William Roy Branch

William Roy Branch (1946–2018), South African herpetologist.

• Herpetology Department, Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood, Port Elizabeth, 6013, South Africa.
• Research Associate, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Taxon names authored

(List may be incomplete)

• 66 taxon names authored by William Roy Branch

Eponyms

(List may be incomplete)

• 7 eponyms of William Roy Branch

Publications

(List may be incomplete)

1995

• Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M. & Good, D.A. 1995. Species limits in the Phyllodactylus lineatus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with the elevation of two taxa to specific status and the description of two new species. The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa 44(2): 33–54. DOI: 10.1080/04416651.1995.9650390 Reference page. 

1996

• Bauer, A.M., Branch, W.R. & Good, D.A. 1996. A new species of rock-dwelling Phyllodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Richtersveld, South Africa. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University 71: 1–14. DOI: 10.31390/opmns.071 Reference page. 
• Good, D.A., Bauer, A.M. & Branch, W.R. 1996. A new species of Phyllodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Karoo National Park, South Africa. African Journal of Herpetology 45(2): 49–58. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.1996.9649965 Reference page. 

1997

• Bauer, A.M., Good, D.A. & Branch, W.R. 1997. The taxonomy of the Southern African leaf-toed geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with a review of Old World "Phyllodactylus" and the description of five new genera. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 4th Series 49(14): 447–497. BHL Reference page. 
• Branch, W.R. 1997. A new adder (Bitis; Viperidae) from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Zoology 32(2): 37–42. DOI: 10.1080/02541858.1997.11448426 Reference page. 
• Branch, W. R. & Whiting, M. J. 1997. A new Platysaurus (Squamata: Cordylidae) from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. African Journal of Herpetology 46(2): 124–136. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.1997.9649987 Reference page. 

2002

• Bauer, A.M., Lamb, T. & Branch, W.R. 2002. A Revision of Pachydactylus scutatus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) with the Description of a New Species from Northern Namibia. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 4th series 53(3): 23–36. BHL Reference page. 

2006

• Bauer, A.M., Lamb, T. & Branch, W.R. 2006. A revision of the Pachydactylus serval and P. weberi groups (Reptilia: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) of Southern Africa, with the description of eight new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 4th series 57 (23): 595–709. BHL Reference page. 
• Branch, W.R., Tolley, K.A. & Tilbury, C.R. 2006. A new dwarf chameleon (Sauria: Bradypodion Fitzinger, 1843) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa. African Journal of Herpetology 55(2): 123–141. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2006.9635545 Reference page. 

2009

• Adalsteinsson, S.A., Branch, W.R., Trape, S., Vitt, L.J. & Hedges, S.B. 2009. Molecular phylogeny, classification, and biogeography of snakes of the Family Leptotyphlopidae (Reptilia, Squamata). Zootaxa 2244(1): 1–50. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2244.1.1 Reference page. 
• Jesus, J., Nagy, Z.T., Branch, W.R., Wink, M., Brehm, A. & Harris, D.J. 2009. Phylogenetic relationships of African green snakes (genera Philothamnus and Hapsidophrys) from São Tomé, Príncipe and Annobon islands based on mtDNA sequences, and comments on their colonization and taxonomy. The Herpetological Journal 19(1): 41–48. PDF Reference page. 

2010

• Branch, W.R. & Tolley, K.A. 2010. A new species of chameleon (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae: Nadzikambia) from Mount Mabu, central Mozambique. African Journal of Herpetology 59(2): 157–172. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2010.516275 Reference page. 

2011

• Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Jackman, T.R. & Heinicke, M.P. 2011. A new species of the Pachydactylus weberi complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the NamibRand Reserve, southern Namibia. Breviora 524: 1–15. DOI: 10.3099/0006-9698-524.1.1 ; BHL Reference page. 
• Kelly, C.M.R., Branch, W.R., Broadley, D.G., Barker, N.P. & Villet, M.H. 2011. Molecular systematics of the African snake family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes: Elapoidea), with particular focus on the genera Lamprophis Fitzinger 1843 and Mehelya Csiki 1903. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 58(3): 415–426. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.010 Reference page. 
• Stanley, E.L., Bauer, A.M., Jackman, T.R., Branch, W.R. & Mouton, P. Le F.N. 2011. Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 58(1): 53–70. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.08.024 Reference page. 

2012

• Conradie, W., Measey, G.J., Branch, W.R. & Tolley, K.A. 2012. Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola. African Journal of Herpetology 61(2): 91–112. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2012.676079 ResearchGate Reference page. 
• Conradie, W., Branch, W.R., Measy, G.J. & Tolley, K.A. 2012. A new species of Hyperolius Rapp, 1842 (Anura: Hyperoliidae) from the Serra da Chela mountains, south-western Angola. Zootaxa 3269: 1–17. Preview DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3269.1.1 ResearchGate Reference page. 

2013

• Conradie, W., Branch, W.R. & Tolley, K.A. 2013. Fifty shades of grey: giving colour to the poorly known Angolan ashy reed frog (Hyperoliidae: Hyperolius cinereus), with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 3635(3): 201–223. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3635.3.1 Reference page. 
• Bates, M.F., Tolley, K.A., Edwards, S., Davids, Z., Silva, J.M. & Branch, W.R. 2013. A molecular phylogeny of the African plated lizards, genus Gerrhosaurus Wiegmann, 1828 (Squamata: Gerrhosauridae), with the description of two new genera. Zootaxa 3750(5): 465–493. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3750.5.3 Reference page. 
• Edwards, S., Branch, W.R., Vanhooydonck, B., Herrel, A., Measey, G.J. & Tolley, K.A. 2013. Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of the southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae). Zootaxa 3669(2): 101–114. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1 Reference page. 
• Portik, D.M., Travers, S.L., Bauer, A.M. & Branch, W.R. 2013. A new species of Lygodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) endemic to Mount Namuli, an isolated ‘sky island’ of northern Mozambique. Zootaxa 3710(5): 415–435. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3710.5.2 Reference page. 

2015

• Conradie, W., Branch, W.R. & Watson, G. 2015. Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 1: Amphibians. Zootaxa 3936(1): 42–70. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3936.1.2 Reference page. 
• Whiting, M.J., Branch, W.R., Pepper, M. & Keogh, J.S. 2015. A new species of spectacularly coloured flat lizard Platysaurus (Squamata: Cordylidae: Platysaurinae) from southern Africa. Zootaxa 3986(2): 173–192. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3986.2.2. Preview (PDF) Reference page. 

2016

• Medina, M.F., Bauer, A.M., Branch, W.R., Schmitz, A., Conradie, W., Nagy, Z.T., Hibbitts, T.J., Ernst, R., Portik, D.M., Nielsen, S.V., Colston, T.J., Kusamba, C., Behangana, M., Rödel, M.-O. & Greenbaum, E. 2016. Molecular phylogeny of Panaspis and Afroablepharus skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 100: 409–423. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.026 Reference page. 
• Stanley, E.L., Ceríaco, L.M.P., Bandeira, S., Valério, H., Bates, M.F. & Branch, W.R. 2016. A review of Cordylus machadoi (Squamata: Cordylidae) in southwestern Angola, with the description of a new species from the Pro-Namib desert. Zootaxa 4061(3): 201–226. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4061.3.1. Full article (PDF).  Reference page. 

2017

• Branch, W.R., Guyton, J.A., Schmitz, A., Barej, M.F., Naskrecki, P., Farooq, H., Verburgt, L. & Rödel, M.-O. 2017. Description of A New Flat Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Afroedura) from Mount Gorongosa, Mozambique. Zootaxa 4324(1): 142–160. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4324.1.8. Reference page. 
• Branch, W.R., Haacke, W., Pinto, P.V., Conradie, W., Baptista, N., Verburgt, L. & Verisimmo, L. 2017. Loveridge’s Angolan geckos, Afroedura karroica bogerti and Pachydactylus scutatus angolensis (Sauria, Gekkonidae): new distribution records, comments on type localities and taxonomic status. Zoosystematics and Evolution 93(1): 157–166. DOI: 10.3897/zse.93.10915 Reference page. 

2018

• Ceríaco, L.M.P., Branch, W.R. & Bauer, A.M. 2018. A new species of African snake-eyed skink (Scincidae: Panaspis) from central and northern Namibia. Zootaxa 4527(1): 140–150. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.1.12 Reference page. 
• Portillo, F., Branch, W.R.†, Conradie, W., Rödel, M.-O., Penner, J., Barej, M.F., Kusamba, C., Muninga, W.M., Aristote, M.M., Bauer, A.M., Trape, J.-F., Nagy, Z.T., Carlino, P., Pauwels, O.S.G., Menegon, M., Burger, M., Mazuch, T., Jackson, K., Hughes, D.F., Behangama, M., Zassi-Boulou, A.-G. & Greenbaum, E. 2018. Phylogeny and biogeography of the African burrowing snake subfamily Aparallactinae (Squamata: Lamprophiidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: 288–303. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.019 Reference page. 

2019

• Barlow, A., Wüster, W., Kelly, C.M.R., Branch, W.R., Phelps, T. & Tolley, K.A. 2019. Ancient habitat shifts and organismal diversification are decoupled in the African viper genus Bitis (Serpentes: Viperidae). Journal of Biogeography 46(6): 1234–1248. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13578 Reference page. 
• Branch, W.R., Bayliss, B.L., Bittencourt-Silva, G.B., Conradie, W., Engelbrecht, H.M., Loader, S.P., Menegon, M., Nanvonamuquitxo, C. & Tolley, K.A. 2019. A new species of tree snake (Dipsadoboa, Serpentes: Colubridae) from ‘sky island’ forests in northern Mozambique, with notes on other members of the Dipsadoboa werneri group. Zootaxa 4646(3): 541–563. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4646.3.6 Reference page. 
• Branch, W.R., Conradie, W., Pinto, P.V. & Tolley, K.A. 2019. Another Angolan Namib endemic species: a new Nucras Gray, 1838 (Squamata: Lacertidae) from south-western Angola. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(2)[Special Section]: 82–95 (e199). Reference page. 
• Branch, W.R., Keates, C., Baptista, N. & Edwards, S. 2019. Rediscovery, taxonomic status, and phylogenetic relationships of two rare and endemic snakes (Serpentes: Psammophiinae) from the southwestern Angolan plateau. Zootaxa 4590(3): 342–366. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4590.3.2 Reference page. 
• Engelbrecht, H.M., Branch, W.R., Greenbaum, E., Alexander, G.J., Jackson, K., Burger, M., Conradie, W., Kasumba, C., Zassi-Boulou, A.-G. & Tolley, K.A. 2019. Diversifying into the branches: Species boundaries in African green and bush snakes, Philothamnus (Serpentes: Colubridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 130: 357–365. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.023 Reference page. 
• Portillo, F., Branch, W.R., Tilbury, C.R., Nagy, Z.T., Hughes, D.F., Kusamba, C., Muninga, W.M., Aristote, M.M., Behangana, M. & Greenbaum, E. 2019. A Cryptic New Species of Polemon (Squamata: Lamprophiidae, Aparallactinae) from the Miombo Woodlands of Central and East Africa. Copeia 107(1): 22–36. DOI: 10.1643/CH-18-098 Reference page. 
• Portillo, F., Stabley, E.L., Branch, W.R.†, Conradie, W., Rödel, M.-O., Penner, J., Barej, M.F., Kusamba, C., Muninga, W.M., Aristote, M.M., Bauer, A.M., Trape, J.-F., Nagy, Z.T., Carlino, P., Pauwels, O.S.G., Menegon, M., Ineich, I., Burger, M., Zassi-Boulou, A.-G., Mazuch, T., Jackson, K., Hughes, D.F., Behangama, M. & Greenbaum, E. 2019. Evolutionary history of burrowing asps (Lamprophiidae: Atractaspidinae) with emphasis on fang evolution and prey selection. PLoS One 14(4): e0214889. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214889 Reference page. 
• Conradie, W., Branch, W.R. & Watson, G. 2019. Type specimens in the Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa, including the historically important Albany Museum collection. Part 2: Reptiles (Squamata). Zootaxa 4576(1): 1–45. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4576.1.1 Reference page. 
• Vaz Pinto, P., Veríssimo, L. & Branch, W.R. 2019. Hiding in the bushes for 110 years: rediscovery of an iconic Angolan gecko (Afrogecko ansorgii Boulenger, 1907, Sauria: Gekkonidae). Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(2) [Special Section]: 29–41 (e182). Reference page. 

2020

• Engelbrecht, H.M., Branch, W.R., Greenbaum, E., Burger, M., Conradie, W. & Tolley, K.A. 2020. African Herald snakes, Crotaphopeltis, show population structure for a widespread generalist but deep genetic divergence for forest specialists. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 58(4): 1220–1233. DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12361 Reference page. 

2021

• Branch, W.R., Schmitz, A., Lobón-Rovira, J., Baptista, N.L., António, T. & Conradie, W. 2021. Rock island melody: A revision of the Afroedura bogerti Loveridge, 1944 group, with the description of four new endemic species from Angola. Zoosystematics and Evolution 97(1): 55–82. DOI: 10.3897/zse.97.57202 Reference page. 

2022

• Lobón-Rovira, J., Conradie, W., Vaz Pinto, P., Keates, C., Edwards, S., Plessis, A. & Branch, W.R. 2022. Systematic revision of Afrogecko ansorgii (Boulenger, 1907) (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from western Angola. Zootaxa 5124(4): 401–430. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5124.4.1 Reference page. 

2023

• Bates, M.F., Lóbon-Rovira, J., Stanley, E.L., Branch, W.R.† & Pinto, P.V. 2023. A new species of green-eyed Cordylus Laurenti, 1768 from the west-central highlands of Angola, and the rediscovery of Cordylus angolensis (Bocage, 1895)(Squamata: Cordylidae). Vertebrate Zoology 73: 599–646. DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e95639 Reference page.