Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berl. zyxwvut 73 (1997) zyxwvu 1,41-50 24.02. 1997 zy An Annotated Type Catalogue of the Amphisbaenians (Reptilia zy : Squamata : Amphisbaenia) in the Zoological Museum, Berlin CARL GANS. AARON M. BAUER and RAINER GUNTHER Abstract. The herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum of Berlin contains type specimens for 25 names of amphisbaenians. Of these 20 pertain to currently valid names, those for 23 are primary types initially deposited in the Museum, and those for zyxwvu 2 names were obtained by trade or exchange. Key Words : Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenia, type catalogue, Zoological Museum, Berlin The Zoological Museum of Berlin (ZMB) not only contains a major collection of 45 species of amphisbaenians, but also the second largest collection of amphisbaenian types. This makes it desirable to include a type list of these animals, particularly of the specimens assembled by WILHELM PETERS and STERNFELD. The Museum staff was among the earliest with an interest in amphisbaenians (GANS 1971, p. 445); thus in 1817 F. G. HEMPRICH, Privatdocent of the University, reported in Latin on two new species before a meeting of the Berlin Society of Friends in the Study of Natural History (Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde). The report was not printed until 1829, In the meantime Wilhelm HEMBRICH referred to Amphisbaena scutigerum without description in a popular natural history (1820) thus creating a Nomen nudum. [As the second initial was latinicized to G. (GUILLELMUS) for WILHELM it was initially assumed that two authors were involved.] The efforts of PETERS are notable, not only in terms of his collecting work, but also for his research interest in amphisbaenians ; thus he established the taxonomic basis of acrodont amphisbaenians. STERNFELD’S efforts represented an attempt to define the taxonomy of the herpetofauna of the German colonies utilizing the materials accumulated from a variety of collectors. In preparing this list the senior author wishes to express his gratitude to Dr. Heinz WERMUTH who in 1960 not only provided him with a list of the then recognized types deposited in the Museum, but also facilitated the protracted loan of much valuable material. This assistance allowed the preparation of a preliminary checklist of the group zyxw (GANS, 1967a) and much revi- sionary work. Dr. Donald G. BROADLEY kindly checked the initial version of this manuscript. AMPHISBAENIDAE Agamodon anguliceps PETERS (1882a: 580; pl. 10). H o 1 o t y p e : ZMB 10189; “Barava, an der Ostkiiste Africas” “Barava (Africa orientalis)” [=Brava, Somalia]; leg. Dr. G. A. FISCHER. Paratype: ZMB 10190; same data as holotype. Remarks : Specimens listed by GANS & PANDIT (1965) as syntypes of nominal subspecies. See also PETERS (1882b) and GANS (1960). Range : South-central coast of Somali Republic, eastern Ethiopia(?).