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Issue: Vol. 5551 No. 2: 12 Dec. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-12-12
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5551.2.1
Page range: 201-241
Abstract views: 251
PDF downloaded: 21

Solving of the long-term question: resurrection of Dinodon yunnanensis Werner, 1922 (Squamata: Colubridae: Lycodon)

Society for South East Asian Herpetology; Im Sand-3; D-69115 Heidelberg; Germany
Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology; Kunming Institute of Zoology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Yunnan 650223; Kunming; China
Reptiles & Amphibiens; UMR 7205 OSEB; Département évolution et Systématique; CP 30; Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. 57 rue Cuvier; F-75231 Paris Cedex 05; France
Institute for Research and Training in Medicine; Biology and Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam; College of Medicine and Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; 120 Hoang Minh Thao; Lien Chieu; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam
Reptilia mtDNA nomenclature systematics China Vietnam Lycodon fasciatus complex

Abstract

We apply an integrative taxonomic approach, including analyses of molecular and morphological data, along with examination of available type materials, to address the longstanding questioned taxonomic status of Dinodon yunnanensis Werner, 1922, currently considered a junior synonym of Lycodon fasciatus (Anderson, 1879). Based on our data, we revalidate Dinodon yunnanensis, under the combination Lycodon yunnanensis (Werner, 1922) comb. nov. According to the new taxonomic status of Lycodon yunnanensis comb. nov, we restrict the distribution of Lycodon fasciatus to Northeastern India, Central Bhutan, Northern and Central Myanmar, Western and Southwestern Yunnan of China, Northwestern Thailand, Northern Laos, and Northwestern Vietnam. We suggest that Lycodon yunnanensis comb. nov should be considered Least Concern (LC) following the IUCN’s Red List categories. Further studies reassessing the populations of the Lycodon fasciatus complex in Xizang of China is required.

 

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