Opisthotropis hanseli STUART, SEATEUN, CHUAYNKERN, REN, BERNSTEIN & PHIMMACHAK, 2026
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Opisthotropis hanseli
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Natricinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Hansel’s Mountain Stream keelback Lao: ງູຫ້ວຍຈຸດເຫຼືອງລາວ (Ngou Houay Joud Leuang Lao Thai: งูลายสาบจุดเหลืองลาว (Ngoo Lai-saap Chut Leuang Lao) Chinese: 单鼻鳞后棱蛇 (Dān Bí Lín Hòu Léng Shé) |
| Synonym | Opisthotropis hanseli STUART, SEATEUN, CHUAYNKERN, REN, BERNSTEIN & PHIMMACHAK 2026: 514 |
| Distribution | Laos (Xaysomboun) Type locality: Laos, Xaysomboun Province, hom district, Ban Nam thouay, Phou katha sandstone plateau, 18.57008oN 103.48850oE, 1,443 m.a.s.l., |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. NCSM 99425 (field number SP 00611), adult male, coll. 27 April 2018 by Somphouthone Phimmachak, Sengvilay Seateun, Sinyasone Souvannasy and Nidarphone kouangvilaykhoun. Paratypes. NuoL 00105 (field number SP 00609), NuoL 00106 (field number SP 00610), two adult males, same data as holotype. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Opisthotropis hanseli sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Opisthotropis by having the combination of dark dorsum with a light spot on each scale; smooth dorsal scales on body and tail; maxillary teeth 20; nasal cleft extending to near suture of first and second supralabial; internasal one; prefrontal in contact with supraocular; frontal not in contact with preocular; fourth and fifth supralabials in contact with orbit; seventh supralabial longer than sixth, not distinctly elongated; subocular absent; anterior pair of chin shields longer than posterior pair; ventrals in males 218–220; and subcaudals in males 65–69. (Stuart et al. 2026) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data. However, these details, e.g. detailed descriptions (about about 2.02 pages) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us if you need any of this material. |
| Comment | Distribution: See map in Stuart et al. 2026: 5111 (Fig. 1). |
| Etymology | Named after “our friend and colleague troy Edward hansel in recognition of over three decades of his dedicated service to conserving wildlife in Laos and eastern thailand, home to the new species (Laos) and its sister taxon O. maculosa (eastern thailand). troy served during 1991–1994 as a volunteer in the u.S. Peace Corps in khao yai and Phu Chong-Na yoi National Parks in thailand. during 1996–2013, he worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Laos, ultimately as Program director. he has since remained in Laos as a private consultant to wildlife conservation projects, and in this capacity, he provided invaluable assistance to the Phou katha survey that revealed the new species. troy is fluent in the Lao language, gifted at making personal connections with local stakeholders, and a highly effective educator on wildlife conservation issues in Laos.” (Stuart et al. 2026) |
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