Three New Species of Reptiles from Hainan Island, 

 Guangdong Province 



Sichuan Biological Research Beijing Institute of Zoology 



Institute, Chengdu Academia Sinica 



From 1963 to 1964, three herpetological explorations were carried out in 

 Hainan Island, Guangdong Province. Up to the present, 108 species and subspecies 

 of reptiles belonging to 61 genera, 18 families and 3 orders have been recorded 

 from Hainan Island. Among the reptiles recorded in China, only crocodilians, 

 Anguidae and Xenosauridae of the saurians have so far not been found on this 

 island. The reptilian fauna of Hainan Island consists mainly of Oriental forms. 

 Among these, the species which are generally distributed in South China predominate. 

 Many reptiles are endemic to the island. Zoogeographically, Hainan Island has 

 been classified as a subregion of the South China Region. Hainan reptiles 

 comprise one-fifth of the entire Chinese reptile fauna. 



In the following, three new species, one new taxonomic revision and three 

 species new to China are described. 



1. Xenopeltis hainanensis Hu et Djao, sp. nov. (Fig. la, b, c)* 



(New Chinese Name: Hainan Shan Lin She, Brilliant scaled snake of Hainan) 

 TYPES: Holotype, an adult male (SBRI No. 64III6016; June 15, 1964; Dali 

 of Diaulo Shan, Hainan, altitude 200 m); allotype, an adult female (SBRI no. 

 64III6650; September 4, 1964; Yacha Matou, Baisa Hsien, Hainan altitude 217 m). 



DIAGNOSIS: This new species distinctly differs from Xenopeltis unicolor 

 Reinwardt, the monotype of the genus Xenopeltis , in having 22-24 maxillary teeth 

 on each maxilla; one postocular; seven upper labials, the fourth and fifth of 

 which enter the eye; 152-157 ventrals and 16-18 pairs of subcaudals. 



DESCRIPTION: The measurement and scale counts of the two type specimens 

 are shown in Table 1. Head relatively small, somewhat depressed; snout round 

 and robust, body cylindrical; tail short, about 1/13 to 1/14 of the total length. 

 Hemipenis thick and short, with longitudinal sulcuses, no spines. When alive, 

 back is indigo brown and has metallic luster; two series of white longitudinal 

 spots between Dl and D3; Dl grayish white with indigo brown base. Underside 

 of the head light indigo gray or light brown; underside of the body and the tail's 

 base grayish white; other part of the tail's underside indigo brown. 



HABIT: Allotype was collected among grasses, under a basket of young 

 pineapple plants near a harbor at 0800 hours. It was found when a basket was 

 moved. 



DISCUSSION: For almost 100 years, Xenopeltis unicolor Reinwardt, which 

 is widespread in Southeast Asia and also recorded from Yunnan in China, has 

 been the sole member of the family Xenbpeltidae. This species has 35 to 45 

 maxillary teeth on each maxilla; two postoculars; eight upper labials with the 

 fourth and fifth entering the eye; 164 to 196 ventrals and 22 to 31 subcaudals. 

 The new species is sufficiently distinct from the former form. 



"^ Figures are not reproduced herein. Please see original article. (SHIS ed.) 



