Red List of South African Species

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Data Deficient (DD)
Assessors: Bryan Maritz Krystal A Tolley Andrew Turner
Contributors: Josh Weeber
Facilitators: Graham Alexander Krystal A Tolley
Reviewers: Michael Bates Juan-Jacques Forgus Krystal A Tolley Luke Verburgt

Rationale (Changed due to Incorrect data used previously|Knowledge of criteria)

This species is endemic to South Africa, and has been recorded from just two areas, approximately 130 km apart. The easternmost of these is based on one individual found in a specimen jar at Mountain Zebra National park, with no collection information. The westernmost records are from montane regions at high elevation (above 1,700 m) near New Bethesda. The species' distribution therefore, is essentially unknown, making assessment of its threat status not possible. The species is therefore considered Data Deficient.  

Distribution

This species is possibly endemic to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It has been found in the Sneeuberg Range and surrounding mountains near Graaff-Reinet (Bates et al. 2014), but it is unknown whether it occurs more widely because there are very few records.

Population trend

Trend

It is not possible to infer population status or trends for this species.

Threats

The threats are unknown. However, if the species is elevation limited, climate change could pose a threat in the future, due to it having no capacity for upslope displacement.

Uses and trade

It is not known if the species is traded but might be sought after by specialist collectors.

Conservation

The species possibly occurs in one National Park. A study aimed at gathering data on distribution and habitat requirements needs to be conducted and attempts made to evaluate whether this species is monophyletic.

References 

[@electronic{181632,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2},
 year = {2018}
}
,@book{612,
 address = {Pretoria},
 author = {Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. and de Villiers, M.S.},
 publisher = {Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
 year = {2014}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Second Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Marais, J.},
 publisher = {Struik},
 title = {A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa},
 year = {2004}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Alexander, G.J. and Marais, J.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {A Guide to Reptiles of Southern Africa},
 year = {2007}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Frankfurt, Germany},
 author = {Phelps, T.},
 publisher = {Chimaira},
 title = {Old World Vipers. A natural history of the Azemiopinae and Viperinae},
 year = {2009}
}
,@inbook{2817,
 address = {Darmstadt, Germany},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Dwarf adders of the <i>Bitis cornuta</i>-<i>inornata</i> complex (Serpentes: Viperidae)},
 editor = {Branch, W.R.},
 pages = {39--63},
 publisher = {Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt und Technische Universit&auml;t Darmstadt},
 title = {<i>Kaupia</i>: Systematics, Phylogeny and Biology of the Viperidae},
 year = {1999}
}
,]
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