摘要: This study describes Rhabdophis shuichengensis sp. nov. a new species from Guizhou Province, China. This new species is distinguished from other congeners by the following characters:(1) medium-sized body(SVL of adult males: 579–643 mm and adult females: 530 mm);(2) uniformly grayish brown above, black line below eye and between last two labials absent;(3) dorsal scale rows of 15-15-15;(4) ventral scales of 154–158;(5) subcaudal scales of 43–56;(6) supralabials scales 6;(7) infralabials scales 8;(8) preoculars scales 1, postoculars scales 3, and supraocular scales 1;(9) temporal scales 1 + 2;(10) dorsal scales are keeled, with uppermost 5 rows feebly keeled;(11) abruptly enlarged, blade-shaped posterior two maxillary teeth, not preceded by a diastema and maxillary tooth count 20–22(18–20 + 2). The description of this new species brings the total number of described species of this genus to 35 and represents the 14 th known Rhabdophis species in China.

摘要: This study provides an updated checklist of snake species in China, building upon the 2020 checklist and incorporating comprehensive review of relevant literature published from 2020 to December 2024, as well as pre-2020 sources that may have been overlooked. As of the end of 2024, the Chinese Serpents fauna included 19 families, 71 genera, and 355 species of snakes. Significant progress has been made in the past five years, including the description of one new family, one new genus, and 60 new species. One subfamily and seven subspecies were elevated to full status, and 12 species were resurrected as valid species. Four genera and 27 species were newly recorded, three genera and four species were synonymized, and one family, four genera, and 12 species were excluded from the documented herpetofauna. This updated list highlights the presence of significant snake diversity and unresolved taxonomic challenges, emphasizing the potential for further discoveries. It also identifies under-researched groups, stressing the urgent need for focused taxonomic and ecological efforts to enhance our understanding of snake biodiversity in China.

摘要: Two new species of Leptobrachella are described from Vietnam based on morphological differences and genetic divergences in 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene sequences. The new taxa are distinguished from each other and from other species of the genus Leptobrachella in body size, head width/length ratio, tympanum morphology, dorsal skin texture, the presence/absence of fringes on toes, color of dorsal and ventral body, and iris color. The two new species are also divergent from each other and from other congeners by a 4.14% or greater uncorrected genetic distance. Leptobrachella batxatensis sp. nov. is genetically closest to L. shiwandashanensis and L. wuhuangmontis from China. Leptobrachella duyenae sp. nov. is genetically closest to L. bidoupensis from Vietnam with strong nodal support from both BI and ML analyses(1.0/99%).

摘要: Comprehensive surveys on the distribution of the endangered Chinting alpine toad(Scutiger chintingensis) were recently conducted, revealing important findings regarding its population characteristics. This study integrated morphological and molecular analyses to clarify the taxonomic status of these populations. Based on detailed morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses, the population from Wolong, Wenchuan County,Sichuan, China, is identified as a new species, which is formally described herein. The new species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a unique combination of following characteristics:(1) small body size, SVL 42.2–46.9 mm in adult males, SVL54.3–56.3 in adult females;(2) vomerine ridges and vomerine teeth absent, maxillary teeth present;(3)internasal distance and interorbital distance relatively large;(4) subarticular tubercle absent on fingers and toes;(5) dorsal and lateral skin rough with densely-distributed horny spines in males, smooth and lacking black horny spines in females;(6) vocal sac absent in males;(7) pair of pectoral glands and pair of axillary glands present on chest in males, axillary gland about two-thirds pectoral gland in size;(8) in breeding males, pectoral glands and axillary glands covered by dense spines, belly rough with horny spines, nuptial spines present on dorsal and lateral surface of first and second fingers and inner side of third finger,dense spines on inner forelimb aligned, extending from wrist to near axilla. This study highlights the critical importance of accurate taxonomic identification, particularly for endangered species, as misidentifications can misguide subsequent biological research and conservation efforts.

摘要: A new species of the Kukri snake genus Oligodon is described from Medog County in the eastern Himalayas of China. The species, named Oligodon zhangfujii sp. nov., can be distinguished from all known congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics:(1) 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows;(2) six supralabials, third and fourth entering orbit;(3) one loreal present;(4)seven infralabials, first to fourth in contact with anterior chin shields;(5) 173 ventral scales and 47 pairs of subcaudal scales;(6) cloacal plate divided;(7) hemipenis single, shallowly bilobed, with large calcareous spines and a calyx area, sulcus spermaticus single; and(8) eight maxillary teeth.Phylogenetic analyses based on two mitochondrial genes revealed that this species occupies an independent phylogenetic position, distinct from the eight recognized species groups within the genus, and represents a sister taxon to the clade comprising the O. theobaldi and O. cinereus groups.The description is based on a single road-killed individual. As such, ecological data for the species remain sparse, underscoring the need for additional field surveys across the eastern Himalayan region.