sc^^ TRANSLATIONS OF RECENT DESCRIPTIONS OF^^PT CHINESE PITVIPERS OF THETRIMERESURUS-COMFLEX (SERPENTES, VIPERIDAE),WITH A KEY TO THE COMPLEX IN CHINA ANDADJACENT AREAS
Patrick DavidLaboratoire des Reptiles et AmphibiensMuseum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris&Haiyan TongLaboratoire de PaleontologieUniversite Paris-VI
SMITHSONIANHERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATIONSERVICENO. 112
1997
SMITHSONIANHERPETOLOGICALINFORMATIONSERVICE
The SHIS series publishes and distributes translations,bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged usefulto individuals interested in the biology of amphibiansand reptiles, but unlikely to be published in the normaltechnical journals. Single copies are distributed freeto interested individuals. Libraries, herpetologicalassociations, and research laboratories are invited toexchange their publications with the Division ofAmphibians and Reptiles.We wish to encourage individuals to share theirbibliographies, translations, etc. with otherherpetologists through the SHIS series. If you havesuch items please contact George Zug for instructions onpreparation and submission. Contributors receive 50free copies.Please address all requests for copies and inquiries toGeorge Zug, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles,National Museum of Natural History, SmithsonianInstitution, Washington DC 20560 USA, Please includea self-addressed mailing label with requests.
Historical perspective
The renewed interest in herpetological researches that occurred in the 1970's in the People's Repubhc
of China (hereafter merely referred to as China) led to the descriptions of many new taxa. Between 1972
and 1995, 17 species and 14 subspecies of snakes were described as new, either by Chinese or foreign
authors. All species are still considered as valid, whereas seven subspecies proved to be junior synonyms of
other taxa. The majority of the new snakes occur in the mountainous areas of central and southern China
and includes several taxa of venomous snakes.
The descriptions of new snakes published between 1975 and 1995 appeared in Chinese journals such
as Acta zoologica Sinica {Dongwu Xuebao) and Acta zootaxonomica Sinica (Dongwu Fenlei Xuebao),
and also in more regional publications, university journals, and in collected works. But most descriptions
were published in specialized journals like Materials for herpetological Research {Liangqi PaxingDongwu Yanjiu Ziliao) and Acta herpelologica Sinica, of which three series were published, respectivelybetween 1979-1982 (Old series) (Liangqi Paxing Dongwu Yanjiu), during the period 1982-1988 (New
series) (Liangqi Paxing Dongwu Xuebao), and from 1992 onwards (Liangqi Paxing Dongwu Xue Yanjiu).Nearly all articles in these journals were in Chinese, although most articles included a short, sometimesdisappointingly brief, English summary. We refer the reader to ZHAO & Adler (1993) and ZHAO & ZHAO(1994) for an overview of the Chinese herpetological literature.
The rich Chinese herpetofauna can be explained by a combination of geographical and climatic
factors. This area, and especially the mountains of southern China east of the Himalaya, northern Myanmar
and northeastern India, seems to be a center of dispersal for several reptile groups. This region is
characterised by a high number of crotaline species. So, while preparing a monograph on the Asian
pitvipers of the Trimeresurus-complex (Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae), one of us (PD) had to refer tomany Chinese publications. According to ZHAO & ADLER (1993), DAVID (1995), ZHAO (1995a, 1995b)
and David & INEICH (in press), the Trimeresurus-complex, namely the four currently recognized generaTrimeresurus Lacepede, 1804, Ermia Zhang, 1992, Ovophis Burger in Hoge & Romano Hoge, 1981 andTropidolaemus Wagler, 1830, currently has 43 species, ranging from Nepal to southern India and SriLanka, to eastern China and Japan, and to eastern Indonesia. It is particularly well represented in central,
eastern and southern China and Hainan, with a total of 17 taxa, 13 species and four subspecies, notincluding the nominal subspecies. Taiwan is the home of four species, all but one also occurring on the
mainland.
The taxonomy of this group is far from perfectly known, and during the period 1977-1995, seven newforms of the genus Trimeresurus, namely four species and three subspecies, were described from
continental China, including a very large species. At the same time, a subspecies described long ago and
another one described in 1977 were raised to specific rank. All these taxa are currently considered valid,
although with some doubt for one of the subspecies (see below).
Translations of these original descriptions were purposely prepared by the second author (HT) of thepresent paper for our monograph on the Thmeresurus-complex. We wish to share them with herpetologists
not fluent in Chinese language or not having easily access to Chinese literature so a larger audience has
access to original descriptions and characteristics of these venomous snakes, which are still poorly known
outside China. English translations of the original articles are reproduced here with explanatory' notes.
Systematics
The seven taxa included herein were all described in the genus Trimeresunts. Two were subsequently
reallocated to other genera, although ZHAO &. Adler (1993) were conservative and retained all these taxa
in the genus Trimeresiirus.We provide below in chronological order of description the current names of these taxa, then the
original name, bibliographic data, and, if relevant, the authorship of the new combination. For moreinformation, see also GOLAY et al. ( 1993) and David & INEICH (in press).Trimeresunis medoensis Djao in Djao & Jiang, 1977Trimeresiirus medoensis Djao in DJAO &. JiANG, 1977: 66, pi. 2: fig. 9-1 to 9-5.Ovophis zayuensis (Jiang in Djao & Jiang, 1977)Trimeresiirus monticola zayiiensis Jiang in DJAO & JIANG. 1977: 67, fig. 1: 1-3.Ovophis monticola zayuensis: HOGE & ROMANO HOGE, 1981: 249.Ovophis zayuensis: ZHAO, 1995a: 37.Trimeresunis xiangchengensis Zhao, Jiang & Huang, 1978Trimeresunis xiangchengensis ZHAO, JIANG & HUANG, 1978: 21.Trimeresurus tibelanus Huang, 1982Trimeresunis libetanus Huang, 1982: 116, fig. 1-5.Ermia mangshanensis (Zhao in Zhao & Chen, 1990)Trimeresunis mangshanensis Zhao in ZHAO & CHEN, 1990: 11, plate.Ermia mangshanensis: ZHANG, 1992: 82; ZHANG, 1993: 56.Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi Zhao, 1 995Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi Zhao, 1995b: 109.Trimeresunis stejnegeri chenbihuii Zhao, 1995Trimeresunis stejnegeri chenbihiiii Zhao, 1995b: 110.
SCOPE AND METHODS
We provide translations of seven articles in which descriptions of these taxa were published. Three
articles are not translated in full, only their parts relevant to the Trimeresurus-complex. Djao & JiANG(1977) include general remarks and a zoogeographical analysis of the herpetofauna of the Xizang Province;diese are not included here. ZHAO et al. (1978) and ZHAO (1995b) contain descriptions of taxa in addition
to the Trimeresurus-complex; these are not included. On the other hand, we give full translations of two
articles relative to T. xiangshengensis (ZHAO et al., 1978; ZHAO, 1979). The first one is a preliminary,
although valid, description; the second one is a more formal and thorough diagnosis of the species. All
other species were described in dedicated papers (HUANG, 1982; ZHAO & CHEN, 1990). However, the
original description of T. mangshanensis, based on two juveniles, lacks important data about adults and
other salient features of this amazing species. So, we also give the translation of another article related to
this species and published same year as the original description (CHEN, 1990). The translated articles are
arranged according to the chronology of their date of publication and appear in the following order:
DJAO & JIANG, 1977.ZHAO, JIANG & HUANG, 1978.ZHAO, 1979.HUANG, 1982.ZHAO & CHEN, 1990.CHEN, 1990.ZHAO, 1995b.
Full references are given in "LITERATURE CITED". These publications require some explanations.
First, the Chinese policy until early 1980 was to credit articles to institutions or laboratories rather than toindividuals. So we reproduce in bibliography the author(s) as mentioned in the original paper. In the first
article, footnotes on pages 64 and 70 clearly indicate that the actual authors are DJAO & JIANG, and thepaper is cited in bibliographies under this authorship.
Second, we used titles as given in the English summaries or as provided in ZHAO & ADLER (1993).The Chinese titles are slightly different, and they are given in the "NOTES" section. Personal, vernacular
and geographical names are transcribed according to the pinyin system. We combine transcribed Chinese
characters when they form a single word, for example zhuyeqing in place oizhu ye qing, the bamboo-leafgreen snake. We retained the spellings of the author's names as mentioned in the English summaries of the
original papers. DJAO Er-mie is now spelt ZHAO Er Mi (or Ermi).
Third, names of the type localities and other places are transcribed from the main Chinese text and notfrom the English summary. Our reference for geographical names is SUN (1989).
Last, the reader should refer to the original articles for the drawings and plates and also for the
references included in these articles, which are not included here.When necessary, we annotated the translations; these comments are marked by an integer in squarebrackets. The annotations follow the last article. There are no personal notes within the translations. These
translations follow the original texts in respect to the titles of their sections and subsections.
A SURVEY OF REPTILES IN XlZANG AUTONOMOUS REGION, WITH FAUNAE ANALYSIS ANDDESCRIPTIONS OF NEW FORMS '
Herpetological Department, Sichuan Biological Research Institute
Description of new species and subspecies t^l
Motuo zhuyeqing 1^1 Trimeresurus medoensis Djao, sp. nov. (Plate II, fig. 9, 1-5) 1^1
Types: Holotype male (Sichuan Institute of Biology Nr 73 II 5208, 3 August 1973, Xizang, Motuo,bridge Ani t^l, altitude 1200 m, collected by DJAO Er-mie and GAG Yuan); paratype male (SichuanInstitute of Biology Nr 73 II 5209, collected on the same day at the same place as the holotype, altitude1400 m, collected by DJAO Er-mie and Wu Xue-en). Deposited in the Sichuan Institute of Biology,Chengdu.
Diagnosis; A form oi zhuyeqing. The first supralabial is completely separated fi-om the nasal scale; 8supralabials, 8-9 infralabials; 17 (19)-17-13 dorsal scale rows, of which the 7th- 11th median rows are
slightly keeled; 148-149 ventral scales.
Description: The dorsal parts are entirely green on the whole body; the upper lips and the venter arewhite-yellowish; a bicolor red and white ventrolateral stripe on each side, made of the red inferior part of
scales of the first dorsal row and of the white superior part of scales of the first dorsal row and inferiormargin of the scales of the second dorsal row; the ventrolateral stripe extend beyond the comer of themouth to the temporal region, where it is interrupted, and, rearward, it reaches the level of first subcaudal
scales; upper part and tip of tail dark red.Total length: 563 + 129 mm (holotype) and 509 + 1 15 mm (paratype).The intemasals are much larger than other scales on the upper part of the snout, they are in contact orseparated by a small scale; the nasals are not divided nor constricted in their middle, and their posterioredge is slightly concave; they are completely separated from the first supralabials by a suture between the
scales; second supralabial borders the anterior side of the loreal pit, the upper part of this secondsupralabial is separated fi-om the nasal by a triangular prefoveal scale l^l; a loreal l^l between the nasal andthe preocular scales; the left and right supraocular scales are separated by a transversal row of 6-9 small
scales; 2 postoculars; 1 subocular in contact on its forward border with the subfoveal I^l; eyes moderate,with a vertical, oval pupil; 8 supralabials, the third being the largest, the fourth situated just below the eye;8 infralabials on the left side, and 9 infralabials at right, of which the first pair is in contact behind themental, and the first three pairs are in contact with the anterior chin shields. 17(19)-I7-13 dorsal scalerows, of which the 7-1 1 median rows are slightly keeled; 148-149 ventral scales; anal enfire; 58-59 pairs ofsubcaudals.
Biology: The holotype and the paratype were collected along a forest path, during a light rain. Theholotype was crawling at 10:50 towards the collectors and, arrived in their vicinity, turned away fromthem. The paratype was found along a path at 13:50, and, when noticed, tried to escape into a pile of leavesand fallen vegetation at the bottom of the hill slope.
: Authors of new forms : Djao Er-mie and Jiang Yao-ming.
Comparison and discussion: About thirty species are known in this genus, of which eight are green,bearing ventrolateral stripes or not, and are called "bamboo-leaf green snakes". The new species can bedistinguished from the previously known forms by the following distinctive characteristics; 1) a reducednumber of dorsal scale rows, 17(1 9)- 17- 13, which is different from all other species of the genus; 2) a
relatively low number of supralabials, 8 on each side. The Large-scaled zhuyeqing, T. macrolepisBeddome 1^1, also has between 7 and 8 supralabials, but in this species the numbers of scale rows atmidbody and before vent are 12-15 and 9-10 respectively; 133-143 ventral scales; upper head scales aremuch enlarged, with a single large scale separating the supraoculars. All these characters are different fromthose of the new species.Three female snakes ofzhuyeqing collected by Kaulback in the Namti Valley, northern Burma, with17-17-13 dorsal scale rows, 143-149 ventrals and 57-60 pairs of subcaudals, where tentatively referred bySmith (1943: 518) f'l to the species T. stejnegeri Schmidt. T. stejnegeri was described from specimenscollected in Shaowu, Fujian Province, and its range includes southern China, northern Burma, andwestwards it reaches Darjeeeling in India. The examination of 196 specimens (90 males, 106 females) ofzhuyeqing 1^1 originating from nine Chinese provinces gave the following results: dorsal scales behind thehead on 21 or 23 rows (rarely 22, 24 or 25 rows; solely the specimen Nr 1 from Huili, Sichuan Province,has 19 rows), usually 21 scale rows at midbody (very few specimens have 23 rows, and solely the specimenNr 2 from Huili, Sichuan Province, has 19 rows), 15 scale rows before vent (only the specimen Nr 3 fromLei Shan, Guizhou Province, has 1 3 or 12 scale rows), dorsal scales all keeled, with the exception of thetwo outer most rows, number of ventral scales 154-178 in the males (mean: 162.5), 154-173 in the females(mean: 160.7), 9-1 1 supralabials, sometimes 12, with only 1 specimen from Chongan, Fujian Province andone from Lei Shan, Guizhou Province, having 8 supralabials on each side, and a number of infralabialsincluded between 10 and 14 (there is not any specimen with 9 infralabials). The differences between thenew species and the zhuyeqing 1^1 are therefore very clear. We consider that if other characters of thespecimens from northern Burma mentioned above are similar to those of the new species, these animalsshould be also referred to the Motuo zhuyeqing.
Shan laotietou, Zayii variety '^) Trimeresurus monticola zayQensis C") Jiang,subsp. nov. (Fig. 1, 1-3) 1"1Types: Holot>pe male (Sichuan Institute of Biology Nr 73 I 5024, 22 July 1973, Xizang, Zayii,elevation 1800 m), cotypel'^l female (Sichuan Institute of Biology Nr 73 I 5025, 30 July 1973, Xizang,Zayii, Bendui, elevation 2070 m), paratype male (Sichuan Institute of Biology Nr 73 II 5349, 1965,Xizang, Zayii).
Diagnosis: The new subspecies is separated from other known forms of Shan laotietou I*'l by thefollowing characters: in the the new subspecies, the largest supralabial is the third one, whereas in othersubspecies it is the fourth one ['''1; the number of ventral scales of the new subspecies is greater than 170,when it is less than 158 in other subspecies; the subcaudal scales are single in the new subspecies, with afew exceptions, whereas in other subspecies these scales are paired, only a few being single I'^l.Range: Xizang Province: Zayii and Motuo.
Three new snake species in China ns](A SUMMARY)
Zhao Er Mi Jiang Yao Ming Huang Qing Yun n?)
3. Xiangcheng laotietou I'^J Trimeresurus xiangchengensis sp. nov.Types: Holotype male (CIB Nr 725049, 1972/10/17, Sichuan Province, Xiangcheng, altitude 3100m), cotype('21 female (CIB Nr 725050, 1972/10/23, Sichuan Province, Xiangcheng, altitude 3100 m),paratypes 1 male, 5 females, 2 juveniles (CIB Nr 725048, 725050-725052, 725054-725057). The typesare deposited in the Chengdu Insitute of Biology, Academia Sinica.
Diagnosis: Some characters of the new species, such as 189-193 ventral scales, 7-8 supralabials, 11-13 infralabials and some scales on the head are similar to those of T. elegans (Gray) ['^1 from which itdiffers by: I) in the new species, dorsal scales are on 25-27 rows on the neck, 25 rows at midbody, and 17(15 in a few cases) rows before vent, versus respectively 27-33, 23-26 and 19-21 rows in T. elegans; 2) alow number of subcaudals in the new species, 50-66, whereas their range is 63-79 in T. elegans; 3) somecharacters of head scalation and color blotches are different.
A NEW SNAKE OF THE GENUS TRI^fERESURUSFROM SiCHUAN, CHINA l^O)
ZHAO Er Mi(Chengdu Institute ofBiology, Academia Sinicd)
About thirty species are recognized in the genus Trimeresurus Lacepede, 1804, which occur in thesouhem part of the Asian continent, mainly in southern and southeastern Asia, in southern China and inJapan (Ryukyus Archipelago). This genus is reported from the southwestern, southern and central regionsof China as well as in the Indochinese part of the Oriental Region. In 1992, researchers of the FifthLaboratory of our Institute collected ten specimens of Trimeresurus at Xiangcheng, in the HengduanMounts, western Sichuan Province. After examination, it proved to be a new species, which is describedbelow. Xiangcheng laotietou I'^' Trimeresurus xiangchengensis new species (Fig. 1) t^'J
Diagnosis: The new species is closely related to T. elegans (Gray) 1'^' from which it differs by 1) thepresence of two loreals in the new species, against a single loreal in T. elegans, 2) the presence of a singlescale row between third and fourth supralabials and the subocular in the new species, versus two rows in T.elegans; 3) the new species has 11-14 (mean: 12.3) infralabials, whereas T. elegans has 10-12(mean: 10.5) infralabials; 4) 25 dorsal scale rows at midbody, with the two external rows smooth in thenew species, whereas T. elegans has 23 or 25 rows at midbody, of which only the outermost row is smooth;5) 17 scale rows before vent in the new species, instead of 19 rows in T. elegans; 6) the new species has189-194 (mean: 191.5) ventral scales, versus 179-191 (mean: 185.5) in T. elegans; 7) the new species has50-66 (mean: 59.3) pairs of subcaudal scales, versus 63-79 (mean: 71.7) pairs in T. elegans; 8) the color ofthe blotches are much different in these two species.Types: Holotype male (CIB Nr 725050, 1972-10-17, Sichuan Province, Xiangcheng, Qianjinxiang,altitude 3100 m), cotypel'^l female (CIB Nr 725049, 1972-10-10, Sichuan Province, Xiangcheng,Qianjinxiang, altitude 3200 m), paratypes 1 male, 5 females, 2 juveniles (CIB Nr 725048, 725051-725057,1972-10-1-28, Sichuan Province, Xiangcheng, Qianjinxiang and Jiefangxiang, altitude 3000-3200 m). Thetypes are deposited in the Chengdu Insitute of Biology, Academia Sinica.t^^l
Description: A triangular head, with a relatively sharp canthus rostralis; rostral slightly higher thanwide, with only its top visible from above; upper surface of head covered with small scales, thesupraoculars being the largest, followed in size by the scales on the top of the snout; the left and rightintemasals are separated by 1-4 (mean: 2.8) small scales in contact wih the upper margin of the rostralscale; supraoculars longer than wide, their width being inferior to half of the distance between the left andright supraoculars, which are separated by 10-12 (mean: 10.8) small scales in a row; nasals relativelylarge, slightly constricted in their middle, sometimes each divided on its lower part into one anterior and oneposterior scales; nostrils nearly rounded, located on the posterior margin of the posterior nasal and directedslightly obliquely backwards; eyes moderate, with a vertical, oval pupil; 7-8 (mean: 7.6) supralabials, ofwhich the first one is completely separated from the nasal, the second is high and forms the anterior borderof the loreal pit, the third is the largest, the third and fourth located just below the eye and separated fromthe subocular by a small scale row; the foveal I^^l is separated from the nasal by 2-6 (mean: 3.5) smallscales; the superior preocular is separated from the nasal by two loreals I^''!; the temporals are smooth; 1 1-14 (mean: 12.3) infralabials, the first pair in contact behind the mental, the 2nd or 3rd anterior infi-alabials(sometimes the first) in contact with the anterior chin shields. The dorsal scales are rhombohedral or
elliptical, arranged in 25-27 rows behind the neck, 25 rows at midbody, of which the 21 medial rows arestrongly keeled, and 17 rows before vent. Number of ventral scales: 191 and 189 in males, 190-194(mean: 192) in females; anal entire; subcaudal scales: 66 and 61 pairs in males, 50-62 (mean: 57.6) infemales; 3 subcaudals single at the base of the tail in specimen Nr 1, and at the tip of the tail in anotherspecimen.
Specimennumber
10A NEW SPECIES OF THE CROTALIDAE SNAKE FROM TIBETAN [25]
HUANG Zheng Yi
In May 1979, Mr. Wu Qian Hong, while working at the Xizang Normal High School, collected twospecimens of laotietou I^^l which belong to a new species described below:Xizang zhuyeqing l^'l (new species) Trimeresurus tibetanus Huang, sp. nov. (Fig. 1) t^^l
Types: Holotype female (Faculty of Biology of the Fudan University I^^l Nr 80001, 1979-5-5, XizangProvince, Nielamou District, Quekesumou 1^?', altitude 3200 m, collected by Sog Lang Jo Gar); paratypemale (Faculty of Biology of the Fudan University Nr 80002, collected on the same day by the same personas the holotype). Deposited in the vertebrates collection of the Fudan University.
Diagnosis: A species of the zhuyeqing group of the laotietou l^^l genus. Overall body color brightgreen, with irregularly shaped rusty-color patches on the back, without lateral stripes. Head large,triangular, very distinct from the neck. Upper-head surface covered with small scales, loreal pits present.Nasal completely separated from the first supralabial by a suture, 8-9 supralabials, 9 infralabials, 23-21-17dorsal scale rows, of which the 15th- 17th median rows are slightly keeled, 155 ''?I (male) and 161 l^'l(female) ventrals; tail short, 44 pairs of subcaudals.
Description: The main measurements and scalation characters of the paratype are summarized inTable 1. Dorsal parts entirely green, marked with dorsal rust-colored blotches from the neck to the tail t^^l.Venter light green, ventrolateral stripe absent. Tip of tail green. The intemasals are separated by a small
scale, the nasal is not divided and is completely separated from the first supralabial by a suture; secondsupralabial forming the anterior border of the loreal pit; 1 loreal l^^l between the nasal and the preocular;10-11 small scales in a row between the supraoculars, 1 postocular, 1 subocular in contact with thesubfoveal l^"*!, the third supralabial is the largest, the fourth lies just below the eye; the first pair ofinfralabial separated by a groove. At midbody 15-17 dorsal scale rows slightly keeled. Anal entire.
Table 1
Types
11
the former species by others characters and tail length; see Table 2; 4) the new species is marked with rust-colored dorsal blotches, and its tail tip is green.
Table 2
Species (35]
12
Description of a new species of the genus Trimeresurus t^^]
Zhao Er Mi Chen Yuan Hui(Chengdu Institute of Biology, Academia Sinica) (Hospital of the Mangshan Bureau of Forestry, Hunan)
In the second half of September 1989, foresters of the Chenzhou area, Hunan Province, discovered onMount Mang, Yizhang County, a snake den which contained 21 juveniles. While they were catching theyoungs, two adults were discovered. All snakes were caught alive and kept in captivity. Mr. Chen gave twoyoungs to the CHENGDU INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGY for identification. It proved to be a new species oflaotietou, described below fi^om these two living juveniles.
Mangshan laotietou l^^l Trimeresurus mangshanensis Zhao I-'^l, sp. nov.(Figure on back cover) l^^l
Holotype: ZS 8901, juvenile male, caught in Pingkeng District, Mt. Mang (Mangshan), YizhangCounty, Hunan Province, altitude 700-900 m, by CHEN Guo Hua and Tao Yun Lin.
Paratype: ZS 8902, juvenile female, same dates, place of capture and collectors as the holotype.Diagnose: The new species is similar to Trimeresurus kaulbacki Smith from northern Burma, and itdiffers fi-om this latter species by: 1) the second supralabial is small and low, and it does not make theborder of the loreal pit; 2) a lower number of ventrals; 3) different color of dorsal blotches.Description of the holotype: Head subtriangular, tip of snout narrow and rounded with a sharpcanthus rostralis. The rostral is subtriangular, the 2/3 inferior part slightly bent towards interior, thesuperior part slightly bent posteriorly on its upper part. Upper head-surfaces covered with small smoothscales among which the supraoculars are the largest; supraoculars separated on the middle by a row of 9small scales; I pair of intemasals, the second ones in term of size, widely in contact behind the rostral andnot separated by a small scale; 2 relatively large scales on the canthus rostralis between the intemasals andthe supraoculars. Nasals squarish with their anterior and posterior margins slightly rounded and projected;
rostrils shaped like a mantou l''?l, located in the middle of the nasals and open posteriorly; an oval-shapednasal pore on the top of the posterior margin of the loreal pit; 1 relatively small loreal located between the 2preoculars and the nasal. Presence of loreal pits, the prefoveal is relatively large and in contact forwardlywith the nasal; the superior and inferior margins of the loreal pit are bordered respectively by a preocularand a subfoveal t'*'l. Eyes relatively small, slightly globulous; an oval, vertical pupil; 2 narrow, stretchedpreoculars, juxtaposed and bordering the superior margin of the loreal pit; the inferior margin of the pit isformed by the subfoveal; 2 very small postoculars at the superior comer of the eye, 1 lower, quite elongatedsubocular ['?^l, which runs below the inferior margin of the eye from its lower posterior part towards thelower anterior border of the eye. 7 supralabials on each side of the head, first relatively enlarged,completely separated fi-om the nasal, second the smallest and in contact at its superior margin with theprefoveal; third the largest, separated fi-om the eye by 1-2 minute lacrimals I'^^l; fourth supralabialrelatively large, in contact with third supralabial just below the eye; last three supralabials relatively lowand slightly elongated. Mental triangular, pointed dov\Tiwards, its anterior margin wide and straight,narrowing posteriorly and with a sharp tip inserted between the first iiifi-alabials pair. I pair of relativelylarge anterior chin shields, with, behind them, several pairs of smaller scales, separated from the first pairby a deep, well-defined groove. 16 infi-alabials on the left, 15 on the right, with the first pair quite large and
13
in contact with the mental, the 3 first pairs in contact with the anterior chin shields. Temporals relativelylarge, whereas posterior chin shields are small. Dorsals rhombohedral, keeled, arranged in 25 rows at 1-2head length behind the head, 25 rows at midbody, 1 7 rows at 1 -2 head length before vent, scales of theouter row smooth. Ventrals 189; anal entire. Tail lateraly compressed, mainly at its posterior part; 63subcaudals, the first 62 paired, the 63th single, their outer margin being bent downwards up to the middleof the tail; dorsal part of the tail covered with relatively large, regularly arranged scales on rows of whichthe number progressively decreases backwards fi^om 9 rows to 7, down to 4 rows at the end of the tail. Tailspine squarish and hard.
Total length: 447 mm t'*'*!, tail length: 65 mm.Body entirely blackish brown marked with minute yellowish green or rusty spots which give a patternsimilar to net meshes; along each side, a series of transversal bands made of about 40 yellowish greenscales covering in width fi-om 3 to 5 scale rows, evenly separated, confluent or slightly set off one fi^omeach other on the vertebral line. Ventrals also marked with minute spots like the back, and with largersubtriangular, yellowish green blotches. Upper surface of head blackish brown, with symmetrical yellowishgreen markings. Upper surface of the anterior part of the tail marked like the body, whereas the posteriortail part is very pale yellowish green or nearly white. Iris pale yellowish green. Adults have similar colorsand patterns t'*^!.
Variations in paratype: 7 small scales in a row between the supraoculars, 3 postoculars at right, 15infralabials at left, 14 at right, 195 ventrals, 60 paired subcaudals. Total length: 444 mm, taillength; 65 mm.The types are deposited in the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Academia Sinica.
14
A NEW SPECffiS OF SNAKE IN CHINA - TRIMERESURUSMANGSHANENSIS [46]
Chen Yuan HuiHospital of the Mangshan Bureau of Forestry, Chen Zhou Region, Hunan Province
A group of white-tailed snakes was caught last year by the Mangshan Bureau of Forestry, in theregion of Chen Zhou, located in the Hunan Province close to the border between Hunan and Guangdongprovinces. According to the famous snake specialist, Mr, ZHAO Er Mi, consultant in the Chinese SnakeSociety and vice-president of the Chengdu Biology Institute, Academia Sinica, they belong to a species notyet described either from China or from abroad, and formally named Mangshan laotietou ['''1.These white-tailed snakes were caught in the second half of September 1989 by the MangshanForestry Bureau. At the time of capture, the dorsal parts of the two adult snakes were grass-green, markedwith blackish brown producing a net-like pattern l"**!. The coloration was then very vivid (but after a littlemore than one month in captivity, the overall color became darker, mainly blackish brown). The posteriorpart of the tail is white for about 10 cm, and it constitutes the mam diagnostic feature of this species. Eachsnake weighs about 3 kg, measures about 1.85 and 2 m, and have tube-like fangs 2 cm long. The venomcan be spit to a distance of 15-2 m ['?sj. These white-tailed snakes have a typical, triangular iron-likeshaped head which is as large as a child's fist, provided with loreal pits. The body is as wide as a smallbowl. The 21 juveniles caught along with the adults were similar in aspects and coloration to the largersnakes, but their body is only as wide as a thumb. The white-tailed snakes are oviparous, with eggs largelike small hen eggs.The capture of the Mangshan snakes was announced by the Chinese Central Television 1^?' and wastermed as the discovery of a rare venomous snakes, which drew attention from Chinese snake specialistsand other scientists. After consultation of Chinese and foreign literature. Professor ZHAO Er Mi believedthat they belong to an undescribed Thmeresunis species of the family Viperidae, subfamily Crotalinae. It isalso a rare large-sized species which would be one of the largest venomous snakes in China. There is nosnake reaching such a size among the thirty some forms known in this genus ["', from which it differs byits body color and pattern. This species will be named Mangshan laotietou snake because it was discoveredfrom Mangshan.Prof Zhao Er Mi also considers the Mangshan laotietou to be of great economical and scientific
value. It is a new snake species added to the herpetological fauna of our country, which does not occurelsewhere either in China or abroad, so it is a precious species. Prof ZHAO Er Mi calls from concernedauthorities for the application of protective measures to the special Mangshan natural area. He alsosuggests that this species should be classed as a protected species.The Mangshan Forestry Bureau has donated specimens to concerned research units, and types weredeposited in the Academia Sinica, Chengdu Institute of Biology which is carefiilly studying these animals.We are indebted to Director, Mangshan Forestry Bureau, for its support in our studies and also for itsaction towards the designation oiMangshan laotietou as a protected species.
15
INFRASPECIFIC CLASSIFICATION OF SOME CHINESE SNAKES l")
ZHAOErmiChengdu Institute of Biology, Academia Sinica, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 China
Abstract. - In this article, variations in scalation of four snake species areinvestigated. Methods commonly applied in the studies of infraspecific variations havebeen applied. Four new subspecies are described.Key words. - Subspecific classification - Coefficient of difference - Mean valuecomparison - Xenopeltis hainamnsis jidamingae - Psammodynastes pulverulentuspapenfussi - Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi - Trimeresurus stejnegerii chenbihuii[53]
The author of the present article, while preparing the chapter on snakes in the Encyclopedia ofChinese Animals for the National Foundation of Natural Sciences within the scope of the Eighth Five-yearPlan, discovered that some populations of Xenopeltis hainanensis, Psammodynastes pulverulentus,Ovophis monticola and Trimeresurus stejnegerii are differentiated. Studies of meristic characters inconnection with current methods used for differentiation of subspecies, such as the coefficient of difference(CD.) and the mean value comparison (MaYR et al., 1965, translated by ZHENG Z. X.) have shown thatthese populations have reached a subspecific level.
3 The subspecies of the Shan laotietou I''*'Ovophis monticola is widely distributed from eastern Himalaya towards east up to Indochina andsouthern provinces of China. It was divided into five subspecies, among which zayuensis is distinct enoughfrom other subspecies to deserve specific status and was renamed Ovophis zayuensis (ZHAO, 1995).Specimens from northern Vietnam have a lower number of ventral scales (129-138, mean: 134), andBOURRET (1935) created the subspecies meridionalis to accomodate them. The high number of dorsalscale rows (25-29, mean: 26 or more) in Taiwan animals led TakaHASHI (1922) to define the subspeciesmakazayazaya. The subspecies monticola and orientalis (SCHMIDT, 1925) differ by the pattern of head
spots, and, although the value V + Sc l^^l is slightly inferior to the value accepted for separatingsubspecies, the mean value comparison corresponds to the value on which is based the distinction ofsubspecies (Table 3). Examination of specimens showed that specimens from the population de Gongshan,north of Pianma, Lushui County, Yunnan Province, have a relatively higher number of ventral andsubcaudal scales and are clearly different from those of other populations (Table 3).
16
Table 3. Subspecific differentiation oiOvophis monticola (Gunther, 1864)
Population
17
Table 4. Infraspecific differentiation of Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925
Population
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Translators' notes
Trimeresurus medoensis
[1]: The description of the new taxa begins on the middle of the page 66. We did not translate pages 64-66nor 68-69.
[2]: Zhuyequinq, meaning literally "bamboo-leaf green [snake]", is the Chinese general vernacular name forgreen pitvipers occurring in this country {T. albolabris, T. medoensis, T. stejnegeri, T. tibetanus andT. yunnanensis). The zhuyeqing proper is T. stejnegeri, whereas T. medoensis is called ''Motuozhuyeqing". The Chinese text widely uses this vernacular name rather than the scientific name, and wehere follow this custom.
[3]: On plate n, the figure 9 is black-and-white photographs of the preserved holotype which depictrespectively:Photograph 9- 1 : general view fi-om above.Photograph 9-2: close-up view from the top of the head.Photograph 9-3: close-up view from the underneath of the head.Photograph 9-4: close-up lateral view of the head.Photograph 9-5: close-up view of the body side.
[4]: Ani qiao [qiao = bridge], written "A-nie" in the English summary. We considered the pinyintranscription of names as mentioned in the Chinese text. On the other hand, the city of Motuo is alsoknown as Medog (see SUN, 1989).
[5]: We follow PETERS (1964) for the terminology of head scales in pitvipers. So, any small scale lyingbetween the nasal, the loreal, the scale bordering the pit (the foveal proper) and supralabials is aprefoveal scale. The scale bordering the lower margin of the pit is a subfoveal, but as, in case ofpitvipers of the Trimeresurus-complex, it also borders the anterior margin of the eyes, it is oftenconsidered as the lower preocular. We take this position here. The foveal is usually united with thesecond supralabial in the genera of Asian pitvipers, and is not considered in itself. Last, the term ofloreal is restricted only to scale(s) in contact both with the nasal and the preocular. Any scale locatedbetween the posterior margin of the nasal and any scale other than a preocular is a prefoveal or foveal.
[6]: A Trimeresurus species endemic to the hills of Southern India, and not related to the group of T.stejnegeri. The head scalation in this species is atypical in the genus by the much enlarged headscales.
[7]: See below for the complete references of this major work for Southern Asia.
[8]: Namely Trimeresurus stejnegeri proper; in this paper, the authors do not distinguish T. stejnegeristejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 and T stejnegeri yunnanensis Schmidt, 1925 (now T. yunnanensis).
Trimeresurus monticola zayuensis
[9\. A name formed from the words shan = mountain, laotie = iron (the domestic apparatus, not the metal)and tou = head, the vernacular name means literally "mountain iron-head [snake]". The present
"variety" is therefore the "Zavoi mountain iron-head snake". The name laotietou is given to terrestrialspecies of Chinese species of the Trimeresurus-group, such as T. mucrosquamatus (the laotietouproper), T. xiangchengensis and T.jerdonii. The name shan laotietou is given to Ovophis monticola.[10]: According to the Art. 32 (c) and (d) of the International Code ofZoological Nomenclature (I. C. Z.N., 1985), a species group-name published with a diacritic mark is an incorrect original spelling
19
which must be corrected. Accordingly, the subspecific name must be written Trimeresurus monticolazayuensis.Subsequently, this taxon was given a specific rank by ZHAO (1995a), as Ovophis zayuensis, becauseof important morphological differences with O. monticola. According to this author, the differencesbetween O. monticola and O. zayuensis are as follows (unmodified from ZHAO's article):
20
[21]: Figure 1, located on page 423, has a line drawing depicting the side of the head and a black-and-whitephotograph showing the living animal.[22] : Peculiarly, the collection numbers of the type specimens mentioned in this article and their dates ofcapture are differ fi-om those given in the preliminary description of the species (ZHAO et al., 1978)!This latter publication is considered the valid, original description of the present species, and thename-bearing type and other specimens in the type series, are those mentioned in this article;Holotype: CIB Nr 725049, collected on 1972-10-10Parat>pes: CIB Nr 725048-725057.[23]: Namely the second supralabial; see note [5].[24]: Two loreals consecutively arranged, not superposed.
Trimeresurus tibetanus[25]: The literal translation of the Chinese title reads as "A new species of Crotalidae from Xizang". In theEnglish summary, the authors uses the word "Tibetan".[26]: The name laotietou is here used as a collective name for the genus Trimeresurus. The Chinese textused this vernacular name rather than the scientific name, hence its regular appearance.[27]: A name meaning "Xizang bamboo-leaf green snake" see note [2].[28]: Figure 1 contains five elements, noted (1) to (5) and is divided into two parts, as follows: elements (1)and (2), on page 116: black-and-white photographs showing respectively an overall view of theholotj'pe and a close-up dorsal view of the head; elements (3), (4) and (5) on page 1 17: line drawingsof parts of the hoiot>pe showing respectively a lateral view of the head, the general arrangement ofdorsal scales at midbody and of color spots, and a ventral view of the tail.[29]: The Fudan University is located in Shanghai City.[30]: The type locality is given in the English summary as "Naylam, Chokesumo"; we recommend thepinyin transcription of the names given in the Chinese text. The city of Nielamou is also known asNyalam (see Sun, 1989).[31]: Our own counts, according to DowLING's method, give respectively 152 (male) and 159 (female)ventrals.[32]: According to Mr WU of the Fudan University, the dorsal head surface of the types was also markedwith faint rust-colored marks or lines.He gave also us some ecological data. The type specimens were collected in low dense, luxuriantvegetation inside a shallow valley having a subtropical climate in spite of the altitude.[33]: The description of the types are partly erroneous. We (PD) examined both types in the FudanUniversity, and a more complete description is in preparation. The paratype has 1 loreal on the leftside and 2 consecutive loreals on the right side; the holot>'pe has 1 loreal at right and 2 consecutive onthe left side; figure 1 (3) is erroneous on this point. Moreover, fig. 1 (3) suggests that, in this species,the third supralabial is in contact with the subocular. This is true on the left side of the holotype,whereas they are separated by a small scale on its right side; the third supralabial is in contact withthe subocular on the right side of the paratype but separated on the left side. Last, there are 3differentiated supraoculars in the holotype, respectively 3 supraoculars on right side and 2 on left sidein the paratype.[34]: Namely the lower preocular.[35]: The author used Chinese names of these species, respectively Xizang zhuyeqing, Motuo zhuyeqingand Dalin zhuyeqing, the latter one meaning "large-scaled bamboo-leaf green snake". Forconvenience, we used scientific names in the translation.
tI
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Trimeresurus mangshanensis[36]; The literal translation of the Chinese title should read as "A new species of laotietou snakes - TheMangshan laotietou snake". The authors use the vernacular names, laotietou and Mangshanlaotietou, rather than the scientific names.[37]: A name meaning "Mangshan iron-head snake".[38]: Although the article is signed by ZHAO & CHEN, the specific description is clearly attributed to ZHAOonly. Accordingly, this species must be referred to as T. mangshanensis Zhao in Zhao & Chen, 1990.[39]: The back cover of this issue of the Sichuan Journal of Zoology is a color photograph of the livingjuvenile snakes.[40]: A mantou is a Chinese steamed bread, made from wheat, popular in northern China. Its shape isbroadly like a crude hemisphere. So, this scale has a semicircular appearance, broadly similar to ther\ figure.[41]: This subfoveal is also the lower preocular.[42]: The authors call the subocular "the postero-inferior-ocular".[43]: According to PETERS (1964: 182), it seems that this term is here improperly used.[44]: It is unfortunate that the description of this species is based on two juveniles, because it does not dojustice to the formidable size and weight reached by larger adults. This is really a giant pitviper. CHEN(1990), also translated here, gives a description of the adults and mentions a size of about 2 m, for aweight of 3 kg. Mr. CHEN Yuan Hui kindly supplied {in littehs, October 1993) fiirther data about thespecies, of which follows a short summary. This species is currently known only fi-om a forested areaof a few tens of square-kilometers between 700 m and 1300 m, where it is regularly encountered bypeasants, although in low number. One specimen weighed about 4 kg, and another one slightly morethan 5 kg, and local residents suggest that much heavier animals were caught. Another specimen had atotal length of 203 cm, an head length of 85 mm and a body diameter of 50 mm. This snake feeds oninsects, mammals and frogs. It is oviparous, depositing from 13 to 21 eggs (diameter about 30 mm).See also note [51] below. In the Trimeresurus-com^\Q^, solely Trimeresurus flavoviridis, of theRyukyu Archipelago, Japan, reaches a larger size with a known maximal total length of 2.41 cm(Anonymous, 1993), but it is much lighter, as this specimen weighed only 1.35 kg; the second largestknown specimen was long of 231.5 cm and weighed 2.4 kg (MiSHIMA, 1980).[45] : According to published photographs, the pattern, and especially the edges of the transversal bands,are much more contrasted in juveniles, which look like being banded. In adults, the pattern is quiteobscure.
[46]: The literal translation of the Chinese title should read as "Discovery of a new snake species in China -The Mangshan laotietou snake". This article has no English summary.[47]: It seems that this paper was written before the formal description of the species. However, as it doesnot include any binominal latin name, there can not be any dispute concerning the true authorship ofthis species.[48]: In our opinion, this description is more appropriate than the one given in ZHAO & CHEN (1990). Thespecies is mostly yellowish-green, marked with large, more or less squarrish dark brown or darkviolaceous dorsolateral blotches, as wide as the yellowish-green ground color, which are paired oralternating, forming irregular cross bands or a chequered pattern; scattered brownish spots betweenthe dorsolateral blotches; below these dark dorsal blotches, a series of irregular lateral blotches of thesame color. The dark color becomes dominant in larger adult. Upper head surfaces of the same colorthan the body, marked with symmetrical brownish figures. End of tail whitish.
22
[49]: No other member of the Thmeresurus-complex has ever been reported for spitting venom. Thisnoteworthy particularity was confirmed by Mr. CHEN {in littehs, October 1993), who writes: "Thesesnakes do spit venom indeed, I have observed myself the phenomenon. When they spit venom, theyproduce a strong hissing. The venom is projected at a distance up to 1.5-2 meters away. The spittingoccurs only when snakes are strongly aroused". We did not examine the fangs of this species and wehave no further data.[50]: CCTV channel.[51]: The Japanese Trimeresurus flavovivihdis may be longer; see note [44].
Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi[52]: The literal translation of the Chinese title should read as "Subdivision of some Chinese snakespecies". The text relevant to Trimeresurus group begins on page 108, with description of new taxabeginning on page 109. Other pages are not translated here.[53]: Key words mention the Chinese names of these species. In this translation, we give scientific namesfor convenience.[54]: Namely Ovophis monticola Giinther, 1864. In this article, ZHAO considers Ovophis monticolaorientalis (Schmidt, 1925) a valid subspecies, distinct from the Taiwanese O. monticolamakazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922), to the contrary to ZHAO &. Adler (1993) who consider bothsubspecies to be synonymous. Data published in the literature and unpublished data (P. David) tend tosupport the validity of both subspecies (see characters in the KEY). However, a thorough revision ofthe /wo?/;co/a-complex is required.[55]: V+Sc designing the total number of ventral and subcaudal scales. According to ZHAO, the totalnumber V+Sc ranges from 169 to 182 in O. monticola orientalis. However, we examined specimensfor which this value is 186; according to WU et al. (1985), it may attain 193 in specimens fromsouthern China referable to O. monticola orientalis.[56]: A name meaning "mountain iron-head [snake]" (see also note [9]). The present "variety" is thereforethe "Gongshan mountain iron-head snake".[57]: In the English summary (p. Ill), the diagnosis is given in a slightly different way: "This newsubspecies has higher ventral plus subcaudal counts, 215-225 (mean 217.5?5.28), than that of allother known subspecies. The coloration of head is similar to the nominate species." Other meristicdata about this subspecies are as follows (ZHAO, pers. comm., based on six specimens): subcaudals
all paired; 8-9 supralabials, of which the 4th is the largest; 8-9 cephalic scales in a row betweensupraoculars; 2nd supralabial bordering the anterior side of the loreal pit.
Trimeresurus stejnegeri chenbihuii[58]: Namely Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 (see note [8]).[59]: In the English summary (p. 112), the diagnosis is given in a slightly different way: "This newsubspecies has higher ventral counts, 169-178 (mean 172.6) in males and 168-174 (mean 172) infemales; while the nominate subspecies has 154-170 (mean 162.6) in males and 154-172 (mean 162)in females."Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. CEN Jian Qiang of the Shanghai Natural History Museum, weexamined seven preserved specimens of Trimeresurus stejnegeri from Hainan Island. Ventral scalescounts, obtained according to the DowLING's method, are as follows:
Museum Number
24
Iconography
The iconography of these recently described taxa is Hmited, and we give below bibliographic data ofpublished illustrations referring to these forms. We believe it complete to January 1st, 1996. Figures andillustrations published in the original descriptions, mentioned above, are repeated below for the sake of
completeness. Species are listed below according to their chronological order of description and under their
currently valid name. Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi and Trimeresurus stejnegeri chenbihuii have notbeen illustrated.
Trimeresurus medoensisDJAO &. Jiang (1977): pi. II: fig. 9-1 to 9-5 (preserved holotype; black & white photographs).HU & Zhao (1979): fig. 2-8, p. 68 (livmg animal; black & white photograph).TIAN et al. (1986): pi. XIX: fig. 66-68 (preserved holotype; black & white photographs).
Ovophis monticola zayuensisDJAO & Jiang (1977): fig. 1, p. 67 (line drawing of head).
Trimeresurus xiangchengensisZhao (1979): fig. 1, p. 423 (line drawing of head - living animal; black & white photograph).TiAN et al. (1986): pi. XIX: fig. 72 (living animal; black & white photograph).ZHANG ?& ZHAO (1990): fig. 6-4, p. 84 (line drawing of skull).
Trimeresurus tibetanusHuang (1982): fig. 1 & 2, p. 116 (preserved holotype; black & white photographs); fig. 3-5, p. 1 17(various line drawings).ZHAO & ADLER (1993): pi. 44: fig. C (living animal; color photograph).
Ermia mangshanensisZHAO & Chen (1990): back cover of the issue (living animal; color photograph).Chen (1990): p. 41 (black &. white photographs of living juvenile, adult animals, and biotope).Journal ofSnake, 2, 1990, (4): back cover (living animal; color photograph).ZHAO & ADLER (1993): pi. 44: fig. A (living animal; color photograph).
25A KEY TO THE TRIMERESURUS-COMPLEX IN CHINA AND ADJACENT AREAS
In recent years, three keys have been pubhshed that are relevant to the Trimeresurus-complex inChina and including at least one of the recently described taxa. The first one can be found in SiCHUANBiological research Institute (1977); an English translation, covering the snakes and lizards was
subsequently prepared (YANG & ENGER, 1986). The most recent and complete key to Chinese snakes, to the
subspecific level, was published in TD^N et al. (1986: 132-133). ZHAO & ADLER (1993: 67-92) give keys
to the generic level. But no key including all currently recognized members of the Thmeresurus-complex is
available.We provide an up-to-date key to the sixteen species and subspecies of the Trimeresurus-comphxinhabiting China (including Hainan and Taiwan islands. Hong Kong and Macau), and to five taxa occuringin its immediate vicinity, namely Ovophis monticola convictus (Stoliczka, 1870) and Trimeresurus
cornutus Smith, 1930, both known firom northern Vietnam, Trimeresurus kaulbacki Smith, 1940, firom
northern Myanmar, Trimeresurus albolabris septentrionalis Kramer, 1977 from Nepal and India, andTrimeresurus erythrurus (Cantor, 1839) and Trimeresurus popeiorum Smith, 1937, both known to occur
in Sikkim and northeastern India within 100-200 km of the Indian-Chinese border. We did not include theinsular species living in the Japanese Ryukyu archipelago, clearly differentiated by their geographic range.We follow Zhao (1995a) for raising to a specific rank Ovophis monticola zayuensis and Trimeresurus
stejnegeri yunnanensis, and ZHAO (1995b) in considering Ovophis monticola orientalis (Schmidt, 1925)
distinct from O. monticola makazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922).
This key is both drawn from literature and the examination of preserved specimens belonging to most
mentioned taxa. We used our unpublished, preliminary data for the members of Ovophis monticola-group(David, in prep.). We tried to produce a key based on external features that will work as well withpreserved animals as with living snakes. However, we had to refer to hemipenial shape for distinguishing T.popeiorum fi-om T. stejnegeri.
According to the current status of our knowledges, the following taxa are present in continental China[C], Hainan Island [I], Hong Kong [H], Macau [M] and Taiwan [T]:
Ovophis monticola (Giinther, 1864) [C, H, T]Ovophis monticola monticola (Giinther, 1 864) [C]Ovophis monticola makazayazaya (Takahashi, 1922) [T]Ovophis monticola orientalis (Schmidt, 1925) [C, H]Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi Zhao, 1995 [C]Ovophis tonkinensis (Bourret, 1 934) [I]Ovophis zayuensis Jiang in Djao & Jiang (1977) [C]Ermia mangshanensis Zhao in Zhao & Chen, 1 990 [C]Trimeresurus albolabris (Gray, 1842) [C, I, H]Trimeresurus albolabris albolabris (Gray, 1842) [C, I, H, M]
26
Trimeresurus gracilis Oshima, 1920 [T]Trimeresurus jerdonii GiintheT, 1875 [C]Trimeresurus medoensis Zhao in Djao & Jiang (1977) [C]Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus (Cantor, 1839) [C, H, T]Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 [C, I, T]Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri Schmidt, 1 925 [C, T]Trimeresurus stejnegeri chenbihuii Zhao, 1995 [I]Trimeresurus tibetanus Huang, 1982 [C]Trimeresurus xiangchengensis Zhao, Jiang & Huang, 1978 [C]Trimeresurus yunnanensis Schmidt, 1925 [C]
Taxa not recorded in China but occuring close to its border and considered in our key:Ovophis monticola convictus (Stoliczka, 1870)Trimeresurus albolabris septentrionalis Kramer, 1977Trimeresurus cornutus Smith, 1930Trimeresurus erythrurus (Cantor, 1839)Trimeresurus kaulbacki Smith, 1940Trimeresurus popeiorum ?>m\\h, 1937
Mobile maxillary fangs; loreal pits present, upper head surface covered with small, irregular
shields: Trimeresurus-coxrvp\Qx.lA Overall dorsal color chiefly bright green or bluish green in life, green or blackish in preservative,with or without small dark markings and a ventrolateral stripe 2IB Overall color brownish, greyish or dull dull greenish, always with well defined large blotches,usually darker, or lighter with dark edges 102A First supralabials fused with nasals or incompletely separated by a groove 32B First supralabials totally separated from nasals by a suture (two independant scales) 53A Upper head scales flat, smooth and imbricate; temporals smooth or feebly keeled; usually 21(rarely 23) dorsal scale rows at midbody 43B Upper head scales granular or tuberculate and juxtaposed; temporals strongly keeled; usually 23-25 (very rarely 21) dorsal scale rows at midbody T. erythrurus4A Side of head below eyes yellow, white or pale greenish, much lighter than the remaining part of thehead; total length of females up to 104 cm; from southern China to Darjeeling area, Myanmar andfarther south T. albolabris albolabris4B Side of head below eyes green or blue green, barely lighter than the remaining part of the head;total length of females up to 75 cm; Nepal and northern India T. albolabris septentrionalis5A 17 scale rows at midbody; less than 150 ventrals; 8 supralabials T. medoensisSB 19-23 scale rows at midbody; more than 150 ventrals; 8-1 1 supralabials 66A Less than 50 subcaudals; 8-9 supralabials; 21 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 2 or 3 supraoculars;rusty markings on dorsal parts and upper-head surface; Xizang Province and NepalT. tibetanus6B More than 50 subcaudals; 9-11 supralabials; 19-21 (rarely 23) dorsal scale rows at midbody; 1single supraocular; no red markings on the back 7
27
7A 19 scale rows at midbody; Yunnan and adjacent areas T. yunnanensis7B 21 (rarely 23) scale rows at midbody 88A Hemipenis short, rounded, spinose; base of tail much enlarged up to about 15-20 subcaudals inmales; iris reddish in males; temporals usually smooth; canthus rostralis moderate 98B Hemipenis long, slender, without spines; base of tail moderately enlarged up to 20-25 subcaudalsin males; iris yellow or golden in both sex; temporals more or less keeled; sharp canthus rostralisT. popeiorum popeiorum9A Ventrals 154-170 in males and 154-172 in females; continental China and TaiwanT. stejnegeri stejnegeri9B Ventrals 156-178 in males and 166-174 in females; Hainan Island T. stejnegeri chenbihuiilOA Several erect supraoculars forming a horn T. cornutuslOB Supraoculars usually single, flat, not erected 11llA Body clearly elongated, head long, massive, with a narrow snout and a sharp canthus rostralis;subcaudals always paired; usually more than 160 ventrals; dorsal pattern made of irregulardorsolateral markings giving a wavy or zigzag pattern, or cross-bands, or rhombohedral dorsalblotches, or a speckled pattern 12IIB Body rather short and stout; head short with a rounded snout; dorsal pattern made of dorsolateraldark squarish blotches, usually darker, or lighter with dark edges, confluent on the vertebral line,bordered below by other squarish blotches on the sides; subcaudals paired or single; less than 160
ventrals in specimens having paired subcaudals 1612A 2 consecutive, small, rectangular loreals between the nasal and the higher preocular; 10 or morecephalic scales in a row between the supraoculars; dorsal color greyish or light brown; patternmade of irregular or triangular dorsal blotches giving a wavy, zigzag or sawteeth-like appearance1312B 1 large, squarish loreal; 10 or less cephalic scales in a row between the supraoculars; dorsal coloreither mostly dull greenish, with dorsal rhombohedral blotches, or speckled with black, or brownishwith yellowish green transverse bands 1413A Usually more than 195 ventrals and more than 75 subcaudals; 9-12 supralabials; 25-31 (rarely 23-33) dorsal scale rows at midbody; usually 13-16 (rarely 11-18) scales in a row between thesupraoculars; 2 or 3 scale rows between supralabials and the subocular; pattern made mostly ofirregular dorsal blotches giving a wavy appearance T. mucrosquamatus13B Less than 195 ventrals ard less than 72 subcaudals; 7-8 supralabials; 25 dorsal scale rows atmidbody; 10-12 scales in a row between the supraoculars; 1 or 2 scale rows between supralabialsand the subocular; pattern made mostly of triangular, downwards pointed, dorsal blotches giving asaw-like appearance T. xiangchengensis
14A 2nd supralabial high, bordering the anterior side of the loreal pit; pattern not made of irregularcross-bands 1514B 2nd supralabial low, not bordering the anterior side of the loreal pit; dorsal pattern made ofirregular, contiguous or more or less alternating blackish brown dorsolateral blotches giving theappearance of irregular cross bands on a yellowish-green background E. mangshanensis
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15A 21 (very rarely 19, rarely 23) dorsal scale rows at midbody; less than 195 ventrals; intemasal verylarge; 4th supralabial nearly as large as the 3rd one; two different patterns: either dull green above,with large, oval, reddish, black-edged dorsal blotches, or abnost entirely blackish, heavily speckledwith yellow spots T. jerdonii15B 25 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 200 or more ventrals; intemasals very large; 4th supralabialsmaller than the 3rd one; dorsal surfaces dull greyish green in life or in preservative, with blackish,rhombohedral dorsal blotches separated or united to one another; smaller spots on the sides;symmetrical yellow lines on the head T. kaulbacki16A 19 (rarely 21) scale rows at midbody; 2nd supralabial not bordering the loreal pit; endemic toTaiwan T. gracilis16B 23-27 (very rarely 21) scale rows at midbody (Ovophis monticola-group) 1717A Subcaudals single (or rarely only a few paired) 1817B Subcaudals paired (or rarely a few single) 1918A More than 160 ventrals; 10 supralabials, the 3rd the largest; 2nd supralabial high, bordering theanterior side of the loreal pit; 3-5 scales on the upper surface of the snout between a line connectinganterior borders of the eyes and the intemasals; Xizang Province O. zayuensis183 Less than 140 ventrals; 8-10 supralabials, the 4th the largest; 2nd supralabial bordering theanterior side of the loreal pit or not; 5-7 scales on the upper surface of the snout between a lineconnecting anterior borders of the eyes and the intemasals; Vietnam and Hainan IslandO. tonkinensis19A 4th (sometimes the 5th) supralabials the largest 2019B 3rd supralabials the largest 2220A 10-12 (exceptionally 8, rarely 9) supralabials; intemasals usually in contact; less than 160
ventrals; total number of ventrals plus subcaudals 169 to 204 2120B 8-9 supralabials; intemasals separated by 2 small scales; 159 or more ventrals; total number of
ventrals plus subcaudals 2 1 5 to 225 ; western Yunnan O. monticola zhaokentangi21A 23-25 (exceptionally 21 or 27) dorsal scale rows at midbody; 132-154 ventrals, 33-48 subcaudals;total number of ventrals plus subcaudals 169 to 193; continental China ... O. monticola orientalis21B 25-29 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 144-155 ventrals, 39-54 subcaudals; total number of ventralsplus subcaudals 1 88 to 204; endemic to Taiwan O. monticola makazayazaya22A 23-25 (rarely 21) dorsal scale rows at midbody; 135-156 ventrals, 33-62 subcaudals; 8-9supralabials; Himalaya eastwards up to westem Yunnan, India, Bangladesh, MyanmarO. monticola monticola22B 21-23 (very rarely 25) dorsal scale rows at midbody; 127-152 ventrals, 22-54 subcaudals; 7-9(exceptionally 10) supralabials; Vietnam, Thailand, Malaya, Sumatra O. monticola convictus
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Acknowledgments
We are much indebted to Dr. Ivan INEICH, of the Laboratoire de Zoologie (Reptiles & Amphibiens),Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, Mr. Gemot VOGEL, of the Society for Southeast AsianHerpetology, Heidelberg, and Dr. George ZUG, of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, NationalMuseum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, for their careful reading of the
manuscript and their helpfiil corrections and suggestions.We are grateful to Dr. ZHAO Er Mi, Sichuan Institute of Biology, Chengdu, for providing us with
otherwise unavailable Chinese literature and unpublished data about Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi, andMr. Cen Jian Qiang, Shanghai Museum of Natural History, for his assistance in the examination ofpreserved specimens and his friendly help.
Last, we also thank Miss Tu Xiao Hua (Paris) for her assistance in the search of Chinese literature
and additional translations.
The cover artwork was kindly realised by Miss Agathe Ravet, of the Museum National d'Histoire
Naturelle, Paris. Her skill and friendship are here warmly acknowledged.
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