Groove-necked Keelback

Rhabdophis nuchalis (Boulenger 1891)

Based on the available literature (Nguyen & David 2023; Liu et al. 2023) and our own material, we here propose the following provisional identification key to the species of the Rhabdophis nuchalis group species: 1a. Dorsal scale rows 15–15–15............................................................................. 3 1b. Dorsal scale rows 17–17 (15, 16)–15..................................................................... 2 2a. Ventrals 136–151; infralabials 7; temporals 1+2; maxillary teeth 25................................... R. hmongorum 2b. Ventrals 151–157; infralabials 8; temporals 1+1; maxillary teeth 19.............................. R. leonardi complex 3a. Usually supralabials 5.................................................................................. 4 3b. Usually supralabials 6.................................................................................. 5 4a. Dorsum green; venter pale............................................................. R. pentasupralabialis 4b. Dorsum brown; venter dark...................................................................... R. chiwen 5a. Black line present below the eye and extending onto the last two

Molecular and morphological evidences for considering Rhabdophis guangdongensis Zhu, Wang, Takeuchi & Zhao, 2014 a junior synonym of Rhabdophis angeli (Bourret, 1934) (Squamata: Natricidae)