Exploring cryptic biodiversity in a world heritage site: a new pitviper (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae) from Jiuzhaigou, Aba, Sichuan, China

By

Zhang, Meihua
Shi, Shengchao
Li, Xiao Fei
Yan, Peng
Wang, Ping
Ding, Li
Du, Jie
Plenković-Moraj, Anđelka
Jiang, Jianping
Shi, Jingsong

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1114

Pages

59--76

Subjects

Asian pitviper , Gloydius lateralis , Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve , Morphology , new species , phylogenetics

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1114.79709

 

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive morphological comparison along with molecular phylogeny of the genus Gloydius based on five mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, COI, cytb, and ND4). The specimens collected from Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve are shown to be a new species, Gloydius lateralissp. nov. Zhang, Shi, Jiang & Shi based on a combination of morphological and molecular accounts. G. lateralissp. nov. differs from other congeneric species by a series of diagnostic morphological characteristics and forms a strongly supported monophyletic group. The new species is phylogenetically closely related to G. swild, another recently described species from Heishui, Aba, Sichuan.