Multiple lines of evidence reveal a new species of Krait (Squamata, Elapidae, Bungarus) from Southwestern China and Northern Myanmar

Abstract

Kraits of the genus Bungarus Daudin 1803 are widely known venomous snakes distributed from Iran to China and Indonesia. Here, we use a combination of mitochondrial DNA sequence data and morphological data to describe a new species from Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China: Bungarus suzhenaesp. nov. Phylogenetically, this species forms a monophyletic lineage sister to the Bungarus candidus/multicinctus/wanghaotingi complex based on cyt b and ND4 genes but forms a sister species pair with the species B. magnimaculatus Wall & Evans, 1901 based on COI gene fragments. Morphologically, B. suzhenaesp. nov. is similar to the B. candidus/multicinctus/wanghaotingi complex but differs from these taxa by a combination of dental morphology, squamation, coloration pattern, as well as hemipenial morphology. A detailed description of the cranial osteology of the new species is given based on micro-CT tomography images. We revised the morphological characters of B. candidus/multicinctus/wanghaotingi complex and verified the validity of three species in this complex. The distribution of these species was revised; the records of B. candidus in China should be attributed to B. wanghaotingi. We also provide an updated key to species of Bungarus.

Two Genetically Distinct yet Morphologically Indistinct Bungarus Species (Squamata, Elapidae) in Hong Kong

“…We measured morphological traits potentially distinguishing B. multicinctus, B. candidus and B. wanghaotingi according to Chen et al (2021;Table 1). These included number of ventral scales, number of white bands on the body, head and neck patterns in adults, head and neck patterns in juveniles, ventral body surface pattern, ventral tail surface pattern, and snout-vent length.…”

“…This latter species is known to occur in Myanmar and Southwestern China, and is closely related to B. candidus and B. multicinctus (Leviton et al, 2003;Uetz and Hošek, 2017;Chen et al, 2021). Together, the three species are suggested to form a complex distinct from other congeners (Kuch, 2007;Chen et al, 2021).…”

“…Two species of kraits (Genus Bungarus) are known to inhabit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; the many-banded and banded kraits, Bungarus multicinctus and B. fasciatus, respectively (Karsen et al, 1998). While B. fasciatus is easily identifiable by its black and yellow bands, the white and black bands exhibited by B. multicinctus closely resemble those of other congeners with overlapping geographic distributions (Xie et al, 2018;Chen et al, 2021). Beyond Hong Kong, B. multicinctus has been believed to be widely distributed across Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, as well as Southern China (Shan et al, 2016;Uetz and Hošek, 2017).…”

“…In a recent study, Xie et al (2018) genetically and morphologically re-identified several specimens of B. multicinctus collected from Southern and Southwestern China as B. candidus, including one from Hong Kong. Since then, however, Chen et al (2021) suggested that B. candidus records in Southern and Southwestern China (Xie et al, 2018) and B. multicinctus records in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos (Uetz and Hošek, 2017) be revised to represent B. wanghaotingi. This latter species is known to occur in Myanmar and Southwestern China, and is closely related to B. candidus and B. multicinctus (Leviton et al, 2003;Uetz and Hošek, 2017;Chen et al, 2021).…”

“…Since then, however, Chen et al (2021) suggested that B. candidus records in Southern and Southwestern China (Xie et al, 2018) and B. multicinctus records in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos (Uetz and Hošek, 2017) be revised to represent B. wanghaotingi. This latter species is known to occur in Myanmar and Southwestern China, and is closely related to B. candidus and B. multicinctus (Leviton et al, 2003;Uetz and Hošek, 2017;Chen et al, 2021). Together, the three species are suggested to form a complex distinct from other congeners (Kuch, 2007;Chen et al, 2021).…”