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Li H, Zhu LQ, Xiao B, Huang J, Wu SW, Yang LX, Zhang ZQ, Mo XY. A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata, Xenodermatidae) from southwest Hunan Province, China. Zookeys 2024; 1189:257-273. [PMID: 38282714 PMCID: PMC10809267 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1189.112784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
A new species of xenodermid snake, Achalinusnanshanensis H. Li, L.-Q. Zhu, Z.-Q. Zhang & X.-Y. Mo, sp. nov., is described based on three specimens collected from Nanshan National Park and Tongdao County of southwest Hunan Province. This new species is genetically distinct amongst its congeners with the mitochondrial COI uncorrected p-distance ranging from 4.4% (in A.yangdatongi) to 17.7% (in A.meiguensis). In addition, this new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) dorsal scales with 23 or 25 rows throughout and strongly keeled; (2) tail relatively longer so that TaL/ToL = 0.215-0.248; (3) length of suture between internasals significantly longer than that between prefrontals, LSBI/LSBP = 1.66-1.84; (4) single loreal scale present; (5) SPL 6 in number, with the fourth and fifth contacting eye; (6) IFL 6 in number, with the first three touching the first pair of chin shields; (7) TMP is 2-2-4/2-2(3)-4, with the anterior pair elongated and in contact with the eye; (8) ventrals 2 + 147-158; (9) subcaudals 64-77, unpaired; (10) dorsal body brownish black, with a bright yellow neck collar extending to the head and abdomen in the occipital region. The recognition of the new species increases the number of described Achalinus species to 28, of which 21 are found in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Vertebrate Zoology Laboratory, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, ChinaHunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Le-Qiang Zhu
- Vertebrate Zoology Laboratory, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, ChinaHunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Bei Xiao
- Vertebrate Zoology Laboratory, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, ChinaHunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Jie Huang
- College of Biology Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, ChinaJishou UniversityJishouChina
| | - Shao-Wu Wu
- Forestry Bureau of Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua 418500, ChinaForestry Bureau of Tongdao Dong Autonomous CountyHuaihuaChina
| | - Li-Xun Yang
- Forestry Bureau of Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua 418500, ChinaForestry Bureau of Tongdao Dong Autonomous CountyHuaihuaChina
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhang
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCentral South University of Forestry and TechnologyChangshaChina
| | - Xiao-Yang Mo
- Vertebrate Zoology Laboratory, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, ChinaHunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
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Ma S, Xu YH, Qi S, Wang YY, Tang SS, Huang S, Jiang JP. Discovery of a new cryptic Achalinus Peters, 1869 (Serpentes, Xenodermidae) species from Hunan Province, China. Zookeys 2023; 1181:9-27. [PMID: 37810461 PMCID: PMC10556878 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1181.109462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A new species, Achalinusshenisp. nov., from central Hunan Province is described, based on the results of molecular systematics and morphological characters according to five specimens. Our molecular phylogeny inferred from the mitochondrial CO1 gene fragment revealed that this new species is most closely related to A.yunkaiensis, but a considerable amount of genetic divergence exists between them (p-distance ranging from 5.8% to 6.4%) and much distinct genetic divergence exists compared with other known Achalinus species (p-distance ranging from 10.4% to 15.8%), supporting its validity. Morphologically, it can be distinguished from its congeners by: (1) dorsal scales strongly keeled, 23 rows throughout the body, the outmost row smooth and significantly enlarged; (2) tail relatively short, TaL/TL 0.183 ~ 0.224; (3) the suture between internasals subequal to the suture between prefrontals; (4) loreal one, subrectangular, LorH/LorL 0.53 ~ 0.57; (5) ventrals 161-170, anal entire, subcaudals 55-61, not paired; (6) the length of supraocular equal to or longer than the length of upper anterior temporal; and (7) vertebral line inconspicuous and subcaudal streak absent. Currently, 27 species of Achalinus are known in the world, amongst which 20 species are distributed in China. Moreover, a key to species of the genus Achalinus is provided in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Ma
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceBeijingChina
| | - Yu-Hao Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Shuo Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/The Museum of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaSun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ying-Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/The Museum of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaSun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Shan-Shan Tang
- Hunan Institute of Agricultural Information and Engineering, Changsha 410125, ChinaHunan Institute of Agricultural Information and EngineeringChangshaChina
| | - Song Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Jian-Ping Jiang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of ScienceBeijingChina
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