Dear Editor, The family Xenodermidae encompasses six recognized genera, among which Achalinus Peters, 1869, represents the most species-rich taxon. This genus is extensively distributed across eastern and southeastern...Dear Editor, The family Xenodermidae encompasses six recognized genera, among which Achalinus Peters, 1869, represents the most species-rich taxon. This genus is extensively distributed across eastern and southeastern Asia, from northern Vietnam through southwestern China, with some populations extending into Japan (Zhao, 2006;Li et al., 2024). Recent advancements in comprehensive fieldwork and molecular techniques have facilitated the revelation of previously underestimated biodiversity within the genus Achalinus. Scientific literature has recorded the discovery and description of over 20 new species within the past five years (Li et al., 2024;Xu et al., 2025). Currently, 28 species are recognized within the genus, with a substantial majority (21 species) found in China (Uetz et al., 2025).展开更多
A new species of the genus Achalinus is described based on five specimens collected from the villages of Huangjialing and Fuxi, Huangshan, Anhui, China. It can be morphologically differentia ted from all the other spe...A new species of the genus Achalinus is described based on five specimens collected from the villages of Huangjialing and Fuxi, Huangshan, Anhui, China. It can be morphologically differentia ted from all the other species in Achalinus except for A. spinalis and A. werneri by the presence of a dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudal. It can be distinguished from A. spinalis in that its two anterior temporals are in contact with eye, and A. werneri by its light brown flanks. The phylogenetic rela tionship of Achalinus was reconstructed using the mitochondrial locus of cytochrome coxidase subunit 1(CO1). The five new specimens form a monophyletic clade with strong support. The uncorrected p-dista nces between the new species and other representatives of Achalinus range from 13.6% to 21.7%. The recognition of the new species increases the number of described Achalinus species to 14.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32200379)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi,China(2023GXNSFBA026309)the Survey and Assessment of Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation in the Terrestrial Area of Guangxi,China(2022-2023).
文摘Dear Editor, The family Xenodermidae encompasses six recognized genera, among which Achalinus Peters, 1869, represents the most species-rich taxon. This genus is extensively distributed across eastern and southeastern Asia, from northern Vietnam through southwestern China, with some populations extending into Japan (Zhao, 2006;Li et al., 2024). Recent advancements in comprehensive fieldwork and molecular techniques have facilitated the revelation of previously underestimated biodiversity within the genus Achalinus. Scientific literature has recorded the discovery and description of over 20 new species within the past five years (Li et al., 2024;Xu et al., 2025). Currently, 28 species are recognized within the genus, with a substantial majority (21 species) found in China (Uetz et al., 2025).
基金supported by Postdoctoral Research Program of Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Anhui Province (2020B422)Doctoral Research Starting Foundation of Anhui Normal University (752017)National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 31471968)。
文摘A new species of the genus Achalinus is described based on five specimens collected from the villages of Huangjialing and Fuxi, Huangshan, Anhui, China. It can be morphologically differentia ted from all the other species in Achalinus except for A. spinalis and A. werneri by the presence of a dotted black streak in the middle of the subcaudal. It can be distinguished from A. spinalis in that its two anterior temporals are in contact with eye, and A. werneri by its light brown flanks. The phylogenetic rela tionship of Achalinus was reconstructed using the mitochondrial locus of cytochrome coxidase subunit 1(CO1). The five new specimens form a monophyletic clade with strong support. The uncorrected p-dista nces between the new species and other representatives of Achalinus range from 13.6% to 21.7%. The recognition of the new species increases the number of described Achalinus species to 14.
