v9i2.230

ISSN: 1800-427X (printed)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v9i2.230

Submitted date: 14 November 2020
Accepted date: 21 November 2020
Published date: 28 November 2020
Pp. 174–193, pls. 51–52.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE Pareas hamptoni COMPLEX (SQUAMATA : SERPENTES : PAREIDAE) FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Li Ding, Zening Chen, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tan Van Nguyen*,
Nikolay A. Poyarkov & Gernot Vogel
*Corresponding author. E-mail: tan@svw.vn

Abstract
An investigation of the taxonomic status of Pareas hamptoni (Hampton's Slug snake) based on morphological and molecular data revealed a new distinct species from the Golden Triangle region (comprising parts of southern China, and adjacent Laos and Thailand). The new species is shown to be a sister species to P. hamptoni but can be separated from the latter by having 3–5 dorsal scale rows at midbody slightly keeled (vs 5–9 scales strongly keeled); a lower number of ventrals, 170–188 (vs 185–195); and a lower number of subcaudals, 67–91 (vs 91–99). The new species is currently known from northwestern Thailand, northern Laos, and the southern part of Yunnan Province in China at elevations of 1,160–2,280 m a.s.l. We suggest that the new species to be considered of Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN's Red List categories. Problems of taxonomy and actual distribution of the P. hamptoni complex are briefly discussed; our results show P. hamptoni is now reliably known only from Myanmar and Vietnam, but its occurrence in Yunnan Province of China is likely.

Key words : China, Indo-Burma, Laos, Pareas formosensis, Pareas mengziensis, Thailand

Section Editor: Philip Bowles
LSID:urn:lsid:zoobank.org