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| Hebius jingdongensis Ma, Shi, Ayi & Jiang, 2023 景东腹链蛇 | Jingdong Keelback Snake || DOI: 10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2023.0008 |
Abstract
A new keelback snake of the genus Hebius, H . jingdongensis sp. nov., is reported from Jingdong in Yunnan, China based on a combination of molecular and morphological evidence. Although closest to H. khasiensis and H. boulengeri phylogenetically, this new species is genetically distinct amongst congeners with the mitochondrial Cyt b uncorrected p-distance ranging from 9.5% (vs. H . octolineatus) to 14.8% (vs. H. andreae). In addition, this new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) body cylindrical, tail relatively short, TaL/TL 0.235–0.243; (2) dorsal scale rows 19-19-17; (3) ventrals 163–166, cloacal plate divided, subcaudals 71–74 pairs; (4) supralabials 8, the first two contact with the nasals; (5) infralabials 9 or 10, preocular 1, postoculars 3; (6) body dorsum sandy beige with the sides yellowish-brown decorated with two brick-red stripes on the dorsolateral scale rows in life; (7) sutures between the labials brick-red in life and taupe in preservative; (8) ventral light yellow with the outer part of each scale brick-red in life; (9) ventrolateral stripes present.
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| Holotype of Hebius jingdongensis sp. nov. (CIB 119044) in life. A: dorsolateral view; B: ventral view of whole body; C: dorsal view; D: ventral view; E: left side view; F: right side view of head; G: left side view of middle body; H: anal view. Photos by Shengchao SHI. |
Hebius jingdongensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis: (1) body cylindrical, tail relatively short, TaL/TL 0.235–0.243; (2) dorsal scale rows 19-19-17; (3) ventrals 163–166, cloacal plate divided, subcaudals 71–74 pairs; (4) supralabials 8, the first two contact with the nasals; (5) infralabials 9 or 10, preocular 1, postoculars 3; (6) body dorsum sandy beige with the sides yellowish-brown decorated with two brick-red stripes on the dorsolateral scale rows in life; (7) sutures between the labials brick-red in life and taupe in preservative; (8) ventral light yellow with the outer part of each scale brick-red in life; (9) ventrolateral stripes present.
Etymology The species name jingdongensis refers to the type locality of this species. For its common name, we suggest “Jingdong Keelback Snake” as its English name and “景东腹链蛇” (Jǐng Dōng Fù Liàn Shé) as its Chinese name.
Shun MA, Shengchao SHI, Budian AYI and Jianping JIANG. 2023. A New Species of the Genus Hebius Thompson, 1913 (Serpentes: Natricidae) from Yunnan, China. Asian Herpetological Research. 14(3); 212 - 226. DOI: 10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2023.0008
