Published January 29, 2026
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Taxonomic reassessment of Hebius atemporalis (Bourret, 1934) (Squamata, Natricidae), with the description of a new species from China
Authors/Creators
- 1. Mountain Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|China-Croatia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- 2. The School of Medicine & Pharmacy, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam|Center for Entomology & Parasitology Research, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
- 3. Mountain Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- 4. Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- 5. Joint Vietnam - Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam
- 6. Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia|Joint Vietnam - Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam
- 7. Évolution et Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- 8. Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- 9. Mountain Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|China-Croatia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- 10. Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar|China-Croatia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|Mountain Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- 11. Mountain Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|China-Croatia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China|Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Description
Hebius atemporalis (Bourret, 1934) has been reported from both northern Vietnam and southern China. Previous studies revealed deep genetic divergence between the Chinese and Vietnamese populations; however, no comprehensive taxonomic revision has examined the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of these divergent lineages. Here, we present an integrative taxonomic reassessment of the H. atemporalis complex, combining detailed morphological comparisons and molecular data. As a result, we identify and describe a distinct new species, Hebius malnatei sp. nov., endemic to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China. The new species can be distinguished from H. atemporalis sensu stricto by its larger adult body size, shorter relative tail length, higher numbers of ventrals and subcaudals, and distinctive coloration characterized by the absence of a nuchal collar. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b sequences consistently recover Hebius malnatei sp. nov. as the sister taxon of H. atemporalis s. str., with uncorrected p-distances of 8.0–9.8%. According to the IUCN Red List criteria, we recommend assigning Hebius malnatei sp. nov. to the category Least Concern (LC). This study highlights the need for taxonomic revision of widely distributed Hebius species and underscores the role of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau uplift in promoting species diversification.
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