22 



[49]: No other member of the Thmeresurus-complex has ever been reported for spitting venom. This 

 noteworthy particularity was confirmed by Mr. CHEN {in littehs, October 1993), who writes: "These 

 snakes do spit venom indeed, I have observed myself the phenomenon. When they spit venom, they 

 produce a strong hissing. The venom is projected at a distance up to 1.5-2 meters away. The spitting 

 occurs only when snakes are strongly aroused". We did not examine the fangs of this species and we 

 have no further data. 



[50]: CCTV channel. 



[51]: The Japanese Trimeresurus flavovivihdis may be longer; see note [44]. 



Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi 



[52]: The literal translation of the Chinese title should read as "Subdivision of some Chinese snake 

 species". The text relevant to Trimeresurus group begins on page 108, with description of new taxa 

 beginning on page 109. Other pages are not translated here. 



[53]: Key words mention the Chinese names of these species. In this translation, we give scientific names 

 for convenience. 



[54]: Namely Ovophis monticola Giinther, 1864. In this article, ZHAO considers Ovophis monticola 

 orientalis (Schmidt, 1925) a valid subspecies, distinct from the Taiwanese O. monticola 

 makazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922), to the contrary to ZHAO &. Adler (1993) who consider both 

 subspecies to be synonymous. Data published in the literature and unpublished data (P. David) tend to 

 support the validity of both subspecies (see characters in the KEY). However, a thorough revision of 

 the /wo«/;co/a-complex is required. 



[55]: V+Sc designing the total number of ventral and subcaudal scales. According to ZHAO, the total 

 number V+Sc ranges from 169 to 182 in O. monticola orientalis. However, we examined specimens 

 for which this value is 186; according to WU et al. (1985), it may attain 193 in specimens from 

 southern China referable to O. monticola orientalis. 



[56]: A name meaning "mountain iron-head [snake]" (see also note [9]). The present "variety" is therefore 

 the "Gongshan mountain iron-head snake". 



[57]: In the English summary (p. Ill), the diagnosis is given in a slightly different way: "This new 

 subspecies has higher ventral plus subcaudal counts, 215-225 (mean 217.5±5.28), than that of all 

 other known subspecies. The coloration of head is similar to the nominate species." Other meristic 

 data about this subspecies are as follows (ZHAO, pers. comm., based on six specimens): subcaudals 

 all paired; 8-9 supralabials, of which the 4th is the largest; 8-9 cephalic scales in a row between 

 supraoculars; 2nd supralabial bordering the anterior side of the loreal pit. 



