Additional Distribution Records of the Berg Adder Bitis atropos in the South-eastern Transvaal and Swaziland

Abstract

The berg adder Bitis atropos is a small adder normally associated with mountainous areas in southern Africa. In the Transvaal this species is known to occur along the Drakensberg escarpment of the eastern and northern Transvaal. This paper reports on 19 new localities, extending the known range in a southerly and south-easterly direction. These localities are listed with notes on altitude, as well as notes on the sex, colour and reproductive status of the berg adder. Additional museum material and literature records are included to update the currently known distribution of the species in the Transvaal and Swaziland.