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ABSTRACTThe sub-Saharan African file snake genus Gonionotophisis currently comprised of 15 species. However, the concept of this genus has been confounded by morphological and genetic differences between the constituent taxa. Due to the dearth of DNA samples, a taxonomic assessment has been impractical to date. We therefore sequenced two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker (16S, cyt b, and c-mos) from 45 samples representing ten species of Gonionotophisto construct a molecular phylogeny using Bayesian and likelihood approaches. Four divergent and well-supported clades were recovered, including: (1) grantii + brussauxi; (2) poensis + stenophthalmus; (3) nyassae; and (4) capensis, chanleri, crossi, guiraliand savorgnani. Based on these results and morphological data, the genus Gonionotophisis restricted to the first clade, Mehelyais resurrected for the species in the second clade, and new genera are described for the remaining two clades.ZooBank—urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A82CFAD6-E2E0-439E-90BB-9224E225426B

AbstractWe describe a new species of Zygaspisbased on a single specimen collected in north-eastern Mozambique and deposited in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo. The new species is characterised by its extensively black pigmentation, 191 body annuli, discrete preoculars, four parietals, two postoculars, three supralabials, and two post-supralabials. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA suggests that it is a sister taxon to the widespread Zygaspis quadrifrons.ZooBank.—urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9651A65E-949E-4C95-A363-81C558A222AC

AbstractOn the basis of molecular data, the gekkonid lizard Homopholis arnoldiLoveridge is revived as a full species. Morphologically it is usually distinguishable from H. wahlbergiion the basis of its striped dorsal colour pattern. Homopholis arnoldihas a wide distribution from south-eastern Botswana through Zimbabwe to central Mozambique, and the southern margin of its range covers the western and northern parts of Limpopo Province, South Africa north of the Soutpansberg (where it is at least parapatric, and possibly sympatric with both H. wahlbergiiand H. mulleri), extending east to the Mozambique coast north of the Limpopo. A key is provided for the four currently recognised species of Homopholisand a neotype from KwaZulu-Natal is designated for H. wahlbergii, helping to stabilise the use of this name in light of the resurrection of H. arnoldi.