Asiatic Herpetological Research

1997

Vol. 7. pp. 170-171

Infraspecific Classification of Some Chinese Snakes

Er-mi Zhao
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Accidentia Sinica, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041 China/\fa?/w/-Infraspecific classification of some Chinese snakes was carried out by calculating both coefficient ofdifference (C. D.) and mean value comparison. Four new subspecies were described in number 4, volume 14 ofSichuan Journal of Zoology, Chengdu (Zhao. 1995). The following is a condensed version of these descriptions.

Key words: Reptilia, Ophidia, Xenopeltis hainanensis jidamingae ssp. nov.. Psammodynastes pulverulcntus
papenfussi ssp. nov., Ovophis monticola zhaokentangi ssp. nov.. Trimeresurus stejnegeri chenhihuii ssp. nov.,
China.

Xenopeltis hainanensis jidamingae ssp. nov.

nia at Berkeley. He has collaborated with us to study

Holotype: ZM73002. adult male. July 1973, Puyun
Xiang, Longquan Co.. Zhejiang Province, China, alti-desert amphibians and reptiles in northwestern China

tude about 700 meters. The holotypeZhejiangMuseumof NaturalisHistory.

preserved inHangzhou.

Diagnosis: ThistheOvophis monticola zhaokentangi ssp. nov.
Holotype:Zhejiang Province, China.

new subspecies has higher ventralcounts, 159-164 (mean 161.6; Tablesince 1987 and got a lot of achievements.

1),

than that ofnominate subspecies, which has 152-157 (meanK1Z730093.

adultmale.

11

December

1973, Bapo, Gongshan Co., Yunnan Province, China.
altitude 1400- 1500 meters.

Allotype: KIZ730018. adult female. 23

May

1973,

the same locality as the holotype.

154.7).

Distribution: Mainland China, including Zhejiang.
Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong provinces,and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Etymology: This new subspecies is named after Professor Da-ming Ji of Liaoning University in honor ofher devotion to the study of ecology of Agkistrodon

KIZ730096. male: KIZ730024 andParatypes:
730032, females, 29 May-26 December 1973. thesame locality as the holotype: and CIB740003. male,17March 1974, Pianma. Lushui Co., Yunnan Prov-ince, China, altitude1980 meters.

The specimens examined

arepreservedinthe

shedaoensis Zhao.

Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) and the Chengdu

Psammodynastes pulverulentus papenfussi

Academia Sinica.

ssp. nov.

Diagnosis: This new subspecies has higher ventral
plus subcaudal counts. 215-225 (mean 217.5+5.28;

Institute ofHolotype: MVZ 23857. an adult female. 5 May 1934,

Biology (CIB). Both institutes belong toKuraru (=kueitzuchiao), Koshun District (=HenchunTown). Takao-shu Province (now Pintung Hsien), Tai-Table 3) than that of all the other known subspecies.

wan. China, 150 meters, collected by J. Linsley Gres-subspecies.

preserved in the Museum ofVertebrate Zoology. University of California. Berke-Distribution: Gaoligong Shan north of Pianma,
Lushui Co.. extreme western Yunnan Province, China.

sitt.

The holotype

ley, California.

isUSA.

Diagnosis: This new subspecies has higher ventral
and subcaudal counts (Table 2). Ventral plus subcau-from 214-245, mean 234.2. whileof the nominate subspecies is 201-245, mean

dal counts range
thatThe coloration of the head is similar to the nominate

Etymology: This new subspecies is named after Professor Ken-tang Zhao of Suzhou Railway Normal
College in honor of his contributions to the study ofthe lizard genera Phrynocephalus and Eremias.

219.5.

Trimeresurus stejnegeri chenbihuii ssp. nov.

Distribution: Taiwan Island, China.

Holotype: CIB64III5599, adult male. 6 June 1964,Diaoluo Shan. Lingshui Co.. Hainan Province. China,

Etymology: I take great pleasure in naming this new
subspecies for Dr. Theodore J. Papenfuss of theMuseum of Vertebrate Zoology. University of Califor-altitude about 250 meters.

1

Asiatic Herpetological Research997

Allotype: CIB64III5945. adult female.

1

1June 1964.

the same locality as the holotype.

Paratypes: CD364IJ35906, 5944. 5978-9. 6013. 60434. 6069, 6101. 6104. 6107. males; CIB64III5600.
5735, 6014, females, 6-15 June 1964, Diaoluo Shan,Lingshui Co.. Hainan Province. China, altitude 225-290 meters. CIB64III51 10, 5181. 5261-2, males, 23
April to 12 May. 1964, Wuzhi Shan. Qiongzhong Co.,
Hainan Province, China, altitude 500 meters.

Vol. 7. p. 171

Etymology: This new subspecies is named after Professor Bi-hui Chen of Anhui Normal University inhonor of his contributions on research and protectionof the endangered Chinese Alligator.

Acknowledgments
The data for Taiwan specimens of Psammodynastes
pulverulentus and Trimeresurus stejnegeri (includingformosensis and kodairai) is taken from M. Maki

Diagnosis: This new subspecies has higher ventral
counts. 169-178 (mean 172.6: Table 4) in males and(1931), and the data for Philippine specimens of P.
pulverulentus is taken from E. H. Taylor (1922). I

168-174 (mean 172) in females, while the nominate
subspecies has 154-170 (mean 162.6) in males andexpress

my cordial appreciation to these authors.

Ialso express my sincere thanks to the Kunming Insti-Academia Sinica and the Zhejiang

154-172 (mean 162) in females.

tute of Zoology.

Distribution: Hainan Island. Hainan Province, China.

Museum of Natural History for permission to examine specimens.

Appendix

ITables 1-4

Table 1. Comparison of Xenopeltis h. hainanensisHu and Zhao, 1972 and X. h. jidamingae Zhao, 1995.
Subspecies

Vol. 7. p. 17:

Asiatic Herpetological Research

Table 3. Comparison of three subspecies of Ovophis monticola (Giinther, 1864).
Subspecies

1997