A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata, Colubridae) from Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

the journal of biodiversity data NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 1115 Academic editor: Ross MacCulloch Received: 12 October 2025 Accepted: 12 November 2025 Published: 19 November 2025 Copyright © The authors. This is an open‑access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0) Abstract. This paper provides a new provincial record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839), Blackbanded Trinket Snake, from the evergreen forests of Teo village, Muong Ham Commune, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. Morphological characteristics of the collected specimen were described and an assessment of potential threats to the species at this locality. This constitutes the first documented occurrence of O. porphyraceus in Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, Nghe An Province. Key words. Black-banded Trinket Snake, distribution, new provincial record, reptile biodiversity Dau QV, Le ND, Hoang NT (2025) A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata, Colubridae) from Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. Check List 21 (6): 1115–1119. https:// doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 Introduction Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) is a beautiful forest snake often hunted and traded as a pet, and it is a highly threatened species in Vietnam, classified as Near Threatened (Viet Nam Red List of Threatened Species 2024). This species has a broad geographical distribution, including Taiwan, China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Uetz et al. 2025). In Vietnam, O. porphyraceus has previously been recorded from Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Son La, Thanh Hoa, and Quang Binh (Nguyen et al. 2009; Nguyen et al. 2016; Le et al. 2018). The Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve (WNABR) is located in western Nghe An province and spans a total area of 1,299,795 ha. It integrates Pu Mat National Park with Pu Huong and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves, forming a contiguous environmental corridor. This connectivity is essential for the effective conservation of the region’s biodiversity values. The WNABR exhibits a remarkable diversity of habitats, encompassing mountainous terrain, karst limestone formations, and riverine systems. This habitat heterogeneity supports a wide range of ecosystems, primarily tropical rainforests and freshwater ecosystems (e.g. rivers, streams). Such habitat diversity is a principal factor underpinning the high species richness of the local flora and fauna (Hoang et al. 2024). Consequently, the amphibian and reptile fauna of the WNABR has been the subject of numerous studies, including those by Le and Hoang (2001) and Hoang et al. (2005, 2008, 2012, 2024). Collectively, this body of research has substantiated the significant diversity of amphibians and reptiles within the reserve. On 10 March 2010 we conducted a field survey in the WNABR, where we collected a specimen identified morphologically as O. porphyraceus. This paper provides a new occurrence record of O. porphyraceus in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve and adding valuable information on the morphological characteristics and distribution of this species in Vietnam. Methods Sampling. Field surveys were conducted on 10 March 2010. The specimen was collected by Dau Quang Vinh, Tran Ngoc Lan, Nguyen Thi Thu, and Nguyen Thi Thuy at 10:00 AM in the morning in the evergreen forest in WNABR, near Teo village, Chau Cuong Commune (now Muong Ham Commune), Quy Hop District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. The specimen was euthanized in a closed vessel with a piece 21 (6) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 21 (6): 1115–1119. https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata, Colubridae) from Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam Dau Quang Vinh1, Le Ngoc Danh1, Hoang Ngoc Thao1 1 Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hong Duc University, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam Corresponding author: Hoang Ngoc Thao ([email protected]) Check List 21 (6) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 Dau et al. · A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus 1116 of cotton wool containing ethyl acetate (Simmons 2020). The specimen was preserved in a 4% formalin solution and later placed in 70% ethanol. The specimen was deposited in the Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hong Duc University (HDU), Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, as specimen number HDU2010.310. Morphological analysis. Morphological characters were evaluated based on diagnostic criteria provided by Smith (1943), Nguyen (2007), Das (2010), Ziegler et al. (2014), Nguyen et al. (2016), Le et al. (2018), and Wang et al. (2019). Nine measurements were also recorded as follows (all in mm): snout to vent length (SVL; tail length (TaL; total length (TL); head length (HL); head width (HW); snout length (SnL); eye diameter (EyeL); interorbital distance (IOD); internarial distance (IND). We also analyzed the TaL/TL, HW/HL, and (FrL/FrW) ratios. Here, TL, SVL, and TaL were measured with a ruler to the nearest 1 mm; all other measurements were obtained using digital calipers to 0.1 mm accuracy. Fourteen meristic characters were examined as follows: dorsal scale rows (DSR); ventral scales (VS); subcaudal scales (SC); supralabials (SL); SL-Eye); infralabials (IL); infralabials contacting each other (IL-contact); infralabials contacting the anterior chin shields (IL-CS); number of preocular scales (PrO); number of presubocular scales (PrsO); number of postocular scales (PtO); number of temporals (Te); loreal scale (LOR); nasal scale (NAS); relative tail length to total length (RTL). Taxonomic identification was based on descriptions by Smith (1943), Nguyen (2007), Das (2010), Ziegler et al. (2014), Nguyen et al. (2016), Le et al. (2018), and Wang et al. (2019). Results Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) Figures 1, 2 New records. VIETNAM — Nghe An Province • Muong Ham Commune; 19°33′N, 105°00′E; 645 m a.s.l.; 10.III.2010; Dau Quang Vinh leg.; one adult female, HDU2010.310. Identification. Morphometric and scalation data for an adult female of size (TL 722 mm), SVL 585 mm; body robust and cylindrical (Figure 1); head small, length greater than width (HW/HL 61.4%), ovoid from the dorsal, slightly distinct from neck; tail quite long (TaL/TL 19.0% of total length), 137 mm in length, robust; eye small, comprising approximately 12.6% of the head length; snout long, protruding (SnL/HL 45.1%), eye diameter much shorter than the distance between eye and nostril, pupil round. Dorsal scales smooth (DSR 19-19-17 rows); vertebral scales similar in size and configuration to other dorsal scales; 202 ventrals; 77 subcaudals, paired; terminal caudal scale in the shape of a sharply pointed cap; cloacal plate divided. In dorsal view (Figure 2A), the head scalation comprises a single rostral large, thick, wider than high, visible from above; two internasals contacting each other, shorter than prefrontals; two large, hexagonal prefrontals wider than long, larger; supraoculars elongated, widening posteriorly, approximately half as wide as long; a single large, hexagonal frontal, longer than wide, narrowing posteriorly; parietals larger than frontal, bordered posteriorly by six small scales; no enlarged nuchal scales are present. In lateral view (Figure 2C, D), nasals are irregularly trapeziform, vertically divided by a prominent suture, and pierced by a large nostril; a loreal contacts nasal, prefrontal, preocular, second and third Figure 1. Oreocryptophis porphyraceus in preservative (female, HDU2010.103). A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. Check List 21 (6) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 Dau et al. · A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus 1117 supralabials; presubocular scales are absent; preocular higher than wide, contacting the supraocular, third and fourth supralabials; two postoculars, upper scale being rectangular and larger than the lower rhomboid scale; eight supralabials, 1st smallest and 7th largest; two temporals on the right (upper more than twice as long as lower) and 1+2 temporals on the left (with nearly equal length). In ventral view (Figure 2B), 9/9 infralabials; 1st to 5th contact the anterior chin shield, sixth largest, touches the posterior chin shield; mental, small, triangular; 2/2 pairs of enlarged, elongated chin shields, with the anterior pair being as long as the posterior pair; three small gular scales are present between the posterior chin shields and the first preventral. Coloration in preservative: reddish brown above, with broad dark-brown, black-edged cross-bars (10 on body and 3 on tail) which narrow on the sides of the body; two black, parallel, dorso-lateral lines usually present on the hinder part of the body and tail; a black stripe down the middle of the head and another on each side, connecting with the first transverse mark on the neck; lower parts uniform yellowish (Figure 1). Discussion About the morphological characters, the specimen agreed with the descriptions of Smith (1943), Nguyen (2007), Nguyen et al. (2016), and Le et al. (2018). However, it slightly differs from the description of Nguyen et al. (2016) by having temporals (2/1+2 vs. 1+2/1+2), infralabials (9/9 vs. 10/10), ventral scales (202 vs. 205), subcaudals (77 vs. 75, paired), and with Le et al. (2018) by infralabials bordering chin shields (1st to 5th vs. 1st to 4th), ventral scales (202 vs. 209), subcaudals (77 vs. 63, paired). Oreocryptophis porphyraceus is listed in the Viet Nam Red List of Threatened Species (2024) with a conservation status of Near Threatened. The threats include the fragmentation and degradation of Table 1. Measurements of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus female from Nghe An province, Vietnam. Abbreviations: see Methods. Female (HDU2010.310) SVL 585 SL-Eye 4, 5/4, 5 TaL 137 IL 9/9 TL 722 IL-contact 1/1 HL 17.5 IL-CS 6 HW 10.7 PrO 1/1 SnL 7.9 PrsO 0 EyeL 2.2 PtO2 2/2 IOD 6.2 Te 2/1+2 IND 4.1 LOR 1+1 VS 202 NAS 2 SC 77 TaL/TL 0.23 DSR 19/19/17 HW/HL 0.61 SL 8/8 FrL/FrW 1.52 Figure 2. Head of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus in preservative (Female, HDU2010.103). A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C, D. Lateral views. Check List 21 (6) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 Dau et al. · A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus 1118 the species’ habitat due to the impact of timber exploitation, forest land encroachment, and tourism development. The species is quite rare in the wild and, because of its beautiful colors, is a target for hunting and trading for the pet trade. A small number are also hunted for food and medicinal ingredients. The species’ population is estimated to have declined by about 20% (Viet Nam Red List of Threatened Species 2024). In the WNABR, studies on amphibians and reptiles have been conducted by many authors, mainly focusing on conservation areas. In 2001, Le and Hoang conducted research in Pu Mat National Park and recorded 23 snake species (Le, Hoang 2001); research by Hoang et al. in Pu Huong Nature Reserve recorded 34 species (Hoang et al. 2005, 2008); Hoang et al. published the species composition of amphibians and reptiles in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve and identified 43 snake species. By 2024, the number of snake species currently known in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve is 47 species belonging to 33 genera and 10 families (Hoang et al. 2024). The present study provides the first confirmed record ofO. porphyraceusin WNABR from Nghe An Province, 65 km in a straight line from the nearest reported location (Xuan Lien Nature Reserve) (Figure 3). Globally, it is recorded in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, and Thailand (Uetz et al. 2025). Acknowledgements We thank Mr. Tran Ngoc Lan, Nguyen Thi Thu (NACENTECH), and Nguyen Thi Thuy (Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Vinh University) for their valuable assistance during the field surveys. We thank Carolina Dale and Ross MacCulloch for their support in the review process; reviewer Dr. Pham Anh, whose comments improved the quality of the manuscript; and Robert Forsyth for Englishlanguage editing. Figure 3. Distribution of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus in Vietnam. 1 = Lao Cai; 2 = Cao Bang; 3 = Bac Kan; 4 = Lang Son; 5 = Thai Nguyen; 6 = Vinh Phuc; 7 = Son La; 8 = Quang Bình; 9 = Thanh Hoa; 10 = Yen Bai, and 11 = Muong Ham Commune, Nghe An Province, location of the new record in Vietnam. Check List 21 (6) · https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1115 Dau et al. · A new record of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus 1119 Additional information Conflict of interest The authors declare that no competing interests exist. Ethical statement All procedures complied with local animal welfare regulations. Funding This study was financially supported by Hong Duc University. Author contributions Data curation: VQD. Formal analysis: TNH, DNL, VQD. Investigation: TNH, VQD. Methodology: TNH, VQD. Writing – original draft: VQD, DNL. Writing – review and editing: TNH, VQD. Author ORCID iDs Vinh Quang Dau https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8976-1644 Danh Ngoc Le https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9996-3601 Thao Ngoc Hoang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9305-5518 Data availability All data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text. References Das I (2010) A field guide to the reptiles of South–East Asia. New Holland Publishers, London, United Kingdom, 376 pp. Hoang NT, Cao TT, Ong VA, Nguyen TL, Hoang XQ (2012) Diversity of amphibians and reptiles in Area reserve Biosphere West Nghe An. Proceedings in the 2nd National Scientific Workshop “Amphibia and Reptile in Vietnam”, Vinh Uni. Pub. House, 245–254. [In Vietnamese]. Hoang NT, Ong VA, Dau QV, Ho AT, Le THL, Cao TT, Hoang XQ (2024) Amphibians, reptiles in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve. Natural Science and Technology Publishing House, 250 pp. [In Vietnamese]. Hoang XQ, Hoang NT, Cao TT (2005) Results of the preliminary survey of amphibian and reptilian species in the Pu Huong Nature Reserve, Nghe An Province. Journal of Biology 27(4A): 109–116. [In Vietnamese]. Hoang XQ, Hoang NT, Johns AG, Cao TT, Ho AT, Chu VD (2008) Amphibians, reptiles in Pu Huong. Agricultural Publishing House, Ha Noi, 128 pp. [In Vietnamese]. Le NN, Hoang XQ (2001) Preliminary results of the survey about the species composition of amphibians and reptiles in the Pu Mat Natural Reserve, Nghe An Province. Journal of Biology 23(3B): 59–65. [In Vietnamese]. Le TD, Dao NA, Pham DT, Ziegler T, Nguyen QT (2018) New records and an updated list of snakes from Yen Bai Province, Vietnam. Herpetology Notes 11: 101–108. Nguyen VT, Pham TC, Nguyen QT (2016) New records and an updated list of snakes (Squamata: Serpentes) from Xuan Lien nature reserve, Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. AcademiaJournalofBiology 38 (3): 324–332. https:// doi.org/10.15625/0866-7160/v38n3.8448 Nguyen SV (2007) Fauna of Vietnam: Serpentes. Science and Technics Publishing House, Hanoi, Vietnam, 247 pp. [In Vietnamese]. Nguyen VS, Ho TC, Nguyen QT (2009) Herpetofauna of Vietnam. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 768 pp. Simmons J (2002) Herpetological collecting and collections management Revised edition, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular 31: 153 pp. Smith MA (1943) The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, including the whole of the Indo-Chinese Subregion, Reptilia and Amphibia, volume III, Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London, United Kingdom, 583 pp. Uetz P, Freed P, Hošek J (2025) The reptile database. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/search.php. Accessed on: 2025-5-10. Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (2024) Viet Nam Red List of threatened species. Version 2024-1. http://vnredlist.vast.vn/ Accessed on: 2025-5-10. Ziegler T, Tran TAD, Nguyen TQ, Perl RGB, Wirk L, Kulisch M, Lehmann T, Rauhaus A, Nguyen TT, Le QK, Vu TN (2014) New amphibian and reptile records from Ha Giang province, northern Vietnam. Herpetology Notes 7: 185–201. Wang P, Lei S, Peng G (2019) Morphology-based intraspecific taxonomy of Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) in mainland China (Serpentes: Colubridae). Zoological Research 40 (4): 324–330. https://doi.org/10. 24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.048