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Issue: Vol. 2785 No. 1: 8 Mar. 2011
Type: Articles
Published: 2011-03-08
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2785.1.4
Page range: 61–68
Abstract views: 44
PDF downloaded: 18

Revision of the diagnostic characters of Opisthotropis maculosa Stuart and Chuaynkern, 2007 with notes on its distribution and variation, and a key to the genus Opisthotropis (Squamata: Natricidae)

School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
Department of Zoology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan, ROC
Reptilia China diagnosis herpetology morphology sexual dimorphism snakes

Abstract

Opisthotropis maculosa was described based on a single specimen collected from northeastern Thailand in 2007. We collected three specimens from Guangxi and Guangdong, China. These additional specimens provide the first information on morphological variation in this species, including sex-related differences. Based on the new information, we revise the diagnostic characteristics of this species and provide a key to the currently recognized species of Opisthotropis.

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