A new species of the genus Sinomicrurus (Serpentes: Elapidae) from China and Vietnam

Zool Res. 2020 Mar 18;41(2):194-198. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.023.

Abstract

A new species of Sinomicrurus Slowinski, Boundy, and Lawson, 2001 is described herein based on a series of specimens. The new species, Sinomicrurus peinani sp. nov., occurs in southern China and northern Vietnam. Sinomicrurus peinani sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) 30-35 black cross-bands on body and tail; (2) 13 dorsal scale rows throughout, all smooth; (3) white belly with black cross-bands or irregular spots; (4) broad white transverse bar on top of head with inverted V-shaped anterior margin, white bar wider than anterior black bar; and (5) frontal V-like, 1.3 times as long as wide. In addition, new occurrences of S. houi in Guangxi, China, and Vietnam are discussed.

Keywords: Elapidae; Morphology; New species; Sinomicrurus peinani sp. nov.; Taxonomy; Venomous snake.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution
  • Animals
  • China
  • Elapidae / anatomy & histology
  • Elapidae / classification*
  • Vietnam

Associated data

  • GENBANK/MN 685872-MN685896

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA 20050201, XDA19050303), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC31372152), Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (Y4ZK111B01: 2017CASSEABRIQG002), International Partnership Program of CAS (152453KYSB20170033), and Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, CAS (Large Research Infrastructure Funding)