25 



A KEY TO THE TRIMERESURUS-COMPLEX IN CHINA AND ADJACENT AREAS 



In recent years, three keys have been pubhshed that are relevant to the Trimeresurus-complex in 

 China and including at least one of the recently described taxa. The first one can be found in SiCHUAN 

 Biological research Institute (1977); an English translation, covering the snakes and lizards was 

 subsequently prepared (YANG & ENGER, 1986). The most recent and complete key to Chinese snakes, to the 

 subspecific level, was published in TD^N et al. (1986: 132-133). ZHAO & ADLER (1993: 67-92) give keys 

 to the generic level. But no key including all currently recognized members of the Thmeresurus-complex is 

 available. 



We provide an up-to-date key to the sixteen species and subspecies of the Trimeresurus-comphx 

 inhabiting China (including Hainan and Taiwan islands. Hong Kong and Macau), and to five taxa occuring 

 in its immediate vicinity, namely Ovophis monticola convictus (Stoliczka, 1870) and Trimeresurus 

 cornutus Smith, 1930, both known firom northern Vietnam, Trimeresurus kaulbacki Smith, 1940, firom 

 northern Myanmar, Trimeresurus albolabris septentrionalis Kramer, 1977 from Nepal and India, and 

 Trimeresurus erythrurus (Cantor, 1839) and Trimeresurus popeiorum Smith, 1937, both known to occur 

 in Sikkim and northeastern India within 100-200 km of the Indian-Chinese border. We did not include the 

 insular species living in the Japanese Ryukyu archipelago, clearly differentiated by their geographic range. 

 We follow Zhao (1995a) for raising to a specific rank Ovophis monticola zayuensis and Trimeresurus 

 stejnegeri yunnanensis, and ZHAO (1995b) in considering Ovophis monticola orientalis (Schmidt, 1925) 

 distinct from O. monticola makazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922). 



This key is both drawn from literature and the examination of preserved specimens belonging to most 

 mentioned taxa. We used our unpublished, preliminary data for the members of Ovophis monticola-group 

 (David, in prep.). We tried to produce a key based on external features that will work as well with 

 preserved animals as with living snakes. However, we had to refer to hemipenial shape for distinguishing T. 

 popeiorum fi-om T. stejnegeri. 



According to the current status of our knowledges, the following taxa are present in continental China 

 [C], Hainan Island [I], Hong Kong [H], Macau [M] and Taiwan [T]: 



Ovophis monticola (Giinther, 1864) [C, H, T] 



Ovophis monticola monticola (Giinther, 1 864) [C] 



Ovophis monticola makazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922) [T] 



Ovophis monticola orientalis (Schmidt, 1925) [C, H] 



Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi Zhao, 1995 [C] 

 Ovophis tonkinensis (Bourret, 1 934) [I] 

 Ovophis zayuensis Jiang in Djao & Jiang (1977) [C] 

 Ermia mangshanensis Zhao in Zhao & Chen, 1 990 [C] 

 Trimeresurus albolabris (Gray, 1842) [C, I, H] 



Trimeresurus albolabris albolabris (Gray, 1842) [C, I, H, M] 



