Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

On the Occurrence of Rhabdophis leonardi (Wall, 1923) in Vietnam and Laos, with Preliminary Comments on the Taxonomy and Distribution of the Complex of Rhabdophis nuchalis (Squamata: Serpentes: Natricidae)

Tan Van Nguyen, Patrick David

Abstract


The species Rhabdophis leonardi (Wall, 1923) is recorded for the first time from Vietnam (Lao Cai Province) based on the re-examination of specimens deposited in the collections of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris) which were formerly identified as Rhabdophis nuchalis. Furthermore, we also re-evaluate the taxonomy and distribution of species of the complex Rhabdophis nuchalis group and we provide an updated identification key to species of this complex.

Keywords


Rhabdophis nuchalis; taxonomy; distribution; new records; Lao Cai Province; Laos

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ahmed M. F. and Das A. (2006), «First record of Rhabdophis nuchalis (Boulenger, 1891) (Serpentes: Colubridae) from India, with notes on its distribution and natural history», Hamadryad, 30, 121 – 127.

Bourret R. (1936), Les serpents de Indochine. Tome II. Catalogue systématique descriptif, Henri Basuyau, Toulouse.

Das A., Smith E. N., Sidik I., Sarker G. C., Boruah B., Patel N. G., Murthy B. H. C. K., and Deepak V. (2021), ‘Hidden in the plain sight: a new species of Rhabdophis (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the Rhabdophis himalayanus complex», Zootaxa, 5020, 401 – 433.

David P. and Vogel G. (2021), «Taxonomic composition of the Rhabdophis subminiatus (Schlegel, 1837) species complex (Reptilia: Natricidae) with description of a new species from China», Taprobanica, 10, 89 – 120.

David P., Vogel G., Nguyen T. Q., Orlov N. L., Pauwels O. S. G., Teynié A., and Ziegler T. (2021), «A revision of the dark-bellied, stream-dwelling snakes of the genus Hebius (Reptilia: Squamata: Natricidae) with the description of a new species from China, Vietnam and Thailand», Zootaxa, 4911, 1 – 61.

Deepak V., Cooper N., Poyarkov N. A., Kraus F., Burin G., Das A., Narayanan S., Streicher J. W., Smith S. J., and Gower D. J. (2021), «Multilocus phylogeny, natural history traits and classification of natricine snakes (Serpentes: Natricinae)», Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 195, 279 – 298.

Deuve J. (1970), Serpents du Laos, Office de la Recherche Scientifique and Technique Outre — Mer, Paris, Mem. No. 39.

Ding L., Chen Z., Suwannapoom C., Nguyen T. V., Poyarkov N. A., and Vogel G. (2020), «A new species of the Pareas hamptoni complex (Squamata Serpentes: Pareidae) from the Golden Triangle», Taprobanica, 9, 174 – 193.

Ha N. V., Ziegler T., Dinh T. S., Le M. D., Nguyen T. Q., and Luu V. Q. (2022), «A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Son La Province, Vietnam», Zootaxa, 5168, 375 – 387.

Ho C. T., Orlov N. L., and Lathrop A. (2005), «Contribution to the study of the herpetofauna of the Pia Oac Nature Reserve», Cao Bang Prov. J. Biol., 27, 95 – 102 [in Vietnamese].

Inger R. F., Zhao E., Shaffer H. B., and Wu G. (1990), «Report on a collection of amphibians and reptiles from Sichuan, China», Fieldiana Zool., 58, 1 – 24.

Jiang Y. M. and Zhao E. M. (1983), «Studies on amphibians and reptiles of Mt. Gongga region, Sichuan, China. 3. A study of species-group nuchalis, genus Rhabdophis», Acta Herpetol. Sin., 2(1), 59 – 62 [in Chinese].

Kang Z. J., Yang D. D., and Liao Q. Y. (2009), «Two new records of snake in Hunan Province, Lycodon fasciatus and Rhabdophis nuchalis, collected in Hunan Hupingshan National Nature Reserve», Chin. J. Zool., 44, 145 – 147.

Le D. T., Nguyen S. L. H., Pham C. T., and Nguyen T. Q. (2014), «New records of snakes (Squamata: Serpentes) from Dien Bien Province», J. Biol., 36, 460 – 470.

Lee J. L. (2021), «Description of a new species of Southeast Asian reed snake from northern Laos (Squamata: Colubridae: genus Calamaria F. Boie, 1827) with a revised diagnosis of Calamaria yunnanensis Chernov, 1962», J. Nat. Hist., 55, 531 – 560.

Li J. N., Liang D., Wang Y. Y., Guo P., Huang S., and Zhang P. (2020), «A large-scale systematic framework of Chinese snakes based on a unified multilocus marker system», Mol. Phylogen. Evol., 148, 106807.

Liu Q., Xie X. H., Wu Y. Y., Shu G. C., Guo K., Guo P., and Cui L. W. (2021), «High genetic divergence but low morphological differences in a keelback snake Rhabdophis subminiatus (Reptilia, Colubridae)», J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res., 59(6), 1371 – 1381.

Mell R. (1931), «List of Chinese snakes», Lingnan Science J., 8[1929], 199 – 219.

Mori A., Burghardt G. M., Savitzky A. H., Roberts K. A., Hutchinson D. A., and Goris R. C. (2012), «Nuchal glands: a novel defensive system in snakes», Chemoecology, 22, 187 – 198.

Nguyen S. V., Ho C. T., and Nguyen T. Q. (2009), Herpetofauna of Vietnam, Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.

Nguyen T. V. and David P. (2022), «First record of Achalinus pingbianensis Li et al. 2020 (Serpentes: Xenodermidae) from Vietnam, with the first description of a female specimen and an expanded diagnosis», Zootaxa [in press].

Nguyen T. V. and Poyarkov N. A. (2020), «Geographic distribution: Hebius atemporale», Herpetol. Rev., 51, 767.

Orlov N. L., Murphy R. W., and Papenfuss T. J. (2000), «List of snakes of Tam Dao Mountain ridge (Tonkin, Vietnam)», Russ. J. Herpetol., 7, 69 – 80.

Parker H. W. (1925), «Variation of the lepidosis of a snake from S. E. Asia», Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist Ninth Ser., 15(86), 296 – 298.

Piao Y., Chen Z., Wu Y., Shi S. C., Takeuchi H., Jono T., Fukuda M., Mori A., Tang Y. Z., Chen Q., and Ding L. (2020), «A new species of the genus Rhabdophis Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Colubridae) in southwestern Sichuan, China», Asian Herpetol. Res., 11, 95 – 107.

Poyarkov N. A., Nguyen T. V., Orlov N. L., and Vogel G. (2019), «A new species of the genus Calamaria Boie, 1827 from the highlands of the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam (Squamata: Colubridae)», Russ. J. Herpetol., 26, 335 – 348.

Poyarkov N. A., Nguyen T. V., Paawangkhanant P., Yushchenko P. V., Brakels P., Nguyen L. H., Nguyen H. N., Suwannapoom C., Orlov N. L., and Vogel G. (2022), «An integrative taxonomic revision of slug-eating snakes (Squamata: Pareidae: Pareineae) reveals unprecedented diversity in Indochina», Peer J., 10, e12713.

Poyarkov N. A., Nguyen T. V., Popov E. S., Geissler P., Paawangkhanant P., Suwannapoom C., Ananjeva N. B., and Orlov N. L. (2023), «Recent progress in taxonomic studies, biogeographic analysis and revised checklist of Reptiles in Indochina», Russ. J. Herpetol., [in press].

Schmidt K. P. (1925), «New reptiles and a new salamander from China», Am. Mus. Novit., 157, 1 – 5

Smith M. A. (1943), The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. 3 (Serpentes), Taylor and Francis, London.

Uetz P., Freed P., and Hošek J. (eds.) (2022), The Reptile Database, Available from: http://www.reptile-database.org (accessed on 1 November 2022).

Vogel G., Nguyen T. V., Lalremsanga H. T., Biakzuala L., Hrima V., and Poyarkov N. A. (2020), «Taxonomic reassessment of the Pareas margaritophorus-macularius species complex (Squamata, Pareidae)», Vertebr. Zool., 70, 547 – 569.

Vogt T. (1927), «Beitrag zur Reptilien- und Amphibienfauna Sudchinas», Zool. Anz., 69(11 – 12), 281 – 288.

Wall F. (1925), «Notes on snakes collected in Burma in 1924», J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 30(4), 805 – 821.

Wallach V., Williams K. L., and Boundy J. (2014), Snakes of the World: a Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Xie X.-H., Liu Q., Cui L.-W., and Guo P. (2019), «Geographic variation of snake Rhabdophis nuchalis (Squamata: Colubridae) in China», Sichuan J. Zool., 38, 165 – 171.

Yang D. T. and Rao D. Q. (2008), Amphibia and Reptilia of Yunnan, Kunming, Yunnan Publishing Group Corporation, Yunnan Science.

Zhao E. M. (2006), The Snakes of China. In 2 Vols., Anhui Science and Technology Publ. House, Hefei, China. [in Chinese].

Zhao E. M. and Adler K. (1993), Herpetology of China, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Contributions to Herpetology, Number 10, Oxford, OH.

Zhao E. M. (1995), «Discussion on several species and subspecies of snakes in China», J. Shuzhou Railway Teachers Coll., 12(2), 36 – 38.

Zhu G. X., Wang Y. Y., Takeuchi H., and Zhao E. M. (2014), «A new species of the genus Rhabdophis Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Guangdong Province, southern China», Zootaxa, 3765, 469 – 480.

Zhu G. X., Yang S. J., Savitzky A. H., Cheng Y. Q., Mori A., Ding L., Rao D. Q., and Wang Q. (2022), «Cryptic diversity and phylogeography of the Rhabdophis nuchalis group (Squamata: Colubridae)», Mol. Phylogen. Evol., 166, 107325, 1 – 14.

Zhu G.-X., Guo P., and Zhao E.-M. (2013), «Comparative studies on hemipenial morphology of eight species of keelback snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae: Rhabdophis)», Sichuan J. Zool., 32, 380 – 384.

Zhu G.-X., Wang Y.-Y., Takeuchi H., and Zhao E.-M. (2014), «A new species of the genus Rhabdophis Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Guangdong Province, southern China», Zootaxa, 3765, 469 – 480.

Ziegler T., Ngo H. N., Pham A. V., Nguyen T. T., Le M. D., and Nguyen T. Q. (2018), «A new species of Parafimbrios from northern Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae)», Zootaxa, 4527, 269 – 276.

Ziegler T., Nguyen T. Q., Pham C. T., Nguyen T. T., Pham A. V., Schingen M. V., Nguyen T. T., and Le M. D. (2019), «Three new species of the snake genus Achalinus from Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae)», Zootaxa, 4590, 249 – 469.

Ziegler T., Pham C. T., Nguyen T. V., Nguyen T. Q., Wang J., Wang Y.-Y., and Le D. M. (2019), «A new species of Opisthotropis from northern Vietnam previously misidentified as the Yellow-spotted mountain stream keelback O. maculosa Stuart et Chuaynkern, 2007 (Squamata: Natricidae)», Zootaxa, 4613, 578 – 593.

Ziegler T., Tran V. A., Babb R. D., Jones T. R., Moler P. E., Devender R. W. V., and Nguyen T. Q. (2019), «A new species of reed snake, Calamaria Boie, 1827 from the central highlands of Vietnam (Squamata: Colubridae)», Rev. Suisse Zool., 26, 17 – 26.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2023-30-4-224-236

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


You can subscribe to the print or electronic version of the journal on the site of EastView Company. If you have any questions, please write to the email sales@ivis.ru