Wang Kai, Li Ling, Mu Hao-Nan, Xu Sheng-Jing, Che Jing
Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain; Kunming Institute of Zoology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming; Yunnan; 650223; China; Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Yezin; Nay Pyi Taw; 05282; Myanmar.
Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain; Kunming Institute of Zoology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming; Yunnan; 650223; China.
Zootaxa. 2024 Jul 24;5486(1):129-141. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5486.1.6.
Based on morphological and genetic data, we describe a new species of Tropidophorus from the tropical karst landscape in southeastern Yunnan Province, China, close to the Vietnam border. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a clade with T. baviensis, T. murphyi, and T. hainanus, with p-distances ranging from 4.7-5.1% for the 16S gene and 3.9-6.8% for 12S gene. Morphologically, the new species shares the karst morphotype of Tropidophorus, particularly similar as T. murphyi and T. baviensis, in which all having a dorsally compressed head and body, smooth dorsal head scales, and distinctively keeled body scales. However, the new species can be distinguished from these similar species by numbers of supralabial scales, ventral scales, scales around the tail at the10th subcaudal, and a larger body size. We emphasize the urgency of conservation for the tropical karst landscape in northern Indochina.
