A Re-evaluation of the taxonomie status of Hoffman, 1940 (Serpentes: Atractaspidinae)

Abstract

The taxonomie status of Xenocalamus bicolor concavorostralis Hoffman, 1940, represented only by the holotype collected near Bloemfontein in 1939, is re-evaluated. The holotype of X. b. concavorostralis, two specimens of X. bicotor recently collected within 11 km of the type locality of X. b. concavorostralis and a specimen from Barkly West were examined in detail. Hoffman's diagnostic characters for X. b. concavorostralis were found to be untenable, with all four specimens referable to X. b. bicotor Günther, 1868.