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.

A New Species of the Genus Protobothrops(Squamata:Viperidae:Crotalinae) from the Dabie Mountains,Anhui,China

During a biological survey in July 2011, a pit viper was collected from the Yaoluoping Nature Reserve in the Dabie Mountains, Anhui, China. The pit viper’s the total length measured 836 mm with a dorsal ground color of yellowbrown, decorated by 56 dark-brown transverse bands. The 4thsupralabial squama of the new species is separated from subocular by two squamae, and the tip of tail is orange; this combination of characters distinguish it from other species of the genus Protobothrops. Based on the body proportions, number of squamae, body color pattern, and comparing the data of its life history with those of other species of Protobothrops, we herein describe it as a new species, belonging to the genus of Protobothrops.

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.

Sexual Dimorphism and Geographic Variation in the Asian Lance-headed Pitviper Protobothrops mucrosquamatus in the China's Mainland

Sexual dimorphism（SD） and geographic variation（GV） are widespread in snakes. Protobothrops mucrosquamatus（Cantor 1839） is one of the most common Asian venomous snakes with a wide geographical distribution. We examined SD and GV patterns for this species by using multivariate statistical analyses of external morphological characters scored from specimens from the China's Mainland. The result displayed that SD was significant in several external characters in P. mucrosquamatus, and the male P. mucrosquamatus formed two distinct clusters（Hainan Island and China's Mainland）, but the females did not. Based on our present work and the other data, we concluded that no significantly intraspecific differentiation is present within this species.

Metagenomic Analysis of Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) Gut Microbiota Reveals Differences among Wild and Captive Individuals Linked to Hibernating Behaviors

Gut microbiota play important roles in the immunity,digestion,and energy meta bolism of their reptile hosts.Mangshan pit viper(Protobothrops mangshanensis)is a critically endangered snake species that is a Class I national protected species in China.Little is known regarding the relationship between P.mangshanensis and their gut microbial communities.In this study,the gut microbiota of wild P.mangshanensis individuals,artificially hiberna ting captive individuals,and non-hibernating captive individuals were compared across nine samples.Comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis was used to investigate the taxonomic composition,diversity,and function of P.mangshanensis gut microbial communities and assess whether their gut microbiomes were affected by their living environments and captivity conditions.The dominant phyla within P.mangshanensis gut microbial communities were Proteobacteria(65.55%),Bacteroidetes(15.97%),and Firmicutes(8.11%).Enriched functional pathways within the gut microbiota included meta bolism(54.9%),environmental information processing(9.67%),and genetic information processing(9.37%).Wild snake gut communities exhibited higher microbial diversity than the other two groups.The gut microbiomes of wild and hibernating captive snakes may be more reflective of healthy intestinal homeostasis than that in nonhibernating snakes.Specifically,non-hibernating snakes exhibited increased levelsof potentially pathogenic populations and functional specialization within gut microbial communities.Thus,different livingenvironments and captivitymethodsmay correspond to major shifts in microbiota composition,diversity,and function within P.mangshanensis.This study provides important insights to help guide the conservation of P.mangshanensis,while also carrying broad implications for our understanding of the effects of living environments and non-hibernating captivity conditions on the gut microbiota of snakes.