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The Asian pitviper genus Ovophis is a group of venomous snakes widely distributed in mid to high elevation mountains in Asia, and presently five species are recognised. However, its systematics, species diversity and species distribution boundaries remain poorly understood. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships and explored species diversity of Chinese Ovophis based on two mitochondrial fragments (Cyt b and ND4) and four nuclear genes (BACH1, c‐mos, Rag1, NT3) and also conducted a morphological comparison between focal species. Our results indicated that the species diversity had been underestimated within Ovophis and we described a population from southern Yunnan, China, as a new taxon, naming it as Ovophis malhotraesp.nov. Based on more extensive sampling, we redefined the distribution of O. monticola and O. makazayazaya in China. Divergence date estimation suggested that Ovophis originated at about 16.79 Ma in the middle Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • All species of Rhabdophis nuchalis (sensu lato) complex did not form a monophyly, but each species was highly supported. • Incongruence was detected between nuclear and mtDNA phylogeny. • A new taxa has been described from southwestern China. • Geographic distribution boundary for each species within this species complex has been redefined. Stable taxonomy and robust phylogeny are essential for the evolution and conservation of organisms. The Rhabdophis nuchalis (sensu lato) complex presently contains three species (R. nuchalis , R. chiwen , R. pentasupralabialis). Although several studies have explored the diversity and phylogeography of this group, certain issues related to systematics and taxonomy remain unresolved. Here, based on genome-wide data, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated from ddRAD-seq and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), we re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationships and cryptic diversity of this species group. Our results are generally consistent with previous studies but provide some new insights. Phylogenetic relationship reconstruction based on SNPs and mtDNA revealed that three species in the R. nuchalis (sensu lato) complex did not form a monophyly but each species is well supported as monophyletic lineage in SNP-based analyses. Population structure analyses showed genetic admixture between several species pairs. Additionally, the population in eastern Yunnan, China, was identified as a potential cryptic species and thus described as a new species based on morphological data. From our results and previous studies, we redefined the distribution boundary for each species in the R. nuchalis (sensu lato) species complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]