A new species of Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 from the Northern part of the Truong Son Mountains, Central Vietnam (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)

Researchers have identified a new species of snake, Lycodon poyarkovi, within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve in Central Vietnam. This discovery, based on four specimens, distinguishes L. poyarkovi from its closest relative, L. paucifasciatus, through key morphological differences such as higher ventral and subcaudal scale counts, increased crossbands on the body and tail, and fewer scales before the first crossband starts. The species appears endemic to the northern Truong Son Mountains, with the Ben Hai River acting as a biogeographic barrier separating it from L. paucifasciatus. The study suggests that L. poyarkovi should be classified as Least Concern (LC) under IUCN Red List criteria, while also highlighting the need for further taxonomic reassessment of related species like Lycodon anakradaya and L. cardamomensis.

NGUYEN, T. V., & VOGEL, G. (2025). A new species of Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 from the Northern part of the Truong Son Mountains, Central Vietnam (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae). Zootaxa, 5570(3), 484–510. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5570.3.3