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| Lycodon calcarophilus Vogel, Bragin, Poyarkov & Nguyen, 2025 |
Abstract
As part of our ongoing investigations into the systematics of the Lycodon fasciatus species complex, we examined specimens from the Northern Annamites (Truong Son Mountains) in central Vietnam, previously referred to as Lycodon fasciatus Anderson in the literature. Herein, we describe a new species of the genus Lycodon Fitzinger from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam, based on both molecular evidence derived from published phylogenetic frameworks and newly collected morphological data. The new species, Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov., closely resembles Lycodon ruhstrati (Fischer), but can be distinguished by several morphological characters, including the loreal in contact with eye, lower ratio tail length to total length, lower number of subcaudal scales, lower number of total body scales, and lower number of body cross-bands. We provide detailed comparisons between L. calcarophilus sp. nov. with Lycodon fasciatus as currently defined and other members of the L. fasciatus group. Additionally, we provide an updated checklist of 152 species of amphibians and reptiles currently documented from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Reptilia, Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov., systematics, morphology, Annamites (Truong Son Mountains)
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| Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov., adult female holotype (ZMMU Re-18273) in life: (A) General dorsal view; (B) Lateral view of the head, right side; (C) Dorsal view of the head; (D) Ventral view of the head. Photographs by A.M. Bragin. |
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| Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov. in life form Phong Nha-Ke Bang NP, Quang Binh, Vietnam: (A) adult female holotype (ZMMU Re-18273); (B) adult female paratype (ZFMK 86450). Photos by A.M. Bragin (A), R. Hendrix (B). |
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| The habitat (A) and micorhabitat (B) of Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov. That was discovered in Phong Nha-Ke Bang NP, Quang Binh, Vietnam. Photographs by: A.M. Bragin (A), R. Hendrix (B). |
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| Distribution ranges of Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov., L. ruhstrati ruhstrati, and L. ruhstrati abditus. Notes: numbers indicate different localities where the species have been recorded (see Appendix Table S5 for the details of localities). |
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| Appendix Figure S2. Lycodon ruhstrati in life: L. ruhstrati ruhstrati: — in China: uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Baling, Taiwan (A); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan see iNaturalist obs. 236034095 (B); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Shizi, Pingtung, Taiwan see iNaturalist obs. 188326147 (C); L. ruhstrati abditus: uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Shimian, Sichuan (D); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China see iNaturalist obs. 183836141 (E); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Ruyuan, Shaoguan, Guangdong see iNaturalist obs. 233700616 (F); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Qingzhen, Guiyang, Guizhou (G); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Rongjiang, Qiandongnan, Guizhou see iNaturalist obs. 177508641 (H); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Liping, Qiandongnan, Guizhou, see iNaturalist obs. 195373795 (I); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Anqing, Anhui see iNaturalist obs. 195372235 (J); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Lingshui, Hainan see iNaturalist obs. 209037768 (K) — in Vietnam: uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Cuc Phuong NP, Ninh Binh see iNaturalist obs. 182285039 (L); uncollected (adult, sex unknown) from Tam Dao NP, Vinh Phuc see iNaturalist obs. 240776716 (M); DTU 618 (adult, female) from Dong Chau, Quang Tri, Vietnam (N);. — in Laos: VFU A.2013.5 (adult, male) from Hin Nam No NBCA, Khammouane (O); DTU 572 (adult, sex unknown) from Dakcheung, Xekong (P). Photographs by: P. Freed (A); R.W. Liu (B); K.C. Su (C); G. Vogel (D); Z.W. Wang (E); J. Ming (F); T.R. Zhang (G); F. Gao (H); Y.Y. Zhang (I, J); C.X. Liao (K); M. Lucassen (L); H.H. Hoang (M); T.V. Nguyen (N); reproduced from Luu et al. 2013 (O); P. Brakels (P). |
Gernot VOGEL, Andrey M. BRAGIN, Nikolay A. POYARKOV and Tan Van NGUYEN. 2025. A New Limestone-associated Species of Wolf Snake in the Lycodon fasciatus complex (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae) from central Vietnam. Zootaxa. 5679(1); 1-44. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.1 [2025-08-12]
