Genital morphology and systematics of Geodipsas boulenger, 1896 (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae), with description of a new genus

Abstract

Hemipenes of the African colubrid snakes Geodipsas depressiceps, G. procterae and G. vauerocegae, and of the Malagasy species Geodipsas heimi, G. infralineata and Alluaudina bellyi are described. Moreover data on lepidosis and morphometry of these taxa are provided. By means of genital morphology, close affinities could clearly be demonstrated among the Malagasy Geodipsas species on the one hand, and among the African taxa on the other. In contrast to this, Malagasy Geodipsas spp. show distinct differences in hemipenis morphology as compared with the African species. We consider the deeply bifurcate sulcus spermaticus of the latter as derived; and suggest a monophyletic origin of the African taxa, which are transferred here to a new genus Buhoma. The Malagasy Geodipsas rather resemble hemipenially the externally different Alluaudina, but their relationships are still to be clarified.