Expanded Description of Gloydius swild (Squamata: Viperidae)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The genus Gloydius currently contains at least 29 recognized species, widely distributed across diverse habitats in Asia, from east of the Ural Mountains to Japan. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its adjacent areas represent a major center of diversity for this genus, with at least 20 species recorded. Gloydius swild, a recently described species, was originally based on only two female specimens collected from Heishui County, Sichuan Province, China. During recent field surveys, we collected additional specimens (four males and five females) from three localities in Heishui and Songpan counties, Sichuan, China. Integrative morphological and molecular analyses confirmed that these specimens are conspecific with G. swild. This study provides an expanded description, revised diagnostic characters, and new localities for this recently described species based on all available specimens.
Source: Current Herpetology
DOI: 10.5358/hsj.45.207
Institutions: Yibin University, Sichuan University
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204850482