Protobothrops mangshanensis (Zhao, 1990) was first described based on the specimens from Mt. Mang, Yizhang, Hunan, China (Zhao and Chen, 1990). This species was originally described under the genus Trimeresurus (sensu lato). Based on comparison of skulls of this species with others, Zhang (1993) erected a new genus Ermia and placed the species under this genus as E. mangshanensis.

However, the name for the genus Ermia was already in use for a genus of locusts (Gumprecht and Tillack, 2004). Thus, Gumprecht and Tillack (2004) proposed a new replacement name for E. mangshanensis, that is, Zhaoermia mangshanensis.

More recently, Guo et al. (2007) transferred the species to the genus Protobothrops, based on the evidence that Z. mangshanensis is phylogenetically nested within the existing species of that genus. The species is, therefore, currently known as Protobothrops mangshanensis, and it is listed as Endangered under the Red List of IUCN

Protobothrops mangshanensis (Zhao, 1990) was first described based on the specimens from Mt. Mang, Yizhang, Hunan, China (Zhao and Chen, 1990). However, due to poor preservation, the holotype of P. mangshanensis is considerably damaged and cannot presently be used. Thus, according to Article 75 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1985), we designate a neotype for this species.

Researchers from Institute of Biology, Yibin University and Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences cooperated to study this job.