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Yang, Dian-Cheng, Huang, Ru-Yi, Jiang, Ke, Burbrink, Frank T., Yu, Yan-An Gong Jing, Zhang, Yi, Huang, Tian-Qi, Huang, Song (2022): A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China. Zootaxa 5190 (1): 127-140, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5190.1.5

Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. D.C. Yang, R.Y Huang, K. JIANG, F.T. BURBRINK & S. Huang (Figs. 3–5) Suggested English common name: Ningshan Odd-scaled Snake. Suggested Chinese common name: Ťkḛffi (Bopomofo: Níng Shǎn Jǐ Shé). Holotype. ANU20220001 (field number JK0917, Fig. 3), an adult female, collected in summer of 2008 from Xunyangba Town (33.5434 N, 108.5439 E, 1372 m a. s. l.), Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China by the team of Ke Jiang. Paratypes. Six females, JK0918, JK0889, JK0890, JK0891, HSR19131, and HSR19132 (Voucher number: ANU20220002–7), all with the same collecting information as the holotype. Diagnosis. Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other members of the genus Achalinus by the following combination of morphological characters:(1) dorsum iridescent and uniformly dark brown in preservative, longitudinal vertebral line absent; (2) brown beneath; (3) dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudals absent; (4) tail length relatively short, TaL/ToL 12–16% in females; (5) fewer subcaudals, 41–46, in females; (6) dorsal scales 23 rows throughout, strongly keeled, and the outer-most rows on both sides of the body also keeled and slightly enlarged; (7) one loreal; (8) internasal not fused to prefrontal; (9) suture between internasals is similar size when compared to the suture between prefrontals; (10) preocular and postocular absent; (11) 6 supralabials; (12) 5 infralabials, the first 3 (rarely 2) touching the first pair of chin shields; (13) 3 pairs of chin shields. Description of the holotype. An adult female in excellent condition (Figs. 3 & 4). Body slender and subcylindrical, total length 436 mm (SVL 374 mm and Tal 62 mm); tail relatively shorter, TaL/ToL 14%; head slightly distinct from neck dorsally covered with large head scales, head length 13.72 mm; head width 7.16 mm; eyes small with subround pupils. Rostral small, subtriangular in frontal view, barely visible from above. Internasals paired, the suture between internasals (1.94 mm) subequal to that between prefrontals (1.63 mm); prefrontals paired, subrectangular. Frontal shield-shaped, nearly straight anteriorly, pointed backwards, slightly broader than it is long, and much shorter than the parietals. Parietals paired, the parietal suture longer than frontal. Nostril in the anterior part of the nasal. One loreal, rectangular, LorH: 0.97 mm, LorL: 1.90 mm (LorH/LorL: 0.51), extending from the nasal to the eye. One supraocular, in contact with loreal, prefrontals, frontal, parietals, and superior anterior temporals. No preocular or postocular. Temporals 2+3+4, two anterior temporals elongated, the upper one smaller in contact with parietal, the lower one in contact with fifth and sixth supralabials, both in contact with the eye; three elongated middle temporals; four elongated posterior temporals, the uppermost (super-temporal) significantly enlarged, the supertemporal split into two parts on the left, surrounding the parietal; the super-temporals from two sides contacting at the midline. Supralabials six, the first very small, 1–3 contacting the nasal, fourth and fifth contacting the orbit, fourth in narrow contact, fifth in broad contact, and sixth the longest and largest. One mental. Five infralabials, the first pair in contact blocking the mental from contacting an anterior pair of chin shields; first infralabial smallest, increasing in size until the fifth infralabial that is the longest. Three pairs of chin shields followed by ventrals. First three infralabials touching the first pair of chin shields on both sides. Dorsal scale rows 23–23–23, dorsal scales fusiform, not overlapping, distinctly keeled posterior to nape, and outermost dorsal scale row on both sides slightly keeled and enlarged. Ventrals 167; cloacal plate entire; subcaudals 43, uniserial. Coloration of holotype in preservative. Dorsum uniformly dark brown with metallic luster under light, the anterior portion of the head ash black, interstitial skin of dorsal dark brown. Ventral ground color brown, free margins of ventral scales grayish white. Variation. Measurements, body proportions, and scale counts are listed in Table 1. All paratypes are very similar to the holotype except in the following: paratypes JK0889, JK0891, and HSR19132 have two middle temporals; paratypes JK0890 and HSR19131 have two middle temporals and three posterior temporals; paratypes JK0890 have the first two infralabials touching the first pair of chin shields on both sides. The number of anterior temporals that contact the eyes is not a stable trait. Comparisons. Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other known species of snakes in the genus Achalinus by a combination of the following morphological characters: infralabials five, three pairs of chin shields, relatively shorter tail length (TaL/ToL 12–16% in females), longitudinal vertebral line absent, and missing a dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudals. Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from all other species in Achalinus except A. spinalis Peters, 1869, A. hainanus Huang, 1975, A. emilyae Ziegler, Nguyen, Pham, Nguyen, Pham, Van Schingen, Nguyen & Le, 2019, A. huangjietangi Huang, Peng, & Huang, 2021, and A. dehuaensis Li, Wu, Xu, Zhu, Ren, Guo & Dong, 2021 by having fewer infralabials (five vs. six). Furthermore, it differs from A. spinalis and A. huangjietangi by having the following characters: absent longitudinal vertebral line, and missing a dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudals; from A. hainanus by having two anterior temporals (vs. only one), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 67–69); from A. emilyae by having fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 63), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), outermost dorsal scales rows keeled (vs. outmost rows smooth); from A. dehuaensis by having a relatively shorter tail length (TaL/ToL 12–16% vs. 21–22% in females), fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 63–65), uniformly dark brown above, light brown beneath (vs. greyish brown above, pale yellow beneath). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. werneri Van denburgh, 1912 by having the following characters: absent longitudinal vertebral line, and missing a dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudals. Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. yangdatongi by having fewer infralabials (5 vs. 6), different dorsal scale row counts (23–23–23 vs. 23–23–19) and having three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. ater by the suture between internasals subequal to that between prefrontals (vs. suture between internasals distinctly longer than between prefrontals) and having fewer subcaudals (41–46 vs. 56–63). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. juliani by the suture between internasals subequal to that between prefrontals (vs. the suture between internasals distinctly longer than between prefrontals) and having a relatively shorter tail length (TaL/ToL 12–16% vs. 22–37%), fewer subcaudals (41–46 vs. 77–91), different dorsal scale row counts (23–23–23 vs. 25–23–23), and having three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. rufescens by having six supralabials, the fourth and fifth widely in contact with the eye (vs. five supralabials, third and fourth entering the eye) and being light brown beneath (vs. uniform yellowish beneath). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. formosanus Boulenger, 1908, A. jinggangensis (Zong & Ma, 1983), A. timi Ziegler, Nguyen, Pham, Nguyen, Pham, Van Schingen, Nguyen & Le, 2019, A. pingbianensis Li, Yu, Wu, Liao, Tang, Liu & Guo, 2020, A. zugorum Miller, Davis, Luong, Do, Pham, Ziegler, Lee, De Queiroz, Reynolds & Nguyen, 2020, by having a separated loreal (vs. absence). Further it is different from A. formosanus by having fewer midbody dorsal scale rows (23 vs. 27), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 61–70); from A. jinggangensis by having fewer infralabials (5 vs. 6), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 51); from A. timi by different dorsal scale row counts (23–23–23 vs. 25–25–23), fewer infralabials (5 vs. 6), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), and the suture between internasals subequal to that between prefrontals (vs. the suture between internasals distinctly longer than between prefrontals); from A. pingbianensis by having fewer infralabials (5 vs. 6), fewer supralabials (6 vs. 7), 3 pairs of chin shields (vs. 2 pairs), and being uniformly dark brown above, light brown beneath (vs. uniform black above and beneath), and from A. zugorum by having fewer infralabials (5 vs. 6), 3 pairs of chin shields (vs. 2 pairs). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. meiguensis Hu & Zhao, 1966 and A. panzhihuaensis by having divided internasals (vs. absent), absence of postocular (vs. presence), fewer infralabials (5 vs. 6), mental separated from anterior chin shields (vs. in contact), and the first pair of infralabials in contact (vs. separated). Furthermore, it differs from A. panzhihuaensis by different dorsal scale row counts (23–23–23 vs. 23–23–19). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. niger Maki, 1931 by having fewer infralabials (five vs. six), different dorsal scale row counts (23–23–23 vs. 25–25–23), and fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 52–58). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. tranganensis Luu, Ziegler, Ha, Lo, Hoang, Ngo, Le, Tran & Nguyen, 2020 by having fewer infralabials (five vs. six), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), a relatively shorter tail length (TaL/ToL 12–16% vs. 25%), and fewer subcaudals in females (41–46 vs. 73+). Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. differs from A. yunkaiensis Wang, Li & Wang, 2019 by having fewer infralabials (five vs. six), three pairs of chin shields (vs. two pairs), and the outer-most dorsal scales rows keeled (vs. outmost rows smooth). Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the location of type specimens, Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China. We suggest Níng Shǎn Jǐ Shé (Ťkḛffi) as Chinese common name, and Ningshan Odd-scaled Snake as English common name. Distribution and habits. Achalinus ningshanensis sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China. All the specimens were found in farmland. The surrounding habitat was composed of secondary conifer/broad-leaved mixed forest. The new species is sympatric with A. cf. spinalis, A. cf. rufescens, Stichophanes ningshaanensis (Yuan, 1983), Euprepiophis mandarinus (Cantor, 1842), Elaphe taeniura (Cope, 1861), E. carinata (Günther, 1864), E. xiphodonta Qi, Shi, Ma, Gao, Bu, Grismer, Li, Wang 2021, Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839), Cyclophiops major (Günther, 1858), Lycodon ruhstrati (Fischer, 1886), L. liuchengchaoi Zhang, Jiang, Vogel and Rao, 2011, Pseudoxenodon macrops (Blyth, 1855), Rhabdophis nuchalis (Boulenger, 1891), Zaocys dhumnades (Cantor, 1842), Azemiops kharini Orlov, Ryabov and Nguyen, 2013, Gloydius qinlingensis (Song and Chen, 1985), Protobothrops jerdonii (Günther, 1875), Published as part of Yang, Dian-Cheng, Huang, Ru-Yi, Jiang, Ke, Burbrink, Frank T., Yu, Yan-An Gong Jing, Zhang, Yi, Huang, Tian-Qi & Huang, Song, 2022, A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China, pp. 127-140 in Zootaxa 5190 (1) on pages 133-136, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7119993, {"references":["Peters, W. C. H. (1869) Nachtrag zu Uber neue Gattungen und neue oder weniger bekannte Arten von Amphibien (Eremias, Dicrodon, Euprepes, Lygosoma, Typhlops, Eryx, Rhynchonyx, Elapomorphus, Achalinus, Coronella, Dromicus, Xenopholis, Anoplodipsas, Spilotes, Tropidonotus). Monatsberichte der koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1869, 445 - 447.","Huang, R. Y., Peng, L. F., Yu, L., Huang, T. Q., Jiang, K., Ding, L., Chang, J. K., Yang, D. C., Xu, Y. H. & Huang, S. (2021) A New Species of the Genus Achalinus from Huangshan, Anhui, China (Squamata: Xenodermidae). Asian Herpetological Research, 12 (2), 178 - 187. https: // doi. org / 10.16373 / j. cnki. ahr. 200075","Li, K., Wu, Y. Y., Xu, R. Y., Zhu, F., Ren, J. L., Guo, P. & Dong, B. J. (2021) A new species of the Achalinus rufescens complex (Xenodermidae: Achalinus) from Fujian Province, China. Zootaxa, 5026 (2), 239 - 254. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 5026.2.5","Van Denburgh, J. (1912) Concerning certain species of reptiles and amphibians from China, Japan, the Loo Choo Islands, and Formosa. Proceedings of The California Academy of Sciences, 3, 187 - 258.","Boulenger, G. A. (1908) Description of a new frog and a new snake from Formosa. Annals & Magazine of Natural History, 8 (2), 221 - 222. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222930808692472","Zong, Y. & Ma, J. (1983) A new species of the genus Achalinopsis from Jiangxi and the restoration of this genus. Acta Herpetologica Sinica, 2 (2), 61 - 63. [in Chinese]","Li, K., Yu, M., Wu, Y. Y., Liao, L. H., Tang, K., Liu, Q. & Guo, P. (2020) A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermatidae) from southeastern Yunnan Province, China. Zootaxa, 4860 (1), 116 - 128. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4860.1.6","Hu, S. Q. & Zhao, E. M. (1966) Three new species of reptiles from Szechwan. Acta Zootaxon Sinica, 3 (2), 158 - 164. [In Chinese with English abstract]","Luu, V. Q., Ziegler, T., Van Ha, N., Van Lo, O., Hoang, T. T., Ngo, H. T., Le, M. D., Tran, D. H. & Nguyen, T. Q. (2020) A new species of Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Zootaxa, 4877 (1), 174 - 184. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4877.1.8","Wang, J., Li, Y., Zeng, Z. C., Lyu, Z. T., Sung, Y. H., Li, Y. Y., Lin, C. Y. & Wang, Y. Y. (2019) A new species of the genus Achalinus from southwestern Guangdong Province, China (Squamata: Xenodermatidae). Zootaxa, 4674 (4), 471 - 481. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4674.4.6","Qi, S., Shi, J. S., Ma, Y. B., Gao, Y. F., Bu, S. H., Grismer, L. L., Li, P. P. & Wang, Y. Y. (2021) A sheep in wolf's clothing: Elaphe xiphodonta sp. nov. (Squamata, Colubridae) and its possible mimicry to Protobothrops jerdonii. ZooKeys 1048, 23 - 47. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 1048.65650"]}

We describe a new species of Stoliczkia from Mizoram, India. Stoliczkia vanhnuailianai sp. nov. is identified as a member of the genus Stoliczkia by distinct scale arrangements on the posterior of the head, and by scales on the body being separated by scaleless skin, and it differs from the two known congeners in body and head scalation. This is only the third specimen of Stoliczkia collected from India, and the sixth reported specimen for the genus. A revised key to the identification of the species of Stoliczkia is provided.

Key to the identification of the species of Stoliczkia 1 Dark dorsum with many dorsolateral and middorsal pale blotches; eye separated from supralabials by small subocular scales; Borneo................................................................................... S. borneensis - Dark dorsum and pale venter meet along a regular, straight line; eye in contact with some supralabials; Northeast India.... 2 2 Dorsal scale rows at midbody 33; three supraocular shields per side; ventrals 125 (138 in only known specimen).................................................. S. vanhnuailianai sp. nov. - Dorsal scale rows at midbody 31; one supraocular shield per side; ventrals> 200 (207 and 208 in only two known specimens); subcaudals S. khasiensis, Published as part of Lalronunga, Samuel, Lalhmangaiha, K., Zosangliana, Isaac, Lalhmingliani, Esther, Gower, David J., Das, Abhijit & Deepak, V., 2021, A new species of Stoliczkia Jerdon, 1870 (Serpentes: Xenodermidae) from Mizoram India, pp. 569-580 in Zootaxa 4996 (3) on page 577, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4996.3.9, http://zenodo.org/record/5074909

Combining the results from morphological and molecular analyses, we explore the taxonomy of the genus Achalinus from Southwest China. As a result, we describe two new species, A. panzhihuaensis sp. nov. and A. yangdatongi sp. nov. from southern Sichuan and southern Yunnan provinces, respectively, and we record a new country record, A. emilyae, from Guangxi Zhuang A. R.. The mitochondrial genealogy suggests that A. panzhihuaensis sp. nov. is sister to A. meiguensis, while A. yangdatongi sp. nov. clusters with the sister species A. juliani and A. ater. Both new species show considerable genetic divergence from their recognized congeners (uncorrected p-distance > 6.2 % in COI gene). Furthermore, both new species can be diagnosed from closely related congeners by a combination of pholidosis characters. With our discovery, we provide a revised key to the 13 species from China and discuss some of the remaining issues regarding the taxonomy of the genus in China.

Achalinus yangdatongi sp. nov. (Figs. 6 and 7) Holotype. KIZ 034327, adult male, collected by Kai Xu on 15 April 2018 from Xiaoqiaogou (23.361°N, 104.686°E; 1609 m a.s.l.), Xichou County, Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China. Diagnosis. Achalinus yangdatongi sp. nov. can be distinguished from recognized species of Achalinus by a combination of the following characters: (1) TaL/ToL 26.2% in the male; (2) suture between internasals distinctly longer than that between prefrontals; (3) internasal present; (4) loreal present; (5) supralabials 6; (6) temporals 2+2+3, anterior two temporals in contact with eye; (7) infralabials 6; (8) first pair of infralabials in contact with each other behind mental; (9) dorsal body scales in 23–23–19 rows; (10) scales behind head irregular in shape, smooth; (11) ventrals 161; (12) subcaudals 82, unpaired; (13) precloacal scale entire; (14) maxillary teeth 19; and (15) body surface black above and beneath, iridescent. Description of holotype. Total length 397 mm (SVL 293 mm, TaL 104 mm); tail long, TaL/ToL 26.2%; body slender, cylindrical; head slightly distinct from neck, HL 11.6 mm; eye small, pupil vertically subelliptic. Rostral small, triangular, slightly visible from above; suture between internasals (1.9 mm) longer than that between prefrontals (1.3 mm); nostril in anterior part of nasal; frontal pentagonal, slightly broader than long, pointed backwards, much shorter than parietals; single pair of parietals; loreal rectangle, wider (LeL: 1.4 mm) than the height (HiL: 0.8 mm); single supraocular, in contact with loreal, prefrontals, frontal, parietals and superior anterior temporals; temporals 2+2+4, two anterior temporals all pentagonal and in contact with eye, superioanterior temporals in contact with parietal, inferioanterior temporal in contact with fourth and fifth supralabials; middle temporals elongated, inferior middle temporal in contact with sixth supralabials; four posterior temporals, superioposterior temporals biggest, inferioposterior temporal smallest; supralabials 6, first smallest, fourth and fifth entering orbit, sixth longest; mental in arc shape, separated from anterior chin shields; infralabials 6, first pair of infralabials in contact with each other behind mental; two pairs of chin shields, anterior one semicircle-shape, posterior pair in unequilateral quadrilateral shape; first three infralabials in contact with anterior chin shields; third and fourth infralabials in contact with posterior chin shields. All scales with metallic luster, weakly iridescent; scales behind head irregular in shape, smooth without keeled; dorsal scale rows 23–23–19, scales lanceolate and strongly keeled; ventrals 161; subcaudals 82, unpaired; precloacal entire. Coloration: In preservative, the dorsal surface of the body is black, the anterior portion of the coloration of underside of head is dark brown, and the posterior portion and throat is light brown. The color becomes darken gradually from the throat posteriorly until it becomes black, except the free margin of each ventral scale, which is grayish white. Comparisons. A. yangdatongi sp. nov. is most similar to A. ater, in which both species have a suture between internasals distinctly longer than that between prefrontals, equal number of supralabials and infralabials (both 6), anterior temporals in contact with eyes, first pair of infralabials in contact with each other behind the mental, dorsal scales in 23–23–19 rows, as well as by the presence of internasal and loreal scales. However, the new species can be diagnosed from A. ater by having more subcaudals (SC 82 vs. 47–70), a comparatively longer tail (TaL/ToL 26.2% vs. 19.0%–22.0%), and different coloration of ventral head (the anterior portion dark brown, posterior portion and throat light brown vs. uniformly yellowish-white). Achalinus yangdatongi sp. nov. differs from A. juliani by having fewer ventrals (161 vs. 173–179), fewer DSRH (23 vs. 25), and a distinct coloration (black on both dorsal and ventral surfaces vs. greyish brown dorsally, greyish cream ventrally). Achalinus yangdatongi sp. nov. differs from A. tranganensis by having fewer ventrals (161 vs. 171), by having dorsal scale rows 23–23–19, smooth without keeled (vs. dorsal scales in 25–23–23 rows, keeled), by having temporals 2+2+4 (vs. 2+3). Achalinus yangdatongi sp. nov. differs from A. emilyae and A. rufescens by having more infralabials (6 vs. 5 in both A. emilyae and A. rufescens), distinct body coloration (black on dorsal body and belly vs. dorsum iridescent pale yellowish brown in A. emilyae, and uniform pale reddish or reddish-brown dark grey dorsally in A. rufescens). Furthermore, the new species differ from A. rufescens by having more ventrals in males (161 vs. 131–137) (Table 4). Achalinus yangdatongi sp. nov. differs from A. niger, A. werneri, A. yunkaiensis, and A. spinalis by having suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (vs. less than or subequal to), a comparatively longer tail (TaL/ToL 26.2% vs. 15.0%–18.0% in A. niger, 15.0%–25.0% in A. spinalis, and 18.0%–20.0% in A. yunkaiensis), fewer subcaudals in male (SC 82 vs. 89–98 in A. werneri); from A. formosanus, A. jinggangensis, A. pingbianensis, A. timi and A. zugorum by presence of loreal scale (vs. absence), fewer dorsal scale rows (23–23–19 vs. 25–25– 23 in A. timi, and 27–27– 25 in A. formosanus), and more subcaudals (SC 82 vs. 51–64 in A. jinggangensis, 56 in A. pingbianensis and 70 in A. zugorum); from A. meiguensis and A. panzhihuaensis sp. nov. by presence of internasal (vs. absent), absence of postocular (vs. present), as well as by having different state of nasal scales (separated vs. in contact each other behind the rostral), mental separated from anterior chin shields (vs. in contact), and first pair of infralabials in contact with each other (vs. separated); and from A. hainanus by having different temporal formula (2–2–3 vs. 1–2–3), more subcaudals (SC 82 vs. 67–69), and more infralabials (6 vs. 5). Natural history and distribution. The holotype was found on a paved road near a reservoir on a drizzly night. The nearby habitat is characterized by secondary forests and abandoned farmlands (Fig. 7). At the type locality, this species is sympatric with Trimerodytes percarinatus (Boulenger, 1899), Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Cantor, 1839), and Pareas sp. With the holotype and the genetically identified snake sheds, A. yangdatongi sp. nov. is only known from its type locality at Xiaoqiaogou, Xichou county, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China (Fig. 1). Etymology. The species name, yangdatongi, is a patronym honoring the Chinese herpetologist, Dr. Da-Tong Yang. We name the new species after Dr. Yang in recognition of his great contributions to the herpetological research in Southwestern China, particularly in Yunnan Province where the new species is found. We suggest “Yang’s Odd-scaled Snake” as its common English name, and “ 杨氏ñffi ” (Pinyin: Yang Shi Ji She) as its Chinese common name.

Achalinus panzhihuaensis sp. nov. (Figs. 3 and 4) Holotype. KIZ 040189, adult male, collected by Benfu Miao and Kai Wang on 10 May 2018 from Hongbao Village (27.00��N, 101.53��E), Yanbian County, Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, China. Diagnosis. Achalinus panzhihuaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from recognized congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) TaL/ToL 24.6% in the single male; (2) two nasal scales in contact with each other behind the rostral; (3) internasal absent; (4) loreal rectangular; (5) supralabials 6; (6) postocular single and small; (7) temporals 2+2+3, anterior pair elongated, upper one smaller, only uppermost in contact with eye; (8) infralabials 6; (9) mental in contact with first pair of chin shields, fully separating first pair of infralabials; (10) dorsal scales 23���23���19 rows; (11) ventrals 160; (12) subcaudals 73, unpaired; (13) precloacal scale entire; (14) maxillary teeth 28; and (15) all scales iridescent with metallic luster, brown dorsally, with single indigo-colored vertebral line. Description of holotype. Body size small, total length 257 mm (SVL 194 mm, TaL 63 mm); tail long, 24.6% total length; body slender, cylindrical in cross section. Head slightly distinct from neck, HL 7.8 mm; eye small, pupil vertically subelliptic. Rostral small, triangular, invisible from above; nasal divided, each half in contact with each other; internasal absent; prefrontals paired, suture length 2.1 mm; frontal pentagonal, slightly wider than long, pointed posteriorly; single pair of parietals; loreal pentagonal, tip pointing anteriorly, longer (LeL: 1.2 mm) than high (HiL: 0.8 mm), LeL/HiL 150.0%; supraocular single, in contact with loreal, prefrontals, frontal, parietals, and superior anterior temporals. Temporals in three groups, 2+2+3; superior one of anterior most pair triangular, small, inferior one much larger, elongated, in contact with fourth and fifth supralabials and parietal; the middle pair, superior one parallelogram, small, inferior one much larger, elongated, in contact with sixth supralabials and three posterior temporals; superior most one of last trios biggest, size gradually decreases inferiorly; supralabials six, first one smallest, fourth and fifth in contact with eyes, sixth longest. Mental arc-shaped, in contact with first pair of chin shields; three pairs of chin shields, first pair in fan-shaped, remaining ones of second and third pairs in unequilateralquadrilateral shape. Infralabials six, first pair not in contact with each other, first three in contact with anterior-most pair of chin shields, third and fourth infralabials in contact with middle pair. Dorsal scales elliptical, 23���23���19 rows, medial 6���11 rows distinctly keeled, remaining outer rows smooth. Ventrals 160, rounded laterally; subcaudals 73, unpaired; precloacal entire. Coloration: In life, all scales are weakly iridescent with metallic luster. Dorsum is purplish brown. The vertebral and three paravertebral rows of dorsal scales are darker indigo, which form a darker longitudinal vertebral stripe extending from the posterior margin of the parietals to the tip of tail. Ventral surface of the body is greyish white, and the subcaudal region is purplish brown. In preservative, all scales are still iridescent. Coloration becomes darker after preservation. The dorsum becomes dark grey, and the vertebral stripe turns black. The ventral surface of the body becomes greyish brown, and the ventral tail is dark greyish brown. Comparisons. A. panzhihuaensis sp. nov. is most similar to its sister species A. meiguensis, in which both species have divided nasal scales in contact with each other, no internasal, a single postocular, 6 supralabials, 6 infralabials, mental in contact with first pair of chin shields, and fully separated first pair of infralabials. However, the new species can be diagnosed readily from A. meiguensis by having more subcaudals (SC 73 vs. 39���60), more ventrals in male (VEN 160 vs. 146���155), and more DSRM (23 vs. 19���21) (Table 4). Achalinus panzhihuaensis sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from A. ater, A. emilyae, A. formosanus Boulenger, A. hainanus Huang, A. jinggangensis Zong & Ma, A. juliani, A. niger Mahi, A. pingbianensis Li, Yu, Wu, Liao, Tang, Liu & Guo, A. rufescens Boulenger, A. spinalis Peters, A. tranganensis Luu, Ziegler, Ha, Lo, Hoang, Ngo, Le, Tran & Nguyen, A. timi, A. yunkaiensis, A. werneri Van Denburgh and A. zugorum Miller, Davis, Luong, Do, Pham, Ziegler, Lee, De Queiroz, Reynolds & Nguyen, by having divided nasal scales in contact each other behind the rostral (vs. separated), mental in contact with the first pair of chin shields (vs. separated), first pair of infralabials separated from each other (vs. in contact), as well as an absence of internasal (vs. present), and by the presence of a small postocular (vs. absent). Furthermore, the new species differs from A. jinggangensis, A. pingbianensis, A. timi and A. formosanus by having loreal separated from prefrontal (vs. fused); and from A. emilyae, A. hainanus and A. rufecens by having more infralabials (6 vs. 5). Natural history and distribution. The holotype was found on a montane road at night. The surrounding habitat was of secondary forest of evergreen broadleaf forest with shrubs and vines (Fig. 5). According to locals, road-killed individuals are somewhat common in the summer. At the type locality, the species is sympatric with Diploderma swild Wang, Wu, Jiang, Chen, Miao, Siler, Che, 2019, Lycodon cf. gongshan Vogel, Luo, 2011, Hebius yanbianensis Liu, Zhong, Wang, Liu, Guo, 2018, Ptyas nigromarginata (Blyth, 1854), Megophrys platyparietus (Yang, Rao, 1997), and Odorrana sp.. The new species is currently only known from the type locality in Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, China (Fig. 1). Etymology. The specific epithet ��� panzhihuaensis ��� is named after the type locality of the new species, Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, China. We propose ���Panzhihua Odd-scaled Snake��� as its common English name and ��� ������ AE��ffi ��� (Pinyin: Pan Zhi Hua Ji She) as its Chinese common name., Published as part of Hou, Shao-Bing, Wang, Kai, Guo, Peng, Chen, Jin-Min, Yuan, Zhi-Yong & Che, Jing, 2021, Two new species and a new country record of the genus Achalinus (Reptilia Squamata: Xenodermidae) from China, pp. 528-546 in Zootaxa 4950 (3) on pages 535-537, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4950.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/4650074

Achalinus emilyae Ziegler, Nguyen, Pham, Nguyen, Pham, Van Schingen, Nguyen & Le, 2019 (Figs. 8 and 9) Chinese Name. We suggest ��� ��������ffi ��� (Pinyin: Yue Bei Ji She) as its Chinese common name. Specimen examined. Single adult female (KIZ 022248), road-killed individual collected by Zhiyong Yuan and Jinmin Chen from Dongzhong (21.719�� N, 107.583��E), Fangchenggang County, Guangxi Zhuang A. R., China, on 2 September 2012 (Fig. 1). Description. Total length 453 mm (SVL 361 mm, TaL 92 mm, TaL/ToL 20.3%); body slender, cylindrical; head slightly distinct from neck, dorsally covered with large shields; eye small, with pupil vertically subelliptic. Rostral small, triangular, slightly visible from above; frontal pentagonal, slightly broader than long, pointed backwards, much shorter than parietals; parietal long, more than half length of head; nasal divided, nostril in anterior half; one loreal, wider than high, extending from nasal to eye; single supraocular, in contact with loreal, prefrontals, frontal, parietals, and superior anterior temporals; two anterior temporals, only uppermost in contact with eye; two elongated middle temporals, superior one much larger, inferior one in contact with sixth supralabial; three elongate posterior temporals, most superior one largest, separated from each other behind parietals by one small scale; supralabials six, first smallest, third and fourth in contact with loreal; fourth and fifth in contact with eye, sixth longest; mental in arc shape, separated from anterior chin shields, followed by five infralabials; first pair of infralabials in contact with each other; first three infralabials in contact with anterior chin shields; posterior chin shields smaller, laterally in contact with third and fourth infralabials. Dorsal scales elliptical, keeled from neck region onwards; dorsal scale rows 23���23���23; ventrals 157 (potential preventrals included), rounded laterally; subcaudals 56, unpaired; precloacal entire. Coloration. In life, the dorsal body surfaces of the snake are greyish brown with a dark greyish brown vertebral stripe along the body. The ethanol-preserved specimen is greyish brown above, venter is greyish cream, with the ventral surface of the tail being somewhat darker, and the gular region somewhat paler. Infralabials and chin shields light greyish brown. Comments. The Guangxi specimen matches with most of the diagnosis of A. emilyae, including having (1) TaL/ToL 20.3%; (2) suture between internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; (3) internasal present; (4) loreal present, wider than high, extending from nasal to eye; (5) supralabials 6; (6) infralabials 5; (7) first pair of infralabials in contact with each other; (8) first three infralabials in contact with anterior chin shields; (9) mental separated from anterior chin shields; (10) temporals 2+2, only the superioanterior one in contact with eye; (11) ventrals 157 in female; (12) subcaudals unpaired; (13) dorsal scale rows 23���23���23; (14) maxillary teeth 28; and (15) dorsum iridescent pale yellowish brown with a dark longitudinal vertebral stripe. The only deviation from the diagnosis of the type series is the number of subcaudal scale (65 for Guangxi specimen vs. 63 for the female paratype). Natural history. The specimen was a road-kill, and its head was found swallowed by a road-killed Bungarus fasciatus (Fig. 9). The nearby habitat consists of secondary forest of broadleaf evergreen forest mixed with shrubs and vines (Provided by Jin-Min Chen, who collected this specimen in the wild). At the type locality, the species is sympatric with Boiga multomaculata (Boie, 1827), Hypsiscopus plumbea (Boie, 1827), Pareas margaritophorus (Jan, 1866), Ptyas dhumnades (Cantor, 1842) and Ptyas multicinctus (Roux, 1907). Distribution. Currently A. emilyae is only known from southern China and northern Vietnam. In China, this species is known from a single locality in Guangxi Zhuang A. R. (Fig. 1)., Published as part of Hou, Shao-Bing, Wang, Kai, Guo, Peng, Chen, Jin-Min, Yuan, Zhi-Yong & Che, Jing, 2021, Two new species and a new country record of the genus Achalinus (Reptilia Squamata: Xenodermidae) from China, pp. 528-546 in Zootaxa 4950 (3) on pages 541-542, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4950.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/4650074

Key to species of the genus Achalinus Peters, 1869 1a. Internasal absent..................................................................................... 2 1b. Internasal present..................................................................................... 3 2a. Ventrals 146���155 in male; subcaudals 39���60; DSRM 19���21........................................ A. meiguensis 2b. Ventrals 160 in male; subcaudals 73; DSRM 23............................................... A. panzhihuaensis 3a. Loreal absent........................................................................................ 4 3b. Loreal present....................................................................................... 6 4a. Dorsal scale rows 27���27���25................................................................. A. formosanus 4b. Dorsal scale rows 23���23���23............................................................................ 5 5a. Suture between internasals longer than prefrontal suture......................................... A. jinggangensis 5b. Length of suture between internasals subequal to that between prefrontals............................ A.pingbianensis 6a. Anterior temporals single; two superior posterior temporals in contact and overlap greatly posterior to parietal....................................................................................................... A. hainanus 6b. Anterior temporals 2; two superior posterior temporals not in contact with each other posterior to parietal, or in contact but overlap slightly...................................................................................... 7 7a. Suture length between internasals less than or subequal to that between prefrontals................................. 8 7b. Suture length between the internasals much longer than that between prefrontals.................................. 10 8a. Dorsal scale rows 25���25���23...................................................................... A. niger 8b. Middorsal scale rows 23............................................................................... 9 9a. Dorsal color brown in adults, ventral light brown; TaL/ToL 18���20%................................. A. yunkaiensis 9b. Dorsal color black, ventral black brown; TaL/ToL 15���25%............................................ A. spinalis 10a. Infralabials 5....................................................................................... 11 10b. Infralabials 6....................................................................................... 12 11a. Ventrals 157���161 in females; subcaudals 63���65..................................................... A. emilyae 11b. Ventrals 148���158 in females; subcaudals 54���61.................................................... A. rufescens 12a. Subcaudals 47���70; TaL/ToL 19���22%................................................................ A. ater 12b. Subcaudals 82; TaL/ToL 26%............................................................... A. yangdatongi, Published as part of Hou, Shao-Bing, Wang, Kai, Guo, Peng, Chen, Jin-Min, Yuan, Zhi-Yong & Che, Jing, 2021, Two new species and a new country record of the genus Achalinus (Reptilia Squamata: Xenodermidae) from China, pp. 528-546 in Zootaxa 4950 (3) on page 544, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4950.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/4650074, {"references":["Peters, W. C. H. (1869) s. n. In: Uber neue Gattungen und neue oder weniger bekannte Arten von Amphibien (Eremias, Dicrodon, Euprepes, Lygosoma, Typhlops, Eryx, Rhynchonyx, Elapomorphus, Achalinus, Coronella, Dromicus, Xenopholis, Anoplodipsas, Spilotes, Tropidonotus). Monatsber. k. preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, pp. 432 - 447."]}

Common burrowing snake Achalinus spinalis is the type species of Achalinus. The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of A. spinalis was determined by using a PCR-based method. The total length of mitogenome is 17,165 bp and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosome RNA genes and 2 control regions (CR). All the protein-coding genes in A. spinalis were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand. The phylogenetic tree of A. spinalis and 12 other closely species was built. The DNA data presented here will be useful to study the evolutionary relationships and genetic diversity of A. spinalis.

We reassess the taxonomy of the Indian endemic snake Xylophis captaini and describe a new species of Xylophis based on a type series of three specimens from the southernmost part of mainland India. Xylophis deepakisp. nov. is most similar phenotypically to X. captaini, with which it was previously confused. The new species differs from X. captaini by having a broader, more regular and ventrally extensive off-white collar, more ventral scales (117–125 versus 102–113), and by lack of flounces on the body and proximal lobes of the hemipenis. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S DNA sequences strongly indicates that the new species is most closely related to X. captaini, differing from it by an uncorrected pairwise genetic distance of 4.2%. A revised key to the species of Xylophis is provided.

Achalinus tranganensis sp. nov. Figs. 2, 3 Holotype. VNUF R.2018.21 (field number TA.18.21), adult female, from limestone forest (20��15.266���N, 105��53.677���E, 9 m a.s.l.), near Tran Temple, Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam, collected by V. Q. Luu, O. V. Lo, N. T. Nguyen on 31 May 2018. Diagnosis. Achalinus tranganensis sp. nov is characterized by the following combination of morphological characters: 1) maxillary teeth 29; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal distinctly wider than high, extending from the nasal to the eye; 4) dorsal scales in 25���23���23 rows, keeled; 5) two pairs of prefrontals; 6) supralabials six; 7) infralabials six; 8) temporals 2+3, the two anterior temporals in contact with eye; 9) ventrals 171; 10) subcaudals 73+, entire; 11) cloacal entire; 12) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above; 13) the lower part of head side and chin region somewhat paler than remaining head; 14) venter greyish cream, with the anterior region of each ventral and subcaudal somewhat darker. Description of the holotype. Total length 448 mm (SVL 334 mm, TailL 114 mm); tail long, tail tip lost, tail length/ total length ratio 0.25; body slender, cylindrical; head length 9.9 mm; head slightly distinct from neck, dorsally covered with large shields; eye small, with vertically subelliptic pupil; left maxilla with 29 equally sized, curved teeth. Rostral small, triangular, not visible from above; suture between internasals (2.3 mm) longer than that between prefrontals (1.6 mm); nostril in anterior part of nasal; frontal heptagonal, heart-shaped, slightly broader than long, pointed backwards, much shorter than parietals; parietal bordered behind by an elongated nuchal, nuchals separated from each other by three small, elongated scales; one loreal, distinctly longer than high, extending from nasal to eye; medial pair of prefrontals elongated, in broad contact with larger lateral prefrontal; lateral prefrontals in contact with nasal, internasal, medial prefrontal, frontal, supraocular, and loreal; one supraocular; two anterior temporals, both touching eye; two large posterior temporals (a minute scale present between upper anterior and posterior temporals on right); supralabials six, first smallest, fourth and fifth in contact with eye, sixth longest; one curved rectangle mental; six infralabials, first pair in contact with each other, first pair of chin shields larger than posterior, in contact with first three infralabials; posterior pair of chin shields smaller, in contact with third and fourth infralabials. Dorsal scales elliptical, keeled from the neck region posteriorly, in 25-23-23 rows; ventrals 171 (no preventrals), approximately 3 times wider than long, laterally rounded; subcaudals 73+, unpaired; cloacal entire. Colouration in preservative. Reddish to greyish brown above with weakly iridescent colouration in all scales; lower sides of head somewhat paler; venter greyish cream, with anterior region of the ventrals and subcaudals somewhat darker; underside of the tail somewhat darker than belly and the chin region somewhat paler than remaining head (Fig. 4). Colouration in life. Dorsum iridescent reddish to greyish brown; underside of head light brown; venter greyish cream; under tail dark brown. Comparisons. The condition of the prefrontals being arranged in two pairs is unique in Achalinus and thus distinguishes the new species from all other congeners and thus is not repeated in the detailed comparisons in the following. At first glance, Achalinus tranganensis sp. nov. resembles A. juliani in color pattern and dorsal scalerow formula. However, A. tranganensis can be distinguished from A. juliani by having fewer ventrals in the female (171 versus 179); from A. ater by having more anterior temporals (3 versus 2), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly (25 versus 23 or 21), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 47���70); from A. emilyae by having more infralabials (6 ver-sus 5), more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly (25 versus 23), more ventrals (171 versus 157���161), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 63); from A. formosanus by having more maxillary teeth (29 versus 14���17), the internasal suture distinctly longer than prefrontal suture (versus internasal suture almost as long as prefrontal suture), the loreal unfused with prefrontal (versus fused), fewer dorsal scale rows (25���23���23 versus 25���29��� 25���27���25), more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), and lacking a black mid-dorsal line; from A. jinggangensis Zong & Ma, 1983 by having more maxillary teeth (29 versus 22), loreal unfused with prefrontal (versus fused), more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), more ventrals (171 versus 156���164), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 51���64); from A. hainanus Huang, 1975 by having more infralabials (6 versus 5), more temporals (2+3 versus 1+2), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly (25 versus 23), more ventrals (171 versus 165���168), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 67���69); from A. meiguensis by having more maxillary teeth (29 versus 17), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly and posteriorly (25 versus 21 or 23; 23 versus 19, respectively), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 39���62); from A. niger by having the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus almost as long as or shorter), fewer midbody scale rows (23 versus 25), more subcaudals in females (73 versus 52���58), and keeled dorsal scales (versus smooth on anterior part of body); from A. pingbianensis by having the loreal unfused with prefrontal (versus fused), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly (25 versus 23), more ventrals (171 versus 164+2), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 56); from A. rufescens by having more infralabials (6 versus 5), more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), more ventrals in females (171 versus 148���158), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 54���61); from A. spinalis by having more maxillary teeth (29 versus 16���20), the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus as long as or shorter), more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly (25 versus 21���24), and more subcaudals (73 versus 39���67); from Achalinus timi by having the loreal unfused with prefrontal (versus fused), more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), and fewer scale rows at midbody (23 versus 25); from A. werneri by the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus almost as long as), having more posterior temporals (3 versus 2), and by lacking a black mid-dorsal line; from A. yunkaiensis by having more maxillary teeth (29 versus 20���22), the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus as long as), more posterior temporals (3 versus 1), more dorsal scale rows anteriorly (25 versus 23), more ventrals (171 versus 151���162), and more subcaudals (73+ versus 38���56). Distribution. Achalinus tranganensis sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality in the Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam (Fig. 4). Etymology: We name this species after its type locality, the Trang An Landscape Complex, where the new Achalinus was discovered and propose the following common names: Trang An Burrowing Snake (English), R���n xe đi���u tr��ng an (Vietnamese). Natural history. The holotype was found at 2045 h, while crawling on a forest path under dry leaves, at an elevation of 9 m a.s.l. The surrounding habitat is secondary karst forest (Fig. 5). The humidity at the time of collection was approximately 78%, and the air temperature was 29 oC. Other amphibians and reptiles were observed and collected in the area such as Theloderma annae Nguyen, Pham, Nguyen, Ngo, and Ziegler; Sylvirana guentheri (Boulenger), Lycodon futsingensis (Pope), L. subcinctus Boie, Oligodon chinensis (G��nther)., Published as part of Luu, Vinh Quang, Ziegler, Thomas, Ha, Nghia Van, Lo, Oanh Van, Hoang, Tuoi Thi, Ngo, Hanh Thi, Le, Minh Duc, Tran, Dung Hoang & Nguyen, Truong Quang, 2020, A new species of Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Trang An Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, pp. 174-184 in Zootaxa 4877 (1) on pages 177-180, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4877.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/4572461, {"references":["Zong, Y. & Ma, J. (1983) A new species of the genus Achalinopsis from Jiangxi and the restoration of this genus. Acta Herpetologica Sinica, 2 (2), 61 - 63. [in Chinese]"]}

We describe a new snake of the genus Achalinus based on an adult female specimen from Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Achalinus tranganensis sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners genetically and by a unique combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 29; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal distinctly wider than high, extending from the nasal to the eye; 4) dorsal scales in 25–23–23 rows, keeled; 5) two pairs of prefrontals; 6) supralabials six; 7) infralabials six; 8) temporals 2+3, the two anterior temporals in contact with eye; 9) ventrals 171; 10) subcaudals 73+, unpaired; 11) cloacal plate entire; 12) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above; 13) the lower part of head side and chin region somewhat paler than the dorsum; 14) venter greyish cream, with the anterior region of each ventral and subcaudal somewhat darker. Based on molecular comparisons using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), the new species differs from other members of the genus by at least 11.8%. This discovery increases the number of Achalinus species known from Vietnam to seven.

Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. (Figures 1, 3–5) Holotype. YBU 18273, an adult male, collected by K. Li, M. Yu, L. H. Liao, and K. Tang at night on July 12, 2019 in Dawei Mountain Nature Reserve, Pingbian County (N 103°42′01.02″, E 22°55′02.78″), southeastern Yunnan Province, China, at an elevation of 1, 968 m above sea level. Diagnosis. A new species of Achalinus having the combination of (1) dorsal scales strongly keeled, 23 rows throughout; (2) tail relatively short, TaL/TL 24.3%; (3) length of suture between internasals subequal to that between prefrontals; (4) nasal divided into two sections by nasal cleft; (5) loreal fused with prefrontal, with the prefrontal extending towards the supralabials; (6) supralabials 7, the fifth and sixth widely in contact with eye; (7) infralabials 6, the first three touching the first pair of chin shields; (8) temporals 2+2+3 on right side and 2+2 on left side, the uppermost anterior temporal in contact with eye; (9) ventrals 164+2, subcaudals 56, arranged in single row; (10) anal entire; (11) uniform black, tinged weakly iridescent; (12) light black beneath. Description of holotype. An adult male with a total length of 429 mm (SVL 345 mm and TaL 84 mm), TaL/TL 24.3%. Body slender, cylindrical; head slightly distinct from neck; eye small, with vertically oval pupil; rostral small, triangular, slightly visible from above. LSBI subequal to LSBP. Nostril in the anterior part of the nasal, posterior margin of nostril with a distinct nostril cleft, the posterior section of nasal vertically rectangular. Frontal pentagonal, slightly broader than long, pointed backwards, much shorter than the parietals; each parietal bordered by an elongated nuchal. Nuchals separated from each other behind parietals by one small scale; the second pair of nuchals about 2/3 the size as the first pair. Loreal lacking, prefrontals stretch towards the SPL. Preocular and postocular absent. A single SPO. Two aTMP, elongated, upper one smaller, only uppermost in contact with eye, four elongated pTMP on right side, and pTMP of the left side nondescript. SPL 7, the first smallest, fifth and sixth in contact with the eye, seventh longest. One mental, followed by six IFL, the first pair of IFL in contact with each other; the first three IFL touching the first pair of chin shields; posterior pair of chin shields larger, length of the suture between the first pair equal to that between the second pair, laterally in contact with third to fifth IFL. Dorsal scales lanceolate and strongly keeled, in 23-23-23 rows, those of the most outer rows on both sides significantly enlarged and smooth. VS 164 (plus two preventrals), distinctly rounded laterally; SC 56, not paired; anal entire. Coloration of holotype in life. Uniform black above, vertebral line unseen. All scales tinged iridescent and margin of scales greyish white. Uniform light black beneath. The ventral tail dark brown, the dorsal tail surface iridescent black (Figs. 3 and 4). Coloration of holotype in preservation. All scales tinged weakly iridescent. Uniform black, margin of all scales dark grey. Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality of this species, Dawei Mountain Nature Reserve, Pingbian County, Southeastern Yunnan, China. We suggest the common names as Ping Bian Ji She (DZṈṘẘ) in Chinese and Pingbian odd-scaled snake in English. Distribution and habits. Currently, Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. is known only from its type locality at Dawei Mountain Nature Reserve, Pingbian County, southeastern Yunnan Province, China (Fig. 1). The specimen was found at 9:00 PM on the road with moss and leaf litters in well-preserved montane evergreen broadleaf forest on both sides. Comparisons. Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. differs from all other species of Achalinus, except A. jinggangensis and A. timi, by the absence of a loreal. Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. further differs from A. jinggangensis, A. timi, A. ater, A. hainanus, A. rufescens, A. emilyae, A. yunkaiensis, and A. juliani by having length of suture between internasals subequal to that between prefrontals (vs. distinctly longer than that between prefrontals). Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from A. formosanus (mDSR 25–27), A. meiguensis (mDSR 19–21), A. timi (mDSR 25), and A. niger (mDSR 27) by having mDSR 23, and from A. hainanus and A. meiguensis by the presence of internasals. In addition, the new species can be differentiated from some congeners in VS, SC, and Tal/TL ratio. Comparisons between the new species and its congeners are summarized in Table 4. ......continued on the next page, Published as part of Li, Ke, Yu, Min, Wu, Ya-Yong, Liao, Lin-Hong, Tang, Kui, Liu, Qin & Guo, Peng, 2020, A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermatidae) from southeastern Yunnan Province, China, pp. 116-128 in Zootaxa 4860 (1) on pages 121-123, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4860.1.6, http://zenodo.org/record/4537645, {"references":["Van Denburgh, J. (1912) Concerning certain species of reptiles and amphibians from China, Japan, the Loo Choo Islands, and Formosa. Proceedings of The California Academy of Sciences, 3, 187 - 258. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / S 1631 - 0691 (02) 01509 - 3","Pope, C. H. (1935) The reptiles of China. Turtles, crocodilians, snakes, lizards. Natural History of central Asia. Vol. X. American Museum of Natural History, New York, 604 pp.","Bourret, R. L. (1935) Notes herpetologiques sur l'Indochine francaise. VIII. Sur les Achalinus d'Indochine. Bulletin Generale de l'Instruction Publique, Hanoi, 15 (5), 101 - 104","Bourret, R. (1937) Notes herpetologiques sur l Indochine francaise. XV. Lezards et serpents recus au Laboratoire des Sciences Naturelles de l' Universite au cours de l' annee 1937. Descriptions de deux especes et de deux varietes nouvelles. Bulletin general de l Instruction Publique, Hanoi, 17 (4), 57 - 80.","Smith, M. A. (1943) The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III. Serpentes. Taylor & Francis Ltd., London, 583 pp.","Koshikawa, A. (1982) Three new species of reptiles from Hainan Island, Guangdong Province. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service, 53, 1 - 10. https: // doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 23317515.53.1","Karsen, S. J., Lau, M. W. & Bogadek, A. (1986) Hong Kong amphibians and reptiles. Urban Council, Hong Kong, 136 pp.","Ota, H. & Toyama, M. (1989) Taxonomic re-definition of Achalinus formosanus Boulenger (Xenoderminae: Colubridae: Ophidia), with description of a new subspecies. Copeia, 1989 (3), 597 - 602. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1445485.","Zhao, E. M. (2006) Snakes of China. Anhui Science and Technology Publishing House, Hefei, 372 (texts) + 279 pp. (photos). [in Chinese]","Das, I. (2010) A field guide to the reptiles of Southeast Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, London, Cape Town, Sydney and Auckland, 376 pp.","Ziegler, T., Nguyen, T. Q., Pham, C. T., Nguyen, T. T., Pham, A. V., Schingen, V. S., Nguyen, T. T. & Le, M. D. (2019) Three new species of the snake genus Achalinus from Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae). Zootaxa, 4590 (2), 249 - 269. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4590.2.3","Wang, J., Li, Y., Zeng, Z. C., Lyu, Z. T., Sung, Y. H., Li, Y. Y., Lin, C. Y. & Wang, Y. Y. (2019) A new species of the genus Achalinus from southwestern Guangdong Province, China (Squamata: Xenodermatidae). Zootaxa, 4674 (4), 471 - 481. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4674.4.6","Zong, Y. & Ma, J. (1983) A new species of the genus Achalinopsis from Jiangxi and the restoration of this genus. Acta Herpetologica Sinica, 2 (2), 61 - 63. [in Chinese]"]}

Li, Ke, Yu, Min, Wu, Ya-Yong, Liao, Lin-Hong, Tang, Kui, Liu, Qin, Guo, Peng (2020): A new species of the genus Achalinus (Squamata: Xenodermatidae) from southeastern Yunnan Province, China. Zootaxa 4860 (1): 116-128, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4860.1.6

We reassessed the systematics of the Indian (semi)fossorial snake Xylophis perroteti (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) based on morphological and DNA sequence data for type, historical, and new specimens. A population from the Anamalai Hills is distinct from broadly topotypic X. perroteti from the Nilgiri Hills (from which they are separated geographically by the lowland Palghat Gap) on the basis of both external morphology and DNA sequence data. We describe the Anamalai form as a new species, Xylophis mosaicus sp. nov. The new species is more closely related to X. perroteti than to X. stenorhynchus and X. captaini. A new key to identify the species of Xylophis is presented.

Revised key to the species of Xylophis This is based on the key presented by Gower & Winkler (2007). Other than incorporation of X. mosaicus sp. nov., the main modification is that Gower & Winkler considered X. perroteti to have only one pair of genials, with the more posterior pair identified here (and by, for example, Smith 1943: 342) being small and separated widely by the intervening first ventral. Note that, following Gower & Winkler (2007), the ‘first ventral’ here is the anteriormost midline ventral scale behind the mental. 1 Dorsal scales in 13 rows at midbody; supraocular notably larger than postocular; six or more infralabials................ 2 - Dorsal scales in 15 rows at midbody; supraocular and postocular shields subequal in size; five infralabials............... 3 2 First ventral separates the posterior genials and contacts the anterior genials........................................................................... X. perroteti (including its putative junior subjective synonym X. microcephalum) - Posterior genials in midline contact, preventing contact between first ventral and anterior genials........................................................................................................... X. mosaicus sp. nov. 3 Ventrals 120–135; prefrontal shields much longer than internasals; second infralabial notably longer than first, the two together being about as long as the third infralabial........................................................................................................ X. stenorhynchus (including its putative junior subjective synonym X. indicus) - Ventrals 106–120+; prefrontals and internasals subequal in midline length; second infralabial only marginally longer than first, the two together being shorter than the third infralabial............................................... X. captaini, Published as part of Deepak, V., Narayanan, Surya, Das, Sandeep, Rajkumar, K. P., Easa, P. S., Sreejith, K. A. & Gower, David J., 2020, Description of a new species of Xylophis Beddome, 1878 (Serpentes: Pareidae Xylophiinae) from the Western Ghats, India, pp. 231-250 in Zootaxa 4755 (2) on page 242, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4755.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3731452, {"references":["Gower, D. J. & Winkler, J. D. (2007) Taxonomy of the Indian snake Xylophis Beddome (Serpentes: Caenophidia), with description of a new species. Hamadryad, 31 (2), 315 - 329.","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. 583 pp."]}

Xylophis mosaicus sp. nov. (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5A; Table 2, 4) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 167A87BF-8379-4D5E-8C90-13BBCAA0A7C8 Diagnosis. Xylophis mosaicus sp. nov. is distinguished from X. stenorhynchus (and its putative synonym X. indicus) and X. captaini in having 13 instead of 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody, in having relatively long prefrontals and short, rectangular internasals versus relatively short prefrontals and broad, squarish internasals, and in lacking a pale (off-white) collar behind the head. The new species differs from X. perroteti (and its synonym X. microcephalum) in having the posterior pair of genial scales in midline contact (versus posterior pair of genial scales separated along the midline by the first ventral scale) (Figs. 5A,B, 6F). Holotype. BNHS 3577 (Figs. 3 & 4), female, collected close to Eravikulam hut in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India (10.274357°N, 77.085782°E, 2,400 m elevation) by Sandeep Das on 3rd December 2015. See map in Fig. 2. Paratypes (n = 4). BNHS 3579, female, collection details as for holotype; BNHS 3580, female and BNHS 3578, male, collected by Sandeep Das from Eravikulam National Park (10.204640°N, 77.083096°E, 2221m elevation) and (10.196156° N, 77.067111° E, 2230 m elevation) respectively on 28th April 2017 (Fig. 7 A–L). BMNH 88.1.27.42 (Fig. 7 M–P), male, collected by W. Davison prior to 1889 from Anamalai Hills, ‘4,700 ft’ (= 1433 m). Referred specimens (n = 9). Coordinates provided in this section are estimated from online maps because none is associated with original collection data. BMNH 93.4.18.17, female, High ranges, Travancore, collected by H.S. Ferguson; BNHS 1756, male, Perumal Malai, Palani Hills, 10.268535° N, 77.541410° E, 1600 m elevation (in present-day Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu) collected by A. Novorro SJ on 14 th June 1956; BNHS 3128 and BNHS 3126, males and BNHS 3124, female, Eravikulam National Park, Kerala (10.170929° N, 77.054943° E, 2250 m elevation) collected by Clifford Rice on 28 August 1980, 23 rd June 1987 and 13 th November 1980, respectively; BNHS 2871, female, Munnar (Anamalai Hills) (10.091893° N, 77.064851° E, 1550 m elevation) collector; BNHS party on 13 th April 1970. BNHS 1751, male, Kallar (Anamalai Hills), collected by Frank Wall on February 1925. ZSIK 19410, male, collected by Frank Wall, Palani Hills (Kodaikanal) on an unknown date; ZSIK 25123, female, collected by Romulus Whitaker, Kodaikanal Ghat, Tamil Nadu 1982. These are considered referred rather than paratype specimens because of imprecise locality data and imperfect specimen condition. Description of holotype. Some morphometric and meristic data are given in Table 4. Female. Specimen in good condition, preserved in loose coil with head outside and tail inside, colours have not noticeably faded; ca. 7.5 and 11.9 cm longitudinal ventral incisions into coelom extending back from points ca. 27 mm and 15 mm, respectively, behind snout tip. Body subcylindrical, dorsoventrally flattened. Head not (or barely) wider than anterior end of body. Head narrows steadily in dorsal and ventral views, with very slightly convex edges. Head narrow (HL 11.6 mm), subtriangular with bluntly rounded tip in dorsal view, broader (HW 7.0 mm) than tall (HH 6.1 mm), gradually tapering from the posterior of parietal to snout tip in lateral view. Rostral very short in dorsal view, slightly shorter than distance between it and prefrontal scales. Rostral contacts anterior edges of first supralabials, anterior edges of internasal, and lateral edges of nasal. Rostral falls short of level of ventral edges of anterior supralabials, resulting in small median notch at anterior margin of upper lip. Nasals undivided, but notched on upper posterior margin. External naris inverted comma shaped. Left and right nasals not in contact, each subequal in area to the intervening rostral. Paired internasals subtriangular in shape, little larger than nasals and rostral, much smaller than prefrontals. Paired prefrontals little shorter than length of frontal. Five supralabials; third and fourth contacting spectacle. First supralabial very small and, apart from second supralabial, contacts only rostral and nasal (Fig. 5A. First supralabial wedging into the margins of nasal and rostral). Second supralabial a small, rectangular, thin strip contacting nasal, one large scale between spectacle and nasal, and first and third supralabials. Third and fifth supralabial longer than tall, fourth taller than long, fifth largest. Third and fourth supralabials in contact with approximately and slightly hexagonal spectacle. Fourth supralabial also contacts postocular and anterior temporal. Fifth supralabial contacts anterior temporal and lower posterior temporal. Scale between spectacle and nasal pentagonal, elongate, slightly shorter (2.8 mm) than prefrontals (3.2 mm) in length. Irregularly hexagonal frontal notably longer (3.8 mm) than broad (3.0 mm), and much shorter than paired parietals. Temporals 1 + 2, subequal in size, anterior one wedged between last two supralabials. Small, elongate supraocular (irregularly pentagonal, wider posteriorly) and smaller, less elongate postocular (also pentagonal). Anterior of lower jaw dominated by large pair of anterior genials meeting along midline mental groove, prevented from reaching margin of mouth by small mental and three very slender infralabials (Fig. 5A). Mental short, broad, with tripartite anterior end (Fig. 4B & 5A). Six infralabials. First infralabials shortest, broader than long; second larger than first, shorter than third. First two infralabials overlap anterior half of anterior genials; third infralabials overlap posterior half of anterior genials. First unpaired midventral scale (= first ventral, here) lies immediately behind posterior genials, wider than long. Second ventral scale shorter than first. Inside of mouth uniform, pale off-white in preservation. Teeth small, evenly sized, retrorse, straight to very gently recurved with pointed tips. Teeth barely protruding from surrounding soft tissue and difficult to count but approximately 26 on left maxilla. Dorsal scales in 13 rows from at least as far anterior as level with sixth ventral, maintained up to posteriormost ventral. Dorsals generally regularly arranged; lowest five dorsal rows on either side larger than three middorsal rows. All body scales macroscopically smooth and glossy, lacking keels. Ventral scales 141, all similarly proportioned except for anteriormost ventral (with anterior projection). Ventrals generally have curved (convex) posterior margins, but much less so on first ventral.Anal shield undivided, longer than the last ventral, its margin overlaps two small, irregular scales on either side in addition to pair of larger subcaudals medially. Subcaudals paired, 16. Tail terminates in sharply tapering terminal scute, with a distinct groove dorsally. Total length 373 mm, tail length 33 mm, tail/total length ratio 0.1. Tail with somewhat flattened venter. Anteriorly with eight to nine dorsal scale rows, reducing to about six at mid tail, two (plus two posteriormost subcaudals) surrounding base of terminal scute. Colouration in preservative. Body and tail scales all moderately iridescent, ventral scales highly iridescent. Most head and tail scales also moderately iridescent, but very small, unpigmented anterior supra- and infralabials appear matt. Overall, specimen is various shades of grey mottled with dark brown. Several irregular black/dark gray spots, mostly covering entire dorsal scale present more or less densely all along the body and tail. Posterior part of body with narrow pale longitudinal lines, lower one on the lateral edges of the ventrals and another on the upper edges of the first dorsal scale row. Ventral scales under head much paler than body ventrals and subcaudals. First seven ventrals much paler than the rest. Body ventrals and subcaudals with extensive patches of dark gray or black markings on a pale venter. These patches are mostly regular, always a pair of dark dots on lateral edges of ventrals plus one median or (more often) two paramedian patches. Upper surface of head darker than lower and lateral surfaces. Dark head color extends as a stripe on either side, from behind the anterior temporal, terminating near posterior edges of fifth supralabials. Posterior region of first supralabials until anterior half of fifth supralabials pale. Another, broader, posteriorly tapering stripe starts from posterior temporals and terminates near the fourth dorsal scale row level with the second ventral on either side. Mentum, first two and partly the third infralabials, and anterior portion of anterior genials each with a dark patch.Anterior genials each with two other, smaller dark patches on posterolateral edges. Variation in paratypes. See Table 4 for variation in meristic and morphometric features. Paratypes generally in moderate to good condition; all with single incisions into the coelom except BMNH 88.1.27.42 (two incisions into coelom). BMNH 88.1.27.42 and BNHS 3578 with midventral incisions into base of tail, latter specimen with both hemipenes removed. Paratypes typically match holotype description except where noted here. BNHS 3577 has narrower head, almost as tall as broad. Anterior margin of rostral slightly concave in BNHS 3579. Rostral subequal to rostral-prefrontal distance in dorsal view in BMNH 88.1.27.42. Paired internasals semicircular and first infralabials as long as tall in BNHS 3578. Number of dorsal scale rows level with first subcaudals and level with middle of tail 6–7 and 6–7 in BNHS 3579, 11 and 6 in BNHS 3578, 8–10 and 6 in BNHS 3580; 10 and 6 in BMNH 88.1.27.42. Anterior supra- and infralabials of BMNH 88.1.27.42 mottled with darker pigmentation, shiny rather than matt. Dorsum of BNHS 3580 paler (Fig. 8A), with clearer, more checkerboard-like pattern than holotype and other two paratypes. Dorsum and venter of BNHS 3579 darkest (Fig. 8C), without any pale spots or patches on both dorsum and venter and lacking pale longitudinal lateral lines; the few pale areas on this specimen are diffuse, on subcaudals 3 and 4, first two ventrals, under the chin, and on infralabials 4 and 5. Pale longitudinal line along upper edge of first dorsal scale row absent in BMNH 88.1.27.42. Comments on referred specimens. ZSI 25123 is the only specimen without distinct spots on the body, and it overall has a more reddish brown dorsum, though its scalation matches that of other X. mosaicus sp. nov. specimens. BMNH 93.4.18.17 collected by H. S. Ferguson morphologically matches with the new species, and the collection locality is mentioned as high ranges which could be Anamalais. BNHS 3128, BNHS 3126, BNHS 3124 were partially dehydrated, they are all darker in coloration. Both BNHS 2871 and BNHS 1756 are in good condition, BNHS 2871 has a long incision along the venter. Etymology. The specific epithet mosaicus is in reference to both the mosaic-like nature of the colour pattern of the new species, and the mosaic-like nature of the high elevation shola forest patches (within a grassland matrix) in which it is found. For nomenclatural purposes, the species epithet is considered a noun in apposition. Suggested common name. Anamalai wood snake (English). Anamalai mannooli vannan pambu (Tamil). Pul mannooli pambu (Malayalam). Distribution, natural history and conservation. Xylophis mosaicus sp. nov. is presently known only from high elevations (above 1,500 m) in the southern Western Ghats. The three currently known localities, based on recent and historic collections, are Eravikulam National Park (Anamalai Hills) (Fig. 9A,B) and Meeshapulimala and Kodaikanal (Palani Hills). The Anamalai and Palani locations are approximately 35 km apart. Given this restricted and patchy distribution and (as far as is known) association with grassland-shola habitats, Xylophis mosaicus sp. nov. might qualify for an IUCN Red List threatened category, but further work is required to test the apparent patchiness and habitat requirements, as well as to generate more information on the ecology of this species. One of the female specimens (BNHS 3579) collected on 3rd December 2015 was gravid and was kept under observation in captivity for a short period. It fed on live earthworms that were provided. On 21st December 2015 it laid seven eggs and the snake was found sitting coiled on top of the eggs (Fig. 10) for five days, after which it moved away. Eggs were 21.2 mm ± 3.0 mm long and 10.6 mm ± 1 mm wide. All encounters of X. mosaicus sp. nov. (in total seven) from Eravikulam National Park during 2015–2018 were in grasslands except for one specimen that was found under a rotten log along with a Uropeltis sp. in a shola forest patch in Turners Valley. One individual was sighted in the grasslands of Meeshapulimala, 13 km southwest of Eravikulam National Park.

Achalinus timi sp. nov. (Figs. 6–7) Holotype. IEBR A.2018.10 (Field no. PA.180), adult male, from forest within the Copia Nature Reserve, near Hua Ty Village (21°20.105’N, 103°35.860’E), Co Ma Commune, Thuan Chau District, Son La Province, northern Vietnam, collected by A.V. Pham on 12 May 2014 at an elevation of ca. 1470 m above sea level. Diagnosis. A species of the genus Achalinus, characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 27; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal fused with prefrontal on each side, with the prefrontal extending towards the supralabials; 4) dorsal scales in 25–25–23 rows, keeled; 5) ventrals 170+1; 6) subcaudals 72, unpaired; 7) a total length of at least 177.9 mm in males (with a tail length of 37.9 mm and a tail/total length ratio of 0.21); 8) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above, with wide portion of the vertebral region being distinctly darker; the lower head sides are somewhat paler; infralabial and chin shields light greyish brown; venter greyish cream, with the underside of the tail being somewhat darker and the chin region somewhat paler. Description of holotype. Total length 177.9 mm (SVL 140 mm, TaL 37.9 mm); tail long, tail/total length ratio 0.21; body slender, cylindrical; head length 7.8 mm (from tip of snout to posterior margin of parietal); head slightly distinct from neck, dorsally covered with large shields; eye small, with vertically subelliptic pupil; left maxilla with at least 27 equally sized and curved teeth. Rostral small, triangular, not visible from above; suture between the internasals (1.7 mm) longer than that between the prefrontals (0.8 mm); nostril in the anterior part of the nasal; frontal pentagonal, slightly broader than long, pointed backwards, much shorter than the parietals; parietals bordered each by an elongated nuchal, nuchals separated from each other behind parietals by two small scales; second pair of nuchals about half the size than first pair; loreal lacking, prefrontals stretch towards the supralabials; one supraocular; two anterior temporals, only the smaller, upper one in contact with eye, and two elongated posterior temporals; supralabials six, the first smallest, fourth and fifth in contact with the eye, sixth longest; one mental, followed by six infralabials; first pair of infralabials in contact with each other; first three infralabials in contact with the first pair of chin shields; posterior pair of chin shields smaller, laterally in contact with fourth and fifth infralabials. Dorsal scales elliptical, keeled from the neck region onwards, in 25 rows at the anterior part of the body (one head length behind head), 25 scale rows at midbody, the outer row enlarged, and 23 rows at posterior body (one head length before vent); ventrals 170 (plus one preventral) distinct, laterally rounded; subcaudals 72, unpaired; cloacal entire. The ethanol-preserved holotype is reddish to greyish brown above, with a wide portion of the vertebral region being distinctly darker; the lower head sides somewhat paler; venter greyish cream, with the underside of the tail being somewhat darker and the chin region somewhat paler; infralabial and chin shields light greyish brown. Comparisons. Achalinus timi sp. nov. lacks a separate loreal scale, which is fused with the prefrontal on each side, with the prefrontal extending towards the supralabials; all remaining Achalinus species known at time to occur in Vietnam (A. ater, A. juliani, A. rufescens, and A. spinalis) have a loreal being separated from the prefrontal by a suture, which is also the case in most other Achalinus species (A. hainanus, A. meiguensis, A. niger, and A. werneri) which thus can be easily distinguished from Achalinus timi sp. nov. Achalinus timi sp. nov. further differs from A. formosanus, A. jinggangensis, A. meiguensis, A. rufescens, and A. spinalis by having more maxillary teeth. For details and further distinguishing characters see Table 5. Besides different maxillary teeth counts, Achalinus timi sp. nov. can be distinguished from the two subspecies of A. formosanus as follows: from A. f. formosanus by having the internasal suture distinctly longer than prefrontal suture (versus internasal suture almost as long as prefrontal suture) and 25–25–23 versus 29–27–25 dorsal scale rows; and from A. f. chigirai by 23 versus 25 dorsal scale rows at posterior body and by having more ventrals and less subcaudals (170 versus 161–167 ventrals; 72 versus 96–97 subcaudals). Furthermore, Achalinus timi sp. nov. can be distinguished from A. jinggangensis by having 25 versus 23 dorsal scale rows at midbody, more ventrals and subcaudals (170 versus 156–164 ventrals; 72 versus 51–64 subcaudals, respectively). Etymology. We name this species after Tim N. Ziegler. As common name we propose Tim’s Burrowing Snake. Distribution. The new species currently is only known from the type locality in Son La Province, northwestern Vietnam (Fig. 12). Natural history. The male holotype of Achalinus timi sp. nov. was discovered at 10: 15 in the morning, as a road kill specimen. The surrounding habitat was secondary evergreen forest. Air temperature at the site was 25–30 o C and relative humidity 70–75%., Published as part of Ziegler, Thomas, Nguyen, Truong Quang, Pham, Cuong The, Nguyen, Tao Thien, Pham, Anh Van, Schingen, Mona Van, Nguyen, Tham Thi & Le, Minh Duc, 2019, Three new species of the snake genus Achalinus from Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae), pp. 249-269 in Zootaxa 4590 (2) on pages 258-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/2651878

Achalinus juliani sp. nov. (Figs. 2–5) Holotype. IEBR A.2018.8 (Field no. CB 2014.18), an adult male, from forest of Duc Quang Commune (22°43.084’N, 106°39.653’E, at an elevation of 477 m above sea level), Ha Lang District, Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam, collected by C.T. Pham on 14 June 2014. Paratypes. IEBR A.2018.9 (Field no. CB 2014.19), a female, from Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park (22°36.147’N, 105°52.726’E, at an elevation of 1461 m above sea level), Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam, collected by T.H. Pham on 24 May 2014; VNMN 0 6924 (Field no. TAO 766), an adult male, from forest of Thanh Cong Commune within Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park (22°60.556’N, 105°87.530’E, at an elevation of 1590 m above sea level), Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam, collected by T.T. Nguyen on 10 May 2010. Diagnosis. A species of the genus Achalinus, characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 28; 2) suture between internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) internasal not fused to prefrontal; 4) loreal not fused with prefrontal; 5) infralabials 6; 6) mental separated from anterior chin shields; 7) two elongated anterior temporals, in contact with eye, and two posterior temporals; 8) dorsal scales in 25–23–23 rows, keeled; 9) ventrals 173–179; 10) subcaudals 77–91, unpaired; 11) a total length of at least 413 mm (with a maximum tail length of 109 mm, and a tail/total length ratio of 0.22–0.37); 12) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above, the lower and posterior head sides paler; venter greyish cream, with the underside of the tail being somewhat darker. Description of holotype. Total length 355 mm (SVL 260 mm and TaL 95 mm); tail long, tail/total length ratio 0.365; body slender, cylindrical; head length 8.9 mm (from tip of snout to posterior margin of parietal); head slightly distinct from neck, dorsally covered with large shields; eye small, with vertically subelliptic pupil; left maxilla with 28 equally sized and curved teeth. Rostral small, triangular, slightly visible from above; suture between the internasals (1.4 mm) longer than that between the prefrontals (0.9 mm); nostril in the anterior part of the nasal; frontal pentagonal, slightly broader than long, pointed backwards, much shorter than the parietals; each parietal bordered by an elongated nuchal; nuchals separated from each other behind parietals by two small scales; second pair of nuchals about half the size than first pair; one loreal, distinctly wider than high, extending from the nasal to the eye; one supraocular; two anterior temporals, elongated, upper one smaller, both in contact with eye, and two elongated posterior temporals; supralabials six, the first smallest, fourth and fifth in contact with the eye, sixth longest; third and fourth in contact with the loreal; one mental, followed by six infralabials; first pair of infralabials in contact with each other; first four infralabials in contact with the first pair of chin shields; posterior pair of chin shields smaller, laterally in contact with fourth and fifth infralabials. Dorsal scales elliptical, keeled from the neck region onwards, 23 scale rows at midbody, those of the outer row enlarged, 25 scales round the anterior part of the body (one head length behind head), and 23 dorsal scale rows at posterior body (one head length before vent); ventrals 169 (plus one preventral), distinctly rounded laterally; subcaudals 91, unpaired, plus tail tip; cloacal entire. The ethanol-preserved holotype greyish brown above, the lower and posterior head sides being paler; venter greyish cream, with the underside of the tail being somewhat darker and the chin region somewhat paler; infralabial and chin shields light greyish brown. Ventrals and subcaudals anteriorly and laterally darker. Variation. For scalation details of the paratypes see Table 3. In addition, the nuchals of the female paratype IEBR A.2018.9 are separated from each other behind the parietals by four small scales and those of the male paratype VNMN 0 6924 by two large, two medium sized and a small scale. Furthermore, in the paratype VNMN 0 6924 the posterior pair of chin shields on the left side is in contact with third and fourth infralabials laterally. The hemipenes are basally everted in the specimen VNMN 0 6924. Comparisons. Achalinus juliani sp. nov. can be differentiated from the remaining Achalinus representatives from Vietnam by having more subcaudals, more dorsal scale rows on anterior part of the body, more ventrals, more infralabials, and a longer internasal suture (see Tables 3, 5). Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. ater in having more dorsal scale rows in the anterior part of the body (25 versus 21–23) and more subcaudals (77–91 versus 47–70). Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. rufescens by having more infralabials (6 versus 5), more ventrals (163–179 versus 131–158), more subcaudals (77–91 versus 54–82), and more maxillary teeth. Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. spinalis by the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus as long as or shorter), more dorsal scale rows in the anterior part of the body (25 versus 21–24), more subcaudals (77–91 versus 39–67), by lacking a black mid-dorsal line, and by having more maxillary teeth. Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. formosanus by having the internasal suture distinctly longer than prefrontal suture (versus internasal suture almost as long as prefrontal suture), by the loreal not being fused with prefrontal, fewer dorsal scale rows (25–23–23 versus 25–29 – 25–27–25), more maxillary teeth (28 versus 14–17), and by lacking a black mid-dorsal line; in addition, Achalinus juliani sp. nov. can be distinguished from A. f. formosanus by having more subcaudals (77–91 versus 61–83), and from A. f. chigirai by having fewer subcaudals (77–91 versus 96–97). Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. hainanus by having 6 versus 5 infralabials, 2 versus 1 anterior temporal, more dorsal scale rows in the anterior part of the body (25 versus 23), and more subcaudals (77–91 versus 67–69). Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. jinggangensis by loreal not being fused with prefrontal, having more ventrals (163–179 versus 156–164), more subcaudals (77–91 versus 51–64), and more maxillary teeth. Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. meiguensis by mental being separated from anterior chin shields, internasal not fused to prefrontal, by different dorsal scale row counts (25–23–23 versus 21–23 – 19–23 – 19), by having more subcaudals (77–91 versus 39–62), and by having more maxillary teeth. Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. niger by the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus almost as long as or shorter), fewer midbody dorsal scale rows (23 versus 25), more subcaudals (77–91 versus 52–72), and keeled body scales (versus smooth on anterior part of body). Achalinus juliani sp. nov. differs from A. werneri by the internasal suture being distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals (versus almost as long as), and by lacking a black mid-dorsal line and a dark subcaudal streak. Etymology. We name this species after Julian L. Ziegler. As common name we propose Julian’s Burrowing Snake. Distribution. The new species currently is only known from two localities within Cao Bang Province, northeastern Vietnam (Fig. 12). Natural history. Specimens were found between 20:00 and 22:00 h on forest paths. The surrounding habitat was secondary forest of large, medium and small hardwoods mixed with shrubs and vines. Air temperature at the sites were 25.4–32.6 o C and relative humidity 65–80%. The new species was found in different habitat types: lowland forest in Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park and limestone karst forest in Ha Lang District, at elevations from 470 to 1460 m above sea level., Published as part of Ziegler, Thomas, Nguyen, Truong Quang, Pham, Cuong The, Nguyen, Tao Thien, Pham, Anh Van, Schingen, Mona Van, Nguyen, Tham Thi & Le, Minh Duc, 2019, Three new species of the snake genus Achalinus from Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae), pp. 249-269 in Zootaxa 4590 (2) on pages 253-255, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/2651878

Three new species of the xenodermatid genus Achalinus are described from northern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence: Achalinus juliani sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 28; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) internasal not fused to prefrontal; 4) loreal not fused with prefrontal; 5) infralabials 6; 6) mental separated from anterior chin shields; 7) two elongated anterior temporals, in contact with the eye, and two posterior temporals; 8) dorsal scales in 25–23–23 rows, keeled; 9) ventrals 173–179; 10) subcaudals 77–91, unpaired; 11) a total length of at least 413 mm (with a maximum tail length of 109 mm, and a tail/total length ratio of 0.22–0.37); 12) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above, with the lower and posterior head sides being paler; venter greyish cream, with the underside of the tail being somewhat darker. Achalinus timi sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 27; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal fused with the prefrontal on each side, with the prefrontal extending towards the supralabials; 4) dorsal scales in 25–25–23 rows, keeled; 5) ventrals 170+1; 6) subcaudals 72, unpaired; 7) a total length of at least 177.9 mm in males (with a tail length of 37.9 mm, and a tail/total length ratio of 0.21); 8) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above, with wide portion of the vertebral region being distinctly darker; the lower head sides somewhat paler; infralabial and chin shields light greyish brown; venter greyish cream, with the underside of the tail being somewhat darker and the chin region somewhat paler. Achalinus emilyae sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 27 or 28; 2) suture between internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) internasal not fused to prefrontal; 4) loreal not fused with prefrontal; 5) infralabials 5; 6) mental separated from anterior chin shields; 7) two anterior temporals, only the upper one in contact with eye, and two posterior temporals; 8) dorsal scales in 23–23–23 rows, keeled; 9) ventrals in females 157–161; 10) subcaudals in females 63, unpaired; 11) a total length of at least 519.5 mm (with a maximum tail length of 95.1 mm, and a tail/total length ratio of 0.18 in females); 12) dorsum iridescent pale yellowish brown with a dark longitudinal mid-dorsal stripe. In terms of pairwise genetic distance (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, COI), the three new species differ by at least 12.7% from other members of the genus, including themselves. The total number of Achalinus known is increased to twelve and the number of Achalinus species known from Vietnam is increased from three to six. Currently ten species of xenodermatids are known to exist in Vietnam: Achalinus ater, A. emilyae, A. juliani, A. rufescens, A. spinalis, A. timi, Fimbrios klossi, F. smithi, Parafimbrios lao, and P. vietnamensis.

A second species of the previously monotypic snake genus Parafimbrios is described from Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam, based both on molecular and morphological evidences. Parafimbrios vietnamensis sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) rostral laterally with two raised, curved edges; the upper one, together with a horizontal curved ridge of tissue, separate the rostral from the internasals; 2) nasal in contact zone with rostral with curved raised edge; 3) nasal in contact zone with supralabials each with two small oblique, curved raised edges located above first and second as well as above second and third supralabials; 4) suture between the internasals much longer than that between the prefrontals; 5) supralabials 8, with the first four bearing raised edges; 6) infralabials 7; mental and anterior three to four infralabials with raised edges; 7) temporals 4+4–5; 8) 35–33–29 dorsal scale rows; 9) laterally rounded ventrals 164; 10) unpaired subcaudals 49; 11) total length of at least 266 mm in males (with a tail length of 44 mm, and a tail / total length ratio of 0. 165). This discovery brings the total number of taxa of the family Xenodermatidae in Vietnam to seven species: Achalinus ater, A. rufescens, A. spinalis, Fimbrios klossi, F. smithi, Parafimbrios lao, and P. vietnamensis.

Parafimbrios vietnamensis sp. nov. Figs. 2–3. Holotype. IEBR A.2018.7 (field number LC2016.8), male, collected by H.V. Tu and H.N. Ngo on 2 nd June 2016 near Hoang Ho Village, Phang So Lin Commune, Sin Ho District, Lai Chau Province (22 0 22.180’N, 103 0 14.485’E), at an elevation of 1,317 m above sea level. Diagnosis. A species of the genus Parafimbrios, characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) rostral laterally with two raised, curved edges; the upper one, together with a horizontal curved ridge of tissue, separate the rostral from the internasals; 2) nasal in contact zone with rostral with curved raised edge; 3) nasal in contact zone with supralabials each with two small oblique, curved raised edges located above first and second as well as above second and third supralabials; 4) suture between the internasals much longer than that between the prefrontals; 5) supralabials 8, with the first four bearing raised edges; 6) infralabials 7; mental and anterior three to four infralabials with raised edges; 7) temporals 4+4–5; 8) 35–33–29 dorsal scale rows; 9) laterally rounded ventrals 164; 10) unpaired subcaudals 49; 11) total length of at least 266 mm in males (with a tail length of 44 mm, and a TaL/TL ratio of 0.165). Description of holotype. Total length 266 mm (snout-vent length 222 mm, tail length 44 mm); TaL/TL ratio 0.165; body slender, cylindrical; head length 7.2 mm (from tip of snout to hind margin of parietal); head not distinct from neck, dorsally covered with large shields; eye small, with vertically sub-elliptic pupil; right maxilla with ca. 27 small, curved, subequal teeth, progressively slightly enlarged posteriorly. Rostral triangular, not visible from above; the sides of the rostral each with two raised, curved edges; the upper one, together with a horizontal curved ridge of tissue at the outermost front of the internasals separate the rostral from the internasals; suture between the internasals (1.7 mm) much longer than that between the prefrontals (0.7 mm); nostril in the anterior part of a large, concave nasal; nasal in contact zone with rostral with curved raised edge, extending from horizontal, curved ridge of tissue in front of each internasal to first supralabial; nasal in contact zone with supralabials each with two small oblique, curved raised edges located above first and second as well as above second and third supralabials; frontal slightly broader than long, rounded at both sides in front, much shorter than the parietals, from anterior tip subdivided in middle for most part (3/4) of its length; loreal large, heptagonal, extending from the nasal to the eye; one small preocular, at the upper front of eye; one supraocular, wider than high; two postoculars on both sides, the upper one hexagonal, being much larger, the lower one elongated, reaching somewhat below the eye; on the right side a very small third postocular, discernible, reaching somewhat above the eye; one large pentagonal to hexagonal subocular; four anterior and four (left) to five (right) posterior temporals each; eight supralabials, the first five very small, with the first four bearing raised edges, the last one much elongated; sixth and seventh supralabials in contact with the subocular; one mental, followed by seven infralabials; mental and anterior three to four infralabials with their raised edges; first pair of infralabials in contact with each other; first five infralabials in contact with the single pair of enlarged chin shields; chin shields covering nearly the whole of the chin in front, in contact with the first ventral; no posterior chin-shields. Dorsal scales small, cycloid, keeled from region behind the neck onwards; 33 scale rows at midbody, every second of the outermost row distinctly enlarged; ca. 35 scales round the anterior part of the body, and 29 dorsal scale rows at posterior body; correspondence of two dorsal scale rows per ventral plate throughout the body; distinct, laterally rounded ventrals 164; single subcaudals 49, without tail tip; cloacal entire; tail moderate. The left hemipenis basally everted. Coloration of holotype in preservation. The ethanol-preserved holotype brownish-black above, with broad yellow neck band widening towards the venter and stretching to the chin region; dorsal head surface in part reddish-brown, in particular in the middle of parietals and frontal; venter greyish-brown, lighter anteriorly, darker towards tail region; ventrals anteriorly and laterally darker. Etymology. Analogous to the naming of the recent Parafimbrios discovery from Laos (P. lao) we name the new species from Vietnam after the country of origin. Distribution. Parafimbrios vietnamensis sp. nov. currently is only known from the type locality in Lai Chau Province, Vietnam (Fig. 4). Natural history. The male holotype of Parafimbrios vietnamensis sp. nov. was discovered at 21:00 at an elevation of 1,317 m a.s.l. in a forest valley. It was drizzling at the time of capture with the air temperature at the site being 24 ° C and the relative humidity 85%. The surrounding habitat was disturbed limestone karst forest and fragmented with hill agricultural fields.

Teynié, Alexandre, David, Patrick, Lottier, Anne, Le, Minh Duc, Vidal, Nicolas, Nguyen, Truong Quang (2015): A new genus and species of xenodermatid snake (Squamata: Caenophidia: Xenodermatidae) from northern Lao People's Democratic Republic. Zootaxa 3926 (4): 523-540, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3926.4.4

Parafimbrios gen. nov. Type species. Parafimbrios lao spec. nov., herein described. Diagnosis. A genus of Caenophidia, family Xenodermatidae, characterized by (1) maxillary teeth 27, progressively slightly enlarged posteriorly; (2) head not distinct from neck; (3) dorsal scales small, cycloid or subrectangular, with the correspondence of two dorsal scale rows per ventral plate throughout the body; (4) two consecutive scales of the first dorsal scale row enlarged; (5) rostral separated from internasals by a fold of skin, larger on the sides than above the middle of the rostral; (6) nostril piercing the anterior part of a large, concave nasal; (7) mental and both anterior supralabials and infralabials with strong, raised, everted edges; (8) eye with vertically elliptic pupil; (9) loreal single, large, extending from nasal to eye; (10) chin shields in a single pair, enlarged; (11) body moderately elongate; (12) ventrals large, rounded; (13) subcaudals undivided; (14) cloacal plate entire; and (15) hemipenis short, forked, distal half strongly spinose. Although Parafimbrios gen. nov. shares morphological similarities with other members of the family Xenodermatidae, it is morphologically most similar to Fimbrios. Parafimbrios gen. nov. differs from Fimbrios by a combination of the five characters listed above, the most important being (1) the correspondence of two consecutive dorsal scale rows per ventral plate throughout the body, (2) fewer dorsal scale rows, and (3) posterior teeth progressively and slightly enlarged (vs. equal). Additional comparisons between the new genus and species and members of the genus Fimbrios are given below in the species description. Distribution. Laos. Currently recorded from karst formations in Louangphabang and Houaphan provinces. Etymology. The generic nomen Parafimbrios is composed of the modern Latin generic nomen Fimbrios and the Latin adjective par (paris), meaning, among other possibilities, “similar to”. The nomen Fimbrios itself stems from the Latin noun fimbria (- ae), meaning “a fringe”, by allusion to the edges of labial scales producing a kind of fringe around the snout. So, the generic nomen Parafimbrios refers to one of the diagnostic characters of Fimbrios, to which Parafimbrios gen. nov. is morphologically quite similar but taxonomically distinct. Contents. The new genus currently contains a single species, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov., which we describe as

Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. (Figs. 2–4; 5 A, B; 6 B) Holotype. MNHN 2013.1002, a young adult male, from the vicinity of Muang Ngoi (20 ° 42.005 'N, 102 ° 41.730 'E; datum WGS 84), Ngoi District, Louangphabang Province, Laos, at an elevation of ca. 360 m a.s.l.; collected by Alexandre Teynié and Anne Lottier on 25 September 2012. Additional material. A second specimen was found, examined and photographed (Fig. 4) but not collected, in the vicinity of Vieng Xai, or Viengxay (20 ° 24.417 'N, 104 ° 13.433 'E), Vieng Xai District, Houaphan Province, Laos, at an elevation of ca. 890 m a.s.l., by Alexandre Teynié and Anne Lottier on 11 May 2013. This specimen was released after obtaining morphological characters and photographing. Diagnosis. A species of the genus Parafimbrios gen. nov., defined by a combination of generic characters listed above plus (1) dorsal scale rows 27–29 – 25–27 – 23–25, distinctly keeled, small, cycloid, progressively larger on the top of the body than on the sides; (2) scales of the first DSR distinctly enlarged, also two per ventral, first smallest, last largest; (3) ventrals 177–189, large, laterally rounded; (4) subcaudals 55–56, undivided; (5) 1 st– 4 th or 1 st– 5 th supralabials, mental, and 2 nd– 4 th infralabials with raised and everted edges; (6) suture between the internasals 0.7 times as long as suture between the prefrontals; (7) 1 / 1 (upper) preocular, 1 / 1 supraocular, 2 / 2 postoculars, and 1 / 1 subocular; (8) 1 / 1 loreal, large; (9) nuchal scales 3, one in central and one enlarged on each side; (10) dorsum dark purplish-grey, slightly paler on the sides; and (11) neck with a pale creamish-grey collar, more or less pronounced with age, reaching downwards the pale grey colour of the venter. Etymology. The specific epithet, lao, refers both to the official name of Laos, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in which the species was discovered, and to the Lao, the main people group inhabiting Laos. Description of holotype. Body elongate, slightly laterally compressed; head short (4.1 % of SVL), ovoid, not distinct from the thick neck, dorsally covered with large shields; snout average, approximately 3.1 times as long as eye diameter, distinctly extending beyond lower jaw, rounded in profile and from above; a large, oval nostril, piercing in the anterior part of a large, concave nasal; eye small, its diameter 0.7 times of the distance between eye and lip, with a vertically elliptic pupil; tail average, relatively thick, tapering progressively. Measurements. SVL 236 mm; TaL 49 mm; TL 285 mm; ratio TaL/TL 0.172; HL 9.75 mm; SnL 2.75 mm. Dentition. Maxillary teeth: right maxilla with 27 small, curved, subequal teeth, progressively slightly enlarged posteriorly. Body scalation. DSR 27 - 25 - 23, small, cycloid or subrectangular, not elongate, barely imbricate and distinctly keeled with a narrow keel, outermost rows formed by small and enlarged scales alternately; each ventral topped by two dorsal scales above, anterior small, posterior enlarged and surrounding the posterior lateral portion of the corresponding ventral. The dorsal scalation of this species is quite peculiar. On the 1 st DSR, the anterior small scale is in contact with its corresponding ventral on the anterior part of the body, narrowly separated by an area of skin posteriorly; the posterior enlarged scale is always in contact with the posterior lateral portion of the corresponding ventral. Scales on 2 nd– 7 th DSR small, slightly enlarged on 8 th– 9 th DSR, moderately enlarged on 10 th– 11 th DSR, and distinctly enlarged on 12 th DSR; scales of vertebral row hexagonal. The dorsal scale row reductions are as follows: 5 + 6 → 5 (VEN 18) (left) 6 + 7 → 6 (VEN 114) (left) 27 ————————— 25 ————————— 23 5 + 6 → 5 (VEN 25) (right) 6 + 7 → 6 (VEN 115) (right) VEN 177 (+ 2 preventrals), laterally rounded; SC 56, undivided; cloacal plate entire, large; terminal caudal scale pointing. Head scalation. Upper head scalation complement complete, comprising 2 internasals, 2 prefrontals, 2 supraoculars, 1 frontal, and 2 parietals. Rostral large, wider than high, not visible from above due to the presence of a ridge of skin between rostral and internasals; nasal 1 / 1, large, elongate, pentagonal, 1.3 times as long as high, entire, most of forward part of scale area being occupied by the nostril; internasals subrectangular, narrow, much wider than long, separated from each other by a short suture, 0.7 times as long as the suture between prefrontals, internasals 0.6 times as long as prefrontal; prefrontals large, pentagonal, much wider than long, 0.75 times as long as frontal, separated from each other by a suture 0.65 times as long as frontal; supraoculars small, slightly beanshaped, approximately 1.3 times as long as broad, 0.25 times as wide as frontal and 0.5 times as wide as internasals; frontal hexagonal, abruptly truncated anteriorly with its apex pointing backwards, large and especially wide, rather squat, 1.5 times as wide as long; parietals strongly enlarged, roughly heptagonal with a jagged posterior edge, longer than wide, extending on about 47 % of head length, about 1.6 times longer than frontal, altogether forming a “bat-like” shape; nuchal scales 3, one in central, coarsely rounded, inserted between the posterior inner limits of parietals, and much larger one on each side, larger than upper temporal, edging the whole of the posterior outer margin of each parietal; loreal 1 / 1, large, subrectangular, covering nearly the whole of the side of the snout between nasal and eye, entering the lower half of orbit, much longer and higher than anterior supralabials, 1.2 times longer than high; SL 8 / 8, anterior and posterior edges of 1 st– 4 th strongly everted and raised, much less so on the anterior edge of 5 th, 8 th largest, narrow and distinctly elongate; 1 st– 3 rd SL in contact with nasal, 3 rd– 5 th in contact with loreal, 5 th– 6 th and a part of 7 th in contact with subocular, 7 th bordering the “postsubocular” (the scale inserted between subocular), lower anterior temporal and posterior supralabials, 8 th in contact with “postsubocular” and lower temporal; preocular 1 / 1, small, higher than long, entering the upper anterior part of orbit, in contact with loreal below and prefrontal above, not reaching the frontal; subocular 1 / 1, large, long and tall, just below the eye; postoculars 2 / 2, relatively large, higher one slightly enlarged; postsubocular 1 / 1, relatively large, inserted behind subocular and lower postocular; temporals 2 + 2 on each side, upper anterior one large and elongate, lower anterior one smaller, posterior ones larger, upper posterior one in broad contact with the lateral nuchal scale (which cannot be qualified of temporal as it is high on the side of the head and barely on the temporal regions); IL 8 / 8, 1st very narrow, in contact with each other behind mental, 1 st– 4 th in contact with the sole pair of chin shields, 1 st– 4 th with strongly raised and everted anterior edges; mental small, with a strong transversal ridge; chin shields in contact with each other in anterior half, diverging and separated by a scale posteriorly. Hemipenis. In situ, the hemipenis is long, reaching the level of 12 th SC, forked at level of 9 th SC; half proximal part of the organ and area on the side of the sulcus close to the bifurcation smooth; distal half of the organ strongly spinose, covering broad spines; sulcus spermaticus very prominent. Colour and pattern. Body uniformly dark purplish-grey or purplish / brownish-grey, slightly iridescent and somewhat paler on the lower sides, more dark grey than brown; scales of the first DSR edged in cream posteriorly; a broad, white (in life) or pale creamish-grey (in preservative) nuchal collar, extending from the occiput and temporal region to the anterior part of the body up to the level of the 10 th VEN, in length of 11 vertebral scales on the top of the body, narrowing progressively, downwards with an irregular, wavy posterior limit, narrower at midheight of the side, in width of 9 dorsal scales, widening progressively downwards and connect with the pale colour of the venter; tail in shades of dark purplish-grey as the body. Head dark purplish-brown, slightly darker than the body, more purplish brown anteriorly; side of snout slightly paler; supralabials paler greyish-brown anteriorly, progressively heavily speckled with whitish-brown; 8 th supralabial and lower posterior temporal, turning to pale creamish-grey as the nuchal collar; chin dark purplishbrown, turning quickly to dark then medium grey; throat uniformly pale grey, darker on posterior infralabials. Venter uniformly pale grey, with, on the anterior part of the body, the outer quarter of each ventral dark grey as the lower part of body, progressively reduced to a dark grey blotch on the posterior margin of the tip of each ventral; ventral surface of the tail dark grey, distinctly darker than the venter. Variation. The second specimen (male; Vieng Xai, Houaphan Province; Fig. 4) has the following main characters: Measurements (approximate). SVL 298 mm; TaL 55 mm; TL 353 mm; ratio TaL/TL 0.156. Body scalation. DSR 27 - 25 - 23, similar to that of the holotype, especially the two consecutive rows of dorsal scales above each ventral. VEN 189 (+ 1 preventral), laterally rounded; SC 55, all undivided; cloacal plate entire. Head scalation. Upper head scalation complement complete, comprising 2 internasals, 2 prefrontals, 2 supraoculars, 1 frontal, and 2 parietals; SL 7 / 7, anterior and posterior edges of 1 st– 3 rd strongly everted and raised, much less developed on the anterior edge of 4 th, 7 th largest, narrow and distinctly elongate; 1 st– 3 rd SL in contact with nasal, 4 th– 5 th in contact with loreal, 6 th in contact with subocular, 6 th– 7 th bordering the “postsubocular”, 7 th in contact with lower temporal; preocular 1 / 1, small; subocular 1 / 1, large; postoculars 2 / 2, relatively large; temporals 2 + 2 / 2 + 1; IL 7 / 7, 1st– 4 th in contact with the sole pair of chin shields, 1 st– 3 rd with strongly raised and everted anterior edges; other characters of head scalation agree with those of the holotype. Colour and pattern. Body uniformly dark purplish-grey or dark purplish-brown, depending on the angle of the light source, barely paler on the lower sides, distinctly iridescent; scales of first dorsal scale rows narrowly edged with pinkish-cream on their hinder margins; only the lower half of the neck pinkish-white as a broad triangle, the apex of which about at mid-height of the side of the neck, the base extending from the corner of the mouth to the level of the 10 th VEN; upper part of the neck coloured as the body; tail in shades of dark purplish-grey or dark purplish-brown as the body. Head dark purplish-brown, behind slightly darker than the body, paler and more purplish brown anteriorly; side of snout slightly paler; supralabials brown, paler than upper head surface anteriorly, progressively creamishbrown; 7 th supralabial and lower posterior temporal creamish-brown, darker than the nuchal collar; chin dark purplish-brown, turning quickly to medium grey; throat uniformly pale pinkish-grey, darker on hinder infralabials. Venter uniformly pinkish-cream or very pale pinkish- grey, with, on the anterior part of the body, the outer quarter of each ventral dark greyish-brown, progressively reduced to a dark greyish-brown blotch on the posterior margin of the tip of each ventral; ventral surface of the tail dark grey, distinctly darker than the venter. Comparisons. The genus Parafimbrios can be distinguished from all genera of Xenodermatidae, at the partial exception of Fimbrios, by a series of diagnostic characters at the generic level given above in the introduction to its description. The combination of (1) 2 dorsal scale rows above each ventral; (2) dorsal scale rows very small, uniform in shape; (3) supralabials and infralabials with strongly everted edges; (4) 27 maxillary teeth; and (5) 25–27 dorsal scale rows at midbody, is sufficient to distinguish this species from members of the genera Xenodermus, Stoliczkia, Achalinus, and Xylophis. Furthermore, the relatively slender body of Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. is closer to the habitus of members of the genus Achalinus than of Fimbrios but much less slender than the habitus of Xenodermus and Stoliczkia. However, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. readily differs from all the species currently included in the genus Achalinus by its much more strongly erected ridges on labial scales, which are barely or not erected in Achalinus. Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. shares several similarities with the two species of the genus Fimbrios currently recognized, F. klossi (Figs. 5 C & 6 A) and F. smithi (Fig. 5 D). According to Smith (1921, 1943), Campden-Main (1970), Orlov et al. (2003), Ziegler et al. (2008) and our own data, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. differs from both species of the genus Fimbrios by (1) a more slender body, (2) fewer maxillary teeth (27 vs. at least 30), (3) only 25 or 27 DSR at midbody vs. at least 30, (4) 2 dorsal scale rows per ventral plate vs. one, (5) a shorter tail with a ratio of Tal/TL of 0.156–0.172 vs. 0.185–0.197 in males of F. klossi and 0.214 in the single known male of F. smithi, (6) and by the pale creamish-grey nuchal collar, vs. no pattern in F. klossi and only pale blotches and stripes in the neck region in F. s m i t hi. Furthermore, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. has more ventrals than in F. klossi, (177–189 vs. 161–176 in F. klossi) but fewer than in F. smithi (193 VEN). Bourret (1937) mentioned a specimen of F. klossi (M. 558) with 190 ventral scales, a value reported by Campden-Main (1970). This specimen was not examined but we suspect that it might belong either to F. s m i t hi or to another undescribed species. Bourret (1937) emphasized the unusually high ventral scale count of that specimen but did not mention any other difference compared with F. klossi. He counted 53 subcaudals in this specimen that, furthermore, had a bluish-grey dorsum, 315 mm total length, and a tail length / total length ratio of 0.16. All other known specimens of F. klossi have less than 180 ventrals. Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. also differs from F. klossi in having only the first 3 or 4 infralabials with raised edges vs. first 7 infralabials in F. klossi. Lastly, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. differs from F. s m i t h i by having (1) fewer subcaudals (55–56 vs. 72 in F. s m i t hi), (2) suture between internasals shorter than that between prefrontals (character shared with F. kl os s i) vs. distinctly longer in F. smi thi, (3) 1 subocular vs. 2, and (4) 3 posterior temporals vs. 5. Distribution (Fig. 7). Laos. Louangphabang Province: Vicinity of Muang Ngoi Village, Muang Ngoi District and Houaphan Province: Vicinity of Vieng Xai, Vieng Xai District. This species is currently known from its type and near the historical city of Vieng Xai or Viengxay, separated by 162 airline kilometers. Natural history. The holotype of Parafimbrios lao was discovered in a steep, rocky evergreen forest, with some remaining trees of primary forest, surrounding a rugged karst formation (Fig. 8). The holotype was lying motionless at night (19.45) during the rainy season on a rocky outcrop among a large pile of rocks at the foot of a limestone cliff of the karst formation at an elevation of 360 m. A few dozens of meters down below, a water course, about 1 m wide and 40 cm deep, used to run in this period of the year. The collection site is located on a steep slope which is converted into cultures (bananas, chilli beans) when the slope becomes more moderate. The adjacent lowland is mainly covered with rice fields, patches of secondary forests and a few scrub and grasslands. The second specimen was observed around the historical city of Vieng Xai, “Birth place of Lao PDR”. It was found near one of the “Former Pathet Lao Leaders Caves”, a place heavily bombed by the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1973 and where no large primary forest remain. This specimen was observed in the same general karstic environment as the holotype. It was lying motionless at the beginning of the rainy season on a rocky outcrop emerging near a cave entrance and an anti-rocket wall at the foot of a limestone cliff of the karst formation at an elevation of 890 m. No water course, except an artificial pool, was seen in its vicinity. The adjacent area is mainly covered with some small parcels comprising, among others, bananas, chilly beans and peanuts. Both specimens did not display any reaction and remained perfectly motionless when they were photographed. When they were handled, they did not try to form a “ball”, a defensive posture frequent in Fimbrios klossi (our data), nor did they display any other defensive action. Nothing else is known on the biology of Parafimbrios lao. Stomachs of both specimens were seemingly empty. In the same biotope and within 50 meters from the collection site of the holotype we found the following amphibians: Microhyla fissipes (Boulenger), Micryletta inornata (Boulenger), Leptobrachium smithi (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha), Xenophrys major (Boulenger), Hoplobatrachus chinensis (Osbeck), Ferjervarja limnocharis (Gravenhorst), and Theloderma asperum (Boulenger). We also found several reptile species, some of them new for the province (Teynié et al. 2014 b). In the vicinity of the locality of the second specimen, we found Microhyla fissipes, Micryletta inornata, and Rhacophorus kio (Ohler & Delorme), as well as at least seven reptile species. All species were photographed. Lastly, quite interestingly, each locality of Parafimbrios lao included in its fauna a different species of the genus Cyrtodactylus, new to the fauna of Laos (Schneider 2014).

Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. (Figs. 2���4; 5 A, B; 6 B) Holotype. MNHN 2013.1002, a young adult male, from the vicinity of Muang Ngoi (20 �� 42.005 'N, 102 �� 41.730 'E; datum WGS 84), Ngoi District, Louangphabang Province, Laos, at an elevation of ca. 360 m a.s.l.; collected by Alexandre Teyni�� and Anne Lottier on 25 September 2012. Additional material. A second specimen was found, examined and photographed (Fig. 4) but not collected, in the vicinity of Vieng Xai, or Viengxay (20 �� 24.417 'N, 104 �� 13.433 'E), Vieng Xai District, Houaphan Province, Laos, at an elevation of ca. 890 m a.s.l., by Alexandre Teyni�� and Anne Lottier on 11 May 2013. This specimen was released after obtaining morphological characters and photographing. Diagnosis. A species of the genus Parafimbrios gen. nov., defined by a combination of generic characters listed above plus (1) dorsal scale rows 27���29 ��� 25���27 ��� 23���25, distinctly keeled, small, cycloid, progressively larger on the top of the body than on the sides; (2) scales of the first DSR distinctly enlarged, also two per ventral, first smallest, last largest; (3) ventrals 177���189, large, laterally rounded; (4) subcaudals 55���56, undivided; (5) 1 st��� 4 th or 1 st��� 5 th supralabials, mental, and 2 nd��� 4 th infralabials with raised and everted edges; (6) suture between the internasals 0.7 times as long as suture between the prefrontals; (7) 1 / 1 (upper) preocular, 1 / 1 supraocular, 2 / 2 postoculars, and 1 / 1 subocular; (8) 1 / 1 loreal, large; (9) nuchal scales 3, one in central and one enlarged on each side; (10) dorsum dark purplish-grey, slightly paler on the sides; and (11) neck with a pale creamish-grey collar, more or less pronounced with age, reaching downwards the pale grey colour of the venter. Etymology. The specific epithet, lao, refers both to the official name of Laos, the Lao People���s Democratic Republic in which the species was discovered, and to the Lao, the main people group inhabiting Laos. Description of holotype. Body elongate, slightly laterally compressed; head short (4.1 % of SVL), ovoid, not distinct from the thick neck, dorsally covered with large shields; snout average, approximately 3.1 times as long as eye diameter, distinctly extending beyond lower jaw, rounded in profile and from above; a large, oval nostril, piercing in the anterior part of a large, concave nasal; eye small, its diameter 0.7 times of the distance between eye and lip, with a vertically elliptic pupil; tail average, relatively thick, tapering progressively. Measurements. SVL 236 mm; TaL 49 mm; TL 285 mm; ratio TaL/TL 0.172; HL 9.75 mm; SnL 2.75 mm. Dentition. Maxillary teeth: right maxilla with 27 small, curved, subequal teeth, progressively slightly enlarged posteriorly. Body scalation. DSR 27 - 25 - 23, small, cycloid or subrectangular, not elongate, barely imbricate and distinctly keeled with a narrow keel, outermost rows formed by small and enlarged scales alternately; each ventral topped by two dorsal scales above, anterior small, posterior enlarged and surrounding the posterior lateral portion of the corresponding ventral. The dorsal scalation of this species is quite peculiar. On the 1 st DSR, the anterior small scale is in contact with its corresponding ventral on the anterior part of the body, narrowly separated by an area of skin posteriorly; the posterior enlarged scale is always in contact with the posterior lateral portion of the corresponding ventral. Scales on 2 nd��� 7 th DSR small, slightly enlarged on 8 th��� 9 th DSR, moderately enlarged on 10 th��� 11 th DSR, and distinctly enlarged on 12 th DSR; scales of vertebral row hexagonal. The dorsal scale row reductions are as follows: 5 + 6 ��� 5 (VEN 18) (left) 6 + 7 ��� 6 (VEN 114) (left) 27 ��������������������������� 25 ��������������������������� 23 5 + 6 ��� 5 (VEN 25) (right) 6 + 7 ��� 6 (VEN 115) (right) VEN 177 (+ 2 preventrals), laterally rounded; SC 56, undivided; cloacal plate entire, large; terminal caudal scale pointing. Head scalation. Upper head scalation complement complete, comprising 2 internasals, 2 prefrontals, 2 supraoculars, 1 frontal, and 2 parietals. Rostral large, wider than high, not visible from above due to the presence of a ridge of skin between rostral and internasals; nasal 1 / 1, large, elongate, pentagonal, 1.3 times as long as high, entire, most of forward part of scale area being occupied by the nostril; internasals subrectangular, narrow, much wider than long, separated from each other by a short suture, 0.7 times as long as the suture between prefrontals, internasals 0.6 times as long as prefrontal; prefrontals large, pentagonal, much wider than long, 0.75 times as long as frontal, separated from each other by a suture 0.65 times as long as frontal; supraoculars small, slightly beanshaped, approximately 1.3 times as long as broad, 0.25 times as wide as frontal and 0.5 times as wide as internasals; frontal hexagonal, abruptly truncated anteriorly with its apex pointing backwards, large and especially wide, rather squat, 1.5 times as wide as long; parietals strongly enlarged, roughly heptagonal with a jagged posterior edge, longer than wide, extending on about 47 % of head length, about 1.6 times longer than frontal, altogether forming a ���bat-like��� shape; nuchal scales 3, one in central, coarsely rounded, inserted between the posterior inner limits of parietals, and much larger one on each side, larger than upper temporal, edging the whole of the posterior outer margin of each parietal; loreal 1 / 1, large, subrectangular, covering nearly the whole of the side of the snout between nasal and eye, entering the lower half of orbit, much longer and higher than anterior supralabials, 1.2 times longer than high; SL 8 / 8, anterior and posterior edges of 1 st��� 4 th strongly everted and raised, much less so on the anterior edge of 5 th, 8 th largest, narrow and distinctly elongate; 1 st��� 3 rd SL in contact with nasal, 3 rd��� 5 th in contact with loreal, 5 th��� 6 th and a part of 7 th in contact with subocular, 7 th bordering the ���postsubocular��� (the scale inserted between subocular), lower anterior temporal and posterior supralabials, 8 th in contact with ���postsubocular��� and lower temporal; preocular 1 / 1, small, higher than long, entering the upper anterior part of orbit, in contact with loreal below and prefrontal above, not reaching the frontal; subocular 1 / 1, large, long and tall, just below the eye; postoculars 2 / 2, relatively large, higher one slightly enlarged; postsubocular 1 / 1, relatively large, inserted behind subocular and lower postocular; temporals 2 + 2 on each side, upper anterior one large and elongate, lower anterior one smaller, posterior ones larger, upper posterior one in broad contact with the lateral nuchal scale (which cannot be qualified of temporal as it is high on the side of the head and barely on the temporal regions); IL 8 / 8, 1st very narrow, in contact with each other behind mental, 1 st��� 4 th in contact with the sole pair of chin shields, 1 st��� 4 th with strongly raised and everted anterior edges; mental small, with a strong transversal ridge; chin shields in contact with each other in anterior half, diverging and separated by a scale posteriorly. Hemipenis. In situ, the hemipenis is long, reaching the level of 12 th SC, forked at level of 9 th SC; half proximal part of the organ and area on the side of the sulcus close to the bifurcation smooth; distal half of the organ strongly spinose, covering broad spines; sulcus spermaticus very prominent. Colour and pattern. Body uniformly dark purplish-grey or purplish / brownish-grey, slightly iridescent and somewhat paler on the lower sides, more dark grey than brown; scales of the first DSR edged in cream posteriorly; a broad, white (in life) or pale creamish-grey (in preservative) nuchal collar, extending from the occiput and temporal region to the anterior part of the body up to the level of the 10 th VEN, in length of 11 vertebral scales on the top of the body, narrowing progressively, downwards with an irregular, wavy posterior limit, narrower at midheight of the side, in width of 9 dorsal scales, widening progressively downwards and connect with the pale colour of the venter; tail in shades of dark purplish-grey as the body. Head dark purplish-brown, slightly darker than the body, more purplish brown anteriorly; side of snout slightly paler; supralabials paler greyish-brown anteriorly, progressively heavily speckled with whitish-brown; 8 th supralabial and lower posterior temporal, turning to pale creamish-grey as the nuchal collar; chin dark purplishbrown, turning quickly to dark then medium grey; throat uniformly pale grey, darker on posterior infralabials. Venter uniformly pale grey, with, on the anterior part of the body, the outer quarter of each ventral dark grey as the lower part of body, progressively reduced to a dark grey blotch on the posterior margin of the tip of each ventral; ventral surface of the tail dark grey, distinctly darker than the venter. Variation. The second specimen (male; Vieng Xai, Houaphan Province; Fig. 4) has the following main characters: Measurements (approximate). SVL 298 mm; TaL 55 mm; TL 353 mm; ratio TaL/TL 0.156. Body scalation. DSR 27 - 25 - 23, similar to that of the holotype, especially the two consecutive rows of dorsal scales above each ventral. VEN 189 (+ 1 preventral), laterally rounded; SC 55, all undivided; cloacal plate entire. Head scalation. Upper head scalation complement complete, comprising 2 internasals, 2 prefrontals, 2 supraoculars, 1 frontal, and 2 parietals; SL 7 / 7, anterior and posterior edges of 1 st��� 3 rd strongly everted and raised, much less developed on the anterior edge of 4 th, 7 th largest, narrow and distinctly elongate; 1 st��� 3 rd SL in contact with nasal, 4 th��� 5 th in contact with loreal, 6 th in contact with subocular, 6 th��� 7 th bordering the ���postsubocular���, 7 th in contact with lower temporal; preocular 1 / 1, small; subocular 1 / 1, large; postoculars 2 / 2, relatively large; temporals 2 + 2 / 2 + 1; IL 7 / 7, 1st��� 4 th in contact with the sole pair of chin shields, 1 st��� 3 rd with strongly raised and everted anterior edges; other characters of head scalation agree with those of the holotype. Colour and pattern. Body uniformly dark purplish-grey or dark purplish-brown, depending on the angle of the light source, barely paler on the lower sides, distinctly iridescent; scales of first dorsal scale rows narrowly edged with pinkish-cream on their hinder margins; only the lower half of the neck pinkish-white as a broad triangle, the apex of which about at mid-height of the side of the neck, the base extending from the corner of the mouth to the level of the 10 th VEN; upper part of the neck coloured as the body; tail in shades of dark purplish-grey or dark purplish-brown as the body. Head dark purplish-brown, behind slightly darker than the body, paler and more purplish brown anteriorly; side of snout slightly paler; supralabials brown, paler than upper head surface anteriorly, progressively creamishbrown; 7 th supralabial and lower posterior temporal creamish-brown, darker than the nuchal collar; chin dark purplish-brown, turning quickly to medium grey; throat uniformly pale pinkish-grey, darker on hinder infralabials. Venter uniformly pinkish-cream or very pale pinkish- grey, with, on the anterior part of the body, the outer quarter of each ventral dark greyish-brown, progressively reduced to a dark greyish-brown blotch on the posterior margin of the tip of each ventral; ventral surface of the tail dark grey, distinctly darker than the venter. Comparisons. The genus Parafimbrios can be distinguished from all genera of Xenodermatidae, at the partial exception of Fimbrios, by a series of diagnostic characters at the generic level given above in the introduction to its description. The combination of (1) 2 dorsal scale rows above each ventral; (2) dorsal scale rows very small, uniform in shape; (3) supralabials and infralabials with strongly everted edges; (4) 27 maxillary teeth; and (5) 25���27 dorsal scale rows at midbody, is sufficient to distinguish this species from members of the genera Xenodermus, Stoliczkia, Achalinus, and Xylophis. Furthermore, the relatively slender body of Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. is closer to the habitus of members of the genus Achalinus than of Fimbrios but much less slender than the habitus of Xenodermus and Stoliczkia. However, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. readily differs from all the species currently included in the genus Achalinus by its much more strongly erected ridges on labial scales, which are barely or not erected in Achalinus. Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. shares several similarities with the two species of the genus Fimbrios currently recognized, F. klossi (Figs. 5 C & 6 A) and F. smithi (Fig. 5 D). According to Smith (1921, 1943), Campden-Main (1970), Orlov et al. (2003), Ziegler et al. (2008) and our own data, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. differs from both species of the genus Fimbrios by (1) a more slender body, (2) fewer maxillary teeth (27 vs. at least 30), (3) only 25 or 27 DSR at midbody vs. at least 30, (4) 2 dorsal scale rows per ventral plate vs. one, (5) a shorter tail with a ratio of Tal/TL of 0.156���0.172 vs. 0.185���0.197 in males of F. klossi and 0.214 in the single known male of F. smithi, (6) and by the pale creamish-grey nuchal collar, vs. no pattern in F. klossi and only pale blotches and stripes in the neck region in F. s m i t hi. Furthermore, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. has more ventrals than in F. klossi, (177���189 vs. 161���176 in F. klossi) but fewer than in F. smithi (193 VEN). Bourret (1937) mentioned a specimen of F. klossi (M. 558) with 190 ventral scales, a value reported by Campden-Main (1970). This specimen was not examined but we suspect that it might belong either to F. s m i t hi or to another undescribed species. Bourret (1937) emphasized the unusually high ventral scale count of that specimen but did not mention any other difference compared with F. klossi. He counted 53 subcaudals in this specimen that, furthermore, had a bluish-grey dorsum, 315 mm total length, and a tail length / total length ratio of 0.16. All other known specimens of F. klossi have less than 180 ventrals. Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. also differs from F. klossi in having only the first 3 or 4 infralabials with raised edges vs. first 7 infralabials in F. klossi. Lastly, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov. differs from F. s m i t h i by having (1) fewer subcaudals (55���56 vs. 72 in F. s m i t hi), (2) suture between internasals shorter than that between prefrontals (character shared with F. kl os s i) vs. distinctly longer in F. smi thi, (3) 1 subocular vs. 2, and (4) 3 posterior temporals vs. 5. Distribution (Fig. 7). Laos. Louangphabang Province: Vicinity of Muang Ngoi Village, Muang Ngoi District and Houaphan Province: Vicinity of Vieng Xai, Vieng Xai District. This species is currently known from its type and near the historical city of Vieng Xai or Viengxay, separated by 162 airline kilometers. Natural history. The holotype of Parafimbrios lao was discovered in a steep, rocky evergreen forest, with some remaining trees of primary forest, surrounding a rugged karst formation (Fig. 8). The holotype was lying motionless at night (19.45) during the rainy season on a rocky outcrop among a large pile of rocks at the foot of a limestone cliff of the karst formation at an elevation of 360 m. A few dozens of meters down below, a water course, about 1 m wide and 40 cm deep, used to run in this period of the year. The collection site is located on a steep slope which is converted into cultures (bananas, chilli beans) when the slope becomes more moderate. The adjacent lowland is mainly covered with rice fields, patches of secondary forests and a few scrub and grasslands. The second specimen was observed around the historical city of Vieng Xai, ���Birth place of Lao PDR���. It was found near one of the ���Former Pathet Lao Leaders Caves���, a place heavily bombed by the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1973 and where no large primary forest remain. This specimen was observed in the same general karstic environment as the holotype. It was lying motionless at the beginning of the rainy season on a rocky outcrop emerging near a cave entrance and an anti-rocket wall at the foot of a limestone cliff of the karst formation at an elevation of 890 m. No water course, except an artificial pool, was seen in its vicinity. The adjacent area is mainly covered with some small parcels comprising, among others, bananas, chilly beans and peanuts. Both specimens did not display any reaction and remained perfectly motionless when they were photographed. When they were handled, they did not try to form a ���ball���, a defensive posture frequent in Fimbrios klossi (our data), nor did they display any other defensive action. Nothing else is known on the biology of Parafimbrios lao. Stomachs of both specimens were seemingly empty. In the same biotope and within 50 meters from the collection site of the holotype we found the following amphibians: Microhyla fissipes (Boulenger), Micryletta inornata (Boulenger), Leptobrachium smithi (Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha), Xenophrys major (Boulenger), Hoplobatrachus chinensis (Osbeck), Ferjervarja limnocharis (Gravenhorst), and Theloderma asperum (Boulenger). We also found several reptile species, some of them new for the province (Teyni�� et al. 2014 b). In the vicinity of the locality of the second specimen, we found Microhyla fissipes, Micryletta inornata, and Rhacophorus kio (Ohler & Delorme), as well as at least seven reptile species. All species were photographed. Lastly, quite interestingly, each locality of Parafimbrios lao included in its fauna a different species of the genus Cyrtodactylus, new to the fauna of Laos (Schneider 2014)., Published as part of Teyni��, Alexandre, David, Patrick, Lottier, Anne, Le, Minh Duc, Vidal, Nicolas & Nguyen, Truong Quang, 2015, A new genus and species of xenodermatid snake (Squamata: Caenophidia: Xenodermatidae) from northern Lao People's Democratic Republic, pp. 523-540 in Zootaxa 3926 (4) on pages 527-536, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3926.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/241687, {"references":["Smith, M. A. (1921) New or little-known Reptiles and Batrachians from Southern Annam (Indochina). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1921 (2), 423 - 440, pls. 1 - 2.","Smith, M. A. (1943) The fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, including the whole of the Indo-chinese subregion. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III. Serpentes. Taylor & Francis, London, xii + 583 pp.","Campden-Main, S. M. (1970) A field guide to the snakes of South Vietnam. Vol. 3. U. S. National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 114 pp.","Orlov, N. L., Ryabov, S. A., Nguyen, S. V. & Nguyen, T. Q. (2003) New records and data on the poorly known snakes of Vietnam. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 10 (3), 217 - 240.","Ziegler, T., David, P., Miralles, A., Doan, K. V. & Nguyen, T. Q. (2008) A new species of the snake genus Fimbrios from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Truong Son, central Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae). Zootaxa, 1729, 37 - 48.","Bourret, R. (1937) Notes herpetologiques sur l'Indochine francaise. XV. Lezards et serpents recus au Laboratoire des Sciences Naturelles de l'Universite au cours de l'annee 1937. Descriptions de deux especes et de deux varietes nouvelles. Bulletin general de l'Instruction Publique, 17 e Annee, 4 (Decembre), 56 - 80.","Teynie, A., Nguyen, T. Q., Lorvelec, O., Piquet, A., Lottier, A. & David, P. (2014 b) Amphibiens et Reptiles du Laos: nouvelles donnees nationales et provinciales. Bulletin de la Societe Herpetologique de France, 151 (3), 21 - 52.","Schneider, N. (2014) Systematics, Zoogeography and Evolution of Laotian. Cyrtodactylus. Master of Science Thesis, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat, Bonn, 102 pp. [Germany]"]}

Parafimbrios gen. nov. Type species. Parafimbrios lao spec. nov., herein described. Diagnosis. A genus of Caenophidia, family Xenodermatidae, characterized by (1) maxillary teeth 27, progressively slightly enlarged posteriorly; (2) head not distinct from neck; (3) dorsal scales small, cycloid or subrectangular, with the correspondence of two dorsal scale rows per ventral plate throughout the body; (4) two consecutive scales of the first dorsal scale row enlarged; (5) rostral separated from internasals by a fold of skin, larger on the sides than above the middle of the rostral; (6) nostril piercing the anterior part of a large, concave nasal; (7) mental and both anterior supralabials and infralabials with strong, raised, everted edges; (8) eye with vertically elliptic pupil; (9) loreal single, large, extending from nasal to eye; (10) chin shields in a single pair, enlarged; (11) body moderately elongate; (12) ventrals large, rounded; (13) subcaudals undivided; (14) cloacal plate entire; and (15) hemipenis short, forked, distal half strongly spinose. Although Parafimbrios gen. nov. shares morphological similarities with other members of the family Xenodermatidae, it is morphologically most similar to Fimbrios. Parafimbrios gen. nov. differs from Fimbrios by a combination of the five characters listed above, the most important being (1) the correspondence of two consecutive dorsal scale rows per ventral plate throughout the body, (2) fewer dorsal scale rows, and (3) posterior teeth progressively and slightly enlarged (vs. equal). Additional comparisons between the new genus and species and members of the genus Fimbrios are given below in the species description. Distribution. Laos. Currently recorded from karst formations in Louangphabang and Houaphan provinces. Etymology. The generic nomen Parafimbrios is composed of the modern Latin generic nomen Fimbrios and the Latin adjective par (paris), meaning, among other possibilities, ���similar to���. The nomen Fimbrios itself stems from the Latin noun fimbria (- ae), meaning ���a fringe���, by allusion to the edges of labial scales producing a kind of fringe around the snout. So, the generic nomen Parafimbrios refers to one of the diagnostic characters of Fimbrios, to which Parafimbrios gen. nov. is morphologically quite similar but taxonomically distinct. Contents. The new genus currently contains a single species, Parafimbrios lao spec. nov., which we describe as, Published as part of Teyni��, Alexandre, David, Patrick, Lottier, Anne, Le, Minh Duc, Vidal, Nicolas & Nguyen, Truong Quang, 2015, A new genus and species of xenodermatid snake (Squamata: Caenophidia: Xenodermatidae) from northern Lao People's Democratic Republic, pp. 523-540 in Zootaxa 3926 (4) on page 527, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3926.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/241687

Snakes are limbless squamates that share a set of unique skeletal traits that separate them from remaining squamates. Approximately 3400 species of snakes are placed in 22 families. Snakes capture, manipulate, and consume their prey using only the body and mouth. Some capture prey with their mouth and simply swallow them, some hold their prey with their mouth and coils of their body, some constrict prey, and yet others inject highly toxic venoms that disable or kill prey. Major modifications of cranial anatomy (unique to snakes) aid in subduing and swallowing prey. Similar to lizards, they occur on all continents except Antarctica. A number of snakes are marine, and although most marine snakes inhabit tropical or subtropical continental shelf regions in the Atlantic Ocean in the Old World, one is pelagic, reaching the Neotropics. Conservation status of snakes is summarized. An up-to-date phylogeny details approximate time periods during which divergences occurred during the evolutionary history of snakes and shows evolutionary relationships among the families as we now know them. Taxonomic accounts provide information on generic content, distribution, characteristics, and biology of each family.

Xenodermus javanicus Reinhardt, 1836 * (Fig. 7 a,b) Material examined. 1 specimen photographed (ToL about 60 cm) but not collected, from the vicinity of Lubuksao, Province of Sumatera Barat, elev. ca 400 m. Taxonomic comments. This specimen is typical for the species as described in De Rooij (1917) and Manthey & Grossmann (1997). Our specimen of this odd-looking and rare species was very thin. Only a few individuals have ever been recorded from Sumatra. Distribution on Sumatra. Provinces of Sumatera Barat (first record in this work), Aceh, Sumatera Utara and Bengkulu (David & Vogel, 1996; Y. Laumonier, pers. comm., 1998). Biology. This specimen was collected in August on the bank of a ditch along a road crossing a rocky primary forest near a stream. It was active at about 2000 hours during a heavy rain shower. The snake was not aggressive and the sole defensive posture was a stiffness of its body., Published as part of Teyni��, Alexandre, David, Patrick & Ohler, Annemarie, 2010, Note on a collection of Amphibians and Reptiles from Western Sumatra (Indonesia), with the description of a new species of the genus Bufo, pp. 1-43 in Zootaxa 2416 on pages 25-26, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.194395, {"references":["De Rooij, N. (1917) The reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. II. Ophidia. E. J. Brill, Leyden, xvi + 334 pp.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens. Natur und Tier - Verlag, Munster, 512 pp.","David, P. & Vogel, G. (1996) The Snakes of Sumatra. An annotated checklist and key with natural history notes. Ed. Chimaira, Frankfurt-am-Main, 260 pp."]}

Fimbrios smithi sp. n. (Figs. 2���8) Holotype. IEBR 3157, an adult male, from Phong Nha���Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province, central Vietnam, collected by Doan Van Kien and Nguyen Van Hoan on 15 May 2005 in the Cha Noi region at an altitude of ca. 350 m above sea level. Etymology. We name this species in honour of Malcolm A. Smith, who described the monotypic genus Fimbrios with the species F. klossi, and in recognition of his outstanding herpetological contributions for Southeast Asia. Diagnosis. A species of the genus Fimbrios, characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) rostral, mental and first three to four labials with raised, everted edges; 2) rostral separated from the internasals by a horizontal ridge of tissue; 3) suture between the internasals longer than that between the prefrontals; 4) a single pair of enlarged chin shields; 5) one large loreal, that extends from the nasal to the eye; 6) one preocular, one supraocular, two postoculars, and two suboculars; 7) 31 rows of keeled scales at midbody (those of the outer row enlarged); 8) 193 laterally rounded ventrals; 9) 72 unpaired subcaudals; 10) a total length of at least 440 mm in males (with a tail length of 94 mm, and a tail / total length ratio of 0.214); 11) dorsum greyish brown; with a paler flank area, and pale blotches and stripes at the neck region. Description of holotype. 440 mm total length (346 mm snout vent length, and 94 mm tail length); tail / total length ratio 0.214; body slender, cylindrical; head length 10.2 mm (from tip of snout to hind margin of parietal); head not distinct from neck, dorsally covered with large shields; eye small, with vertically subelliptic pupil; right maxilla with ca. 34 equal sized and curved teeth. Rostral partly destroyed, triangular, not visible from above, separated from the internasals by a horizontal ridge of tissue; suture between the internasals (1.4 mm) longer than that between the prefrontals (0.9 mm); nostril in the anterior part of a large, concave nasal; frontal slightly broader than long, broadly truncate in front, much shorter than the parietals; loreal large, pentagonal, extending from the nasal to the eye; one small preocular, higher than wide; one small supraocular, wider than high; two small postoculars; two suboculars, the anteriormost being distinctly larger; four anterior and five posterior temporals each; eight supralabials, the first four very small, with strongly raised edges, the last one much elongated; fifth and sixth supralabials in contact with the larger subocular; one mental, followed by ten infralabials; mental and anterior three infralabials with their edges raised like the supralabials; first pair of infralabials in contact with each other; first five infralabials in contact with the single pair of enlarged chin shields; chin shields covering nearly the whole of the chin in front, in contact with the first ventral; no posterior chin-shields. Dorsal scales elliptical, keeled from the neck region onwards; especially at the cloacal region, the middle keel is distinctly pointed posteriorly; 31 scale rows at midbody, those of the outer row enlarged; 36 scales round the anterior part of the body (one head length behind head), and 29 dorsal scale rows at posterior body (one head length before vent); 193 distinct, laterally rounded ventrals; 72 single subcaudals; anal entire; tail moderate. The invertedly dissected right hemipenis proved to be deeply forked, with the region proximal to the bifurcation being smooth, and the area distal to the bifurcation being spinose. The formaldehyde-fixed and subsequently ethanol-preserved holotype is dark greyish brown above, the lower flanks are pale brown; there are few pale blotches discernible in the dorsal and lateral neck region; these blotches comprise one to five scales; in addition, there exists each a thin, one to three scales wide longitudinal pale stripe in the lateral neck region; these stripes begin about 7 mm behind the eyes, obliquely descend for about 3 mm and then horizontally stretch for further 7���13 mm; the chin region of the preserved holotype is brownish grey; the ventral and subcaudal scales are yellowish grey, edged with dark grey (most obvious in the posterior body and below the tail). Distribution. The discovery of the new species, which is known only from the type specimen from Phong Nha���Ke Bang National Park (see Fig. 9), took place at the type locality of the skink species Tropidophorus noggei and Lygosoma boehmei (see Ziegler et al. 2005, 2007 b). Natural history. The male holotype of Fimbrios smithi sp. n. was discovered on the forest ground in steep primary karst forest, near A Bo Doi limestone cave. We did not find any water courses in the immediate vicinity, but the snake was found within the dry season. The snake was found killed by local people on the forest path nearby karst rock outcrops., Published as part of Ziegler, Thomas, David, Patrick, Miralles, Aurelien, Kien, Doan Van & Truong, Nguyen Quang, 2008, A new species of the snake genus Fimbrios from Phong Nha ��� Ke Bang National Park, Truong Son, central Vietnam (Squamata: Xenodermatidae), pp. 37-48 in Zootaxa 1729 on pages 39-41, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181276

A second species of the previously monotypic snake genus Fimbrios is described from the Truong Son Mountain Range, Vietnam. Fimbrios smithi sp. n. is included in this genus on the basis of the combination of the following characters: rostral, mental and first three to four labials with raised, erected edges; a horizontal ridge of tissues above the rostral; a very large loreal. It is distinguished from F. klossi by having the suture between the internasals longer than that between the prefrontals; two suboculars; 193 ventrals, and 72 unpaired subcaudal scales; total length of at least 440 mm in males (with a tail length of 94 mm, and a tail / total length ratio of 0.214); dorsum greyish brown, with a paler flank area, and pale blotches and stripes in the neck region. Fimbrios smithi sp. n. is the seventh snake species that has been described as new from the Phong Nha—Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam, in the last decade; it is the forty-fourth colubrid snake species known from that region, which now comprises 60 snake species in general.

Amniote vertebrates possess various mechanisms of sex determination, but their variability is not equally distributed. The large evolutionary stability of sex chromosomes in viviparous mammals and birds was believed to be connected with their endothermy. However, some ectotherm lineages seem to be comparably conserved in sex determination, but previously there was a lack of molecular evidence to confirm this. Here, we document a stability of sex chromosomes in advanced snakes based on the testing of Z-specificity of genes using quantitative PCR (qPCR) across 37 snake species (our qPCR technique is suitable for molecular sexing in potentially all advanced snakes). We discovered that at least part of sex chromosomes is homologous across all families of caenophidian snakes (Acrochordidae, Xenodermatidae, Pareatidae, Viperidae, Homalopsidae, Colubridae, Elapidae and Lamprophiidae). The emergence of differentiated sex chromosomes can be dated back to about 60 Ma and preceded the extensive diversification of advanced snakes, the group with more than 3000 species. The Z-specific genes of caenophidian snakes are (pseudo)autosomal in the members of the snake families Pythonidae, Xenopeltidae, Boidae, Erycidae and Sanziniidae, as well as in outgroups with differentiated sex chromosomes such as monitor lizards, iguanas and chameleons. Along with iguanas, advanced snakes are therefore another example of ectothermic amniotes with a long-term stability of sex chromosomes comparable with endotherms.

Amphibians and reptiles were collected in Sumatra during two short field trips, around Lake Maninjau in Sumatera Barat Province (West Sumatra Province) and in Jambi Province. On the basis of preserved specimens and / or photographed specimens, the collection includes 17 species of amphibians (1 Caecilia, 16 Anura) and 38 species of reptiles (11 lizard and 27 snake species respectively). A new species of the genus Bufo is described from a single specimen on the basis of a combination of unique characters distinguishing it from Bufo sumatranus Peters, 1871, a similar species also known only from its holotype. Other noteworthy specimens are described in details. Given the poor knowledge of the herpetology of Sumatra, this collection, although limited in size, is important and 3 amphibian and 10 reptile species represent new provincial records. Of special interest is the discovery in West Sumatra Province of Lygosoma quadrupes, previously only known from Sumatera Selatan Province. A preliminary biogeographical hypothesis of the herpetofauna of Sumatra is provided.