A NEW ADDER (BITIS-VIPERIDAE) FROM THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH-AFRICA

A new species of small, terrestrial Bitis is described from the Wester n Cape Province, South Africa. It occurs in sympatry with Bitis comuta and Bitis atropos on the upper slopes and summit of the Cedarberg, an d with the latter on the Swartberg. Features of scalation, colour and body form distinguish the new species from all other southern African Bitis. Its range extends in an are from the northern Cape Fold Mountai ns, southwards into the western regions of the Little Karoo, with a po ssibly isolated population on the Roggeveldberg and Komsberg of the in land escarpment.