Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China
<i>Achalinu ningshanensis</i> (Yang, Huang, Jiang, Burbrink, and Huang, 2022) was first described in Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China in 2022, based on seven female specimens. In this study, based on phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (<i>12S</i&...
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| author | Yuhao Xu Shun Ma Bo Cai Diancheng Yang Tianyou Zhang Tianxuan Gu Fengcheng Zhu Song Huang Lifang Peng |
| author_facet | Yuhao Xu Shun Ma Bo Cai Diancheng Yang Tianyou Zhang Tianxuan Gu Fengcheng Zhu Song Huang Lifang Peng |
| author_sort | Yuhao Xu |
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| description | <i>Achalinu ningshanensis</i> (Yang, Huang, Jiang, Burbrink, and Huang, 2022) was first described in Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China in 2022, based on seven female specimens. In this study, based on phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (<i>12S</i>), 16S ribosomal RNA (<i>16S</i>), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (<i>CO1</i>), cytochrome b (cyt <i>b</i>) gene fragments, and morphological examinations of specimens, we revise the taxonomic status of <i>A. ningshanensis</i>, and provide additional data on this species. The molecular phylogeny indicated that <i>A. ningshanensis</i> is nested in a highly supported monophyletic group, forming a sister taxon to <i>A. spinalis</i>, and is divided into two well-supported lineages, A and B, with an uncorrected <i>p</i>-distance between lineages from 3.6 to 4.3% for <i>CO1</i>. Therefore, we proposed that Lineage B from western Sichuan and southwestern Shaanxi is a new subspecies, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis occidentalis</i> ssp. nov., and Lineage A from southern Shaanxi and northeastern Sichuan is allocated as <i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i>. Morphologically, the new subspecies can be distinguished from its congeners, especially from <i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i>, by the following characteristics: (1) the tail is relatively short, with a TAL/TL ratio of 0.202–0.226 in males, and 0.155–0.178 in females; (2) there are two pairs of chin-shields; (3) there are 21–22 maxillary teeth; (4) the length of the suture between internasals is significantly shorter than that between prefrontals, with an LSBI/LSBP ratio of 0.502–0.773; (5) there are six supralabials, with the fourth and fifth in contact with the eye; (6) there are five to six infralabials, and the first to third or fourth touches the first pair of chin-shields; (7) there is one hexagonal loreal, with an LorH/LorL ratio of 0.612–1.040; (8) the two anterior temporals are in contact with the eye; (9) there are 155–160 ventrals in males, and 165–174 in females; (10) there are 60–65 subcaudals in males, and 49–53 in females, which are not paired; and (11) the dorsum is iridescent and uniformly charcoal black, lacks a longitudinal vertebral line, and has a dark brown or dark gray ventral area. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-bcb1baa12d064c4f87b87771cc9ee5352025-08-20T02:38:46ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-11-011423342510.3390/ani14233425Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western ChinaYuhao Xu0Shun Ma1Bo Cai2Diancheng Yang3Tianyou Zhang4Tianxuan Gu5Fengcheng Zhu6Song Huang7Lifang Peng8State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCollege of Life and Environmental Sciences, Huangshan University, Huangshan 245021, ChinaSchool of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230026, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Environmental Art, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Chongqing 400053, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaAnhui Province Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China<i>Achalinu ningshanensis</i> (Yang, Huang, Jiang, Burbrink, and Huang, 2022) was first described in Ningshan County, Shaanxi Province, China in 2022, based on seven female specimens. In this study, based on phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (<i>12S</i>), 16S ribosomal RNA (<i>16S</i>), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (<i>CO1</i>), cytochrome b (cyt <i>b</i>) gene fragments, and morphological examinations of specimens, we revise the taxonomic status of <i>A. ningshanensis</i>, and provide additional data on this species. The molecular phylogeny indicated that <i>A. ningshanensis</i> is nested in a highly supported monophyletic group, forming a sister taxon to <i>A. spinalis</i>, and is divided into two well-supported lineages, A and B, with an uncorrected <i>p</i>-distance between lineages from 3.6 to 4.3% for <i>CO1</i>. Therefore, we proposed that Lineage B from western Sichuan and southwestern Shaanxi is a new subspecies, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis occidentalis</i> ssp. nov., and Lineage A from southern Shaanxi and northeastern Sichuan is allocated as <i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i>. Morphologically, the new subspecies can be distinguished from its congeners, especially from <i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i>, by the following characteristics: (1) the tail is relatively short, with a TAL/TL ratio of 0.202–0.226 in males, and 0.155–0.178 in females; (2) there are two pairs of chin-shields; (3) there are 21–22 maxillary teeth; (4) the length of the suture between internasals is significantly shorter than that between prefrontals, with an LSBI/LSBP ratio of 0.502–0.773; (5) there are six supralabials, with the fourth and fifth in contact with the eye; (6) there are five to six infralabials, and the first to third or fourth touches the first pair of chin-shields; (7) there is one hexagonal loreal, with an LorH/LorL ratio of 0.612–1.040; (8) the two anterior temporals are in contact with the eye; (9) there are 155–160 ventrals in males, and 165–174 in females; (10) there are 60–65 subcaudals in males, and 49–53 in females, which are not paired; and (11) the dorsum is iridescent and uniformly charcoal black, lacks a longitudinal vertebral line, and has a dark brown or dark gray ventral area.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3425<i>Achalinus ningshanensis occidentalis</i> ssp. nov.<i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i>mitochondrial DNAmorphological characterstaxonomymolecular phylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Yuhao Xu Shun Ma Bo Cai Diancheng Yang Tianyou Zhang Tianxuan Gu Fengcheng Zhu Song Huang Lifang Peng Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China Animals <i>Achalinus ningshanensis occidentalis</i> ssp. nov. <i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i> mitochondrial DNA morphological characters taxonomy molecular phylogeny |
| title | Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China |
| title_full | Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China |
| title_fullStr | Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China |
| title_short | Taxonomic Revision of Ningshan Odd-Scaled Snake, <i>Achalinus ningshanensis</i> (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with Description of a New Subspecies from Western China |
| title_sort | taxonomic revision of ningshan odd scaled snake i achalinus ningshanensis i serpentes xenodermidae with description of a new subspecies from western china |
| topic | <i>Achalinus ningshanensis occidentalis</i> ssp. nov. <i>Achalinus ningshanensis ningshanensis</i> mitochondrial DNA morphological characters taxonomy molecular phylogeny |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3425 |
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