Scientists have described a new species of the snake genus Gonyosoma from Hainan Island, China.
The Hainan rhinoceros snake (Gonyosoma hainanense). Image credit: Mian Hou / Peng et al., doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.085.
Gonyosoma is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae (commonly known as colubrids).
The genus is comprised of almost 10 scientifically recognized species endemic to South Asia.
The newly-identified species, named Gonyosoma hainanense, inhabits subtropical rainforests of Hainan Island in the Chinese province of Hainan.
“Hainan Island is located in southern China, facing the Leizhou Peninsula of Guangdong, across the Qiongzhou Strait in the north, Guangxi and Vietnam across the Beibuwan Gulf in the west, and the South China Sea in the south,” said lead author Dr. Li-Fang Peng, a researcher with Anhui Normal University and Huangshan Noah Biodiversity Institute, and colleagues.
“It is the second largest island in China, covering an area of more than 30,000 km2, and harbors many endemic species.”
“Six specimens of the new species were obtained from the Diaoluoshan Mountains, and one juvenile and one female with six neonates were observed and released in the Jianfengling Mountains.”
“These two distribution sites are approximately 200 km apart, and span much of the southern part of Hainan Island.”
“Thus, we believe the new species is likely to be distributed in other mountainous areas of Hainan Island.”
General view of the Hainan rhinoceros snake (Gonyosoma hainanense). Image credit: Mian Hou / Peng et al., doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.085.
Gonyosoma hainanense is most similar to its continental sister species, Gonyosoma boulengeri.
Both species have a scaled protrusion on the anterior portion of the rostrum, distinct from other congeners.
“Gonyosoma boulengeri was first described in 1897 based on six specimens from the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam,” the researchers said.
“Its common name, the rhinoceros snake, is derived from the distinctive scaled protrusion at the distal end of its rostrum.”
“In adults, the body is green and abdomen is yellowish green. In contrast, neonate and juvenile color patterns are gray, but gradually change to green as they mature.”
“Formerly, the rhinoceros snake was considered a single species, i.e., Gonyosoma boulengeri, and was reported from Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Yunnan provinces in China, as well as Vietnam.”
Gonyosoma hainanense is between 65 and 93 cm (25-37 inches) in total length.
The species has a triangular head and large eyes with round pupils.
It also possesses prominent, distinctive, scaled protrusion on front of snout, about 1 cm (0.4 inches) long.
“Gonyosoma hainanense is generally arboreal and nocturnal,” the authors said.
“Furthermore, it is oviparous with a clutch size of six (white) eggs and an incubation period of 62 days.”
“Neonates and juveniles are gray, with black orbital stripes. Coloration gradually changes to green as the snake matures, and the black orbital stripes gradually fade.”
The discovery of Gonyosoma hainanense is reported in a paper in the journal Zoological Research.
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Li-Fang Peng et al. 2021. A new snake species of the genus Gonyosoma Wagler, 1828 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Hainan Island, China. Zoological Research 42 (4): 487-491; doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.085
