A new species of the genus Rhynchocalamus Günther, 1864 (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) from Ilam province in western Iran

• DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4282.3.3
• Publication Date: 2017-06-27T01:30:55Z
• Authors: BEHZAD FATHINIA; ESKANDAR RASTEGAR...; NASRULLAH RASTEGA...; HAMID DARVISHNIA
• Keywords: Colubridae

A new colubrid snake, Rhynchocalamus ilamensis sp. nov., is described from Ilam province, western Iran. The species differs other congeners using both morphological and molecular analyses. Morphologically, the head neck color patterns are most obvious distinguishing traits of this its congeners. separated by a genetic distance 9–13% in mitochondrial Cytb gene, with R. satunini melanocephalus as closest farthest relatives, respectively. As well, color-based revised key to genus provided.