taxonID	type	description	language	source
83213492BF6854CBA2425303E911CD42.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Plagiopholis acuta sp. nov. can be differentiated from other taxa in the genus Plagiopholis by the following combination: (1) no loreal, posterior nasal forming a suture with the single preocular; (2) two postoculars; (3) temporals 2 + 2 (rarely 2 + 1); (4) 6 (rarely 7) supralabials, the 3 rd and 4 th entering the eye; (5) 6 (rarely 5) infralabials; (6) maxillary teeth 17 – 18 in males and 15 – 17 in females; (7) dorsal scale smooth and rows 15 - 15 - 15; (8) ventral scales 114 – 115 in males and 115 – 121 in females; (9) anal entire; (10) subcaudal scales 29 – 30 in males and 24 – 25 in females; (11) longer tail length of 51 – 52 mm (mean 51.5 mm) in males and shorter tail length of 25 – 43 mm (mean 34 mm) in females; (12) larger TAL / SVL ratio of 0.18 – 0.19 (mean 0.19) in males and lower TAL / SVL ratio of 0.11 – 0.14 (mean 0.12) in females; (13) hemipenis half divided, bilaterally symmetrical, the truncus spinulate throughout; (14) a wide, black-brown blotch is present on the neck, often pentagonal or sub-annular shaped, across 4 – 6 dorsal scale rows; (15) dorsal surface of the body is brick-red, with some dorsal scale edges black, forming a faint reticulated pattern.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
83213492BF6854CBA2425303E911CD42.taxon	description	Description of the holotype. Measurements and scalation. An adult male with TL 313 mm (SVL 262 mm and TAL 51 mm); tail relatively short, TAL / TL ratio of 0.16, and TAL / SVL ratio of 0.19; body slender and small; head slightly distinct from the neck, HL 12.8 mm, HW 7.8 mm, HH 6.0 mm; eye moderate, ED 2.12 mm; rostrum triangular, wider than high, slightly visible from above; snout relatively short, ESD 3.7 mm; internasals and prefrontals paired; frontal haxagonal, longer than wide, a little shorter than the parietals; PRO 1 / 1, PO 2 / 2; loreal absent; TEMP 4, arranged in two rows (2 + 2 / 2 + 2); SL 6 / 6, the 3 rd and 4 th entering the eye, the 5 th and 6 th largest; chin shields in 2 pairs, the anterior pair longer than posterior one and in contact with the mental; IL 6 / 6, the 1 st to 3 rd touching the first pair of chin shields. DSR 15 - 15 - 15, all smooth, including the outermost row on both sides; VS 115, SC 30, CP entire. Dentition. Maxillary teeth 18 / 17, without diastema; except for the first 3 being smaller, the rest are nearly equal in size. Coloration in life. In life, dorsal surface of the head is deep reddish-brown, with small black-brown spots scattered along the sides; the supralabials are creamy-white with black edges on both sides. Ventral surface of head cream-white, the edges of partial scales have irregular black-brown patches. A wide, black-brown collar is present on the neck, across 5 dorsal scale rows. Dorsal surface of the body is brick-red, with some dorsal scale edges black, forming a faint reticulated pattern. The ventral and subcaudal scales uniform pale yellow (Fig. 7). Coloration in preservation. In preservation, the coloration still resembles the specimen in life, except that the coloration of dorsum further deepens, and the ventral surface of head becomes pale yellow (Figs 8, 9).	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
83213492BF6854CBA2425303E911CD42.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet “ acuta ” means “ sharp, ” referring to the large, pointed basal hooks on the hemipenis of this species. Based on the type locality, Xinshao County, Hunan Province, we suggest “ Hunan Mountain Snake ” as its English common name and “ 湖南颈斑蛇 (Hu ́ Na ́ n Ji ̌ ng Ba ̄ n She ́) ” as its Chinese common name.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
83213492BF6854CBA2425303E911CD42.taxon	distribution	Distribution and natural history. Specimen QHU 2024010 was a gravid female collected on August 7, 2024, and then kept in captivity under laboratory conditions at Qinghai University. It was housed in a 60 cm × 40 cm reptile terrarium with a substrate layer of approximately 3 cm of coarse peat soil. Humidity was maintained by providing a water dish and regular misting. On 11 August, the female laid five eggs, with an average length of 21 mm. The eggs were incubated in a moist mixture of coarse vermiculite and perlite at a constant temperature of 27 ° C. After five days of incubation, candling with a flashlight revealed clear signs of embryonic development in only two eggs, while the remaining three showed no visible signs of development. After one week, the undeveloped eggs became moldy and shriveled. During the remainder of the incubation period, one of the two fertilized eggs failed to develop successfully. On September 16, the other one hatched (specimen QHU 2024012), measuring approximately 92 mm in length and weighing 1 g. However, it exhibited some deformities and morphological abnormalities (Table 4, Fig. 11). The first shedding occurred on September 25, and then the snake died on September 28. Based on the feeding and incubation results, we infer that this species may be better adapted to mid-elevations below 2000 m and relatively cool environments. The observed deformities may have been caused by high-altitude conditions or elevated temperatures during transportation and incubation. Plagiopholis acuta sp. nov. has currently only been discovered in Xinshao County of Shaoyang City, Hunan Province. This area belongs to the mid-subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, characterized by distinct four seasons, abundant sunlight and heat, plentiful rainfall, with the rainy season coinciding with the hot season (Zheng et al. 2013). This new species is most probably distributed within mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 530 m.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
5B74FF40534A5BC68DD3441AE46E6C47.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Plagiopholis pluvialis sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other Plagiopholis species by the following unique combination of characters: (1) no loreal (rarely 1), posterior nasal forming a suture with the single preocular; (2) two postoculars; (3) temporals 2 + 2 (rarely 2 + 1); (4) 6 supralabials, the 3 rd and 4 th entering the eye; (5) 6 infralabials; (6) maxillary teeth 18 in males; (7) dorsal scale smooth and rows 15 - 15 - 15; (8) ventral scales 102 – 110 in males and 114 – 122 in females; (9) anal entire; (10) subcaudal scales 26 – 31 in males and 16 – 26 in females; (11) longer tail length 40 – 59 mm (mean 49 mm) in males, and shorter tail length 34 – 47 mm (mean 40 mm) in females; (12) larger TAL / SVL ratio of 0.14 – 0.21 (mean 0.18) in males and lower TAL / SVL ratio of 0.12 – 0.15 (mean 0.14) in females; (13) hemipenis half divided, bilaterally symmetrical, the truncus spinulate throughout; (14) a relatively narrow, black-brown blotch is present on the neck, often inverted “ V ” shaped, across 2 – 3 dorsal scale rows; (15) dorsal surface of the body is olive, with some dorsal scale edges yellow and black, forming a reticulated pattern.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
5B74FF40534A5BC68DD3441AE46E6C47.taxon	description	Description of the holotype. Measurements and scalation. An adult male with TL 322 mm (SVL 282 mm and TAL 40 mm); tail relatively short, TAL / TL ratio of 0.12, and TAL / SVL ratio of 0.14; body slender and small; head slightly distinct from the neck, HL 11.5 mm, HW 7.6 mm, HH 5.7 mm; eye moderate, ED 2.3 mm; rostrum triangular, wider than high, slightly visible from above; snout relatively short, ESD 4.1 mm; internasals and prefrontals paired; frontal hexagonal, longer than wide, a little shorter than the parietals; PRO 1 / 1, PO 2 / 2; loreal absent; TEMP 4, arranged in two rows (2 + 2 / 2 + 2); SL 6 / 6, the 3 rd and 4 th entering the eye, the 6 th largest; chin shields in 2 pairs, the anterior pair longer than posterior one and in contact with the mental; IL 6 / 6, the 1 st to 3 rd touching the first pair of chin shields. DSR 15 - 15 - 15, all smooth, including the outermost row on both sides; VS 108, SC 27, CP entire. Dentition. Maxillary teeth 18, without diastema; except for the first 3 being smaller, the rest are nearly equal in size. Coloration in life. In life, dorsal surface of the head is olive, with small black-brown spots scattered along the sides; the supralabials are wheat with broad black edges on both sides. Ventral surface of head wheat, partial scales have irregular black-brown patches. A relatively narrow, black-brown collar is present on the neck, inverted “ V ” shaped, across 2 – 3 dorsal scale rows. Dorsal surface of the body is olive, with some dorsal scale edges gold and black, forming a faint reticulated pattern. The ventral and subcaudal scales uniform wheat. (Fig. 12). Coloration in preservation. In preservation, the coloration still resembles the specimen in life (Figs 13, 14).	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
5B74FF40534A5BC68DD3441AE46E6C47.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The Latin specific epithet pluvialis means ‘ related to rain’ or ‘ rainy, ’ indicating that the species inhabits particularly moist environments, especially within the West China Rain Zone in China. It is suggested that the English name for this species be “ Western China Mountain Snake ” and the Chinese name be “ 华西颈斑蛇 (hua ́ xi ̄ ji ̌ ng ba ̄ n she ́) ”.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
5B74FF40534A5BC68DD3441AE46E6C47.taxon	distribution	Distribution and natural history. This species is known to be distributed in mountainous areas at altitudes of 744 – 1900 m at several localities, including Wenchuan County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture; Anzhou District in Mianyang City; Dayi County and Dujiangyan City in Chengdu City; Hongya County in Meishan City; and Emeishan City in Leshan City, all in Sichuan Province, China; as well as Qixingguan District in Bijie City and Mt. Fanjing in Tongren City, both in Guizhou Province, China (Stejneger 1925; Pope 1929, 1935; Zhao et al. 1998; Zhao 2006; Zhong et al. 2015; Liu et al. 2025, and this study). The distribution areas fall within the mid-subtropical monsoon climate zone characterized by mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forests, where four distinct seasons are observed, with hot and rainy summers and mild, less rainy winters (Zheng et al. 2013). Particularly the snake’s main distribution area lies within the West China Rain Zone in Sichuan, a unique geographical region known for its significant rainfall due to the convergence of various climatic fronts, making it one of the wettest places in China. Pope (1929, 1935) documented that the stomachs of two specimens from Mt. Emei had eaten an earthworm apiece and found 5, 6, and 11 eggs, respectively, in three Mt. Emei females. One of the eggs in the clutch of 5 measured 19 × 11 mm and contained a very small embryo, while the female with 11 eggs was collected in July. This new species is also certainly oviparous.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
0266257AE4D15E0AB05532FAC7E0197E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Plagiopholis styani can be distinguished from other species within Plagiopholis by the combination of the following morphological characters: (1) no loreal (rarely 1), posterior nasal forming a suture with the single preocular; (2) two postoculars; (3) temporals 2 + 2 (rarely 2 + 1); (4) 6 (rarely 7) supralabials, the 3 rd and 4 th entering the eye; (5) 6 (rarely 5) infralabials; (6) maxillary teeth 20 – 21 in males and around 18 in females; (7) dorsal scale smooth and rows 15 - 15 - 15; (8) ventral scales 114 – 121 in males and 116 – 122 in females; (9) anal entire; (10) subcaudal scales, 26 – 30 in males and 23 – 28 in females; (11) longer tail 42.36 – 51 mm (mean 45.42 mm) in males and shorter tail 32.6 – 44.15 mm (mean 40.59 mm) in females; (12) higher TAL / SVL ratio of 0.15 – 0.17 (mean 0.16) in males and smaller TAL / SVL ratio of 0.12 – 0.15 (mean 0.14) in females; (13) hemipenis half divided, bilaterally symmetrical, the truncus smooth throughout with almost no spinules; (14) a wide, black-brown blotch is present on the neck, often pentagonal, sub-annular, or sagittate-shaped, across 3 – 6 dorsal scale rows; (15) dorsal surface of the body is brick-red, with some dorsal scale edges black, forming a faint reticulated pattern.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
0266257AE4D15E0AB05532FAC7E0197E.taxon	distribution	Distribution and natural history. Plagiopholis styani have been found in Lin’an District of Hangzhou City, Anji County of Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province, and the Wuyi Mountains at the border of Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces (data corrected based on the results of the present study). According to the morphological data recorded in literature, distribution records from southern Anhui and northern Jiangxi Province might also belong to this species (Pope 1934; Chen 1991; Zhao et al. 1998; Zhao 2006). These regions are part of the mid-subtropical monsoon climate zone, characterized by distinct four seasons, warm and humid conditions (Zheng et al. 2013). This species is oviparous and distributed within an altitude range of 520 – 1359 m. They are commonly found in mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and bamboo forests in this altitude range. Pope (1929, 1935) documented the Fukien (now Fujian Province) population (Plagiopholis styani) to be found in the high forests and bamboo groves in the region of the type locality, which is consistent with our findings. He documented the stomachs of three Chungan Hsien (now Wuyishan City) specimens (P. styani), which contained a lot of gritty dirt suggestive of an earthworm diet. In addition, he recorded a female containing seven eggs, one of which measured 15.5 × 5.5 mm. Based on this observation, the species is inferred to be oviparous.	en	Cai, Bo, Xu, Yuhao, Vogel, Gernot, Peng, Lifang, Xu, Jinan, Cheng, Lin, Liang, Dong, Li, Mingxi, Wang, Yingyong, Ma, Shun (2025): Redescription of Plagiopholis styani (Serpentes, Pseudoxenodontidae), with description of two new species from China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (4): 1775-1797, DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.152739
