A new species of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 is described from northern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. Scincella ouboteri sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: Size medium (SVL up to 58.6 mm); primary temporals 2; external ear opening present, with 3 or 4 lobules on anterior margin; loreals 2; supralabials 7; infralabials 6 or 7; nuchals in 2–4 pairs; midbody scales in 30–32 rows; dorsal scales smooth, in 6 rows across the back; paravertebral scales 65–73, not widened; ventral scales in 65–71 rows; 10–12 smooth lamellae beneath finger IV and 18–20 beneath toe IV; toes overlapping fingers when limbs adpressed along body; dorsal surface of body and tail bronze-brown with a black vertebral stripe, in width of two dorsal scales, two bright dorsolateral stripes extending from behind the head to middle of tail, a dark stripe running from nostril to eye and extending from posterior margin of eye along upper part of flank and tail. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species and S. ochracea form an independent lineage sister to all other congeners included in the study.

Two new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the karst forest of Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam

We describe a new species of Theloderma from northwestern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Theloderma annae sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners on the basis of a combination of the following characters: Size small, SVL 27.1–28.5 mm in males, 30.3–32.6 mm in females; head longer than wide; vomerine teeth absent; snout long (SL/SVL 0.16–0.19); spines on upper eyelid absent; tibiotarsal projection absent; dorsal skin smooth; dermal fringes on forearm and tarsus absent; dorsal surface grayish green; and throat and ventral surface of arms and thighs brown with white spots.

Climate change has potential effects on global biodiversity by shifting the optimal distribution of terrestrial organisms, particularly species with narrow distribution ranges. Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi, a forest-dwelling lizard, was first found in both islands and mainland of northern Vietnam and subsequently in southern China. The narrowly distributed species was assessed in the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable and recently listed in CITES Appendix II and the Vietnam Governmental Decree in 2019 due to over-exploitation for the international pet trade. In this study, we applied the maximum entropy algorithm within the Maxent software using climatic and vegetation cover data to identify the potential distribution range of G. lichtenfelderi. Additionally, we used this approach to assess future climate effects on distribution alterations under different scenarios. Overall, our model predicted that the potential distribution range of G. lichtenfelderi will decline significantly under future scenarios, even totally disappear in the BCC-CSM 1-1 – RCP 8.5 scenario by 2070 in the study area. Potential distribution is expected to be shrunk and/ or altered towards higher latitudes within the next decades. The forecasted maps provide useful guidelines to implement conservation strategies to mitigate both climate change and further negative anthropogenic effects. In the context of the potentially severe effects of climate change, we propose the border areas between China and Vietnam, Yen Tu mountain range, Bai Tu Long National Park, and their surroundings as the core refugia of G. lichtenfelderi for priority conservation approaches.

Given the high degrees of adaptation to specific microhabitats and restricted-range endemism, Goniurosaurus (Tiger geckos) serves as a unique model to study the complex evolution in lizards. Using phylogenetic analyses, we estimated the first divergence date of Goniurosaurus to the Eocene (~ 45.3 mya). The diversification within four monophyletic species groups began in the mid-Miocene between ~ 13.4 and 7.7 mya and continued to at least the early Pleistocene (~ 2 mya). Their ancestor was predicted to originate somewhere in contiguous continental Eastern Asia, whereas the current regions in which each monophyletic Goniurosaurus species group radiated are respectively their own ancestral regions. Together with factors of altitudinal gradient and climate conditions, we reconstructed relevant niche models of Goniurosaurus including ancestral reconstructions. Consequently, low elevations were predicted to be the most probable ancestral state for Goniurosaurus and all its groups as well. Both climatic niche conservatism and divergence have shaped the extraordinary species richness of allopatric Chinese and Vietnamese tiger geckos. In terms of endangerment, Goniurosaurus has been considered one of the most susceptible lizard groups under severe human impacts, especially climate change. The assessments of their niche evolution can provide a science-based pre-signal of vulnerability, thereby improving the efficacy of conservation measures to safeguard species of Goniurosaurus in the future. Accordingly, almost all closely related species of Goniurosaurus in China and Vietnam were identified with a high rate of niche conservatism, which should be included in conservation priorities under potential impacts of climate change.

A second species of the previously monotypic snake genus Parafimbrios is described from Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam, based both on molecular and morphological evidences. Parafimbrios vietnamensis sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: 1) rostral laterally with two raised, curved edges; the upper one, together with a horizontal curved ridge of tissue, separate the rostral from the internasals; 2) nasal in contact zone with rostral with curved raised edge; 3) nasal in contact zone with supralabials each with two small oblique, curved raised edges located above first and second as well as above second and third supralabials; 4) suture between the internasals much longer than that between the prefrontals; 5) supralabials 8, with the first four bearing raised edges; 6) infralabials 7; mental and anterior three to four infralabials with raised edges; 7) temporals 4+4–5; 8) 35–33–29 dorsal scale rows; 9) laterally rounded ventrals 164; 10) unpaired subcaudals 49; 11) total length of at least 266 mm in males (with a tail length of 44 mm, and a tail / total length ratio of 0. 165). This discovery brings the total number of taxa of the family Xenodermatidae in Vietnam to seven species: Achalinus ater, A. rufescens, A. spinalis, Fimbrios klossi, F. smithi, Parafimbrios lao, and P. vietnamensis.