A new species of natricine snake of the Southeast Asian genus Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 is described from western Hunan Province of China based on both mitochondrial DNA and morphological data. The new species ...A new species of natricine snake of the Southeast Asian genus Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 is described from western Hunan Province of China based on both mitochondrial DNA and morphological data. The new species is morphologically most similar and genetically most closely related to O. cheni Zhao, 1999 and O. latouchi(Boulenger, 1899), but possesses considerable genetic divergence(pdistance 5.1%–16.7%) and can be differentiated from all other congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters:(1) body size large(total length 514–586 mm) and strongly built;(2) dorsal scale rows 17 throughout, feebly keeled anteriorly and moderately keeled posteriorly;(3) ventral scales 147–152, subcaudal scales 54–62;(4) preocular absent, loreal elongated and touching orbit;(5) supralabials 8–9, fifth and sixth entering obit;(6) anterior temporals short, length 1.74–2.04 times longer than width;(7) maxillary teeth subequal, 28–30;(8) dorsal surface of head with distinct irregular yellow stripes and markings edged with ochre;(9) body with clear black and yellow longitudinal streaks, partly fused to several lighter patches or thicker stripes anteriorly; and(10) venter pale yellow, with asymmetric blackish speckles along outer margin. We present an updated diagnostic key to all members of the genus Opisthotropis, and recommendations on the ecological study for the group are provided.展开更多
Based on seven newly-collected specimens, we provide an expanded description for the rare Chinese snake Opisthotropis cheni. The new specimens are consistent with the type series in scale counts and body dimensions. H...Based on seven newly-collected specimens, we provide an expanded description for the rare Chinese snake Opisthotropis cheni. The new specimens are consistent with the type series in scale counts and body dimensions. However, two individuals lack yellow cross-bands that are apparent in the type specimens. A key to the ten Chinese species of Opisthotropis is provided.展开更多
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDPB0202)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31722049,31772434,31372173)+3 种基金Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Y4ZK111B01)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC0505202)Frontier Science Key Research Programs of CAS(QYZDB-SSW-SMC058)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS
文摘A new species of natricine snake of the Southeast Asian genus Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 is described from western Hunan Province of China based on both mitochondrial DNA and morphological data. The new species is morphologically most similar and genetically most closely related to O. cheni Zhao, 1999 and O. latouchi(Boulenger, 1899), but possesses considerable genetic divergence(pdistance 5.1%–16.7%) and can be differentiated from all other congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters:(1) body size large(total length 514–586 mm) and strongly built;(2) dorsal scale rows 17 throughout, feebly keeled anteriorly and moderately keeled posteriorly;(3) ventral scales 147–152, subcaudal scales 54–62;(4) preocular absent, loreal elongated and touching orbit;(5) supralabials 8–9, fifth and sixth entering obit;(6) anterior temporals short, length 1.74–2.04 times longer than width;(7) maxillary teeth subequal, 28–30;(8) dorsal surface of head with distinct irregular yellow stripes and markings edged with ochre;(9) body with clear black and yellow longitudinal streaks, partly fused to several lighter patches or thicker stripes anteriorly; and(10) venter pale yellow, with asymmetric blackish speckles along outer margin. We present an updated diagnostic key to all members of the genus Opisthotropis, and recommendations on the ecological study for the group are provided.
基金partly funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC30670236,NFSC30970334)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University,the Ministry of Education of China(NCET-08-0908)Sichuan Youth Sciences and Technology Foundation of China(08ZQ026-006)
文摘Based on seven newly-collected specimens, we provide an expanded description for the rare Chinese snake Opisthotropis cheni. The new specimens are consistent with the type series in scale counts and body dimensions. However, two individuals lack yellow cross-bands that are apparent in the type specimens. A key to the ten Chinese species of Opisthotropis is provided.
