Researchers from Yibin University cooperated with Chengdu Institute of Biology to describe a new genus and species of Asian green pitviper from Southwest China, which based on two female specimens.
In this collaborative research , it is found that a new DNA phylogeny recovers the two specimens of the new species as a well-supported clade that is sister group to all sampled representatives of the genera Viridovipera and Cryptelytrops. The new genus is distinguished from other pitviper genera by a combination of morphological characters, including the absence of a lateral stripe, large body size, and deep red eye in adult females. Morphologically the new species is superficially most similar to species of Popeia in body dimension and scalation, but is genetically extremely distinct. The new genus/species is currently known only from south Sichuan, where it was found at about 1000 m above sea level in less disturbed evergreen rainforest.
This research was published in ZOOTAXA in JUN 15 2011. And were supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Sichuan Youth Sciences & Technology Foundation.