[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria flavicollaris • Integrative Taxonomy reveals A New Species of Calamaria (Squamata: Calamariidae) from the Tenasserim Range, Western Thailand

 

 Calamaria flavicollaris

 Aksornneam, Rujirawan, Yodthong, Pawangkhanant, Sung & Aowphol, 2026

 

Tenasserim Collared Reed Snake | งูพงอ้อบ่วงบาศ ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10102 

 Photographed by Parinya Pawangkhanant

Abstract

A new species of Calamaria is described from the Tenasserim Range, Ratchaburi Province, western Thailand based on morphological and molecular evidence. Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: 1) rostral scale wider than high; 2) portion of rostral scale visible from above greater than the half the length of the prefrontal suture; 3) prefrontal length shorter than frontal length, not entering orbit and in contact with first two supralabials; 4) five or six scales surrounding paraparietal scale; 5) preocular and postocular present; 6) four supralabials, the second and third in contact with the eyes; 7) eye diameter smaller than eye-mouth distance; 8) five infralabials, the first pair separating the mental scale from anterior chin shields; 9) seven modified maxillary teeth; 10) 180 ventral scales with three preventral scales; 11) 13 divided subcaudal scales; 12) cloacal plate single; 13) tail relatively short (4.5% of the total length), tapering, gradually to a pointed tail tip; 14) dorsum dark brown with eleven dark longitudinal stripes; 15) ventral surface yellow with a median line of dark flecks on underside of tail; and 16) dark collar followed by yellow ring at nuchal region. Genetically, the new species exhibits a pairwise distance of ≥17.56% from all other congeners based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene fragment. Furthermore, we provide cranial osteological description of the new species based on micro-CT scanning. Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality and represents the fourth species of the genus recorded for Thailand. 

Keywords: cranial osteology; herpetofauna; Isthmus of Kra; molecular; reed snake; Southeast Asia

Holotype of Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01131) in life. A small figure shows the yellow color on the ventral side of this species 

 Photographed by Parinya Pawangkhanant

Head of  Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01131).
A–B lateral view C–D dorsal view E–F ventral view

Holotype of  Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. (ZMKU R 01131)
in preservative. A dorsal view B ventral view C lateral view at the midbody D dorsal view of tail E ventral view of tail

Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters (Tables 3, 4; Suppl. Table 1): 1) rostral scale wider than high; 2) portion of rostral scale visible from above greater than the half the length of the prefrontal suture; 3) prefrontal length shorter than frontal length, not entering orbit, and in contact first two supralabials; 4) five or six scales surrounding the paraparietal scale; 5) preocular and postocular present; 6) four supralabials, the second and third in contact the eyes; 7) eye diameter smaller than eye-mouth distance; 8) five infralabials, the first pair separating the mental scale from anterior chin shields; 9) seven modified maxillary teeth; 10) 180 ventral scales with three preventral scales; 11) 13 divided subcaudal scales; 12) cloacal plate single; 13) tail relatively short (4.5% of the total length), tapering, gradually to a pointed tail tip; 14) dorsum dark brown with eleven dark longitudinal stripes; 15) ventral surface yellow with a median line of dark flecks on underside of tail; and 16) a dark nuchal collar followed by a yellow ring along neck.

Four Calamaria species in Thailand:
A Calamaria flavicollaris sp. nov. from Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province B C. lumbricoidea from Than To District, Yala Province
C C. schlegeli from Betong District, Yala Province D C. pavimentata from Kaeng Hang Maeo District, Chanthaburi Province 

Photos by Parinya Pawangkhanant (A–C) and Attapol Rujirawan (D)

Etymology. The specific epithet flavicollaris is derived from the Latin words “flavo” (yellow), “collare” (collar or neck), and the suffix “-aris”, which refers to the appearance of the yellow nuchal ring of this species. 

We suggested an English common name “Tenasserim Collared Reed Snake” and the Thai common name “งูพงอ้อบ่วงบาศ” (Ngu Phong O Buang Bat) for this species.

 Akrachai Aksornneam, Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Yik-Hei Sung, and Anchalee Aowphol. 2026. Integrative Taxonomy reveals A New Species of Calamaria (Squamata: Calamariidae) from the Tenasserim Range, Western Thailand.  Contributions to Zoology. 95(4); 366–410. DOI: doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10102 [22 Sep 2026]

งูพงอ้อหัวแดง Calamaria schlegeli; 

งูพงอ้อหลากลาย Calamaria lumbricoidea; 

งูพงอ้อท้องเหลือง Calamaria pavimentata

[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria hunanensis • A New Species of Calamaria Boie, 1827 (Squamata: Calamariidae) from Hunan Province, South Central China

Calamaria hunanensis

Zhang, Zhu, Wei, Shu, Li, Gernot, Niu, Ding, Chen, Guo & Shi. 2026

 

Hunan Reed Snake | 湖南两头蛇  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2097-3772.2025.041 

Abstract

A new species of Southeast Asian reed snake Calamaria Boie, 1827, Calamaria hunanensis sp. nov., is described from Hunan Province, China. Genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cyt b gene indicates that the new species forms a deeply divergent clade, with a minimum interspecific genetic distance of 16.1% from C. jinggangensis. Morphologically, it differs from other species of the genus in the following characters: 181 ventral scales and 23 subcaudals in the male; preocular present; eye diameter slightly smaller than the eye-mouth distance; mental not touching anterior shields; posterior chin shields in contact at the anterior third; 6 scales surrounding paraparietal; end of tail sharp-pointed, dorsal scales reduced to four rows above the 4th subcaudal scale anterior to the tail tip; dorsal body basically brown, with nine narrow indistinct deep brown stripes; light nuchal collar present; lateral margins of ventral scales pigmented dark brown, matching the coloration of the adjacent outermost dorsal scales; and ventral body yellow.

Keywords: Calamaria hunanensis, Taxonomy, Morphology, Phylogeny 

Holotype of Calamaria hunanensis sp. nov. CSIPI ZNY202207179 in a fresh condition
A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, dorsal head and neck; D, ventral head; E, right lateral head; F, left lateral head; G, lateral middle body; H, dorsal middle body; I, ventral tail; J, lateral tail.

Photographed by Keji Guo.

 Holotype of Calamaria hunanensis sp. nov. CSIPI ZNY202207179 in preservative

Calamaria hunanensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Male with 181 ventral scales and 23 subcaudals; preocular present; eye diameter slightly smaller than eye-mouth distance; mental scale not touching anterior shields; posterior chin shields in contact at anterior third part; 6 scales surrounding paraparietal; tail tip sharp-pointed, with dorsal scales reduced to the 4th rows above the 4th subcaudal scale anterior to the tail tip; dorsal body basically brown, with nine narrow indistinct deep brown stripes; light nuchal collar present; lateral margins of ventral scales pigmented dark brown, matching the coloration of the adjacent outermost dorsal scales; ventral body yellow.

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘hunanensis’ refers to Hunan Province, where the type locality is located. The Chinese name is suggested as ‘湖南两头蛇’. The English common name is suggested as ‘Hunan Reed Snake’.

Mengfei Zhang, Wenbo Zhu, Yifu Wei, Fu Shu, Qi Li, Vogel Gernot, Yandong Niu, Li Ding, Zening Chen, Keji Guo, Shengchao Shi. 2026. A New Species of Calamaria Boie, 1827 (Squamata: Calamariidae) from Hunan Province, South Central China. Zoological Research: Diversity and Conservation, 2026, 3(1): 1-12. DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2097-3772.2025.041 

Researchgate.net/publication/404800547_A_new_species_of_Calamaria_from_Hunan_China

[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria incredibilis • An unexpected Discovery of Hidden Diversity: A New Species of the Genus Calamaria (Serpentes: Calamariidae) from Guangxi, China

 

Calamaria incredibilis 

Qi, Nguyen, J. Wang, Zeng, Shi, Xu, Song, Zhong Huang, Mo, Poyarkov & Y.-Y. Wang, 2026

Guangxi Reed Snake | 广西两头蛇  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.188045

Abstract

As part of our investigations into the systematics of the Calamaria pavimentata species complex, we describe a new species of the genus Calamaria from Chongzuo and Guilin Cities, Guangxi, China, based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Morphologically, Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: nine enlarged maxillary teeth; rostral higher than wide; prefrontal shorter than frontal and contacting the first two supralabials; mental not in contact with anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 13–13–13 rows, smooth throughout; a single preocular and postocular; four supralabials, with the 2nd and 3rd ones contacting the eye; five infralabials; six scales surrounding the paraparietal; 170–182 ventrals in males; 21–23 paired subcaudals in males; a relatively short tail (8.2–8.4% of total length in males), thick and nearly cylindrical, gradually tapering to an obtuse point; dorsal coloration brown, seven longitudinal series of interrupted dark brown stripes are visible along the body, extending from behind the pale-colored collar to the tip of the tail; the margins of the dorsal scales are heavily suffused with black pigment, forming an almost reticulate pattern; the ventral surface yellowish white, with dark brown blotches along the outermost lateral margins; the absence of light spots on the dorsal tail. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences recover Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. as a well-supported independent lineage, forming a sister relationship with a subclade comprising C. andersoni Yang & Zheng, C. synergis Zhang, Xu, Nguyen, Poyarkov, Vogel, Wang & Huang, and C. yunnanensis Chernov. The new species is separated from its closest relatives by substantial mitochondrial genetic divergence (p-distance 12.67% based on cytochrome b gene). The discovery of Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. further highlights the underestimated diversity within the C. pavimentata species complex and underscores the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches for resolving cryptic diversity in morphologically conservative, semi-fossorial snake lineages from southern China, with Guangxi emerging as an important hotspot of cryptic diversification.

Key Words: Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov., C. pavimentata, morphology, mtDNA, taxonomy

Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov., adult male (SYS r002596, holotype) in preservative.
A. Dorsal view of body; B. Ventral view of body; C. Dorsal view of head; D. Ventral view of head; E. Lateral view of head, right side; F. Dorsal view of tail (posterior body).

 Photographs by Shuo QI.

Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: nine enlarged maxillary teeth; rostral higher than wide; prefrontal shorter than frontal and contacting the first two supralabials; mental not in contact with anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 13–13–13 rows, smooth throughout; a single preocular and postocular; four supralabials, with the ...

Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov., adult male (GEP r093, paratype) in life.

Photograph by Jian WANG.

Etymology. The specific epithet incredibilis is a Latin adjective meaning “unbelievable” or “extraordinary,” referring to the unexpectedly high level of cryptic diversity revealed by the discovery of this species, particularly in relation to closely allied taxa within the C. pavimentata species complex and their close geographic proximity. Based on the type locality, we propose the following common names: “Guangxi Reed Snake” (English), 广西两头蛇 (guǎng xī liǎng tóu shé, Chinese), “Rắn mai gầm quảng tây” (Vietnamese), and Гуанси́йская карликовая змея (Guansiyskaya karlikovaya zmeya, Russian).

 Shuo Qi, Tan Van Nguyen, Jian Wang, Zhao-Chi Zeng, Jing-Song Shi, Yu-Hao Xu, Han-Ming Song, Zhong Huang, Yun-Ming Mo, Nikolay A. Poyarkov and Ying-Yong Wang. 2026. An unexpected Discovery of Hidden Diversity: A New Species of the Genus Calamaria H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827 (Squamata, Calamariidae) from Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(2): 701-718.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.188045 [27 Apr 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria garoensis • A New fossorial Reed Snake (Serpentes: Calamariidae: Calamaria) from Northeast India, with A Nomenclatural Synopsis of the Calamaria pavimentata Complex

 

Calamaria garoensis Bharali, Sangma, Amarasinghe, Lalremsanga, Hazarika, Bohra & Purkayastha,

in Bharali, Sangma, Amarasinghe, Bohra, Swargiary, Marak, Hazarika, Das, Asem, Lyngdoh, Lalremsanga et Purkayastha, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v15i1.397

Abstract

The fossorial reed snakes of the genus Calamaria are morphologically conservative, geographically structured, and frequently misidentified across broad regions, especially where historical names have been applied without explicit synonymy audits. During surveys in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya, Northeast India, we collected a series of Calamaria specimens referable to the “Calamaria pavimentata” concept historically used for the region. We evaluate these specimens using a morphology-first framework complemented by mitochondrial cytochrome b phylogenetic placement. Maximum-likelihood inference recovers the Meghalaya lineage as the strongly supported sister to C. mizoramensis, with an uncorrected p-distance of 6.3%; these mitochondrial values are treated as descriptive support rather than as threshold-based evidence. Morphologically, the Meghalaya lineage is diagnosable by a unique combination of scalation, tail morphology, and coloration, including a short tail that is not gradually tapering, an obtusely pointed tail tip, and a broad median black stripe on the tail venter. To stabilize name usage around the new taxon, we summarize the historical names associated with the C. pavimentata complex, emphasizing type localities and type material where known.

Keywords: Cytochrome b, Garo Hills, Meghalaya, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy 

Calamaria garoensis Bharali, Sangma, Amarasinghe, Lalremsanga, Hazarika, Bohra & Purkayastha, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis. Calamaria garoensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: 8–9 enlarged maxillary teeth; rostral broader than high; prefrontal shorter than the frontal and contacting the first two supralabials; mental not contacting the anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 13–13–13 rows, smooth throughout; one preocular and one postocular; four supralabials, the second and third entering the orbit; five infralabials; six scales surrounding the paraparietal; 165–187 ventrals; 12–27 paired subcaudals; a short tail (TaL/TL 4.7–14.2%), not gradually tapering and terminating in an obtuse tip; dorsum dark brown to blackish brown with six narrow longitudinal stripes and a faint pale nuchal ring; ventral surface yellow with dark outer corners on the ventral scales; and a broad, distinct median black stripe on the tail venter.

Manmath Bharali, Chesime M. Sangma, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Sanath C. Bohra, Pranjal Swargiary, Griksrang C. Marak, Arup K. Hazarika, Madhurima Das, Bipin M. Asem, Jennifer Lyngdoh, Hmar T. Lalremsanga and Jayaditya Purkayastha. 2026. A New fossorial Reed Snake (SQUAMATA: CALAMARIIDAE: Calamaria) from Northeast India, with A Nomenclatural Synopsis of the Calamaria pavimentata Complex. TAPROBANICA: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity. 15(1):12-25. DOI: doi.org/10.47605/tapro.v15i1.397 [14 April 2026]

https://www.taprobanica.org/Archives/volume-15-20-2026-31/volume-15-number-1-2026/v15i1-397.html

[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria similis • A New Species of Calamaria (Serpentes: Calamariidae) from southern China, previously confused with Calamaria pavimentata

 

Calamaria similis

Qi, Nguyen, Yang, Xu, David, Shi, Liu, Rong, Korolev, Poyarkov & Wang, 2026 

Similar Reed Snake | 拟尖尾两头蛇  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1277.187107  

 Abstract

Calamaria pavimentata Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 was originally described from Java Island, Indonesia, yet specimens from southern China, particularly Guangxi, have long been referred to this species based on general morphological resemblance. Herein, the taxonomic status of Chinese populations previously referred to as Calamaria pavimentata is re-evaluated using an integrative approach combining morphological data and mitochondrial DNA analyses, based on four specimens from Yangjiang City, Guangdong Province, and Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Phylogenetic analyses recover the Chinese specimens as a distinct and well-supported lineage within Calamaria. Notably, the Guangdong and Guangxi populations exhibit a relatively high intraspecific mitochondrial divergence (uncorrected p-distance = 10.78% based on the cytochrome b gene), despite the absence of consistent diagnostic morphological differences. Although mitochondrial DNA data from topotypic C. pavimentata, are currently unavailable, the observed morphological differences, together with the pronounced geographic disjunction between Java and southern China, support the recognition of the Chinese population as a distinct species, herein described as Calamaria similis sp. nov. from Guangdong and Guangxi, China. Detailed morphological examinations reveal that Calamaria similis sp. nov. differs from C. pavimentata and all of its currently recognized synonyms by having higher ventral scale counts in females, fewer subcaudal scales in males (but slightly more in females), a smaller maximum total length in males, and a shorter relative tail length in both sexes. Our results highlight the need for renewed field surveys in Java Island, Indonesia to rediscover C. pavimentata sensu stricto, and emphasize that other populations previously identified as C. pavimentata should be re-evaluated using integrative taxonomic approaches.

Key words: Calamaria similis sp. nov., Guangdong, Guangxi, integrative taxonomy, morphology, mtDNA, species complex

Calamaria similis sp. nov., adult male (SYS r001816, holotype) in preserved.
A. Dorsal view of body; B. Ventral view of body; C. Dorsal view of head; D. Ventral view of head; E. Lateral view of head, right side; F. Dorsal view of tail (posterior body). Photographs by Shuo Qi.

Calamaria similis sp. nov., in life, from Yangchun, Yangjiang, Guangdong, China.
A–C. Adult male (SYS r001816, holotype); A. Dorsal view of body; B. Anterior view of body; C. Ventral view of body; D–H. Not collected, sex undetermined; D. Dorsal view of body; E. Anterolateral view of body; F. Dorsal view of tail; G. Ventral view of head; H. Ventral view of body (cloacal region).

Photographs by Jing-Jian Liu.

Calamaria similis sp. nov. 

Etymology. The specific epithet similis is a Latin adjective meaning similar, referring to the strong morphological resemblance of this species to Calamaria pavimentata. This similarity has resulted in the species being previously misidentified and treated as C. pavimentata in numerous earlier studies (e.g., Yang and Zheng 2018). 

We propose the following common names for the new species: “Similar Reed Snake” (English), “拟尖尾两头蛇” (nĬ jiān wěi liăng tóu shé, Chinese), “Rắn mai gầm tương đồng” (Vietnamese), and “Сходная карликовая змея” (Skhodnaya karlikovaya zmeya, Russian).

Shuo Qi, Tan Van Nguyen, Jian-Huan Yang, Yu-Hao Xu, Patrick David, Jing-Song Shi, Jing-Jian Liu, Can-Zhong Rong, Alexey M. Korolev, Nikolay A. Poyarkov and Ying-Yong Wang. 2026. A New Species of Calamaria (Squamata, Calamariidae) from southern China, previously confused with Calamaria pavimentata Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854. ZooKeys. 1277: 245-280. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1277.187107  [17 Apr 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Calamaria mizoramensis • A New Species of the Genus Calamaria (Squamata: Calamariidae) from Mizoram State, India

 

Calamaria mizoramensis 

Lalremsanga, Malsawmdawngliana, Bal, Vabeiryureilai, Hruaia, Korolev, Vogel, Poyarkov & Nguyen, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.1.2 

 Researchgate.net/publication/399437048 

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Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Calamaria from Mizoram State, Northeast India, based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, including: 8–11 enlarged maxillary teeth; rostral higher than wide; prefrontal shorter than frontal and contacting the first two supralabials; mental not in contact with anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 13–13–13 rows, smooth throughout; a single preocular and postocular; four supralabials, with the 2nd and 3rd ones contacting the eye; five infralabials; six scales surrounding the paraparietal; 147–175 ventrals; 13–27 paired subcaudals; a relatively short tail (10.3–13.1% in males, 4.7–6.5% of total length), thick and nearly cylindrical, terminating in an obtuse tip; dark brown to blackish-brown, with three to six longitudinal rows of slightly paler or dark-edged scales forming indistinct stripes of variable clarity along the body and a faint pale nuchal ring; a yellow ventral surface with dark outer corners on the ventral scales; and a broad, distinct median black stripe on the ventral surface of the tail. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene suggests that the new species represents a deeply divergent lineage within the genus Calamaria, with sister relationships to a clade that includes the remaining species from Indochina and East Asia. The genetic divergence of the new species from all its congeners for which the homologous sequences are available is also very high (minimal uncorrected p-distance of 15.3%). The new species is currently known from montane evergreen forests of Mizoram State, India (from elevations of 670–1,295 m asl.). This discovery adds to the growing number of herpetological findings in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and reinforces the need to reassess the complex taxonomy of the genus Calamaria. In addition, we provide the first comprehensive and updated checklist of the herpetofauna of Mizoram State, documenting 169 species, including 52 amphibians and 117 reptiles.

Reptilia, Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov., morphology, mtDNA, taxonomy, Indo-Burma Region

Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov., adult male holotype (MZMu 3744) before preservation:

Photographs in life and in situ of Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov. from Mizoram, India.
(A) Sawleng, Saitual (MZMU 865); (B) North Hlimen, kolasib (MZMU 915);
(C) Chanmari West, Aizawl (MZMU 867); (D) Sihphir, Aizawl(MZMU 2411);
(E) kawrthah, Mamit (MZMU 866); (F) Tlangpui, Mamit (uncollected).

Photographs by H.T. Lalremsanga (A,E), J.C. Alfred Van Sanglura (B), Vanlal Hrima (C), Lalzarzoa (D), and Lal Muansanga (F). 

Calamaria mizoramensis sp. nov.  

Hmar Tlawmte LALREMSANGA, Fanai MALSAWMDAWNGLIANA, Amit Kumar BAL, Mathipi VABEIRYUREILAI, Vanlal HRUAIA, Alexey M. KOROLEV, Gernot VOGEL, Nikolay A. POYARKOV and Tan Van NGUYEN. 2026. A New Species of the Genus Calamaria H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827 (Squamata: Calamariidae) from Mizoram State, India.  Zootaxa. 5741(1); 49-86. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5741.1.2 [2026-01-05]

 Researchgate.net/publication/399437048_A_new_species_of_the_genus_Calamaria_from_Mizoram_State_India

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