Triceratolepidophis sieversorum, a New Genus and Species of Pitviper (Reptilia: Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from Vietnam

Thomas Ziegler, Hans-Werner Herrmann, Patrick David, Nikolai L. Orlov, Olivier S. G. Pauwels

Abstract


A new genus and species of pitviper from the Annam Mountain Range, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam are described. The description is based on a single male specimen. This member of the Trimeresurus group is characterized by the presence of raised horn-like multiple supraoculars and by having the unique structure of the dorsal scales showing a keel consisting of three horn-like upraisings as well as the unique microdermatoglyphic pattern of the Oberhäutchen, which is tessellate fimbriate. First notes on its biology are provided and possible relationships of this new and striking taxon are discussed.


Keywords


Reptilia; Squamata; Serpentes; Viperidae; Crotalinae; Triceratolepidophis genus nov.; Triceratolepidophis sieversorum species nov.; Phong Nha Nature Reserve; Vietnam

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2000-7-3-199-214

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