Variation in the hemipenes of different colour phases of Pseudaspis cana (Linneaus) warrants re-evaluation of the species
Hemipenal extrusion of a road-killed Pseudaspis cana (SMR1065/JV8632) of the smaller northern brown phase of this species from 5 km south of Omaruru (2115BD), Namibia with a total length of 1225 mm, disclosed hemipenes that were much shorter than those of the southern larger black phase of the Western and Northern Cape (South Africa). To exclude the possibility of congenital defect for this observed shortness,
material (SMR9886, 11031, 10032 from Katima Mulilo; SMR7079, 5 km south of Windhoek; SMR9390 from between Kalkrand and Omaseb) from the National Museum of Namibia was probed (N = 6, with total lengths of 805 mm (truncated) - 1148 mm, mean 1041 mm) and confirmed the small size of the hemipenes in the brown phase.