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| Achalinus sheni Ma, Xu, Qi, Wang, Tang, Huang & Jiang, 2023 Photo by Yu-Hao Xu. |
Abstract
A new species, Achalinus sheni sp. nov., from central Hunan Province is described, based on the results of molecular systematics and morphological characters according to five specimens. Our molecular phylogeny inferred from the mitochondrial CO1 gene fragment revealed that this new species is most closely related to A. yunkaiensis, but a considerable amount of genetic divergence exists between them (p-distance ranging from 5.8% to 6.4%) and much distinct genetic divergence exists compared with other known Achalinus species (p-distance ranging from 10.4% to 15.8%), supporting its validity. Morphologically, it can be distinguished from its congeners by: (1) dorsal scales strongly keeled, 23 rows throughout the body, the outmost row smooth and significantly enlarged; (2) tail relatively short, TaL/TL 0.183 ~ 0.224; (3) the suture between internasals subequal to the suture between prefrontals; (4) loreal one, subrectangular, LorH/LorL 0.53 ~ 0.57; (5) ventrals 161–170, anal entire, subcaudals 55–61, not paired; (6) the length of supraocular equal to or longer than the length of upper anterior temporal; and (7) vertebral line inconspicuous and subcaudal streak absent. Currently, 27 species of Achalinus are known in the world, amongst which 20 species are distributed in China. Moreover, a key to species of the genus Achalinus is provided in this study.
Key words: Identification key, molecular systematics, morphological characters, snake, taxonomy
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| Achalinus sheni Paratype (ANU20230013, adult male) in life. Photo by Yu-Hao Xu. |
Achalinus sheni sp. nov.
Diagnosis: (1) dorsal scales strongly keeled, 23 rows throughout the body, the outmost row smooth and significantly enlarged ; (2) tail relatively short, TaL/TL 0.183 ~ 0.224; (3) the suture between internasals subequal to the suture between prefrontals; (4) loreal one, subrectangular, LorH/LorL 0.53 ~ 0.57; (5) ventrals 161–170, anal entire, subcaudals 55–61, not paired; (6) the length of supraocular equal to or longer than the length of upper anterior temporal; (7) vertebral line inconspicuous and subcaudal streak absent.
Etymology: The species name “sheni” is named for the memories of the Chinese herpetologist, Prof. You-Hui Shen (沈猷慧), who worked in Hunan Normal University and made great contributions to the herpetological research of China, particularly in Hunan Province where the new species is found. We suggest “Shen’s Odd-scale Snake” or “Shen’s Burrowing Snake” as its English name and “沈氏脊蛇” (Shěn Shì Jǐ Shé) as its Chinese name.
Shun Ma, Yu-Hao Xu, Shuo Qi, Ying-Yong Wang, Shan-Shan Tang, Song Huang and Jian-Ping Jiang. 2023. Discovery of A New cryptic Achalinus Peters, 1869 (Serpentes, Xenodermidae) Species from Hunan Province, China. ZooKeys. 1181: 9-27. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1181.109462
