DNA barcoding of Chinese snakes reveals hidden diversity and conservation needs.

DNA barcoding has greatly facilitated studies of taxonomy, biodiversity, biological conservation, and ecology. Here, we establish a reliable DNA barcoding library for Chinese snakes, unveiling hidden diversity with implications for taxonomy, and provide a standardized tool for conservation management. Our comprehensive study includes 1638 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from Chinese snakes that correspond to 17 families, 65 genera, 228 named species (80.6% of named species) and 36 candidate species. A barcode gap analysis reveals gaps, where all nearest neighbour distances exceed maximum intraspecific distances, in 217 named species and all candidate species. Three species-delimitation methods (ABGD, sGMYC, and sPTP) recover 320 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 192 OTUs correspond to named and candidate species. Twenty-eight other named species share OTUs, such as Azemiops feae and A. kharini, Gloydius halys, G. shedaoensis, and G. intermedius, and Bungarus multicinctus and B. candidus, representing inconsistencies most probably caused by imperfect taxonomy, recent and rapid speciation, weak taxonomic signal, introgressive hybridization, and/or inadequate phylogenetic signal. In contrast, 43 species and candidate species assign to two or more OTUs due to having large intraspecific distances. If most OTUs detected in this study reflect valid species, including the 36 candidate species, then 30% more species would exist than are currently recognized. Several OTU divergences associate with known biogeographic barriers, such as the Taiwan Strait. In addition to facilitating future studies, this reliable and relatively comprehensive reference database will play an important role in the future monitoring, conservation, and management of Chinese snakes.

First national record of Microhylahmongorum Hoang, Nguyen, Phan, Pham, Ninh, Wang, Jiang, Ziegler and Nguyen, 2022 (Anura, Microhylidae, Microhyla) in China.

Background: To date, 10 species of the genus Microhyla have been recorded in China, of which six were distributed in Yunnan Province. Microhylahmongorum Hoang, Nguyen, Phan, Pham, Ninh, Wang, Jiang, Ziegler, and Nguyen, 2022 was also speculated to be distributed in Xishuangbana, Yunnan Province, China. However, there is no evidence of documentation of M.hmongorum. New information: We report the first country record of Microhylahmongorum, based on specimens collected from Yunnan border region. Morphologically, the specimen was consistent with the original descriptions of M.hmongorum. Phylogenetically, the sequences of the specimens from China clustered with the sequence of type specimens of M.hmongorum from Vietnam, with uncorrected pairwise distances of 0.9% at the 16S gene fragment analysed. Therefore, we report M.hmongorum as a new record species in China.

Molecular phylogeny and morphological comparisons of the genus Hebius Thompson, 1913 (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) uncover a new taxon from Yunnan Province, China, and support revalidation of Hebius septemlineatus (Schmidt, 1925).

We describe a new species of the genus Hebius and provide evidence for the validity of H. septemlineatuscomb. nov. Morphological and molecular analyses of Hebius specimens collected in Yunnan Province, China, revealed three distinct lineages, namely the newly described Hebius weixiensissp. nov., as well as H. octolineatus (Boulenger, 1904), and H. septemlineatuscomb. nov. (Schmidt 1925), which is removed from synonymy with H. octolineatus. Based on mitochondrial genealogy, Hebius weixiensissp. nov. is sister to H. septemlineatuscomb. nov., while H. octolineatus is sister to H. bitaeniatus. The new species and H. septemlineatuscomb. nov. showed considerable genetic divergence from their recognized congeners (uncorrected P-distance ≥3.9%). Furthermore, the new species and H. septemlineatuscomb. nov. can be diagnosed from closely related congeners by a combination of pholidosis characters.

Two new species and a new country record of the genus emAchalinus/em (Reptilia: Squamata: Xenodermidae) from China.

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.

A new species of the genus Sinomicrurus (Serpentes: Elapidae) from China and Vietnam.

A new species of Sinomicrurus Slowinski, Boundy, and Lawson, 2001 is described herein based on a series of specimens. The new species, Sinomicrurus peinani sp. nov., occurs in southern China and northern Vietnam. Sinomicrurus peinani sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) 30-35 black cross-bands on body and tail; (2) 13 dorsal scale rows throughout, all smooth; (3) white belly with black cross-bands or irregular spots; (4) broad white transverse bar on top of head with inverted V-shaped anterior margin, white bar wider than anterior black bar; and (5) frontal V-like, 1.3 times as long as wide. In addition, new occurrences of S. houi in Guangxi, China, and Vietnam are discussed.