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

Taxonomic frameworks for medically important species such as cobras (genus Naja Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) are essential for the medical treatment of snake bites and accurate antivenin development. In this paper, we described the former N. kaouthia populations recorded from China as a new species and designated a neotype for N. atra -based morphological and mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis. The new species N . fuxi sp. nov. was morphologically diagnosed from N. kaouthia by (1) regular single narrow crossband present on the middle and posterior parts of the dorsum (3-15, 7.9 ± 2.7, n = 32) and the dorsal surface of the tail (1-6, 4.2 ± 1.1, n = 32) of both adults and juveniles, buff-colored with dark fringes on both edges, vs. South Asian populations ( n = 39) and Southeast Asian populations ( n = 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%) ( n = 30) vs. mostly one (81%) and rarely two (19%) ( n = 28); (3) ventrals 179-205 (195.4 ± 6.7, n = 33) vs. South Asian populations 179-199 (188.7 ± 5.9, n = 12); Southeast Asian populations 168-186 (177.8 ± 4.9, n = 18). Phylogenetically, the new species forms an independent sister clade to the clade including N. atra , N. kaouthia , N. oxiana and N. sagittifera . Furthermore, the subspecies N. naja polyocellata should be resurrected and recognized as a full species, N. polyocellata comb. nov. , and the subspecies N. sumatrana miolepis should be resurrected.