but in 

the past Loveridge (1935) described 

N.o. uluguruensis and considered valid 

N.o. pembana that is actually regarded 

as closely related to the west African 

form N. variegata. 


Asmall harmless snake (up to 35-40 cm) 

with smooth scales. The body is grey, 

olive or brown with dark mid-dorsal band 

(4-5 scales row wide), ventral scales 

usually orange or yellow. The pupil is 

rounded, anal shield divided, 19 scales 

row at midbody, 130-153 ventrals, 57-87 

subcaudals. 


Savannas and Forests from Sudan 

south to Mozambique westward to 

Guinea and Angola. 

Natriciteres is the most common snake in 

Arusha N.P. 

68 


This small snake was found often in the 

pitfall traps around wet areas including 

Mbuga Za Raiden pond and Lokie 

Swamp. A specimen was found under a 

stone at the Maksoro river springs and 

another inside the Kambi ya fisi Forest 

(i.e. about 1 km from the nearest wet 

area). 

Detail of the head of a Olive Marsh-snake 

from Lokie swamp. 

Ecology 

Adiurnal savanna species that does not 

live far from water. Swims well and feeds 

often in the water on frogs and tadpoles, 

small fish and some invertebrates. This 

snake when first caught does not usually 

attempt to bite.

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia 

(Laurenti, 1768) 

Common names 

Herald Snake, White-lipped Snake 

Synonyms 

Coronella hotamboeia Laurenti,1768 

Taxonomy 

Since Broadley (1968) has elevated 

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia kageleri to 

species level (and moved it to a different 

genus Dipsadoboa shrevei) C. hotamboeia 

is considered monotypic. 


Asmall snake (up to 60-75 cm, rarely 

more) with short depressed rounded 

head, broadened behind. The tail is 

short. The body is dull grey or blackish 

grey and unpatterned except for some 

scattered white dots. The head is usually 

darker than the body and often iridescent 

especially in young individuals, lips 

are usually white as well as the belly. 

The identification can be based on these 

characteristics: presence of poison 

fangs in the upper jaw behind the eye, 

loreal shield present and excluded from 

the orbit by a single preocular scale, 

head quite large, pupil vertical, ventrals 

139-174, subcaudals 24-47, dorsal 

scales in 19 (rarely 21) rows at midbody. 

Young White–lipped Snake from Mbuga Za 

Raiden. 


Tropical Africa excluding a few areas in 

South Africa. 


Regarded as the commonest snake of 

east Africa (along with Lamprophis fuliginosus) 

and common in Arusha National 

Park according to Vesey-FitzGerald. We 

collected many specimens around the 

amphibian breeding sites, including the 

pond at Mbuga Za Raiden, lake Longil, 

lake Tulusia up to Kilimanjaro view point 

(over 1900 m). The medium search time 

recorded for this species during systematic 

sampling surveys was 0.067 snakes 

per hour. 

Ecology 

It feeds at night on amphibians that are 

seized and held until the venom has 

paralysed the prey and then swallowed. 

The poison is injected with a blade-like 

back fang but is mild and has virtually no 

effect on man. When first approached or 

captured this harmless terrestrial snake 

has an aggressive reaction, it flattens 

the body and the head to such a degree 

that the white lips became evident on the 

dark/black head of this snake. It coils 

and uncoils its body and attempts a few 

false strikes. The origin of the strange 

common name “Herald snake” is due to 

the fact that the presence of this species 

in South Africa was first published in the 

Eastern Province Herald newspaper. 

69

Thelotornis mossambicanus 

(Bocage, 1895) 

Common names 

Mozambique Twig Snake 

Taxonomy 

Broadley (1979) reviewed the genus 

and recognized three subspecies of 

Thelotornis capensis: T.c. capensis (the 

southern race), T.c. oatesii (the western 

race) and T.c. mossambicanus in East 

Africa. In a recent paper by Broadley 

(2001) T. mossambicanus is recognised 

as a good evolutionary species, which is 

sympatric with T. capensis oatesii in 

eastern Zimbabwe. T. usambaricus is 

described from coastal forests of the 

East Usambaras, but it is also recorded 

from the West Usambaras, North Pare, 

Nguru and Uluguru Mts. 


Aslender snake (up to about 140 cm) 

with long tail. The body is brown or grey 

with marbled and speckled with darker 

blotches. The head is slender and distinct 

from the neck, the top is uniform 

green and, typical of T. mossambicanus, 

the temporal region is always speckled 

with black. Pupil horizontal “key” 

shaped, loreal shield present, a pair of 

enlarged grooved poison fangs behind 

the eye in the upper jaw. 

70 


Thelotornis mossambicanus ranges 

from southern Somalia south to central 

Mozambique, west to the shores of Lake 

Tanganyika, Malawi and eastern 

Zimbabwe. 


Vesey-FitzGerald reports that the 

species has never been recorded from 

Arusha National Park but we observed a 

large individual among the acacia trees 

around the Ngare Nanyuki river in 

November. 

Ecology 

It is considered an arboreal species but 

catches a lot of its prey on the ground. It 

is rarely seen in the field due to its cryptic 

colours and habit of remaining immobile 

for a long time. If disturbed can move 

away swiftly or inflate the neck. The diet 

consists of small snakes and lizards 

(especially chameleons and arboreal 

geckos) but sometimes also few birds, 

frogs and toads are taken (Broadley, 

pers. comm.). The bite from these 

snakes is dangerous as no serum is 

available and a few fatalities have been 

recorded. It must be stressed, however, 

that bites are very rare and that this back 

fanged snake needs to hold on to its victim 

for some time to inject poison.

Dasypeltis scabra 


Common names 

Common Egg-eater 

Taxonomy 

Many subspecies have been described 

and then synonimized, the last one was 

Dasypeltis scabra loveridgei (Mertens, 

1954) described from specimens collected 

in Namibia and then regarded as simply 

colour phase by Broadley (1990). 

Gans (1959) revised the systematics of 

the genus. 


Amedium sized snake (60-70 cm), with 

a small rounded narrow head barely set 

off from the neck. Teeth rudimentary. 

Body slender with relatively short tail 

(longer in males). Scales strongly keeled 

with apical pit. Dorsal ground colour 

slate grey, light brown or olive brown 

with a median series of brown square 

blotches. Like Causus rhombeatus the 

top of the head and the neck has a narrow 

“V” shaped mark. 


Widely distributed in Africa south of the 

Sahara except in deserts and dense 

rainforest; there is a relict population in 

western Morocco. 

Common Egg-eater snake from Small 

Momela lake. 


Vesey-FitzGerald considered this 

species as common in Arusha National 

Park; we found only one individual that 

was probably looking for the nests of 

spur-winged plovers (Vanellus spinosus) 

on the shores of the Small Momela lake. 

Ecology 

Feeds exclusively on eggs especially of 

birds, but sometimes lizard eggs too. 

Eggs are swallowed whole and cracked 

in the snake’s neck by a series of bony 

projections. The shell is then crushed 

and regurgitated. When annoyed this 

harmless species reacts with some 

spectacular defensive behaviour such 

as head triangulation to mimic viperid 

snakes, hissing, false strikes and gape. 

It is also able to coil and uncoil in a 

series of serrated loops to produce a 

rasping sound similar to that produced 

by Echis (Gans & Richmond, 1957; 

Young et al., 1999). 

71

Atractaspis bibronii A. Smith, 1849 

Common names 

Bibron’s Stiletto-snake 

OTHER SPECIES 


Brown to black small burrowing snake, with an average adult total length of 45 cm. 

The head is rounded and not distinguishable from the neck. Head and neck not as 

broad as the body. Typical of this family are the long fangs extending backward posterior 

to the eye, supralabials five, infralabial five (rarely six). A. bibronii has 21-25 

midbody scales row, 212-246 ventrals in males and 238-260 in females, frontal large, 

longer than broad, the length is more or less the same as parietals. 

Notes 

Asingle snake that probably belonged to the Atractaspis genus was found at Kinandia 

View Point but unfortunately escaped while we were attempting to take a picture of it. 

Vesey-FitzGerald regards Atractaspis bibronii as common in Arusha National Park. 

This species bites protruding one of its long fangs and stabbing with closed mouth. 

The poison causes local pain and nasty necrosis, no effective serum is produced. 

Causus rhombeatus (Lichtenstein, 1823) 

Common names 

Rhombic Night-adder 


Medium sized snakes (usually up to 60 cm), the back is pale grey, olive brown or 

almost black and with a typical “V” shaped mark on the neck and dark rhombic white 

edged blotches, some individuals are completely unpatterned. Other characteristics: 

enlarged grooved poison fangs in the upper jaw folded into membranous sheath, 

head not larger than the body covered by large shields, pupil round, snout not turned 

up at the tip. 

Notes 

This nocturnal species is quite similar to the common egg eater snake but has a shorter 

and thicker body and tail. Vesey-FitzGerald considered C. rhombeatus common in 

Arusha National Park. No fatalities have been recorded from the bite of this species. 

Duberria lutrix (Linnæus, 1758) 

Common names 

Slug Eater Snake 


Asmall snake (30-35 cm); the specimen we found was completely black above and 

below except for few scattered white dots on the lower side of the head. The head is 

73

small with nostril pierced in an entire nasal, loreal shield small or absent, eye small 

with round pupil. No enlarged poison fang in the upper jaw. 

Notes 

This upland species is regarded by Vesey-FitzGerald as common in Arusha National 

Park, we collected a specimen freshly killed by a car near the Rest house of the Park. 

Aparallactus capensis (A. Smith, 1849) 

Common names 

Cape Centipede-eater 


Another small snake (up to 25-30 cm) with slender brown body and a distinctive black 

head backed by a black collar; the belly is grey white. Each nostril is pierced in an 

undivided nasal shield, loreal shield absent, subcaudal scales single, first pair of 

infralabials widely separated by the anterior sublinguals. 

Notes 

This species has enlarged poison fangs in the upper jaw but is completely harmless. 

Reported from Arusha National Park by Vesey-FitzGerald. 

Prosymna stuhlmannii (Pfeffer, 1893) 

Common names 

Shovel Snout Snake 


Asmall snake with flat head and short tail that average 30 cm in length. The back is 

dark brown to metallic black. No enlarged poison fangs in the upper jaw, dorsal scales 

smooth, anal shield entire, dorsal scales in 15-17 rows at midbody. 

Notes 

A burrowing nocturnal snake of the savannah, often feeds on geckoes’ eggs. 

Common in Arusha National Park (Vesey-FitzGerald, 1975). 

Philothamnus hoplogaster (Günther, 1863) 

Common names 

Southeastern Green Snake 


Asmall slender bright green uniform snake, yellow green below (50-70 cm max 96 

cm). 73-106 subcaudal shields, anal divided, scales in 15 rows at midbody. 

Notes 

A species that is usually found near water and that resembles the green mamba. 

Occurs in Arusha National Park (Vesey-FitzGerald, 1975). 

74

CHECK LIST OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 

AT THE ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK 

The symbol “*” means that the presence of the species is based on bibliographic data 

only (Loveridge, 1959; Rand, 1958; 1963; Vesey-Fitzgerald, 1975). 

AMPHIBIANS 

Order Anura 

Suborder Opisthocoela 

Family Pipidae 

Subfamily Xenopodinae 

Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844) 

Suborder Procoela 

Family Bufonidae 

Bufo gutturalis Power, 1927 

Family Ranidae 

Subfamily Raninae 

Ptychadena mascareniensis (Duméril and Bibron, 1841) 

Rana angolensis Bocage, 1866 

Strongylopus fasciatus merumontanus (Lönnberg, 1910) 

Subfamily Phrynobatrachinae 

Phrynobatrachus keniensis Barbour and Loveridge, 1928 

Family Hyperoliidae 

Subfamily Kassininae 

Kassina senegalensis (Duméril and Bibron, 1841) 

Subfamily Hyperoliinae 

Hyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus Laurent, 1951 

Hyperolius nasutus Günther, 1864 

Family Hemisotidae 

Hemisus marmoratum (Peters, 1854) 

REPTILES 

Order Chelonii 

Family Testudinidae 

* Geochelone pardalis (Bell, 1828) 

75

Order Sauria 

Family Gekkonidae 

Pachydactylus turneri (Gray, 1864) 

Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnès, 1818) 

Family Agamidae 

Agama agama (Linnæus, 1758) 

Family Chamaeleonidae 

Bradypodion tavetanum (Steindachner, 1891) 

* Chamaeleo dilepis Leach, 1819 

Chamaeleo gracilis Hallowell, 1842 

* Chamaeleo jacksonii merumontanus Rand, 1958 

* Chamaeleo rudis Boulenger, 1906 

Family Scincidae 

Subfamily Lygosomatinae 

Mabuya striata (Peters, 1844) 

Mabuya varia (Peters, 1867) 

Lygosoma afrum (Peters, 1854) 

Panaspis wahlbergii (A. Smith, 1849) 

Family Lacertidae 

Adolfus jacksoni (Boulenger, 1899) 

Nucras boulengeri Neumann, 1900 

Order Scolecophidia 

Family Leptotyphlopidae 

Leptotyphlops scutifrons merkeri (Werner, 1909) 

Order Scolecophidia 

Family Pythonidae 

Python natalensis A. Smith, 1840 

Family Colubridae 

Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Laurenti, 1768) 

Dasypeltis scabra (Linnæus, 1758) 

Duberria lutrix (Linnæus, 1758) 

* Hemirhagerrhis hildebrandtii (Peters, 1878) 

Lamprophis fuliginosus (Boie, 1827) 

Lycophidion capense jacksoni Boulenger, 1893 

Natriciteres olivacea (Peters, 1854) 

* Philothamnus hoplogaster (Günther, 1863) 

* Prosymna stuhlmannii (Pfeffer, 1893) 

Psammophis phillipsii (Hallowell, 1844) 

Thelotornis capensis mossambicanus (Bocage, 1895) 

76

Family Viperidae 

* Bitis arietans arietans (Merrem, 1820) 

Family Viperidae 

* Causus rhombeatus (Lichtenstein, 1823) 

Family Atractaspidae 

* Aparallactus capensis (A. Smith, 1849) 

* Atractaspis bibronii A. Smith, 1849 

Family Elapidae 

Elapsoidea loveridgei loveridgei Parker, 1949 

Naja haje haje (Linnæus, 1758) 

Dendroaspis angusticeps (A. Smith, 1849) 

The species listed below have been collected in a large area around the Meru crater 

by Yngve Sjösted during the Swedish Zoological Expedition in 1905 (Lönnberg, 1910); 

few of them come from lower altitude areas along the Ngare Nanyuki and are completely 

absent from the Park, but some others could be confirmed with further field 

researches. 

Reptiles (29 species): Geochelone pardalis, Pelomedusa subrufa, Hemidactylus 

squamulatus, Lygodactylus conradti, Agama doriae [?, this is a West African species], 

Agama mwanzae, Laudakia atricollis, Varanus albigularis, Nucras boulengeri, Latastia 

longicauda, Heliobolus neumanni [or Heliobolus speckii], Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus, 

Gerrhosaurus flavigularis, Mabuya megalura, Mabuya varia, Mabuya striata, 

Lygosoma sundevalli, Leptosiaphos kilimensis, Panaspis wahlbergii, Chamaeleo 

gracilis, Bradypodion tavetanum, Leptotyphlops scutifrons, Lamprophis fuliginosus, 

Lycophidion capense, Dasypeltis scabra, Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, Psammophis 

subtaeniatus, Aparallactus jacksoni, Causus rhombeatus. 

Amphibians (8 species): Rana fasciata merumontana, Rana angolensis, Rana fuscigula 

[probably again Rana angolensis], Ptychadena oxyrhynchus, Ptychadena 

mascareniensis, Phrynobatrachus natalensis [probably Phrynobatrachus keniensis], 

Bufo gutturalis, Xenopus laevis. 

77

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Published in Varese (Italy) by Pubblinova Edizioni Negri 

and Istituto OIKOS in February 2002

field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of arusha national park

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