On the validity of Hebius sauteri maximus (Malnate, 1962) (Squamata, Natricidae), with the redescription of H. maximus comb. nov. and H. sauteri (Boulenger, 1909)

By

Li, Mao-Liang
Ren, Jinlong
Huang, Jun-Jie
Lyu, Zhi-Tong
Qi, Shuo
Jiang, Ke
Wang, Ying-Yong
Li, Jia-Tang

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-12-21

Original Publication

Herpetozoa

Volume

35

Pages

265--282

Subjects

Distribution , Hemipenis , revision , Subspecies , taxonomic confusion

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.35.e94920

 

Abstract

Hebius sauteri(Boulenger, 1909) has been long recognized as a widely distributed species with three subspecies, namelyHebius sauteri sauterifrom Taiwan Island and southeastern China,Hebius sauteri bourreti(Malnate, 1962) from northern Vietnam, andHebius sauteri maximus(Malnate, 1962) from Sichuan, southwestern China. However, the validity of these subspecies of theH. sautericomplex has not been evaluated. In the current study, we re-evaluate the taxonomic status ofH. s. maximusbased on morphological and molecular evidence. Molecular phylogenetic results indicate thatH. s. maximusis a distantly diverged clade with respect toH. s. sauteri, and thatH. s. maximusis morphologically distinguishable from the nominative subspecies. Therefore, our results support the validity ofH. s. maximusand we elevate it to full species status, namelyHebius maximuscomb. nov.The distribution range ofH. sauteriis revised according to our proposed taxonomic change. Furthermore, detailed redescription, natural history, and coloration of bothH. sauteriandH. maximusand comments on the validity ofH. s. bourretiare also provided.