Elaphe zoigeensis HUANG, DING, BURBRINK, YANG, HUANG, LING, CHEN & ZHANG, 2012
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Higher Taxa | Colubridae, Colubrinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Zoige Ratsnake Chinese: Ruoergai Jinshe (Bopomofo) |
Synonym | Elaphe zoigeensis HUANG, DING, BURBRINK, YANG, HUANG, LING, CHEN & ZHANG 2012 Elaphe zoigeensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 263 |
Distribution | China (Sichuan) Type locality: 20 m from the mouth of Jiangzha Hot Spring (3200 m elevation, N 34°12’18’’, E 102°42’48’’) in Zoige County, Sichuan, China. |
Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
Types | Holotype: HSU (also as HUM) 20110001, adult female captured at 12:00 on 26 July 2010 (Museum of Huangshan University) Paratypes: Captured on gravel by a stream (HUM 20110002, adult female, about 40 m from the mouth of Jiangzha Hot Spring) and in a small soil hole by the same stream (HUM 20110003, adult male, about 30 m from the mouth of Jiangzha Hot Spring), same place and time as the those of the holotype. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Elaphe zoigeensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Elaphe by several sets of characters involving color and scutellation. Color pattern is distinct in having a red brown, “M” shaped marking on the back of the head at the margins of the supraoculars and adjacent posterior frontal and the presence of 4 longitudinal, parallel rows of spots on the dorsum extending from the neck to vent. Each spot usually encompasses an entire scale and is red brown, while the edges of the spot and bordering scales are puce. The spots from each of the parallel rows are similar in size and shape, and rank at a relatively regular interval of one or two scales of slightly red brown color. Additionally, this species has 3 preoculars, rather than 1–2 found in all other species (Schulz, 1996). |
Comment | |
Etymology | The specific name refers to the type locality, Zoige County, Sichuan, China. |
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