Phylogenetic position of Lycodon gongshan Vogel and Luo, 2011, a snake endemic to China (Reptilia: Colubridae)

Lycodon gongshanVogel and Luo, 2011 is a newly described snake species that is endemic to southwestern China. Based on two mtDNA gene fragments and two nuclear genes, a molecular phylogeny for the genus Lycodonwas reconstructed and the systematic position of L. gongshanwas evaluated. The results revealed that L. gongshanformed a strongly supported monophyletic clade with L. fasciatus, and ( L. cavernicolus + L. butleri), although the relationships among them were unresolved. The close genetic relationship between L. gongshanand L. fasciatusis consistent with hypotheses based on morphological data. Additionally two specimens from Guangdong, previously identified as L. fasciatus, showed a sister relationship with L. liuchengchaoiwith low genetic difference, indicating that the two specimens were misidentified, and illustrating that L. liuchengchaoimay have much broader distribution than previous thought.