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Xu YH, Wang S, Ma S, Burbrink FT, Peng LF, Huang S. First report of albinism for Achalinussheni (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with extended diagnosis of the species. Zookeys 2024; 1209:1-17. [PMID: 39175834 PMCID: PMC11336387 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1209.128944] [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: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Albinism is an uncommon phenomenon and inherited condition in animals characterized by a partial or complete lack of melanin. The family Xenodermidae Gray, 1849, is a group of caenophidian snakes widely distributed in South, East, and Southeast Asia, including five recognized genera and 36 species. However, there are currently no reports of albinism in any species in Xenodermidae. Achalinussheni Ma, Xu, Qi, Wang, Tang, Huang & Jiang, 2023 was first described based on five male specimens from Loudi City and Nanyue District, Hunan Province, China. At the time, there were no descriptions on female individuals. In this study, we report in detail a collected albinistic specimen of A.sheni, which is the first discovery of wild albinism in the family Xenodermidae. We also provide photographs and descriptions of the first three female specimens of A.sheni and extend the diagnosis of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai UniversityXiningChina
| | - Shuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai UniversityXiningChina
| | - 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
| | - Frank T. Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, The American Museum of Natural History, New York NY 10024, USADepartment of Herpetology, The American Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkUnited States of America
| | - Li-Fang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai UniversityXiningChina
| | - 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
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Jiang Z, Huang S, Fan Q, Cheng L, Gong Y, Cui Z, Zhang T, Lan W, Zou Z, Huang X, Raffaëlli J, Chen J. A new species of the newt genus Hypselotriton (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae) from Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. Zookeys 2024; 1208:331-346. [PMID: 39170810 PMCID: PMC11336389 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1208.126092] [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: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A new newt species, Hypselotritonhuanggangensis sp. nov., is described based on nine specimens collected from Huanggangshan Mountains, Yanshan County, Jiangxi, China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) obvious black patches with clear boundaries on the whole body; (2) ground color of the dorsal body tan; (3) ground color of venter bright orange; (4) skin rough; (5) vertebral ridge weak; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when forelimb and hindlimb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) postocular orange spot absent; (8) small white warty glands around the eye; (9) two discontinuous longitudinal lines formed by white warty glands from neck to lateral parts of tail. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on the mitochondrial locus of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene fragments. The new species distinctly differs from H.fudingensis by differences in its body measurements, vertebral ridge, dorsal black patches, and ventral black patches. Furthermore, the new species and H.fudingensis are geographically isolated by a series of high mountain ranges, including the Wuyishan and Jiufengshan Mountains. The number of Hypselotriton species is now 11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Jiang
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Song Huang
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Qiangyong Fan
- Jiangxi Wuyishan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Shangrao, Jiangxi, ChinaWuyishan National Nature ReserveShangraoChina
| | - Lin Cheng
- Jiangxi Wuyishan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Shangrao, Jiangxi, ChinaWuyishan National Nature ReserveShangraoChina
| | - Yanan Gong
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Zhangbo Cui
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Tierui Zhang
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Wenjun Lan
- Jiangxi Wuyishan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Shangrao, Jiangxi, ChinaWuyishan National Nature ReserveShangraoChina
| | - Zhian Zou
- Jiangxi Wuyishan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, Shangrao, Jiangxi, ChinaWuyishan National Nature ReserveShangraoChina
| | - Xuanzhi Huang
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Jean Raffaëlli
- Penclen, Plumelec, 56420, FranceUnaffiliatedPlumelecFrance
| | - Jinmin Chen
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Security in the Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
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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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