A New Species of the Genus Protobothrops(Squamata: Viperidae) from Southern Tibet, China and Sikkim, India

A new species of the genus Protobothrops Hoge ＆ Romano-Hoge, 1983, was described from Jilong County, southern Tibet, China, and Chungthang, northern Sikkim, India. It differs from congeners by the following characters： 1） relatively large body size （total length up to 1510 mm）; 2） dorsal scale rows 25-25-19; 3） except for the smooth outermost row, dorsal scales are weakly keeled; 4） relatively high number of ventral （198-216） and subcaudal （65-76 pairs） scales; 5） 7-8 supralabials; 6） 11 to 13 infralabials; 7） dorsal head uniform dark brown, laterally a reddish-brown obscure postocular streak; 8） dorsum of trtmk and tail olive, with distinct black edged red brown transverse bands across the body and tail; and 9） eye from bright brown and reddish brown to mildly brown. The new species was also observed from the Haa Valley in western Bhutan.

Catalogue of the Type Specimens of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Herpetological Museum of the Chengdu Institute of Biology,Chinese Academy of Sciences:V.Viperidae(Reptilia,Serpentes)

In China, there are about 37 species of vipers belonging to 12 genera in the family Viperidae. In the Herpetological Museum of the Chengdu Institute of Biology（CIB）, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the type specimens of snakes represent seven species in four genera. As a series of reports on the type specimens of Amphibians and Reptilies deposited in the Herpetological Museum of CIB, this paper focuses on the venomous snake family Viperidae in the collections at this Museum.

Designation of a Neotype for Protobothrops mangshanensis (Zhao,1990)

Protobothrops mangshanensis(Zhao,1990) was first described based on the specimens from Mt. Mang,Yizhang,Hunan,China(Zhao and Chen,1990). However,due to poor preservation,the holotype of P. mangshanensis is considerably damaged and cannot presently be used. Thus,according to Article 75 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature(1985),we designate a neotype for this species.

Distribution and Movement Tendencies of Short-Tailed Viper Snakes (Gloydius saxatilis) by Altitude

The distribution pattern of reptiles in mountainous regions is generally related to altitude. The distribution of viperine species can be limited by elevation. Short-tailed viper snakes （Gloydius saxatilis） of South Korea are found mostly in high elevation mountainous areas, but few studies have evaluated how their distribution relates to elevation gradient. This study was conducted from 2012 to 2013 to investigate the altitudinal distribution of short-tailed viper snakes in mountainous areas and to discover their movement patterns in Cheon-ma Mountain County Park in South Korea. A translocation method utilizing radio- tracking technology was employed to confirm whether their distribution was influenced by altitude. The results showed that most short-tailed vipers were observed in middle and high altitude areas （from 400 m to 800 m）, but none were observed in low altitude areas （from 200 m to 400 m）. According to the results of the translocation and tracking experiments, the individuals of the translocated group showed a significantly broader home range than those of the control group. In addition, all individuals of the translocated group moved vertically, while most of the control group moved horizontally. Therefore, all translocated individuals tended to move back toward their original habitat, a high elevation area. Consequently, we concluded that the distribution of short-tailed viper snakes was limited by altitude.

Morphological Variability in Vipera palaestinae along an Environmental Gradient

The effect of local habitat conditions on organisms, including environmentally-induced morphological changes, constitutes an important aspect of macroecology and evolution. The degree of geographic intraspecific variation in body dimensions, corporeal ratios and scalation pattern among male and female Palestine vipers(Vipera palaestinae) in Israel were examined. Univariate and multivariate analyses using 20 variable features relating to metric and meristic characters were applied in order to determine the existence of geographic variability in this species. Univariate analysis revealed that the majority of morphological characters possess relatively minor interregional distinctions, with only a few traits demonstrating significant differences. Discriminant analysis of mixed-gender samples using a combination of variables did not distinguish between geographic groups within each sex. The multifactor approach slightly differentiated between samples when sexes were compared separately, but with much overlap. The continuous sampling method revealed no statistically significant relationship between geographic and metric variables across the distribution range. A weak latitudinal cline was observed in snout-vent length, with both sexes being larger in the south. Noticeable temperature-correlated intraspecific variability was found in both body and tail scale counts but not in head scalation features. Generally, both males and females demonstrate the same phenotype-environment correlation. The spatial variations in external morphology suggest that temperature conditions during early ontogenesis may induce quantitative changes in the scalation pattern of V. palaestinae.

Inter-Specific Biochemical Diversity between <i>Echis pyramidum</i>and <i>Eryx colubrinus</i>Inhabiting El-Faiyum, Egypt

Discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses for lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh) and alfa-esterase (α-Est) isoenzymes were conducted for biochemical differentiation between Echis pyramidum and Eryx colubrinus inhabiting El-Faiyum, Egypt. Total lipids and total protein of liver and muscle tissues in both species were also analyzed. Three Ldh isoforms were recorded in both species and the activity and relative front (RF) of Ldh-1 seemed to be higher in E. pyramidum than in E. colubrinus. This high activity could be supported by the significant increase in the total lipids and total protein in liver and muscle tissues of this species. It is thus possibly reasonable to suppose that E. pyramidum is more active, energetic and adaptable in its habitat than E. colubrinus. α-Est showed five isozymic forms fractions in E. pyramidum, while it showed only four isoforms in E. colubrinus. α-Est-1 was the first clear, dense and thick isoform in E. pyramidum, but it was completely absent in E. colubrinus. High activity of the esterase isoform;α-Est-1 only in the heart tissue of E. pyramidum may reflect the high ability of E. pyramidum to be more resistant to the accumulated toxic residues in its body tissues than E. colubrinus.