[Herpetology • 2025] Pareas melanops • A New Species of Pareas (Squamata: Pareidae) from southwestern Yunnan, China

 

Pareas melanops 

 Liu, Li, Yang & Rao, 2025

Black-eyed Slug-eating Snake  |  DOI: doi.org/10.1590/S1984-4689.v42.e24068 

Researchgate.net/publication/393112916

 

ABSTRACT

A new species of Pareas is described from Gengma County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, China, based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analysis. The new species is phylogenetically closely related and morphologically similar to P. nigriceps and P. tigerinus. It can be distinguished from P. nigriceps and P. tigerinus and other congeners by a combination of the following characters: snout-vent length 352-472 mm in adults, tail length/snout-vent length 0.25-0.29, preoculars 1-2, subocular single, postocular single, one row of vertebral scales enlarged, 1-7 rows of dorsal scales keeled at mid-body, ventral scales 172-176, subcaudals 68-77, maxillary teeth 4-5, dorsal head solid black, 62-69 black bars on trunk, 27-33 black bars on tail, iris solid black.

KEYWORDS: Molecular; morphology; slug-eating snake; taxonomy.

The holotype (KIZ 2024092) of Pareas melanops sp. nov. in life:
 (A) general view; (B) dorsal view of the head; (C) lateral view of the head.

Pareas melanops sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Body size moderate (SVL 352-472 mm in adults), tail moderately long (TL/SVL 0.25-0.29), prefrontal bordering orbit, preoculars 1-2, subocular single, postocular single, subocular and postocular not fused, supralabials 7-8, infralabials seven, infralabial not fused with chin-shield, anterior temporal 1-3, posterior temporals 2-3, one row of vertebral scales slightly enlarged, 1-7 rows of dorsal scales keeled at mid-body, ventral scales 172-176, subcaudals 68-77, maxillary teeth 4-5, dorsal head solid black, dark nuchal band present, two large black spots on each side of head, 62-69 vertical black bars on each side of trunk, 27-33 vertical black bars on each side of tail, iris solid black.

Etymology. The specific epithet “melanops” is an adjec tive in the nominative case derived from the Ancient Greek “melanos” for “black” and “ops” for “eye”, and is given in reference to the conspicuous uniform black iris coloration of the new species. We recommend “Black-eyed Slug-eating Snake” for the common English name and Pinyin: heī yǎn dùn tóu shé for the common Chinese name of the new species.

 

Shuo Liu, Zhimin Li, Tong Yang and Dingqi Rao. 2025. A New Species of Pareas (Squamata: Pareidae) from southwestern Yunnan, China. Zoologia (Curitiba). 42; DOI: doi.org/10.1590/S1984-4689.v42.e24068

 Researchgate.net/publication/393112916_A_new_species_of_Pareas_from_southwestern_Yunnan_China

[Herpetology • 2025] Pareas dabieshanensis & P. orientalis • Taxonomic and Distributional Revision of Pareas boulengeri (Squamata: Pareidae), including Two New Species from eastern and central China

[A-B] Pareas boulengeri (Angel, 1920);
[C-D] Pareas dabieshanensis Zhang, Pan & Zhang;
[E-F]. P. orientalis Zhang, Pan & Zhang, 

in C.-W. Zhang, Xu, Luo, Liu, Yu, Zhou, Pan et B.-W. Zhang, 2025. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.156697 

Abstract

The Boulenger’s slug snake (Pareas boulengeri Angel, 1920) has previously been documented as relatively widely distributed across the eastern, southern, and southwestern regions of China. In the present study, integrated morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses were undertaken to reevaluate the taxonomic status of P. boulengeri and to describe two new species: Pareas dabieshanensis sp. nov. and Pareas orientalis sp. nov. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on CYTB gene sequences indicated that populations previously identified as P. boulengeri comprise three distinct lineages: true P. boulengeri, P. dabieshanensis sp. nov., and P. orientalis sp. nov. The two new species exhibit significant genetic divergence from their congeners, with uncorrected pairwise distances of 4.1–4.5%, consistent with interspecific divergence within the genus. Morphologically, P. dabieshanensis sp. nov. is distinguished by the presence of two subocular scales, the absence of preocular scales, and higher ventral (184–187) and subcaudal (68–74) counts. P. orientalis sp. nov. is characterized by a single preocular scale and fused subocular and postocular scales. The revised distributions restrict P. boulengeri to southwestern China, while the new species are confined to the Dabie Mountains (Anhui, Hubei, Henan) and eastern China (southern Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), respectively. The non-overlapping ranges of P. dabieshanensis sp. nov. and P. orientalis sp. nov., bisected by the Yangtze River, suggest that this major hydrological system acted as a biogeographic barrier driving speciation. This study expands the genus Pareas to 33 recognized species (27 in China) and underscores the prevalence of cryptic diversity within morphologically conserved lineages.

Key Words: Cryptic species, geographic isolation, molecular phylogeny, morphology, speciation, Yangtze River

Comparative analysis of head scaling.
Specimens include. A. Pareas boulengeri (LPSSC2024070502); B. A living specimen (GZNU2018052302);
C. The holotype of P. dabieshanensis sp. nov. (AHU2024051501); D. A living specimen (AHU2021050201);
E. The holotype of P. orientalis sp. nov. (AHU2024051501); and F. A living specimen (AHU2024051502).

Photos by Cai-wen Zhang, Shan Shen, and Tao Luo.

 Pareas boulengeri (Angel, 1920)

 Pareas dabieshanensis Zhang, Pan & Zhang, sp. nov.

Etymology. Pareas dabieshanensis sp. nov. refers to the distribution of the new species in the Dabie Mountains. We recommend designating this new species Dabie Mountains Slug-eating Snake and 大别山钝头蛇 (Dà Bié Shān Dùn Tóu Shé).

 Pareas orientalis Zhang, Pan & Zhang, sp. nov.

Etymology. Pareas orientalis sp. nov. refers to the new species in eastern China. We recommend designating this new species the Eastern China slug-eating snake and 华东钝头蛇 (Huá Dōng Dùn Tóu Shé).

 Cai-wen Zhang, Shi-hang Xu, Tao Luo, Chong Liu, Lei Yu, Jiang Zhou, Tao Pan and Bao-wei Zhang. 2025. Taxonomic and Distributional Revision of Pareas boulengeri (Reptilia, Squamata, Pareidae), including Two New Species from eastern and central China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 1621-1638. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.156697 

[Herpetology • 2025] Xylophis chenkaruppan • Hidden in the Sky Islands: A New Species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae: Xylophiinae) from montane habitats of Wayanad in the Western Ghats of India

 

 Xylophis chenkaruppan

 Narayanan, Das, Ghosh, Palot, Umesh, Gower & Deepak, 2025 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5666.4.3 

 facebook.com: Sandeep Das

Abstract

A new species of the snake genus Xylophis is described from the Wayanad region in the Western Ghats of India. The new species, X. chenkaruppan sp. nov., is described based on six specimens collected from Vellarimala and Kurichyarmala Hills. Molecular genetic analysis based on three mitochondrial (16s, cytb & nd4) and one nuclear (cmos) marker recovered this lineage as sister to X. perroteti. Although also phenotypically generally similar to X. perroteti from Nilgiri Hills (north of the lowland Palghat Gap), the ventral head morphology of X. chenkaruppan sp. nov. differs from the former in that the posterior genial shields are in midline contact, a condition found also in X. mosaicus occurring only south of the Palghat Gap. An updated key to the identification of the species of the genus Xylophis is provided herein.

Reptilia, vellarimala, kurichyarmala, Nilgiri hills, taxonomy, wayanad, woodsnake

 Xylophis chenkaruppan sp. nov.

Surya NARAYANAN, Sandeep DAS, Avrajjal GHOSH, Muhamed Jaffer PALOT, P. UMESH, David J. GOWER and V. DEEPAK. 2025. Hidden in the Sky Islands: A New Species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae: Xylophiinae) from montane habitats of Wayanad in the Western Ghats of India. Zootaxa. 5666(4); 509-528. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5666.4.3 [2025-07-30]

  facebook.com/SandeepDas9655/posts/10238080393179758

[Herpetology • 2025] Pareas capitulatus • A New Species in the Pareas hamptoni group (Serpentes: Pareidae) from southeastern Laos

 

Pareas capitulatus

Stuart, Seateun, Sivongxay, Souvannavong & Phimmachak, 2025

 Narrow-headed Snail-eating Snake | ງູໜ້າສັ້ນດາກຈຶງ  || 

 DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2097-3772.2024.028

  facebook.com/BioFNS

Abstract

The slug-eating snakes of the Pareas hamptoni species group consist of approximately 15 species distributed across mainland Southeast Asia into northeastern India and southern China. A single specimen collected from the Dakchung Plateau in Xekong Province of southeastern Laos is shown to be molecularly and morphologically distinct from all related species in the P. hamptoni species group and is described as a new species. Pareas capitulatus sp. nov. is a smooth-scaled species having a distinctively narrow head and pattern on the nuchal region that was recovered as the sister taxon to approximately half of the members of the P. hamptoni species group. The inclusion of additional samples of P. geminatus from northern Laos demonstrated the non-monophyly of that taxon with respect to the morphologically similar P. xuelinensis and P. yunnanensis, all of which have type localities in Yunnan Province of southern China. To reconcile this taxonomic problem, P. geminatus and P. xuelinensis are treated as junior synonyms of P. yunnanensis. With these revisions, three species in the P. hamptoni species group are recognized from Laos: P. capitulatus sp. nov., P. formosensis, and P. yunnanensis. Further field surveys on the Dakchung Plateau and vicinity are needed to determine the geographic distribution and morphological variation in P. capitulatus sp. nov.

Keywords: Dakchung Plateau, Integrative taxonomy, Pareas geminatus, Pareas xuelinensis, Pareas yunnanensis

Holotype female (NCSM 78628) of Pareas capitulatus sp. nov. in life
A: Anterior body in dorsolateral view. B: Head and neck in dorsolateral view.

Photos by Bryan L. Stuart.

Pareas capitulatus sp. nov.

 Diagnosis: Pareas capitulatus sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Pareas by having the combination of yellow-brown colouration with transverse dark bars on body; frontal shield-shaped, with lateral sides converging posteriorly; all body scales smooth; single vertebral scale row slightly enlarged; head distinctly narrow, with eyes projecting beyond parallel lateral margins of head in dorsal view; supralabials seven; infralabials six; ventral scales 175; subcaudals 75; a complete light band on occiput followed posteriorly by a complete dark nuchal marking; and two dark stripes on side of head consisting of an oblique dark stripe from posterior margin of eye to mouth and a transverse dark stripe from top of head to near corner of mouth.

Etymology: The specific epithet capitulatus is a Latin adjective for “having a small head,” in reference to the distinctly narrow head of the new species. Suggested common names are Narrow-headed Snail-eating Snake (English) and ງູໜ້າສັ້ນດາກຈຶງ (phonetically Ngou Nasan Dakchung; Lao).

Bryan L. Stuart, Sengvilay Seateun, Niane Sivongxay, Siliphone Souvannavong and Somphouthone Phimmachak. 2025. A New Species in the Pareas hamptoni group (Squamata, Pareidae) from southeastern Laos. Zoological Research: Diversity and Conservation.  DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2097-3772.2024.028

  facebook.com/BioFNS/posts/1204939688097479

  

[Herpetology • 2024] Pareas guanyinshanensis • A New Species of the Pareas hamptoni Complex (Serpentes: Pareidae) from Yunnan, China, with Confirmation of P. hamptoni sensu stricto in China

 Pareas guanyinshanensis

Liu, Mo, M. Li, B. Li, Luo, Rao & S. Li, 2024.

 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030421 

Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Pareas, based on three specimens collected from Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve in Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by one preocular, one postocular or postocular fused with subocular, loreal not bordering the orbit, one row enlarged vertebral scales, five rows keeled mid-dorsal scales at the middle of the body, 189–192 ventral scales and 72–89 subcaudal scales. The dorsal surfaces of the head and body are yellowish red or yellowish brown, and the belly and ventral surfaces of the head and tail are pinkish yellow or yellow with more or less small black spots. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA recovered the new species being the sister taxon to P. hamptoni sensu stricto. The genetic divergences between the new species and P. hamptoni sensu stricto were 4.2% in the Cyt b sequences and 5.0% in the ND4 sequences. In addition, based on specimens collected from Honghe and Wenshan prefectures, we confirmed that P. hamptoni sensu stricto is distributed in China.

Keywords: Cyt b; morphology; ND4; Pareas guanyinshanensis sp. nov.; taxonomy

Class Reptilia Laurenti, 1768

Order Squamata Oppel, 1811

Suborder Serpentes Linnaeus, 1758

Infraorder Caenophidia Hoffstetter, 1939

Family Pareidae Romer, 1956

Subfamily Pareinae Romer, 1956

Genus Pareas Wagler, 1830

Subgenus Eberhardtia Angel, 1920

Pareas guanyinshanensis sp. nov.

 Pareas guanyinshanensis sp. nov. in life.
(A) The holotype (KIZ 2023038); (B) the paratype (KIZ 2023040).

 

Diagnosis. SVL 482–540 mm, TL/SVL 0.26–0.30; prefrontal bordering orbit; loreal not bordering orbit; 1 preocular; 1 postocular or postocular fused with subocular; 7–8 supralabials; 6–8 infralabials; infralabial not fused with chin-shield; 3 chin-shield pairs; dorsal scales in 15 rows throughout; 1 row of vertebral scales enlarged; scales not keeled at anterior part of body, 5 rows of mid-dorsal scales keeled at middle part of body, 5–7 rows of mid-dorsal scales keeled at posterior part of body; ventral scales 189–192; subcaudals 72–89, paired; precloacal plate undivided; maxillary teeth 4–5. Dorsal surface of head dark yellowish red or yellowish brown, with dense small black spots; dorsal surface of body yellowish red or yellowish brown; belly and ventral surfaces of head and tail pinkish yellow or yellow, with more or less small black spots; iris reddish yellow or yellow.

Etymology. The specific epithet guanyinshanensis refers to Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve [Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Prov.], where the new species was found. 

Shuo Liu, Mingzhong Mo, Mei Li, Biao Li, Xiong Luo, Dingqi Rao and Song Li. 2024. Description of A New Species of the Pareas hamptoni Complex from Yunnan, China, with Confirmation of P. hamptoni Sensu Stricto in China (Squamata, Pareidae). Animals. 2024, 14(3), 421. DOI: 10.3390/ani14030421  

Simple Summary: In this paper, a new Pareas species of the P. hamptoni complex is described from southern Yunnan Province, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Genetically, the new species is most closely related to P. hamptoni sensu stricto, for which we confirm the distribution in China. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from P. hamptoni sensu stricto and all other congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics. The discovery of the new species brings the total number of recognized species of the genus Pareas to 31, of which 25 occur in China.

[Herpetology • 2023] Pareas dulongjiangensis • A New Species of Pareas Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes: Pareidae) from Northwestern Yunnan, China

 

Pareas dulongjiangensis 

 Liu, Yang, Rao, Guo & Rao, 2023

 

Dulongjiang Slug-eating Snake | 独龙江钝头蛇  ||  DOI: 10.3390/taxonomy3020013

 

Abstract

A new species of Pareas Wagler, 1830 is described from Dulongjiang Township, Gongshan County, Yunnan Province, China. Phylogenetically, the new species is most closely related to Pareas kaduri Bhosale, Phansalkar, Sawant, Gowande, Patel and Mirza, 2020; however, the genetic divergence (uncorrected p-distance) of the cyt b gene between the new species and P. kaduri reached 9.4%. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from P. kaduri by the absence of preoculars, loreal bordering the orbit, the fusion of subocular and postocular, three rows enlarged vertebral scales, five rows keeled mid-dorsal scales at the middle of the body, having more subcaudals, and having a relatively longer tail. In addition, the new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics. Our work brings the total number of recognized species of the genus Pareas to 29, of which 23 occur in China. 

Keywords: cyt b; Dulongjiang; Gongshan; systematics; taxonomy

Pareas dulongjiangensis sp. nov., holotype in preservative.
 (A) Dorsal view of the body; (B) ventral view of the body; (C) close-up view of the dorsal side of the head; (D) close-up view of the left side of the head; (E) close-up view of the ventral side of the head.

Class Reptilia Laurenti, 1768

Order Squamata Oppel, 1811

Suborder Serpentes Linnaeus, 1758

Infraorder Caenophidia Hoffstetter, 1939

Family Pareidae Romer, 1956

Subfamily Pareinae Romer, 1956

Genus Pareas Wagler, 1830

Subgenus Eberhardtia Angel, 1920

Pareas dulongjiangensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Preocular absent; postocular fused with subocular; loreal bordering orbit; prefrontal bordering orbit; infralabials not fused with chin-shield; chin-shields three pairs, first pair triangular, second pair and third pair elongate; dorsal scales 15 rows throughout without apical pits; three rows vertebral scales enlarged; five rows mid-dorsal scales keeled at middle of body; supralabials6–7; infralabials7–9; precloacal plate undivided; ventral scales182; and subcaudals 76, paired. In preservative, dorsal surface of head chocolate brown, from which two brownish-black longitudinal stripes run on each side of the neck, leaving a pale central portion; lateral surface of head dense with brownish black dusting and two short brownish-black streaks, one on lower anterior temporal and another on last supralabial; almost no mottling on ventral surface of head; sparse brown mottling on ventral surfaces of body and tail; and indistinct vertical dark bars on trunk and tail.

Etymology. The specific epithet dulongjiangensis refers to the Dulongjiang Township, where the new species was discovered. We propose “Dulongjiang Slug-eating Snake” for the common English name and “独龙江钝头蛇” (Pinyin: dú lóng jiāng dùn tóu shé) for the common Chinese name of this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in Dulongjiang Township, Gongshan County, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.

Shuo Liu, Mingjing Yang, Jingqiu Rao,Yuhong Guo and Dingqi Rao. 2023. A New Species of Pareas Wagler, 1830 (Squamata, Pareidae) from Northwestern Yunnan, China. Taxonomy. 3(2); 169-182. DOI: 10.3390/taxonomy3020013

Researchgate.net/publication/369692685_A_New_Species_of_Pareas_from_Yunnan_China

[Herpetology • 2023] Pareas tigerinus • Resurrection of Pareas yunnanensis (Vogt, 1922) (Serpentes: Pareidae) with Description of A New Species of Pareas from Yunnan Province, China

Pareas tigerinus

Liu, Zhang, Poyarkov, Hou, Wu, Rao, Nguyen & Vogel, 2023 

Tiger Slug-eating Snake | 虎纹钝头蛇  ||  DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.860.2045

 Photos by S. Liu.

ABSTRACT

Based on molecular and morphological data of four specimens of Pareas Wagler, 1830 collected from the type locality of P. yunnanensis (Vogt, 1922), along with examination of the type specimens of P. yunnanensis, we revalidate this poorly known, secretive species. Furthermore, based on molecular and morphological lines of evidence we also describe a new species of Pareas from Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, the new species closely resembles its sister species P. nigriceps Guo & Deng, 2009. However, the new species is divergent from the latter in cytochrome b mtDNA gene sequences, and can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of morphological characteristics: single preocular, postocular fused with subocular, loreal not bordering orbit, vertebral scales enlarged, 3–5 rows of mid-dorsal scales keeled at the middle of the body, ventral scales 160–171; subcaudals 62–64, dorsal surface of head solid black or reddish-brown, dark nuchal band present, iris brownish-black or reddish-brown.

Keywords: Dali, Menghai, slug-eating snakes, synonymy, taxonomy

Pareas tigerinus sp. nov. in life.
A. Holotype, ♀ (KIZ 20210705). B. Paratype, ♂ (KIZ 20210703)
C. Paratype, ♀ (KIZ 20210704) . D. Habitat at the type locality.

 Photos by S. Liu.

Pareas (Eberhardtia) tigerinus sp. nov.

Diagnosis: This species differs from Pareas nigriceps by having a relatively shorter tail, more infralabials, fewer ventral scales, fewer subcaudals, and fewer maxillary teeth; it differs from P. kaduri Bhosale, Phansalkar, Sawant, Gowande, Patel & Mirza, 2020 by having relatively smaller body size, keeled mid-dorsal scales in females, fewer temporals, and fewer maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species epithet “tigerinus” is attributed to this species due to the similarity of the species colour pattern to the prominent lateral stripes in tigers. We propose “Tiger Slug-eating Snake” for the common English name and “虎纹钝头蛇”(Hǔ Wén Dùn Tóu Shé) for the common Chinese name.

Shuo Liu, Dongru Zhang, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Mian Hou, Li Wu, Dingqi Rao, Tan Van Nguyen and Gernot Vogel. 2023. Resurrection of Pareas yunnanensis (Vogt, 1922) with Description of A New Species of Pareas from Yunnan Province, China (Squamata, Pareidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 860: 1–26. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.860.2045

[Herpetology • 2021] Pareas temporalis • A New Species of Pareas (Squamata, Pareidae) from southern Vietnam

   Pareas temporalis 

Le, Tran, Hoang & Stuart, 2021

 DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e70438

Abstract

We describe a new species of pareid snake from the Di Linh Plateau in Lam Dong Province of southern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. Pareas temporalis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having the combination of yellow-brown body colouration; hexagonal-shaped frontal, with lateral sides parallel to the body axis; 16–17 temporals, with 4–5 anterior temporals; loreal and prefrontal not contacting eye; 2–3 preoculars; two suboculars; 2–3 postoculars; 8–9 supralabials; 8–9 infralabials; 15–15–15 dorsal scale rows, all keeled, three vertebral scale rows enlarged; 191 (+1 preventral) ventrals, smooth; 92 subcaudals, all divided; undivided anal scale; two postocular stripes; and a solid dark brown vertebral stripe extending from rear of nuchal collar along the entire length of body and tail. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA data recovered the new species to be nested within the P. carinatus complex and to be the sister taxon to P. nuchalis from Borneo.

Keywords: Di Linh Plateau, integrative taxonomy, Pareatinae, Pareas menglaensis, Southeast Asia

Figure 3. Holotype female (UNS 09992) of Pareas temporalis sp. nov. in preservative.
a: whole body in lateral view; b: keeled dorsal scales at midbody; c: ventral view of head; d: dorsal view of head; e and f: lateral views of head.

Scale bars: 5 mm.

Figure 4. Head scalation of holotype female (UNS 09992) of Pareas temporalis sp. nov. in ventral, dorsal and lateral views.

 Illustration by Vo Ngoc Thinh.

Pareas temporalis sp. nov.

 

Suggested Common Names: Di Linh Snail-eating Snake (English), 

Rắn hổ mây Di Linh (Vietnamese).

 

Diagnosis: Pareas temporalis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other Pareas by having the combination of yellow-brown body colouration; hexagonal-shaped frontal, with lateral sides parallel to the body axis; 16–17 temporals, with 4–5 anterior temporals; loreal and prefrontal not contacting eye; 2–3 preoculars; two suboculars; 2–3 postoculars; 8–9 supralabials; 8–9 infralabials (Fig. 4); 15–15–15 dorsal scale rows, all keeled (Fig. 3b), three vertebral scale rows enlarged; 191 (+1 preventral) ventrals, smooth; 92 subcaudals, all divided; undivided anal scale; two postocular stripes; and a solid dark brown vertebral stripe extending from rear of nuchal collar along the entire length of body and tail.

Etymology: The specific epithet temporalis L. refers to the high number of temporal scales in the new species.

Figure 5. Holotype female (UNS 09992) of Pareas temporalis sp. nov. in life (above) and view of habitat at its type locality (below).

 Duong T. T. Le, Thinh G. Tran, Huy D. Hoang and Bryan L. Stuart. 2021. A New Species of Pareas (Squamata, Pareidae) from southern Vietnam. Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 439-451. DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e70438

[Herpetology • 2021] Xylophis deepaki • A New Species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae) from the southern Western Ghats of India

Xylophis deepaki 

Narayanan, Mohapatra, Balan, Das & Gower, 2021

 DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e63986

Abstract

We reassess the taxonomy of the Indian endemic snake Xylophis captaini and describe a new species of Xylophis based on a type series of three specimens from the southernmost part of mainland India. Xylophis deepaki sp. nov. is most similar phenotypically to X. captaini, with which it was previously confused. The new species differs from X. captaini by having a broader, more regular and ventrally extensive off-white collar, more ventral scales (117–125 versus 102–113), and by lack of flounces on the body and proximal lobes of the hemipenis. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S DNA sequences strongly indicates that the new species is most closely related to X. captaini, differing from it by an uncorrected pairwise genetic distance of 4.2%. A revised key to the species of Xylophis is provided.

Keywords: Hemipenis, Kanyakumari, molecular phylogeny, snakes, taxonomy, Xylophiinae

Figure 5. Xylophis deepaki sp. nov. showing colour in life.
A. Holotype ZSI-CZRC-V-7218, B. Paratype ZSI-SRC-VRS-287.

Xylophis deepaki sp. nov.

 

Xylophis perroteti – Rajendran (1985). [Chresonym]

Xylophis captaini – Gower and Winkler, 2007 [in part]; Ganesh (2010); Ganesh et al. 2012; Bhupathy et al. 2016 [in part] [Chresonym]

Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Xylophis based on the anterior-most (three) pairs of infralabial shields reduced to narrow strips, together much smaller than large pair of anterior chin (genial) shields. Xylophis deepaki sp. nov. is small (maximum known total length 199 mm), with 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody, 117–125 ventrals (n=6), 13–23 subcaudals (n=6), internasal length almost equal to the prefrontal length, a thick and ventrally near-complete off-white collar, and mostly smooth hemipenial body and lobes.

...

Etymology: This species is named in honour of the Indian herpetologist Dr Deepak Veerappan, in recognition of his substantial, 21st Century contributions to herpetology, including work on Xylophis systematics. We suggest the common name Deepak’s wood snake (English).

Figure 2. Distribution of Xylophis captaini and Xylophis deepaki sp. nov. in the Western Ghats based on specimens examined in this study and observations of uncollected animals reported in the text.

Figure 8. Habitat of Xylophis deepaki sp. nov. in Melpuram, Kanyakumari Dist., Tamil Nadu, showing some banana and coconut within rubber plantation.

 Surya Narayanan, Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Amirtha Balan, Sandeep Das and David J. Gower. 2021. A New Species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae) from the southern Western Ghats of India. Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 219-230. DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e63986

twitter.com/DeepakVeerappan/status/1382711791961186304

[Herpetology • 2020] Pareas geminatus • A New Species of the Pareas hamptoni Complex (Serpentes: Pareidae) from the Golden Triangle

 Pareas geminatus 

Ding, Chen, Suwannapoom, Nguyen, Poyarkov & Vogel, 2020

งูกินทากลายขวั้น  ||  DOI: 10.47605/tapro.v9i2.230

 facebook.com/NickPoyarkov 

Abstract

An investigation of the taxonomic status of Pareas hamptoni (Hampton's Slug snake) based on morphological and molecular data revealed a new distinct species from the Golden Triangle region (comprising parts of southern China, and adjacent Laos and Thailand). The new species is shown to be a sister species to P. hamptoni but can be separated from the latter by having 3–5 dorsal scale rows at midbody slightly keeled (vs 5–9 scales strongly keeled); a lower number of ventrals, 170–188 (vs 185–195); and a lower number of subcaudals, 67–91 (vs 91–99). The new species is currently known from northwestern Thailand, northern Laos, and the southern part of Yunnan Province in China at elevations of 1,160–2,280 m a.s.l. We suggest that the new species to be considered of Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN's Red List categories. Problems of taxonomy and actual distribution of the P. hamptoni complex are briefly discussed; our results show P. hamptoni is now reliably known only from Myanmar and Vietnam, but its occurrence in Yunnan Province of China is likely.

Key words: China, Indo-Burma, Laos, Pareas formosensis, Pareas mengziensis, Thailand

 Pareas geminatus sp. nov. in life from the type locality in Jiangcheng, Yunnan, China.

Pareas geminatus sp. nov. in life from the type locality in Jiangcheng, Yunnan, China.

Pareas geminatus sp. nov. 
adult male (AUP-00176) from Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Pareas geminatus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Pareas geminatus sp. nov. differs from all congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: a slender, yellow-brown, medium-sized snake (total length 566 mm); one or two anterior temporals; loreal not contacting the eye; prefrontal contacting the eye; one preocular; slightly enlarged median vertebral row; usually 7 (6–8) supralabials; 8 infralabial scales; 3–5 scale rows slightly keeled at midbody; 170–188 ventrals lacking lateral keels; 75–91 subcaudals, all divided; slightly billowing vertical dark bars on the trunk; two slight thin black postorbital stripes starting from lower and upper edges of postorbital scales; lower postorbital stripe reaching the anterior part of seventh supralabial, not continuing to the lower jaw and chin; the left and right upper postorbital stripes merge forming a black nuchal collar.

Etymology. The specific epithet "geminatus" is a Latin adjective in nominative singular (masculine gender) derived from the Latin "geminus", for "twin", "double", and is given in reference to the similarity in morphology of the new species to its sister taxon, P. hamptoni, with which it was confused for a long time. 

We suggest the following common names: "Twin Slug snake" (English) and "Bó Zhòng Dùn Tóu Shé" (伯仲钝头蛇) in Chinese.  งูกินทากลายขวั้น  ງູກິນທາກລາຽຂວັ້ນ

Distribution and natural history. The known distribution of Pareas geminatus sp. nov. is shown in Fig. 1. The new species is currently known from the Golden Triangle area, including the southernmost part of Yunnan Province, the northwestern part of Thailand, and the northern part of Laos. The occurrence of the new species in the extreme eastern corner of the Shan Plateau in Myanmar is anticipated. At the type locality in Jiangcheng County, Yunnan, China, Pareas geminatus inhabits tropical monsoon forests with clearly defined dry and wet seasons at elevations from 1,160 to 2,280 m asl. The new species was also recorded in highly modified secondary habitats with tea plantations (Fig. 5). The specimens of Pareas geminatus were observed at night after 2100 h while perching on vines or bushes ca. 1.0–1.5 m above the ground, waiting for prey. In China, the new species is threatened by intensifying human activity due to increasing deforestation for tea cultivation.

Distribution of Pareas hamptoni species complex: type localities (star); populations for which molecular/morphological data available (filled icons, colours correspond to those in Fig. 2); populations of unclear taxonomic status (white icons).

Li Ding, Zening Chen, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tan Van Nguyen, Nikolay A. Poyarkov and Gernot Vogel. 2021. A New Species of the Pareas hamptoni Complex (Squamata: Serpentes: Pareidae) from the Golden Triangle. TAPROBANICA: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity. 9(2); 174-193. DOI: 10.47605/tapro.v9i2.230

 facebook.com/NickPoyarkov/posts/10221484123606837

Researchgate.net/publication/346429434_A_new_species_of_the_Pareas_hamptoni_complex_from_the_Golden_Triangle

 

[Herpetology • 2021] Asthenodipsas ingeri • On the Taxonomic Status of Asthenodipsas vertebralis (Boulenger, 1900) (Squamata: Pareidae) in Borneo with the Description of A New Species from Mount Kinabalu, Sabah

Asthenodipsas ingeri  

Quah, Lim & Grismer, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.1.2

Abstract

The taxonomic status of Asthenodipsas vertebralis in Borneo has been plagued with uncertainty over the last eighty years. An examination of museum collections resulted in the discovery of a voucher specimen of A. vertebralis from Sarawak, East Malaysia that confirms the presence of the species in Borneo and a previously unrecognised species, Asthenodipsas ingeri sp. nov. from Mount Kinabalu, Sabah. Asthenodipsas ingeri sp. nov. can be differentiated from its congeners by the combination of an absence of preoculars and suboculars, 1st and 3rd pair of infralabials in contact, two pairs of posterior inframaxillaries, supralabials 3–5 (sometimes 3 & 4) in contact with orbit, 15/15/15 rows of dorsal scales, presence of sharp vertebral keel, and divided subcaudals. This study highlights the importance of careful re-examination of museum collections that could potentially harbour new species hiding in plain sight. These discoveries also add to the growing number of reptile and amphibian species being described from Borneo that shows no signs of abating but are already potentially threatened by the continued deforestation and developments on the island.

Keywords: Reptilia, Pareas, Sundaland, slug snake, systematics, discovery, reptile, conservation, endemic biodiversity, Malaysia

Asthenodipsas ingeri sp. nov.

Evan S. H. Quah, Kelvin K. P. Lim and L. Lee Grismer. 2021. On the Taxonomic Status of Asthenodipsas vertebralis (Boulenger, 1900) (Squamata: Pareidae) in Borneo with the Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 4949(1); 24–44. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.1.2