Atheris subocularis Fischer 1888
Recent reptile collections from southwestern Cameroon contain four specimens referable to Atheris subocularis Fischer, currently considered a synonym of Atheris squamigera (Hallowell), and previously known only from the holotype collected prior to 1888. Phylogenetic analysis of a 647 bp DNA fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene indicates that A. subocularis forms a monophyletic group. Based on this analysis and a suite of morphological characters that readily differentiate A. subocularis from its congeners, we resurrect A. subocularis Fischer from the synonymy of A. squamigera (Hallowell). Female A. subocularis remain unknown, and the distribution of this taxon lies completely within that of its closest relative, A. squamigera. We provide taxonomic accounts for A. subocularis and A. squamigera in the area of sympatry and discuss evolutionary hypotheses for the presence of A. subocularis.
Lawson, D.P. & B.P. Noonan & P.C. Ustach. 2001. Atheris subocularis (Serpentes: Viperidae) revisited: Molecular and morphological evidence for the resurrection of an enigmatic taxon. Copeia, 2001(3): 737-744.: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/0045-8511(2001)001%5B0737:ASSVRM%5D2.0.CO%3B2
