Xenopeltis hainanensis HU & ZHAO, 1972
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Xenopeltis hainanensis
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| Higher Taxa | Xenopeltidae, Henophidia, Pythonoidea, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | Chinese: 海南闪鳞蛇 |
| Synonym | Xenopeltis hainanensis HU & ZHAO in ZHAO 1972 Xenopeltis hainanensis — ZHAO & ADLER 1993: 220 Xenopeltis hainanensis — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 159 Xenopeltis hainanensis jidamingae ZHAO 1995 (fide KIZIRIAN et al. 2003) Xenopeltis hainanensis hainanensis — ORLOV 2000 Xenopeltis hainanensis jidamingae — ORLOV 2000 Xenopeltis hainanensis — NGUYEN et al. 2009 Xenopeltis hainanensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 802 Xenopeltis hainanensis — WANG et al. 2022 |
| Distribution | China (Guangxi east to Zhejiang and south to Hainan), Vietnam (Yen Bai etc.) Type locality: Dali, Mt. Diaoluo, Hainan Prov.; 200 m. jidamingae: China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang); Type locality: Puyun Xiang, Longquan Co., Zhejiang Province, China (elevation 700 m.). |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: CIB 64III6016, Male; 5. 15, 1964. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (). This subspecies has lower number of ventrals (152 – 157) in comparison with another subspecies (159 – 164); 16 – 19 pairs of subcaudals (Orlov 2000). DIAGNOSIS: This new species distinctly differs from Xenopeltis unicolor Reinwardt, the monotype of the genus Xenopeltis , in having 22-24 maxillary teeth on each maxilla; one postocular; seven upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which enter the eye; 152-157 ventrals and 16-18 pairs of subcaudals. (Koshikawa’s translation of Hu et al. 1972) DESCRIPTION: The measurement and scale counts of the two type specimens are shown in Table 1. Head relatively small, somewhat depressed; snout round and robust, body cylindrical; tail short, about 1/13 to 1/14 of the total length. Hemipenis thick and short, with longitudinal sulcuses, no spines. When alive, back is indigo brown and has metallic luster; two series of white longitudinal spots between D1 and D3; D1 grayish white with indigo brown base. Underside of the head light indigo gray or light brown; underside of the body and the tail's base grayish white; other part of the tail's underside indigo brown. (Koshikawa’s translation of Hu et al. 1972) Size. Maximal body length of males is 800 mm, tail 65 mm; body length of females reaches 790 mm, individual with this maximal size has a damaged tail, female with length of body 775 mm has the tail of 54 mm (Zhao et al., 1998: 27, Orlov 2000). Diagnosis (jidamingae). This subspecies has a higher number of ventrals (159 – 164) as opposed to 152 – 157 in the nominative subspecies; 16 – 18 pairs of subcaudals (Orlov 2000). Size (jidamingae). Maximal body length of males from China reaches 680 mm, tail 50 mm; for females 545 and 40 mm, respectively (Zhao et al., 1998: 27). For spec- imens from Vietnam maximal body length of males is 642 mm, tail 54 mm; for females 638 and 48 mm, respectively (Orlov 2000). Table 1 in Orlov 2000 compares characters of hainanensis and unicolor. |
| Comment | Zhao & Adler 1993 cite the source of this species as HU & ZHAO in ZHAO 1972, (Key to Chinese snakes) although Hu et al. 1975 also describe this species as new (in “Three new species of reptiles from Hainan Island”). |
| Etymology | named after the type locality. |
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