Description of a New Cobra ( Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) from China with Designation of a Neotype for

Taxonomic frameworks for medically important species such as cobras (genus Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) are essential for the medical treatment of snake bites and accurate antivenin development. In this paper, we described the former populations recorded from China as a new species and designated a neotype for -based morphological and mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis. The new species . was morphologically diagnosed from by (1) regular single narrow crossband present on the middle and posterior parts of the dorsum (3-15, 7.9 ± 2.7, = 32) and the dorsal surface of the tail (1-6, 4.2 ± 1.1, = 32) of both adults and juveniles, buff-colored with dark fringes on both edges, vs. South Asian populations ( = 39) and Southeast Asian populations ( = 35) without cross bands, with irregular cross bands or multiple light-colored crossbands pairs, or densely woven lines; (2) small scales between the posterior chin shields, usually three (40%) or two (37%), rarely four (13%), or one (10%) ( = 30) vs. mostly one (81%) and rarely two (19%) ( = 28); (3) ventrals 179-205 (195.4 ± 6.7, = 33) vs. South Asian populations 179-199 (188.7 ± 5.9, = 12); Southeast Asian populations 168-186 (177.8 ± 4.9, = 18). Phylogenetically, the new species forms an independent sister clade to the clade including , , and . Furthermore, the subspecies should be resurrected and recognized as a full species, , and the subspecies should be resurrected.