Sangzhi Keelback Snake

description

Description of the holotype. SVL 421 mm; tail complete, TaL 141 mm, TaL / TL 0.25. Body elongate and thin; head average (4.4 % of SVL), distinct from the neck, flat anterior to eye; snout long, 26 % of HL, 1.5 times as long as the diameter of the eye, blunt in dorsal view, slightly bulgy in lateral views; nostril lateral, round, piercing in middle of divided nasal; eye large, diameter 2.9 times greater than the distance between its inferior margin and edge of upper lip; pupil round; tail cylindrical, long and tapering. Dentition. Maxillary teeth 21, gradually enlarged + 2 distinctly enlarged teeth posteriorly, without diastema. Body scalation. DSR: 19 - 19 - 17. Scales not notched at their posterior extremities. Dorsal scale row reduction formula. 3 + 4 → 3 (86) (left) 19 ———————— 17 3 + 4 → 4 (88) (right) Vertebral scales enlarged, smooth; scales of dorsal rows 2 – 10 distinctly keeled with a narrow, sharp keel, more distinct on posterior half of body; scales of outer 1 st row smooth or weakly keeled. 161 VEN (+ 2 preventrals); 82 SC, all paired. Cloacal plate divided. Head scalation. Rostral trapezoidal, wider than high; nasals rectangular, distinctly longer than high, divided in

A new species of the genus Hebius (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Hunan Province, China

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of the genus Hebius, characterized by a combination of the following characters: (1) tail long, approximately 25 % of the total length; (2) DSR 19 - 19 - 17, vertebral scales enlarged, smooth, 2 nd – 10 th rows distinctly keeled; (3) anterior temporals 2, preocular 1, postoculars 3; (4) ventrals 160 – 164; (5) internasals narrowed anteriorly; (6) a pair of occipital spots and a pale postparietal streak; (7) a pale brown or beige dorsolateral stripe on the 4 th – 6 th scale rows; (8) ventral scales brick-red at their outer border, with a row of well-defined dark blotches; (9) maxillary teeth 21, gradually enlarged, followed by 2 moderately enlarged posterior teeth, without diastema; (10) nostrils lateral.

A new species of the genus Hebius (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Hunan Province, China

distribution

Distribution and natural history notes. Hebius sangzhiensis sp. nov. is currently known only from its type locality. This species is common in Mt. Tianping and it is expected to be found in other forested areas in Hunan Province and neighboring Hubei Province, China (Fig. 1). The holotype and the female paratype were found in a hill stream, where clear water flowed over a substratum of stone and gravel, and both were swimming on the water surface at night (at 20 h 00 and 22 h 00, respectively) on 28 July 2008. The male paratype was found in daytime, moving along the stream bank on 1 September 2015. Comparisons. The new species is distinct to all other known species of the genus Hebius with the following combination of characters: H. sangzhiensis sp. nov. can be separated from H. annamensis (Bourret), H. arquus (David & Vogel), H. atemporalis, H. celebicus (Peters & Doria), H. chapaensis, H. frenatus (Dunn), H. groundwateri (Smith), H. sarasinorus (Boulenger), H. sarawacensis (Günther), H. sauteri, H. taronensis (Smith) and H. venningi by having 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody (vs. 15 or 17). H. andreae (Ziegler & Le), H. concelarus (Malnate), H. ishigakiensis (Malnate & Munsterman)

A new species of the genus Hebius (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Hunan Province, China

etymology

Etymology. The specific epithet sangzhiensis refers to the type locality, Sangzhi County, Hunan Province, China. We suggest the common name as the “ Sangzhi Keelback Snake ”, and the Chinese formal name as “ sâng zhí fù liàn shé ” (ǾDZDzm ẘ).

A new species of the genus Hebius (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Hunan Province, China