Chang's Mountain Keelback

description

Description of holotype. Body cylindrical, slender, round to oval in cross section; TL 501.2 mm (SVL 401.6 mm, TaL 99.6 mm); tail thin and pointed, TaL 20 % of TL; head small, indistinct from neck; right upper maxilla with 16 subequal teeth or sockets, teeth small, curved, without diastema; rostral nearly flattened, small, slightly less than twice as broad as deep, barely visible from above; two internasals, crescent-shaped, in contact with each other medially behind the rostral, not in contact with loreal, posteriorly in contact with prefrontal; a single prefrontal, in contact with loreal and preocular laterally, with frontal posteriorly, not in contact with supraocular; a single frontal, hexagonal, in contact with supraocular laterally, with two parietals posteriorly; parietals large, in contact with each other medially; nasal directed dorsally, polygonal, in contact with first and second supralabials ventrally, with loreal and prefrontal posteriorly, with internasal dorsally, with rostral anteriorly; nostril horizontally oval, in the upper part of nasal; a short vertical cleft below the nostril and dividing nasal into anterior and posterior parts, pointing to middle of upper edg

Re-examination of the Chinese record of Opisthotropis maculosa (Squamata, Natricidae), resulting in the first national record of O. haihaensis and description of a new species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Opisthotropis hungtai sp. nov. is characterized by the following combination of characters: (1) TL 464.3 - 501.2 mm in adult males, 393.2 - 511 mm in females, (2) tail moderate, TaL / TL 0.20 - 0.26 in males, 0.19 - 0.22 in females, (3) internasal not in contact with loreal, prefrontal not touching supraocular, frontal touching preocular, (4) one preocular, one or two postocular (s), (5) temporals 1 + 1, (6) supralabials seven, the fourth and fifth in contact with eye; (6) maxillary teeth 16 - 18, (7) anterior pair of chin shields longer than or equal to posterior pair; (8) ventrals 170 - 189 (+ 2 preventrals) in males, 168 - 175 (+ 2 preventrals) in females, (9) subcaudals 76 - 98 in males, 69 - 84 in females, (9) nasal cleft pointing to the second supralabial, (10) body scale in 15 - 15 - 15 rows, (11) body scales smooth, tail scales smooth or indistinctly keeled, (12) chin shields yellow with brownish black mottling, and (13) body and tail dorsum dark, each with a light spot per scale.

Re-examination of the Chinese record of Opisthotropis maculosa (Squamata, Natricidae), resulting in the first national record of O. haihaensis and description of a new species

distribution

Distribution and habits. Opisthotropis hungtai sp. nov. is currently known from Heishiding Nature Reserve (ca 300 m a. s. l.) and Dawuling Forestry Station (ca 900 m a. s. l.) in western Guangdong, and Mt. Wuhuang (ca 500 m a. s. l.) in southeastern Guangxi. The specimen from Mt. Wuhuang was collected in a rocky stream. Besides, specimens from Heishiding Nature Reserve were found in pelitic gutterways along the dirt path, and specimens from Dawuling Forestry Station were collected in a pelitic stream. The collection sites were all surrounded by well-preserved, dense deciduous forest.

Re-examination of the Chinese record of Opisthotropis maculosa (Squamata, Natricidae), resulting in the first national record of O. haihaensis and description of a new species

etymology

Etymology. The species name " hungtai " refers to Professor Hung-Ta Chang (= Hong-Da Zhang, 张宏达), an outstanding botanist, who established the Tropical and Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Experimental Center in Heishiding Nature Reserve, promoting the development of ecological research in southern China. We suggest the English common name Hung-Ta Chang's mountain Keelback and the Chinese name Zhang Shi Hou Leng She (张氏后棱蛇).

Re-examination of the Chinese record of Opisthotropis maculosa (Squamata, Natricidae), resulting in the first national record of O. haihaensis and description of a new species