Sinovipera, Guo, Peng & Wang, Yuezhao, 2011

Guo, Peng & Wang, Yuezhao, 2011, A new genus and species of cryptic Asian green pitviper (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from southwest China, Zootaxa 2918, pp. 1-14 : 8

Sinovipera gen. nov.

Figs. 3–7

Type species. Sinovipera sichuanensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. A genus of Asian pitviper within Trimeresurus (sensu lato) having the following combination of characters: (1) the first supralabial completely separated from the nasal; (2) a uniform green dorsum without postocular streak and ventrolateral stripes in females; (3) eyes deep red in females; (4) tail prehensile, its end rusty red in upper part; (5) large body size, with the maximum total length exceeding 1000 mm in females.

Distribution. Presently, it is only known from the type locality, although it also likely occurs in western Chongqing, northwestern Guizhou, China.

Etymology. The generic nomen Sinovipera is derived from the modern Latin adjective sinicus (a, um), based on the noun Sina (- ae), “ China ”, and the Latin noun Vipera (-ae), meaning '“a viper”. We suggest that the common name of this new genus be “Chinese pitviper” in English.

Content. This genus at present contains a single species, Sinovipera sichuanensis sp. nov, the description of which is given below.

Figures

FIGURE 3. General view of the holotype (YBU 071077) of Sinovipera sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov. in life.

FIGURE 4. Dorsal (a), ventral (b), and lateral (c) views of the head of the holotype (YBU 071077) of Sinovipera sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov.

FIGURE 5. Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of the paratype (YBU 030116) of Sinovipera sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov. in preservative.

FIGURE 6. Dorsal (a), ventral (b), and lateral (c) views of the head of the paratype of Sinovipera sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov.

FIGURE 7. The habitat in the vicinity of the type locality of Sinovipera sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov..