A review of the African Elapsoidea semiannulata complex (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Abstract

The status of the three subspecies of Elapsoidea semiannulata is reviewed on the basis of additional material. Typical E. s. semiannulata is extensively parapatric with both E. S. boulengeri and E. sundevallii fitzsimonsi in northeastern Namibia, with no sign of intergradation, so E. boulengeri is reinstated as a full species. Elapsoidea semiannulata moebiusi is retained as a west African subspecies with ventral counts usually above 150. whereas the typical form has counts below 150.