1
Three New Species of ReptilesFROMHainan Island^ Guangdong Province
Translation and Introductionbyakihiro koshikawa
SMITHSONIANHERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATIONSERVICENO. 53
1982
V
Introduction
According to a handbook titled "Synopsis of Reptiles of China" (1977)^326 species and subspecies of reptiles are known from China. Comparison ofthis figure to that given by Clifford H. Pope in 19352 (218 taxa) indicatesa great advance of herpetofaunal investigation in China, most of whichwas carried out by their own people in the latter half of this century. Aseries of well -organized herpetofaunal researches has resulted in manypublished reports (and still many more seem to await publication); theseinclude new geographical records and descriptions of new forms. Most ofthese herpetological reports appeared in journals such as ACTA ZOOLOGICASINICA and ACTA ZOOTAXONOMICA SINICA. Recently a purely herpetologicaljournal was initiated by Chengdu Institute of Biology (Acta HerpetologicaSinica) which will be a stepping stone for the further advance of herpetologyin China.
Many herptiles are valuable natural resources in China and their impor-tance in economics (food, medicine, leather, etc.) is well documented in arecently published booklet, "Economic Herptiles".^ This booklet stressesthe importance of further investigation of distribution and ecology of herp-tiles to take necessary conservational measures including captive propagation.Snakebite is another aspect of herpetology for which a well -edited handbookis available. This handbook, "Chinese Poisonous Snakes and Treatment of TheirBites"4 contains many interesting accounts of venomous snakes of China as wellas very unique herbal medication for snakebites. These two areas of para-herpetology seem to have played an important role in the advancement of theirresearches on various aspects of these animals in China.The following is a translation of one of these reports, mentioned above;it appeared in the Acta Zoologica Sinica (24(4): 379-384 + pi., 1975). Beforepresenting the translation, I wish to offer a few comments:
1) The introductory part of the text as well as "types" and "diagnosis" aredirectly transcribed from the original English summary with a minoraddition.2) Terminology used for morphological description is mainly based onJames A. Peters' "Dictionary of Herpetology"^ except the "interoccipitals"which in this paper is used to describe a group of small scales behindthe parietals and separating the posterior temporals. Peters mentions theuse of this term in saurians and in scolecophidian snakes but not incolubrid snakes such as Achalinus . The Chinese name for this scale,Jian zhen ban , however, seems to be seldom used and is not mentioned inthe section on snake lepidosis in "Synopsis of Reptiles of China".3) Sichuan Biological Research Institute is now called "Chengdu Institute ofBiology, Academia Sinica". This must be the largest center of herpetologyin China.4) The author of X^. hainanensis and D. rosozonatum , Djao, is written as Zhao(Zhao Ermi) in recent papers.5) Xenopeltis hainanensis is now known also from Longsheng prefecture (ca.25? 42'N, llO'-d'E) of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Province (=Kwangsi) andLongquan area (ca. 28? 04'N, 199? 07'E) of Zhejiang Province (=Chekiang).
(Specimens in Guangxi Medical College and Zhejiang Province Museumrespectively. "Synopsis of Reptiles of China", p. 51. Geographicallocations are after Rand McNally International Atlas, 1979.)6) Dinodon rosozonatum is illustrated by a color photograph and describedin a short text in "Chinese Poisonous Snakes and Treatment of TheirBites" as a snake which is occasionally misconceived to be poisonous.The first edition of the book was published in 1974, one year beforethe "original description". Description of this snake (page 108 ofthe first edition and page 114 of the second edition) is translatedas follows:Fen Lian She Dinodon rosozonatum Hu et Djao (Color plate 26)Local name: Huo Jia SheBelongs to the same genus and family as Chi Lian She (=Dinodonrosozonatum : Red Chain-snake) and Huang Lian She (=D. septentrional is
: Yellow Chain-snake); Genus Dinodon , subfamily ColuErinae andFamily Colubridae. Nonpoisonous. Distinguished from the lattertwo species in having 19-17(15) dorsal scale rows, 221-234 ventralsand relatively fewer number 28-33 and 9-13) of pinkish red crossbands. Found on plains and mountains along streams below 600 metersabove sea level. Presently only known from Hainan Island, wherepeople consider the snake to be a close relative of Bungarus fasciatusand poisonous.In the second edition of the book this snake is described in Chapter 3 whichis written by Hu and Zhao. However, in the first edition, the authors ofeach chapter are not credited. I wish to thank Showichi Sengoku who drew
rr\y attention to this fact.7) "Chestnut brown" used in the description of Cuora hainanensis is translatedfrom "zong he se". It is possible that "zong he se" is a little darkerthan chestnut brown. I could not find any literature in which this coloris well explained.8) The number of taxa of reptiles known from Hainan Island is here given as108; however, I could count only 104 species and subspecies in the distri-bution table of "Synopsis of Reptiles of China" (p. 77-93).
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Showichi Sengoku of JapanWildlife Research Center for his help and encouragement throughout the preparationof this text.
References1) Herpetological Laboratory, Sichuan Biological Research Institute (ed.).1977. Zhongguo paxingdongwu xitongjiansuo (Synopsis of Reptiles of China).Kasuechuban sha, Beijing (In Chinese).2) Pope, C.H. 1935. Reptiles of China, Natural History of Central Asia,vol. 10:1-604. American Museum of Natural History, New York.
3) Sichuan Biological Research Institute and Natural History Museum ofShanghai (eds.). 1978. Jiangji liangqipaxingdongwu (Economic Herptiles).Shanghai kasuejushue bhuban sha, Shanghai (In Chinese).
4) Chengdu Institute of Biology, Museum of Natural History of Shanghai,Zhejiang Province Institute of Chinese Medicine et al., (eds.). 1979.Zhongguodedushe ji sheshangfangzhi (Chinese Poisonous Snakes and Treatmentof Their Bites). Shanghai kasuejushue chuban sha, Shanghai (In Chinese).(First edition published in 1974 by Shanghai renmin chuban sha.)5) Peters, J. A. 1964. Dictionary of Herpetology. Hafner PublishingCompany, New York and London.
Akihiro KoshikawaDecember 1980
Three New Species of Reptiles from Hainan Island,Guangdong Province
Sichuan Biological Research Beijing Institute of ZoologyInstitute, Chengdu Academia Sinica
From 1963 to 1964, three herpetological explorations were carried out inHainan Island, Guangdong Province. Up to the present, 108 species and subspeciesof reptiles belonging to 61 genera, 18 families and 3 orders have been recordedfrom Hainan Island. Among the reptiles recorded in China, only crocodilians,Anguidae and Xenosauridae of the saurians have so far not been found on thisisland. The reptilian fauna of Hainan Island consists mainly of Oriental forms.Among these, the species which are generally distributed in South China predominate.Many reptiles are endemic to the island. Zoogeographically, Hainan Island hasbeen classified as a subregion of the South China Region. Hainan reptilescomprise one-fifth of the entire Chinese reptile fauna.
In the following, three new species, one new taxonomic revision and threespecies new to China are described.
1. Xenopeltis hainanensis Hu et Djao, sp. nov. (Fig. la, b, c)*(New Chinese Name: Hainan Shan Lin She, Brilliant scaled snake of Hainan)TYPES: Holotype, an adult male (SBRI No. 64III6016; June 15, 1964; Daliof Diaulo Shan, Hainan, altitude 200 m); allotype, an adult female (SBRI no.64III6650; September 4, 1964; Yacha Matou, Baisa Hsien, Hainan altitude 217 m).DIAGNOSIS: This new species distinctly differs from Xenopeltis unicolorReinwardt, the monotype of the genus Xenopeltis , in having 22-24 maxillary teethon each maxilla; one postocular; seven upper labials, the fourth and fifth ofwhich enter the eye; 152-157 ventrals and 16-18 pairs of subcaudals.DESCRIPTION: The measurement and scale counts of the two type specimensare shown in Table 1. Head relatively small, somewhat depressed; snout roundand robust, body cylindrical; tail short, about 1/13 to 1/14 of the total length.Hemipenis thick and short, with longitudinal sulcuses, no spines. When alive,back is indigo brown and has metallic luster; two series of white longitudinalspots between Dl and D3; Dl grayish white with indigo brown base. Undersideof the head light indigo gray or light brown; underside of the body and the tail'sbase grayish white; other part of the tail's underside indigo brown.HABIT: Allotype was collected among grasses, under a basket of youngpineapple plants near a harbor at 0800 hours. It was found when a basket wasmoved.DISCUSSION: For almost 100 years, Xenopeltis unicolor Reinwardt, whichis widespread in Southeast Asia and also recorded from Yunnan in China, hasbeen the sole member of the family Xenbpeltidae. This species has 35 to 45maxillary teeth on each maxilla; two postoculars; eight upper labials with thefourth and fifth entering the eye; 164 to 196 ventrals and 22 to 31 subcaudals.The new species is sufficiently distinct from the former form.
"^ Figures are not reproduced herein. Please see original article. (SHIS ed.)
2. pinodon rosozonatum Hu et Djao, sp. nov. (Fig. 2)(New Chinese Name: Fen Lian She, Pink Chain-Snake. Lian She (Chain-Snake)is common name for Pinodon sp.)TYPES: Holotype, an adult male (SBRI No. 64III6089; June 21, 1964; Daliof Diaulo Shan, Hainan, altitude 200 m ); allotype, an adult female (SBRI No.64III5246; May 11, 1964; Wuzhi Shan, Hainan altitude 540 m); paratypes 3 malesand 5 females (1964-1972, Diaulo Shan, Wuzhi Shan and Haidou, altitude 80-580 m).DIAGNOSIS: This new species differs from all of the known species of thegenus Dinodon by having the composite characters: 1) dorsal scales in 19-19-15(17) rows, the vertebral row distinctly more enlarged than the adjacent scalerows; 2) more ventral s (221-234); 3) blackish brown above, crossed by 28-35+ 9-13 narrow pink bands.DESCRIPTION: Based upon four male and six female specimens of type series.Each maxilla has 12 to 13 teeth which are divided into three groups by diastemaswith the dental formula of 6(7) + 3 + 3, the first group teeth gradually enlarge,the middle group smaller and the last group the largest. Loreal single, yerysmall, entering the eye in one specimen; single preocular, which is absent onthe left side in one specimen; two postoculars; two anterior temporals, excep-tionally united into one piece; three posterior temporals, exceptionally two;eight upper labials with 2*^3-3 formula, sometimes 3-2-2 on one side. Dorsalscales in 19-19-15(17) rows, with weak keels on three to nine middle rows.Length of the male specimen 850 + 210 mm (holotype) and that of the female802 + 174 mm (allotype).When alive, back is blackish brown with 28-35 + 9-13 pink cross bands onbody and tail; each cross band width is equal to one to two dorsal scales, andeach cross band bifurcates at D5 or D6 and reaches ventral s, but those onposterior part of the tail do not show clear bifurcation, on those cross bandsare more or less scattered blackish brown flecks; on the neck is "Ai' -shapedpink marking whose anterior end reaches the parietals and posterior ends reachthe rictuses; upper labials pinkish brown and the seam between them black;series of intermittent narrow black stripes from the parietal seam and thetemporals to the upper labial edge. Underside of the head whitish with a fewblackish brown spots; the first quarter of the underside of the body grayishwhite, the remaining part with blackish brown blotches, underside of the tailpredominantly blackish brown.HABIT: Found in the hills and on the plain along streams and around ricepaddies at altitudes of less than 850 m. Usually comes out at dusk or at night.The allotype was captured at 1020 hours in the hole of a large tree trunk about1.5 m above ground. Her head was seen a few centimeters out of the hole, andshe was captured when baited out by a live frog. This snake was observed toeat a green pit-viper (Zu Ye Qing = Trimeresurus stejnegeri ) which was kept inthe same cage in September, 1972.NOTE: The Wildlife Retail Department of Haikou City has been supplyingthis snake for food. The snake is called "Huo Jia She" (meaning fire-armoredsnake) and considered to be a close relative to the banded krait ( Bungarusfasciatus ). But it does not have any venom.
3. Achalinus hainanus Huang, sp. nov. (Fig. 3a, b, c)(New Chinese Name: Hainan Ji She; Vertebral or Back Snake of Hainan.Ji She (back snake) is common name for Achalinus sp.)TYPES: Holotype, an adult female (IZAS No. 1076; January 20, 1964; ChienFung Ling, Hainan, altitude 800 m); paratype, an adult female (IZAS No. 1016;January 16, 1964; from the same locality as the holotype).
DIAGNOSIS: This new species is similar to Achalinus rufescens Boulenger,but differs from the latter in having only one anterior temporal, in the uppertertiary temporals directly contacting each other mesial ly without an inter-occipital, and in having more ventral s (165-168).DESCRIPTION: Table 2 summarizes measurements and scale counts of the twotype specimens. The seam between the internasals as long as that between theprefrontals; parietals long, which anterolateral ly enter between the supraocularand the temporals, and may or may not reach the upper-posterior edge of the eye;the eye small, the pupil almost circular; the temporals in three rows, 1+2+3, but four posterior temporals on the right side of the holotype. The upper-most posterior temporals in great contact with the parietals, and are notseparated by the interoccipital; upper labials gradually enlarge from frontto back and the sixth the longest, longer than five anterior scutes combined;five lower labials with three anterior pairs in contact with the anterior chinshield, two pairs of chin shields of the same size, almost rectangular in shape;dorsal scales evenly keeled except smooth Dl scales; the anal single.In preservative, snout tip and dorsal aspect of the head indigo gray,temporal region, the edges of the upper and lower labials brownish gray; dorsalaspects of body and tail lighter than that of the head; belly grayish white,with the base of each ventral scale darker; entire body has metallic luster.DISCUSSION: Smith (1923) described Achalinus meridianus based on Hainanspecimen. This was the first record of an AchaliTTus from the island. Majorcharacteristics of the species are 2+ 2 temporals, suture between the prefrontalsare twice as long as that of the internasals, 147 ventral s and 77 subcaudals.Pope (1935) and Bourret (1936) synonymized Hainan Achalinus with A. rufescens .This new species is distinct from all the known specimens of AchaTinus fromHainan in the number of the anterior temporals and in the absence of inter-occipitals. These two characters of the present species distinguish it fromall other species of the genus. They have two anterior temporals and inter-occipital s on the posterior end of the parietals.
4. Cuora hainanensis (Li), new taxonomic position.Li described Cycleinys flavomarginata hainanensis (Chinese Journal of Zoology,2(4):234, 1958) which is now considered as a full species and a mender of thegenus Cuora . Description of the types is as follows:TYPES: Holotype, an adult male (FU No. 200; Dali of Diaulo Shan, Hainan,altitude 200 m); allotype, an adult female (SBRI No. 64III6110; June, 1964;Nanxi of Diaulo Shan, Hainan, altitude 82 m): paratypes 3 males and 4 females(1963-1964, Diaulo Shan and Chien Fung Ling, Hainan).DIAGNOSIS: This new species is similar to Cuora flavomarginata (Gray),but differs from the latter by: 1) snout more pointed, its tip projectingbeyond the upper jaw; 2) the margin of the upper jaw straight, without hook;3) hinder part of the head covered with small scales; 4) anterior three vertebral(= central) shields projecting medially in front and with a medial notch behind;5) anal shield single, without any rudiment of median suture; and 6) a differentcolor pattern.DESCRIPTION: Size of the nine type specimens are listed in Table 3.Carapace relatively high, vertebral ridge on the midline; no distinct emarginationin front and back, slight outward curvature of the carapacial edge in front andback, no serration of margin. Nuchal very small; vertebral s as broad and long,each narrower than its adjacent pleurals, anterior three vertebral s projecting
medially in front, two anterior vertebrals have notches behind.* Each carapa-cial shield has indistinct concentric pattern.; Plastron relatively wide andflat, front and hind edges round and not emarginated, connected to the carapaceby ligaments, ligament between pectoral and abdominal, front and hind halvescan close to the carapace; no distinct bridges, no axillary nor inguinal;abdominal seam longest, humeral seam shortest; anal single without any seam norrudiment of it. Head moderate, snout obtusely pointed, slightly projectingbeyond the upper beak; top of the head smooth, occipital region with smallscales; orbit as long as snout; upper beak edge smooth, not notched nor hooked,lower beak slightly shorter than the upper beak. Limbs moderate, covered withrelatively large imbricate scales, the largest scales on the back of the fore-limb, upper arm and heel covered with few large scales; five claws on forelimband four claws on the hindlimb, fingers and toes half-webbed. Tail relativelyshort, long-conical in shape and covered with hard scales.When alive, back light yellow, middle (vertebrals and adjacent part ofpleurals) and edges (cervical, dorsal surface of marginals, and postcentrals)chestnut brown; light yellow area has brushed stripes or spots or chestnut brown,chestnut brown area, on the other hand, has few light yellow stripes, the midlineon the vertical keel is also light yellow. Ventral surface of marginals is amixture of chestnut brown and light yellow. Plastron chestnut brown with fewirregularly scattered light yellow spots. Top of the head olive, chestnutbrown spots on snout, occipital part, cheeks and upper beak, light yellow tympanicmembrane, lower beak and throat grayish white. Neck light yellow with blackishbrown bands on the outer side; hindlimbs grayish brown on the back and lightyellow below. Tail light yellow with blackish brown blotches.HABIT: Found at mountain streams, this turtle's habitat is completelydifferent from that of Cuora flavomarginata which is mainly found along pondbanks or in rice paddies.
5. Acanthosaura armata armata (Hardwicke et Gray) (Agamidae)Newly recorded from China.One male, January 20, 1964, Chien Fung Ling, Hainan, altitude 750-850 m.Postocular spiny scales and beard like spiny scales on the throat arerelatively long, as long as the eye's diameter.
6. Calotes microlepis Boulenger (Agamidae)Newly recorded from China.Two males and one female, April 30, 1963 to January 17, 1964, Wushi Shan,580 m, and Chien Fung Ling, 750 m, Hainan.Keels on the scales on the side of the body are directed posteroventrally,no shoulder fold, hindlimb reaches shoulder when adpressed against the body,60 to 70 scale rows around the midbody.
7. Bungarus niger Wall (Elapidae)Newly recorded from China.One female, October 12, 1964, bought at Haikou City's Wildlife RetailDepartment.
* Translator's Note: This account on the notches of vertebral shields disagreeswith that of DIAGNOSIS which says the three anterior vertebrals have notchesbehind. However, it is almost certain that the third vertebral does not haveany notch behind because medial projection of the fourth vertebral is notmentioned in the DIAGNOSIS nor the DESCRIPTION.
Back blackish brown, belly white, interrupted series of black and whiteblotches on the side. Total length 1320 mm, tail length 154 mm. 215 ventralsand 50 subcaudals.
Li, Zhi Yuan
Mahendra, B.C.
Pope, C.H.
Schmidt, K.P.
Smith, M.A.
Taylor, E.H.
Literature Cited
1958. Report on the investigation of reptiles of HainanIsland. Chinese J. Zool. 2(4):234-239.
1938. The lepidosis of Xenopeltis uhicolor Reinwardt.Current Sci. 6(11): 559-560.
1935. The reptiles of China.10:1-604.
1927. The reptiles of Hainan.54(3): 395-465.
Nat. Hist. Central Asia
Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.
1923. On a collection of reptiles and batrachians from theIsland of Hainan. J. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam 6(2):195-212.1931-1943. Reptiles and amphibians. Vols. 1-3, In Faunaof British India. London.
1934. Notes on two collections of Hainan reptiles andamphibians. Lingnan Sci. J. 13:465-474.
Translator's Note: This scientific article follows the current Chinese policyof crediting authorship to the institutions where the research was performed.However, to comply with standard nomenclatural practice, new scientific namesare credited to individual scientists.
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