Notes on the natural history and morphology of the Ningshan Lined Snake ( Stichophanes ningshaanensis Yuen , 1983; Ophidia: Colubridae) and its distribution in the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China.

摘要

The present study reports on the natural history of the Ningshan Lined Snake(Stichophanes ningshaanensis) in the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve (NNR) in western HubeiProvince, China. Prior to this work, little was known about the natural history of this species due toa paucity of specimens since the original description in 1983. Since its discovery, only the originalthree specimens were known to science, all of which are now lost or destroyed. Over the courseof five summers, we observed 24 specimens within the Shennongjia NNR. We report on its naturalhistory, including seasonal activity, habitat and environmental preferences, breeding behavior, sexualdimorphism, and incubation data for the eggs. We reiterate the morphological differences betweenStichophanes, its former genus Oligodon, and members of Pareatidae. In China, Stichophanes isnot protected under law due to the species being classified as “Data Deficient.” The species exhibitssexual dimorphism and dichromatism, i.e., males are smaller than females and the sexes differ incolor. The species has unique breeding habits in mid-summer, and copulation occurs immediatelyafter oviposition of the females. The number of eggs per clutch ranges from eight to nine, and takes64 days to hatch.