Re-examination of the Chinese record of Opisthotropis maculosa (Squamata, Natricidae), resulting in the first national record of O. haihaensis and description of a new species

By

Wang, Jian (Herpetologist)
Lyu, Zhi-Tong
Zeng, Zhaochi
Lin, Chao-Yu
Yang, Jian-Huan
Nguyen, Quang Truong
Le, Minh Duc, 1973-
Ziegler, Thomas, 1970-
Wang, Ying-Yong

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

913

Pages

141--159

Subjects

New national record , Opisthotropis hungtai sp. nov , southern China , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.913.48622

 

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the previous record of Opisthotropis maculosa Stuart & Chuaynkern, 2007 from Guangdong and Guangxi, southern China, is revised based on the comparison of morphological and molecular data collected from the Chinese specimens and the holotype of O. maculosa from Thailand and O. haihaensis Ziegler, Pham, Nguyen, Nguyen, Wang, Wang, Stuart & Le, 2019 from Vietnam. Results reveal that the population from Shiwandashan Nature Reserve in southern Guangxi, China belongs to O. haihaensis, and represents the first national record for China; the populations from western Guangdong and southeastern Guangxi are described as a new species, Opisthotropis hungtaisp. nov. We suggest that O. maculosa should be removed from the Chinese herpetofauna checklist. The new national record of O. haihaensis and the description of the new species bring the total number of Opisthotropis to 13 in China.